Mozambique is Eligible for AGOA Duty-Free Treatment on Certain Handloomed Fabrics/Articles, Etc. and Certain Folklore Articles
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a notice stating that, effective January 10, 2005, certain textile and apparel articles from Mozambique are eligible for duty-free treatment under the "handloomed, handmade, or folklore articles" provision of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
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Eligible Articles Must be Produced in and Exported from Mozambique
CITA explains that it has consulted with Mozambican officials and determined that the following items are eligible for duty-free treatment under AGOA if produced in and exported from Mozambique:
handloomed fabrics, handloomed articles (e.g. handloomed rugs, scarves, place mats, and tablecloths), as well as handmade articles made from handloomed fabrics; and
two folklore articles described in the Annex to CITA's notice as a traditional shirt and women's traditional tunic/Mozambican pedaos. See Annex for folklore article requirements (e.g., no modern features such as zippers, patterns must be traditional or historical to Mozambique, etc).
AGOA Visa Grouping 9 Needed to Receive Duty-Free Treatment
As a result of its determination, CITA has directed U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to allow duty-free entry of the above-described items under HTS 9819.11.27 if accompanied by an appropriate AGOA visa in Grouping 9.
(CITA has previously explained that AGOA provides duty-free treatment for imports of the above handloomed, handmade, or folklore articles, if agreed to by the U.S. and the listed beneficiary country, and if they are certified as such by the competent authority in the listed beneficiary country. In addition, Executive Order (EO) 13191 authorizes CITA to consult with listed beneficiary countries and to determine which, if any, particular textile and apparel goods shall be treated as being handloomed, handmade, or folklore articles.)
(See ITT's Online Archives or 08/07/03 news, 03080715, for BP summary of CITA's notice clarifying that the scope of "handloomed" includes handloomed articles such as handloomed rugs, handloomed scarves, etc.)
CITA Contact - Anna Flaaten (202) 482-3400
CITA notice (FR Pub 01/03/05) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/04-28715.pdf.
BP Note
Mozambique is the tenth USTR-listed AGOA beneficiary country to be designated as eligible for duty-free treatment for handloomed fabric, handloomed articles, and handmade articles made from handloomed fabric.
However, Mozambique is only the third USTR-listed AGOA beneficiary country to be designated as eligible for duty-free treatment for certain folklore articles.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 09/14/04 news, 04091425, for BP summary of Tanzania designation as eligible for these handloomed, handmade, and folklore benefits, the most recent designation prior to Mozambique.)