Senegal is Eligible for AGOA Duty-Free Treatment on Certain Handloomed Fabrics/Articles, Etc
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a notice stating that, effective June 6, 2005, certain textile and apparel articles from Senegal are eligible for duty-free treatment under the "handloomed, handmade, or folklore articles" provisions of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
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Eligible Articles Must be Produced in and Exported from Senegal
CITA explains that it has consulted with Senegalese officials and determined that the following items are eligible for duty-free treatment under AGOA if produced in and exported from Senegal:
Handloomed fabrics, handloomed articles (e.g., hand-loomed rugs, scarves, place mats, and tablecloths), as well as handmade articles made from handloomed fabrics.
CITA notes that no eligible folklore articles were included in Senegal's submission, but CITA may extend this treatment to additional products following consultations with the Government of Senegal.
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 "hand-loomed" includes handloomed articles such as handloomed rugs, handloomed scarves, etc.)
CITA Contact - Anna Flaaten (202) 782-3400
CITA notice (FR Pub 05/20/05) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-2559.pdf
BP Note
Senegal is the eleventh 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, only three USTR-listed AGOA beneficiary countries are designated as eligible for duty-free treatment for certain folklore articles.
(See ITT's Online Archives 01/05/05 news, 05010515, for BP summary of Mozambique's designation as eligible for certain handloomed, handmade, and folklore benefits, the most recent designation prior to Senegal.)