Ethiopia is Eligible for AGOA Duty-Free Treatment for Certain Handloomed or Handmade Fabrics/Articles and Certain Folklore Articles
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a notice stating that, effective July 18, 2005, certain textile and apparel goods from Ethiopia 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 Ethiopia
CITA explains that it has consulted with Ethiopian authorities and has determined that the following items are eligible for duty-free treatment under AGOA if produced in and exported from Ethiopia:
Hand-loomed or handmade - hand-loomed fabrics, hand-loomed articles (e.g., hand-loomed rugs, scarves, place mats, and tablecloths), and handmade articles made from hand-loomed fabrics; and
Folklore - two folklore articles described in the Annex to CITA's notice as a hand-woven bag/pouch (Shema Borsa) and cushion covers/pillow covers (Sofa Trase Libse). See Annex for folklore article requirements (e.g., no modern features such as zippers, patterns must be traditional or historical to Ethiopia, 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 hand-loomed, 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 hand-loomed, 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 hand-loomed articles such as hand-loomed rugs, scarves, etc.)
CITA contact - Anna Flaaten (202) 482-3400
CITA notice (FR Pub 07/08/05) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-3590.pdf
BP Note
Ethiopia is the twelfth 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, Ethiopia is only the fourth USTR-listed AGOA beneficiary country to be designated as eligible for duty-free treatment for certain folklore articles.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 05/23/05 news, 05052315, for BP summary of Senegal's designation as eligible for certain handloomed and handmade benefits, the most recent designation prior to Ethiopia.)