CITA consulted with Benin authorities on November 7, 2012, January 3, 2013, April 11, 2013, and May 29, 2013 and has determined that folklore articles described in Annex A and ethnic printed fabrics described in Annex B, if produced in and exported from Benin, are eligible for preferential tariff treatment under section 112(a) of the AGOA, as amended. After further consultations with Benin authorities, CITA may determine that additional textile and apparel goods shall be treated as handloomed, handmade, folklore articles or ethnic printed fabrics. In the letter published below, CITA directs the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to allow duty-free entry of such products under U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheading 9819.11.27 if accompanied by an appropriate AGOA visa in grouping "9".
Annex A: Benin Folklore Products
CITA has determined that the following textile and apparel goods shall be treated as folklore articles for purposes of the AGOA if such goods are made in Benin. Articles must be ornamented in characteristic Benin or regional folk style. An article may not include modern features such as zippers, elastic, elasticized fabrics, snaps, or hook-and-pile fasteners (such as velcro(copyright) or similar holding fabric). An article may not incorporate patterns that are not traditional or historical to Benin, such as airplanes, buses, cowboys, or cartoon characters and may not incorporate designs referencing holidays or festivals not common to traditional Benin culture, such as Halloween and Thanksgiving. Eligible folklore articles:
(a) Bomba: Made of cotton and/or synthetic fibers. Hand-woven on manually operated looms then hand or machine stitched. There are also fringes on the end of the sleeves and the bottom of the shirt. The shirt extends beyond the waist, has a pocket, an open neck that stays closed, and the sleeves extend a little past the elbow; the embroidery is around the neck, down the neck opening to the chest, and on top of the pocket. The pants are baggy and have no embroidery. The pattern of the ensemble is houndstooth and the colors are variable, white, and black.
(b) Barmassou (Daunchiki): Made of cotton and/or synthetic fibers. Bands are hand-woven in manually operated looms then machine stitched together to form a wider substrate. This is a three piece garment for men--hat, loose fitting outer garment that extends from the thorax to the knees, and baggy pants. Patterns can vary but are usually plain weave. Colors are usually white and sometimes black and white.
(c) Boubou (Batik Peulh or Aizo): Made of cotton textile amassed, hand or machine assembled and hand dyed with repetitive patterns. This is a one piece dress for women--it is loose fitting with sleeves going to or a little past the elbow and the bottom of the garment going slightly past the knees. The edges of the sleeves and the bottom usually have fringes. Patterns and colors vary.
(d) Daunchiki: Made of cotton and/or synthetic fibers. Bands are hand-woven in manually operated looms then machine stitched together to form a wider substrate. This is a three piece garment for men -- hat, loose fitting outer garment that extends from the thorax to the knees, and baggy pants with a cord that acts as a belt. Patterns are stripes of "fakle issile". Colors are usually white and sometimes black and white.
(e) King's hat (Daa zaa): Made of cotton. This is a cap for men. It is cylindrical in shape. It has various patterns and designs and colors
(f) Peulh: Made of cotton from manually operated loom. This is a one piece dress/robe for women -- it is loose fitting with sleeves ending at the shoulder and the bottom of the dress/robe going to the mid-shin level. This dress also has a slight v-neck. The v-neck can be closed at the top with a loop and bottom. Colors and patterns vary.
(g) Tako: Made of cotton bands hand-woven in manually operated looms then hand and/or machined stitched together to form a wider substrate. This is a three piece garment for men--hat, loose fitting outer garment which extends from the thorax to the feet, and baggy pants. Patterns are a mix of guinea fowl and bakoko. Comes in various colors, usually with vertical strips.
(h) Tako (Grand Baubou): Made of cotton bands hand-woven in manually operated looms then hand and/or machined stitched together to form a wider substrate. This is a three piece garment for men -- hat, loose fitting outer garment which extends from the thorax to the feet, and baggy pants. The pattern varies and is usually plain weave. The colors are typically white, black and white.
(i) Tchanka (Cavaliers Pants): Made of cotton fabric hand-woven operated on looms by hand and machine stitched. The colors vary and the pattern is houndstooth then gbangbana. It is a loose fitting pants for men, consisting of baggy from the waist to approximately the knees and then tighter after the knees to the ankles.
(j) Wanwolovo: Made of mix of cotton and synthetic fibers. It is hand-woven from a manually operated loom to form a chain of patterns. This is a three piece garment for women--this consists of a wrap that goes around the body above the breast area and under the arms going down to below the knees; another wrap hangs over one shoulder; the last wrap is wrapped around the head. It has a chain of patterns. These wraps can have fringes on the ends. Colors are blue, red, white but colors can vary.
Annex B: Benin Ethnic Printed Fabrics
Each ethnic print must meet all of the criteria listed below:
(A) Selvedge on both edges.
(B) Width of less than 50 inches.
(C) Classifiable under subheading 5208.52.30 \1\ or 5208.52.40 \2\ of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
(D) Contains designs, symbols, and other characteristics of African prints normally produced for and sold in Africa by the piece.
(E) Made from fabric woven in the U.S. using U.S. yarn or woven in one or more eligible sub-Saharan beneficiary countries using U.S. or African yarn.
(F) Printed, including waxed, in one or more eligible sub-Saharan beneficiary countries.
\1\ printed plain weave fabrics of cotton, 85% or more cotton by weight, weighing more than 100g/m2 but not more than 200 g/m2, of yarn number 42 or lower.
\2\ printed plain weave fabrics of cotton, 85% or more cotton by weight, weighing more than 100g/m2 but not more than 200g/m2, of yarn numbers 43-68.
No comments:
Post a Comment