USC Subchapter II

USC Subchapter II
in effect

19 U.S.C. § 3721 Treatment of certain textiles and apparel

(a) Preferential treatmentTextile and apparel articles described in subsection (b) that are imported directly into the customs territory of the United States from a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country described in section 2466a(c) 11 See References in Text note below. of this title, shall enter the United States free of duty and free of any quantitative limitations in accordance with the provisions set forth in subsection (b), if the country has satisfied the requirements set forth in section 3722 of this title. (b) Products coveredSubject to subsection (c), the preferential treatment described in subsection (a) shall apply only to the following textile and apparel products:(1) Apparel articles assembled in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countriesApparel articles sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries from fabrics wholly formed and cut, or from components knit-to-shape, in the United States from yarns wholly formed in the United States, or both (including fabrics not formed from yarns, if such fabrics are classifiable under heading 5602 or 5603 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States and are wholly formed and cut in the United States) that are—(A) entered under subheading 9802.00.80 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States; or (B) entered under chapter 61 or 62 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, if, after such assembly, the articles would have qualified for entry under subheading 9802.00.80 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States but for the fact that the articles were embroidered or subjected to stone-washing, enzyme-washing, acid washing, perma-pressing, oven-baking, bleaching, garment-dyeing, screen printing, or other similar processes. (2) Other apparel articles assembled in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countriesApparel articles sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries with thread formed in the United States from fabrics wholly formed in the United States and cut in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries from yarns wholly formed in the United States, or from components knit-to-shape in the United States from yarns wholly formed in the United States, or both (including fabrics not formed from yarns, if such fabrics are classifiable under heading 5602 or 5603 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States and are wholly formed in the United States). (3) Apparel articles from regional fabric or yarnsApparel articles wholly assembled in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries from fabric wholly formed in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries from yarns originating in the United States or one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries or former beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries, or both (including fabrics not formed from yarns, if such fabrics are classified under heading 5602 or 5603 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States and are wholly formed in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries), or from components knit-to-shape in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries from yarns originating in the United States or one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries or former beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries, or both, or apparel articles wholly formed on seamless knitting machines in a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country from yarns originating in the United States or one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries or former beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries, or both, whether or not the apparel articles are also made from any of the fabrics, fabric components formed, or components knit-to-shape described in paragraph (1) or (2) (unless the apparel articles are made exclusively from any of the fabrics, fabric components formed, or components knit-to-shape described in paragraph (1) or (2)), subject to the following:(A) Limitations on benefits(i) In generalPreferential treatment under this paragraph shall be extended in the 1-year period beginning October 1, 2003, and in each of the 23 succeeding 1-year periods, to imports of apparel articles in an amount not to exceed the applicable percentage of the aggregate square meter equivalents of all apparel articles imported into the United States in the preceding 12-month period for which data are available. (ii) Applicable percentageFor purposes of this subparagraph, the term “applicable percentage” means—(I) 4.747 percent for the 1-year period beginning October 1, 2003, increased in each of the 5 succeeding 1-year periods by equal increments, so that for the 1-year period beginning October 1, 2007, the applicable percentage does not exceed 7 percent; and (II) for each succeeding 1-year period until December 31, 2026, not to exceed 7 percent. (B) Surge mechanism(i) Import monitoringThe Secretary of Commerce shall monitor imports of articles described in this paragraph on a monthly basis to determine if there has been a surge in imports of such articles. In order to permit public access to preliminary international trade data and to facilitate the early identification of potentially disruptive import surges, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget may grant an exception to the publication dates established for the release of data on United States international trade in covered articles, if the Director notifies Congress of the early release of the data. (ii) Determination of damage or threat thereofWhenever the Secretary of Commerce determines, based on the data described in clause (i), or pursuant to a written request made by an interested party, that there has been a surge in imports of an article described in this paragraph from a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country, the Secretary shall determine whether such article from such country is being imported in such increased quantities as to cause serious damage, or threat thereof, to the domestic industry producing a like or directly competitive article. If the Secretary’s determination is affirmative, the President shall suspend the duty-free treatment provided for such article under this paragraph. If the inquiry is initiated at the request of an interested party, the Secretary shall make the determination within 60 days after the date of the request. (iii) Factors to considerIn determining whether a domestic industry has been seriously damaged, or is threatened with serious damage, the Secretary shall examine the effect of the imports on relevant economic indicators such as domestic production, sales, market share, capacity utilization, inventories, employment, profits, exports, prices, and investment. (iv) Procedure(I) InitiationThe Secretary of Commerce shall initiate an inquiry within 10 days after receiving a written request and supporting information for an inquiry from an interested party. Notice of initiation of an inquiry shall be published in the Federal Register. (II) Participation by interested partiesThe Secretary of Commerce shall establish procedures to ensure participation in the inquiry by interested parties. (III) Notice of determinationThe Secretary shall publish the determination described in clause (ii) in the Federal Register. (IV) Information availableIf relevant information is not available on the record or any party withholds information that has been requested by the Secretary, the Secretary shall make the determination on the basis of the facts available. When the Secretary relies on information submitted in the inquiry as facts available, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, corroborate the information from independent sources that are reasonably available to the Secretary. (v) Interested partyFor purposes of this subparagraph, the term “interested party” means any producer of a like or directly competitive article, a certified union or recognized union or group of workers which is representative of an industry engaged in the manufacture, production, or sale in the United States of a like or directly competitive article, a trade or business association representing producers or sellers of like or directly competitive articles, producers engaged in the production of essential inputs for like or directly competitive articles, a certified union or group of workers which is representative of an industry engaged in the manufacture, production, or sale of essential inputs for the like or directly competitive article, or a trade or business association representing companies engaged in the manufacture, production, or sale of such essential inputs. (4) Sweaters knit-to-shape from cashmere or merino wool(A) CashmereSweaters, in chief weight of cashmere, knit-to-shape in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries and classifiable under subheading 6110.10 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. (B) Merino woolSweaters, 50 percent or more by weight of wool measuring 21.5 microns in diameter or finer, knit-to-shape in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries. (5) Apparel articles wholly assembled from fabric or yarn not available in commercial quantities in the United States(A) In generalApparel articles that are both cut (or knit-to-shape) and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries, to the extent that apparel articles of such fabrics or yarns would be eligible for preferential treatment, without regard to the source of the fabrics or yarns, under Annex 4–B of the USMCA. (B) Additional apparel articlesAt the request of any interested party and subject to the following requirements, the President is authorized to proclaim the treatment provided under subparagraph (A) for yarns or fabrics not described in subparagraph (A) if—(i) the President determines that such yarns or fabrics cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner; (ii) the President has obtained advice regarding the proposed action from the appropriate advisory committee established under section 2155 of this title and the United States International Trade Commission; (iii) within 60 calendar days after the request, the President has submitted a report to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate that sets forth—(I) the action proposed to be proclaimed and the reasons for such action; and (II) the advice obtained under clause (ii); (iv) a period of 60 calendar days, beginning with the first day on which the President has met the requirements of subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (iii), has expired; and (v) the President has consulted with such committees regarding the proposed action during the period referred to in clause (iii). (C) Removal of designation of fabrics or yarns not available in commercial quantitiesIf the President determines that any fabric or yarn was determined to be eligible for preferential treatment under subparagraph (A) on the basis of fraud, the President is authorized to remove that designation from that fabric or yarn with respect to articles entered after such removal. (6) Handloomed, handmade, folklore articles and ethnic printed fabrics(A) In generalA handloomed, handmade, folklore article or an ethnic printed fabric of a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country or countries that is certified as such by the competent authority of such beneficiary country or countries. For purposes of this section, the President, after consultation with the beneficiary sub-Saharan African country or countries concerned, shall determine which, if any, particular textile and apparel goods of the country (or countries) shall be treated as being handloomed, handmade, or folklore articles or an ethnic printed fabric. (B) Requirements for ethnic printed fabricEthnic printed fabrics qualified under this paragraph are—(i) fabrics containing a selvedge on both edges, having a width of less than 50 inches, classifiable under subheading 5208.52.30 or 5208.52.40 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States; (ii) of the type that contains designs, symbols, and other characteristics of African prints—(I) normally produced for and sold on the indigenous African market; and (II) normally sold in Africa by the piece as opposed to being tailored into garments before being sold in indigenous African markets; (iii) printed, including waxed, in one or more eligible beneficiary sub-Saharan countries; and (iv) fabrics formed in the United States, from yarns formed in the United States, or from fabric formed in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African country from yarn originating in either the United States or one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries. (7) Apparel articles assembled in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries from United States and beneficiary sub-Saharan African country componentsApparel articles sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries with thread formed in the United States from components cut in the United States and one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries or former beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries from fabric wholly formed in the United States from yarns wholly formed in the United States, or from components knit-to-shape in the United States and one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries or former beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries from yarns wholly formed in the United States, or both (including fabrics not formed from yarns, if such fabrics are classifiable under heading 5602 or 5603 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States). (8) Textile articles originating entirely in one or more lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African countriesTextile and textile articles classifiable under chapters 50 through 60 or chapter 63 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States that are products of a lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African country and are wholly formed in one or more such countries from fibers, yarns, fabrics, fabric components, or components knit-to-shape that are the product of one or more such countries. (c) Lesser developed countries(1) Preferential treatment of products through December 31, 2026(A) Products coveredIn addition to the products described in subsection (b) 22 So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma. the preferential treatment described in subsection (a) shall apply through December 31, 2026, to apparel articles wholly assembled, or knit-to-shape and wholly assembled, or both, in one or more lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries, regardless of the country of origin of the fabric or the yarn used to make such articles, in an amount not to exceed the applicable percentage of the aggregate square meter equivalents of all apparel articles imported into the United States in the preceding 12-month period for which data are available. (B) Applicable percentageFor purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “applicable percentage” means—(i) 2.9285 percent for the 1-year period beginning on October 1, 2005; and (ii) 3.5 percent for the 1-year period beginning on October 1, 2006, and each 1-year period thereafter through December 31, 2026. (2) Applicability of other provisionsSubsection (b)(3)(B) applies to apparel articles eligible for preferential treatment under this subsection to the same extent as that subsection applies to apparel articles eligible for preferential treatment under subsection (b)(3). (3) DefinitionIn this subsection, the term “lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African country” means—(A) a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country that had a per capita gross national product of less than $1,500 in 1998, as measured by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development; (B) Botswana; (C) Namibia; and (D) Mauritius. (d) Treatment of quotas on textile and apparel imports from Kenya and MauritiusThe President shall eliminate the existing quotas on textile and apparel articles imported into the United States—(1) from Kenya within 30 days after that country adopts an effective visa system to prevent unlawful transshipment of textile and apparel articles and the use of counterfeit documents relating to the importation of the articles into the United States; and (2) from Mauritius within 30 days after that country adopts such a visa system. The Customs Service shall provide the necessary technical assistance to Kenya and Mauritius in the development and implementation of the visa systems. (e) Special rules(1) Findings and trimmings(A) General ruleAn article otherwise eligible for preferential treatment under this section shall not be ineligible for such treatment because the article contains findings or trimmings of foreign origin, if the value of such findings and trimmings do not exceed 25 percent of the cost of the components of the assembled article. Examples of findings and trimmings are sewing thread, hooks and eyes, snaps, buttons, “bow buds”, decorative lace trim, elastic strips, and zippers, including zipper tapes and labels. Elastic strips are considered findings or trimmings only if they are each less than 1 inch in width and used in the production of brassieres. (B) Certain interlinings(i) General ruleAn article otherwise eligible for preferential treatment under this section shall not be ineligible for such treatment because the article contains certain interlinings of foreign origin, if the value of such interlinings (and any findings and trimmings) does not exceed 25 percent of the cost of the components of the assembled article. (ii) Interlinings describedInterlinings eligible for the treatment described in clause (i) include only a chest type plate, a “hymo” piece, or “sleeve header”, of woven or weft-inserted warp knit construction and of coarse animal hair or man-made filaments. (iii) Termination of treatmentThe treatment described in this subparagraph shall terminate if the President makes a determination that United States manufacturers are producing such interlinings in the United States in commercial quantities. (C) ExceptionIn the case of an article described in subsection (b)(2), sewing thread shall not be treated as findings or trimmings under subparagraph (A). (2) De minimis ruleAn article otherwise eligible for preferential treatment under this section shall not be ineligible for such treatment because the article contains fibers or yarns not wholly formed in the United States or one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries or former beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries if the total weight of all such fibers and yarns is not more than 10 percent of the total weight of the article. (3) Certain componentsAn article otherwise eligible for preferential treatment under this section will not be ineligible for such treatment because the article contains—(A) any collars or cuffs (cut or knit-to-shape), (B) drawstrings, (C) shoulder pads or other padding, (D) waistbands, (E) belt attached to the article, (F) straps containing elastic, or (G) elbow patches, that do not meet the requirements set forth in subsections (b) and (c), regardless of the country of origin of the item referred to in the applicable subparagraph of this paragraph. (f) DefinitionsIn this section and section 3722 of this title:(1) Agreement on textiles and clothingThe term “Agreement on Textiles and Clothing” means the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing referred to in section 3511(d)(4) of this title. (2) Beneficiary sub-Saharan African country, etc.The terms “beneficiary sub-Saharan African country” and “beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries” have the same meaning as such terms have under section 2466a(c) of this title. (3) USMCAThe term “USMCA” has the meaning given that term in section 4502 of this title. (4) Former sub-Saharan African countryThe term “former 33 So in original. Probably should be followed by “beneficiary”. sub-Saharan African country” means a country that, after being designated as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country under this chapter 44 See References in Text note below., ceased to be designated as such a beneficiary sub-Saharan country by reason of its entering into a free trade agreement with the United States. (5) Enter; enteredThe terms “enter” and “entered” refer to the entry, or withdrawal from warehouse for consumption, in the customs territory of the United States. (g) Effective dateThis section takes effect on October 1, 2000, and shall remain in effect through December 31, 2026.

19 U.S.C. § 3722 Protections against transshipment

(a) Preferential treatment conditioned on enforcement measures(1) In generalThe preferential treatment under section 3721(a) of this title shall not be provided to textile and apparel articles that are imported from a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country unless that country—(A) has adopted an effective visa system, domestic laws, and enforcement procedures applicable to covered articles to prevent unlawful transshipment of the articles and the use of counterfeit documents relating to the importation of the articles into the United States; (B) has enacted legislation or promulgated regulations that would permit United States Customs Service verification teams to have the access necessary to investigate thoroughly allegations of transshipment through such country; (C) agrees to report, on a timely basis, at the request of the United States Customs Service, on the total exports from and imports into that country of covered articles, consistent with the manner in which the records are kept by that country; (D) will cooperate fully with the United States to address and take action necessary to prevent circumvention as provided in Article 5 of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing; (E) agrees to require all producers and exporters of covered articles in that country to maintain complete records of the production and the export of covered articles, including materials used in the production, for at least 2 years after the production or export (as the case may be); and (F) agrees to report, on a timely basis, at the request of the United States Customs Service, documentation establishing the country of origin of covered articles as used by that country in implementing an effective visa system. (2) Country of origin documentationFor purposes of paragraph (1)(F), documentation regarding the country of origin of the covered articles includes documentation such as production records, information relating to the place of production, the number and identification of the types of machinery used in production, the number of workers employed in production, and certification from both the manufacturer and the exporter. (b) Customs procedures and enforcement(1) In general(A) RegulationsAny importer that claims preferential treatment under section 3721 of this title shall comply with customs procedures similar in all material respects to the requirements of article 5.4.1 of the USMCA as implemented pursuant to United States law, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the Treasury. (B) Determination(i) In generalIn order to qualify for the preferential treatment under section 3721 of this title and for a Certificate of Origin to be valid with respect to any article for which such treatment is claimed, there shall be in effect a determination by the President that each country described in clause (ii)—(I) has implemented and follows; or (II) is making substantial progress toward implementing and following, procedures and requirements similar in all material respects to the relevant procedures and requirements under chapter 5 of the USMCA. (ii) Country describedA country is described in this clause if it is a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country—(I) from which the article is exported; or (II) in which materials used in the production of the article originate or in which the article or such materials, undergo production that contributes to a claim that the article is eligible for preferential treatment. (2) Certificate of OriginThe Certificate of Origin that otherwise would be required pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) shall not be required in the case of an article imported under section 3721 of this title if such Certificate of Origin would not be required under article 5.5 of the USMCA (as implemented pursuant to United States law), if the article were imported from Mexico. (3) Penalties for exportersIf the President determines, based on sufficient evidence, that an exporter has engaged in transshipment as defined in paragraph (4), then the President shall deny for a period of 5 years all benefits under section 3721 of this title to such exporter, any successor of such exporter, and any other entity owned or operated by the principal of the exporter. (4) Transshipment describedTransshipment within the meaning of this subsection has occurred when preferential treatment for a textile or apparel article under this chapter 11 See References in Text note below. has been claimed on the basis of material false information concerning the country of origin, manufacture, processing, or assembly of the article or any of its components. For purposes of this paragraph, false information is material if disclosure of the true information would mean or would have meant that the article is or was ineligible for preferential treatment under section 3721 of this title. (5) Monitoring and reports to CongressThe Customs Service shall monitor and the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall submit to Congress, not later than March 31 of each year, a report on the effectiveness of the visa systems and the implementation of legislation and regulations described in subsection (a) and on measures taken by countries in sub-Saharan Africa which export textiles or apparel to the United States to prevent circumvention as described in Article 5 of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing. (c) Customs Service enforcementThe Customs Service shall—(1) make available technical assistance to the beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries—(A) in the development and implementation of visa systems, legislation, and regulations described in subsection (a)(1)(A); and (B) to train their officials in anti-transshipment enforcement; (2) send production verification teams to at least four beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries each year; and (3) to the extent feasible, place beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries on the Electronic Visa (ELVIS) program. (d) Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out subsection (c) the sum of $5,894,913.

19 U.S.C. § 3723 Free trade agreements with sub-Saharan African countries

(a) Declaration of policyCongress declares that free trade agreements should be negotiated, where feasible, with interested countries in sub-Saharan Africa, in order to serve as the catalyst for increasing trade between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa and increasing private sector investment in sub-Saharan Africa. (b) Plan requirement(1) In generalThe President, taking into account the provisions of the treaty establishing the African Economic Community and the willingness of the governments of sub-Saharan African countries to engage in negotiations to enter into free trade agreements, shall develop a plan for the purpose of negotiating and entering into one or more trade agreements with interested beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries. (2) Elements of planThe plan shall include the following:(A) The specific objectives of the United States with respect to negotiations described in paragraph (1) and a suggested timetable for achieving those objectives. (B) The benefits to both the United States and the relevant sub-Saharan African countries with respect to the applicable free trade agreement or agreements. (C) A mutually agreed-upon timetable for the negotiations. (D) The implications for and the role of regional and sub-regional organizations in sub-Saharan Africa with respect to such free trade agreement or agreements. (E) Subject matter anticipated to be covered by the negotiations and United States laws, programs, and policies, as well as the laws of participating eligible African countries and existing bilateral and multilateral and economic cooperation and trade agreements, that may be affected by the agreement or agreements. (F) Procedures to ensure the following:(i) Adequate consultation with the Congress and the private sector during the negotiations. (ii) Consultation with the Congress regarding all matters relating to implementation of the agreement or agreements. (iii) Approval by the Congress of the agreement or agreements. (iv) Adequate consultations with the relevant African governments and African regional and subregional intergovernmental organizations during the negotiation of the agreement or agreements. (c) Reporting requirementNot later than 12 months after May 18, 2000, the President shall prepare and transmit to the Congress a report containing the plan developed pursuant to subsection (b).

19 U.S.C. § 3724 Assistant United States Trade Representative for African Affairs

It is the sense of the Congress that— (1) the position of Assistant United States Trade Representative for African Affairs is integral to the United States commitment to increasing United States-sub-Saharan African trade and investment; (2) the position of Assistant United States Trade Representative for African Affairs should be maintained within the Office of the United States Trade Representative to direct and coordinate interagency activities on United States-Africa trade policy and investment matters and serve as—(A) a primary point of contact in the executive branch for those persons engaged in trade between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa; and (B) the chief advisor to the United States Trade Representative on issues of trade and investment with Africa; and (3) the United States Trade Representative should have adequate funding and staff to carry out the duties of the Assistant United States Trade Representative for African Affairs described in paragraph (2), subject to the availability of appropriations.

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