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GENERAL AGREEMENT ON CONFIDENTIAL
TARIFFS AND TRADE TEX.SB/643*
7 May 1981
Textiles Surveillance Body
ARRANGEMENT REGARDING INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN TEXTILES
Notification under Article 4:4
Amendment to the Bilateral Agreement between the United States and Hong Kong
Note by the Chairman
Attached is a notification received from the United States concerning a further amendment to its bilateral agreement, under Article 4 of the MFA with Hong Kong.1
1/ For original agreement and previous amendments see COM.TEX/SB/321, 393, 413, 438, 488 and 563.
English only/Anglais seulement.
UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE 1-3 AVENUE DE LA PAIX
1202 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND Telephone: 320970
May 4 , 1 9 8 1
The Honorable Ambassador Paul Wurth Chairman, Textiles Surveillance Body GATT 154, rue de Lausanne CH-1211 Geneva 21
Dear Mr. Chairman:
Pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 4 of Article 4 of the Arrangement Regarding International Trade in Textiles, I am instructed by my government to inform the Textiles Surveillance Body of the further amendment of the cotton, wool and man-made fiber textile agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Hong Kong. The original bilateral agreement and prior amendments have been notified and circulated as COM.TEX/SB/321, 393, 438, 488, 563, and 663.
Pursuant to this latest amendment:
(1) the specific limit'for Category 640 (man-made fiber shirts) was removed and this category was made subject to the export authorization (EA) system as outlined in paragraph 9 of the Agreement.
(2) the Government of Hong Kong agreed for the 1981 Agreement Year only:
(a) not to utilize carry over or carry forward and to limit utilization of swing to 5 percent in respect of the following nine categories: 331, 333/4/5, 338/9, 338/9 (1), 340, 341, 347/8, 638/9, 641;
(b) not to utilize carry over in respect of the following three categories: 337, 342, 635;
(c) not to utilize carry forward in respect of the following two categories: 345, 648.
(3) the specific levels for two categories and the sublimit for one merged category were increased for the 1981 Agreement Year only.
Attached hereto are copies of the letters giving effect to this amendment.
Sincerely,
ïrt ET~ Shepherd Minister Counselor
Attachments : as stated
—For f u r t l i e r m r u r m u i i u i i - t t
'ARTMENT OF STA1
March 20, IS 81 No. 70
UNITED STATES AND HONG KONG AMEND TEXTILE AGREEMENT
The United States and Hong Kong exchanged letters March 13, 1981 to amend the existing bilateral textile agreement. The texts of the letters follow:
UNITED STATES LETTER
March 13, 1981
Mr. Lawrence Mills Acting Director Trade, Industry and Customs Ocean Centre, Canton Road Kowloon, Hong Kong
Dear Sir:
I have the honor to refer* to the Agreement concerning trade in Cotton, Wool and Man-Made Fiber Textiles and Textile Products between the Government of Hong Kong and the Government of the United States of America dated 8 August 1977, with annexes, and as amended from time to time (hereinafter called "the Agreement"). I further refer to consultations between the two Governments which took place in Hong Kong, 13-15 November 1980, and 24 February 1981.
As a result of the consultations, I propose on behalf of the Government of the United States of America that the Agreement be amended as follows:
EB/TEX:MHenderson (202)632-2777
F o r f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n c o n t a c t :
PR#70
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(1) that Category 640 shall, as from 1 January 1981, cease to be subject to the Specific Limits set out in Annex A of the Agreement and shall instead become subject to Paragraph 9 of the Agreement.
(2) In respect of the 1981 Agreement Year only, Hong Kong undertakes as follows:
(A) Not to utilize carryover and carryforward in respect of each of the following categories:
331 333/4/5 338/9 338/9 (1) 340 341 347/8 638/9 641
(B) Not to utilize carryover in respect .of each of the following categories:
337 342 635
(C) Not to utilize carryforward in respect of each of the following categories:
345 648 %
(D) To limit utilization of swing to not more than 5 percent in respect of each of the following categories:
331 333/4/5 338/9
. 338/9 (1) 340 341 347/8 638/9 641
Sub-paragraphs (A), (B), (C) and (D) hereof shall not affect the flexibility provisions for Group II as provided for in the Agreement signed on 8 August 1977
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(3) In exercise of the provisions of Paragraph 8 of the Agreement, the unadjusted Specific Levels for Categories 317 and 336 shall be increased by 2,834/000 square yards equivalent and 13,894 dozen, respectively. These increases shall be effective for the 1981 Agreement Year only and shall not be taken into account for the purposes of utilization of flexibility.
(4) In relation to the merged Category 333/4/5, the 1981 Sub-limit for merged Category 333/4 shall be increased by five percentage points to 246,471 dozen. This adjustment shall not constitute any increase in the limit for Sub-category 335 or for the merged Category 333/4/5.
If the foregoing arrangement is acceptable to the Government of Hong Kong, this letter and your letter of acceptance shall constitute an amendment to the Agreement.
In addition to the foregoing proposed amendment to the Agreement and arising from the same consultations, it was further agreed that the arrangements for 1981 would not prejudice the position of either Government, vis-a-vis the negotiations being held in the GATT Textiles Committee on the future of the MPA.
Further, both Governments affirmed that Hong Kong's exports of cotton, wool and man-made fiber textiles and apparel to the United States of America should continue to be 'governed by a bilateral Agreement in 1982.
Finally, both Governments agreed to review the existing bilateral Agreement in the light of the results of the negotiations on the MFA.
Sincerely,
/s/ Thomas P. Shoesmith
Thomas P. Shoesmith Consul General
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HONG KONG LETTER
March 13, 1981
Mr. Thomas P. Shoesmith Consul General American Consulate General Hong Kong
Dear Mr. Shoesmith:
I refer to your letter dated 13 March 1981 regarding an amendment to the Agreement concerning trade in Cotton, Wool and Man-Made Fibre Textiles and Textile Products between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Hong Kong, of 8 August 1977, with Annexes, as amended. I wish to confirm that this letter and your letter constitute an amendment to the Agreement, such amendment being without prejudice to the position of either Government in the negotiations on the future of the MFA. Further, I wish to confirm the understanding about 1982.
Accept, Sir, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.
Sincerely,
/s/ Lawrence Mills
Lawrence Mills
TJ/aj lU.5.81
United States/Hong Kong (TEX.SB/6U3)
Original agreement and previous amendment :
Period of agreement:
Product coverage:
COM. TEX/SB/3 21,393 ,U38 ,U88,563,663
1 January 1978 - 31 December 1982
Cotton, wool, m.m.f.
Present notification
The present notification should be seen with a previous amendment contained
in COM.TEX/SB/563. TSB's observations on this amendment is contained in
COM.TEX/SB/56U (attached). The amendment contains the following:
1. Previous amendment
5% Swing
No carry-over/
carry forward
No carry-over
(applicable 1980 only)
( 331
( 333A/5
( 338/9
( 3̂ 0
( 3Ul
( 3U7/8
( 638/9
( 6Ul
( 6U0
Category
(gloves)
(coats)
(knit shirts and blouses)
(woven shirts)
(woven blouses)
(trousers)
(knit shirts and blouses)
(woven blouses)
(woven shirts)
•
No carry forward
Present amendment (applicable 198l onl
331
333A/5
338/9
3U0
3U1
3 W 8
638/9
6U1 _1/
337 (playsuits)
3U2 (skirts)
635 (coats WGI)
3̂ 5 (sweaters)
6U8 (trousers WGI)
—See 2 below
M
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2. Category 6Uo which was under specific limit, has become subject
to the Export Authorization System as introduced by the previous
amendment.
3. Increase in specific limits for 198l agreement year only:
Cat egory
317 (twills and sateens)
336 (dresses)
Sub-limit:
333A (coats M and B)
333A/5 (coats)
Previous 1981 limit
52,781,659 SYE (COM.TEX/SB/321)
199,605 doz. (COM.TEX/SB/663)
236,201 doz. (COM.TEX/SB/321)
UU8,50U doz.
New 1981 limit
55,615,659 SYE
213,1+99 doz.
2U6,H71 doz. ( i n c r e a s e 1+.35&)
1+1+8,501+ doz.