WORLD TRADE G/TMB/N/281
22July1997
ORGANIZATION(97-2998)
Original: English Textiles Monitoring Body
AGREEMENT ONTEXTILES AND CLOTHING
Notification under Article 2.17
UNITED STATES
Administrative Arrangements withMauritius
TheTextiles Monitoring Body hasreceived anotification fromtheUnited States pursuant to
paragraph 17ofArticle 2.TheTMB iscirculating thisnotification toWTO Members fortheir
information.G/TMB/N/281
Page2
Executive Office ofthePresident
Office oftheUnited States Trade Representative
14April 1997
TheHonourable Ambassador András Szepesi
Chairman
Textiles Monitoring Body
World Trade Organization
RuedeLausanne
1211 Geneva
Dear Ambassador Szepesi,
Attached youwillfindmyGovernment 'snotification ofAdministrative Arrangements for
Bangladesh, Jamaica, Kenya, Mauritius1andPoland made pursuant toArticle 2.17oftheAgreement
onTextiles andClothing. Inaddition, Iamsubmitting corrected copies ofprevious 2.17notifications
forPakistan andHaiti. InthecaseofPakistan, thecorrected notification includes paragraph 3ofthe
bilateral agreement which wasmistakenly omitted from ouroriginal notification. Inaddition, the
corrected version ofthenotification forHaiti omits paragraph 5ofthebilateral agreement which was
mistakenly included intheoriginal notification.
Sincerely,
(signed) Ambassador RitaHayes
Chief Textile Negotiator
1This document contains theAdministrative Arrangements concluded with Mauritius. Administrative
Arrangements concluded withtheother Members listed above willbecirculated asseparate documents.
Note: Annex Breferred tointhetextcontains thelistofrestrictions notified bytheUnited States pursuant to
Article 2.1andassuch itisnotpartoftheAdministrative Arrangements.G/TMB/N/281
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MAURITIUS
Thefollowing provisions aredrawn from theUnited States -Mauritius bilateral textile and
apparel agreement of17March, 1July, and29July1994 andhavebeenagreed tobenecessary for
theproper implementation ofrestrictions notified totheTextiles Monitoring Body under Article 2.1
oftheAgreement onTextiles andClothing.
Coverage oftheAgreement
2.(A) Textiles andtextile products covered bythisAgreement arethose summarized inAnnex A.
Thesystem ofcategories andtheratesofconversion intosquare metre equivalents listed in
Annex Ashallapply inimplementing thisAgreement.
Classification
3.(A) Forthepurposes ofthisAgreement, textile products shallbeclassified ascotton, wool, or
man-made fibretextiles ifwholly orinchief value ofanyofthese fibres. Products covered
bythissubparagraph butnotinchief value ofcotton, wool, orman-made fibre shall be
classified as:
(I) Cotton textiles ifcontaining 50percentormore byweight ofcotton, orifthecotton
withwool and/or man-made fibres intheaggregate equal orexceed 50percentby
weight andthecotton component equals orexceeds theweight ofeachofthetotal
wool and/or man-made fibrecomponents.
(II) Wool textiles ifnotcotton, andwool equals orexceeds 17percentbyweight ofall
component fibres: and
(III) Man-made fibre textiles ifnotcotton orwool asdescribed in(I)or(II)above and
containing 50percentormore byweight ofman-made fibre, orifman-made fibre
incombination withcotton and/or wool intheaggregate equal orexceed 50percent
byweight ofthecomponent fibres andtheman-made fibre component exceeds the
weight ofthetotalwool and/or totalcotton component.
(B) Thesystem ofcategories andtherateofconversion intosquare yards equivalent listed in
Annex Ashallapply inimplementing thisAgreement.
(C) Forpurposes ofcomputing limits andcharges theratesofconversion forindividual categories
setoutinAnnex Ashallbeapplied.
Specific Limits
5. Commencing with thefirstagreement period andduring thesubsequent term ofthis
Agreement, theGovernment ofMauritius shall limit annual exports from Mauritius tothe
United States ofcotton, wool, andman-made fibretextiles andtextile products tothespecific limits
setoutinAnnex B,assuchspecific limits maybeadjusted inaccordance withParagraph 5.
Flexibility Adjustments
6.(A) During anyagreement period, thespecific limits setoutinAnnex B,excluding theknitgroup
limit, maybeexceeded bynotmore thanseven (7)percentswing (fivepercentforwool
categories), provided thatacorresponding reduction insquare metres equivalent ismade inG/TMB/N/281
Page4
oneormore other specific limits during thesame agreement year. Special shiftof7percent
shall beavailable between categories 347/348 and647/648/847. Special shiftoftwenty
(20)percentshallbeavailable between categories 338/339 and638/639.
(B) TheGovernment ofMauritius shall indicate totheGovernment oftheUnited States the
specific limititintends toincrease andwhich itwishes todecrease.
(C) Theextent towhich anyspecific limitsetoutinAnnex Bmaybeexceeded inanyagreement
period bycarry forward (borrowing aportion ofthecorresponding specific limitfrom the
succeeding agreement period) and/or carryover (theuseofunused yardage-shortfall ofthe
corresponding specific limitfortheprevious agreement period) isten(10)percentofwhich
carry forward shallnotconstitute more thanfive(5)percent.
(D) Forthepurposes oftheAgreement, ashortfall occurs when exports oftextiles ortextile
products fromMauritius totheUnited States during anagreement yeararebelow anyspecific
limit assetoutinAnnex Bor,inthecaseofanylimitdecreased pursuant toparagraph 5,
when suchexports arebelow thelimitasdecreased.
(E) Nocarryover shall beavailable forapplication inthefirstagreement period. Nocarry
forward shallbeavailable forapplication inthefinalagreement period.
(F) TheGovernment ofMauritius willnotify theGovernment oftheUnited States when itwishes
touseunused yardage (shortfall) available incategories forcarryover orwhen itwishes to
usecarry forward, subject totheprovisions setoutabove.
Overshipment Charges
7.(A) Exports fromMauritius inexcess ofauthorized limits inanyagreement period maybedenied
entry intotheUnited States. Anysuchshipments denied entry maybepermitted entry into
theUnited States andcharged totheapplicable limitinthesucceeding agreement period. The
Government oftheUnited States shall inform theGovernment ofMauritius ofanysuch
charges.
(B) Exports fromMauritius inexcess ofauthorized limits inanyagreement period will,ifallowed
entry intotheUnited States during thatagreement period becharged totheapplicable limit
inthesucceeding agreement period.
(C) Anyaction taken pursuant tothisparagraph willnotprejudice therights ofeither side
regarding consultations.
Spacing Provision
8. TheGovernment ofMauritius shalluseitsbestefforts tospace exports totheUnited States
within eachcategory, sub-category, orpartcategory evenly throughout eachagreement period, taking
intoconsideration normal seasonal factors.
USAssistance inImplementation oftheLimitation Provisions
9. TheGovernment ofMauritius shalladminister itsexport control system under thisAgreement.
TheGovernment oftheUnited States mayassist theGovernment ofMauritius inimplementing the
limitation provision ofthisAgreement bycontrolling imports bythedateofexport, oftextiles and
textile products covered bythisAgreement.G/TMB/N/281
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Exchange ofData
10. TheGovernment oftheUnited States shallpromptly supply theGovernment ofMauritius with
dataonmonthly imports ofcotton, man-made fibre andwool textiles andtextile products intothe
United States fromMauritius. TheGovernment ofMauritius shallpromptly supply theGovernment
oftheUnited States withdataonmonthly exports ofcotton, man-made fibre, wooltextiles andtextile
products fromMauritius totheUnited States. EachGovernment agrees tosupply promptly anyother
available statistical datanecessary totheimplementation ofthisAgreement.
Mutually Satisfactory Administrative Arrangements
11. Mutually satisfactory administrative arrangements oradjustments maybemade toresolve
minor problems arising intheimplementation ofthisAgreement, including difference inpoints of
procedure oroperation.
Consultation onImplementation Questions
12. TheGovernment oftheUnited States andtheGovernment ofMauritius agree, upon the
request oftheother, toconsult onanyquestion arising intheimplementation ofthisAgreement.
VisaSystem
16. BothGovernments agree toestablish acorrect category/correct quantity visasystem.
Cooperation inthePrevention ofCircumvention
18. TheGovernment oftheUnited States recognizes thattheGovernment ofMauritius hasfully
cooperated withtheUnited States incombatting circumvention andiscurrently satisfied thatgiven
thegood pastrecord oftheGovernment ofMauritius andtheclose cooperation between thetwo
countries, cooperation willbereinforced bythefollowing provisions.
(A) TheGovernment oftheUnited States andtheGovernment ofMauritius agree totake
measures necessary toaddress, toinvestigate and,where appropriate, totakelegal and/or
administrative action toprevent circumvention ofthisAgreement including bytransshipment,
rerouting, falsedeclaration concerning country oforigin orfalsification ofofficial documents.
(B) Bothparties agree tocooperate fully, consistent withtheirdomestic lawsandprocedures, in
instances ofcircumvention oralleged circumvention oftheAgreement toaddress problems
arising fromcircumvention andtoestablish therelevant factsintheplaces ofimport, export
and, where applicable, transshipment. Such cooperation, totheextent consistent with
domestic lawsandprocedures, willinclude investigation ofcircumvention practices; exchange
ofdocuments, correspondence, reports andother relevant information totheextent available;
andfacilitation ofunannounced plant visits andcontacts byrepresentatives ofeither party,
upon request andonacase-by-case basis.
(C) Ifeither party reasonably believes thatthisAgreement isbeing circumvented, itmayrequest
consultations toaddress thematter ormatters concerned withaview toseeking amutually
satisfactory solution. Eachparty agrees toholdsuchconsultations promptly, beginning within
30daysofreceipt byaparty ofarequest accompanied byanexplanation fortherequest from
theother party, andconcluding within 90days, unless extended bymutual agreement, and
tocooperate fullyinterms oftheelements setoutinparagraph (B)above.G/TMB/N/281
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(D) Should theparties beunable toreach asatisfactory solution inthecourse oftheconsultations
called forunder paragraph (C),thentheGovernments ofMauritius andtheUnited States
agree thatincases where clear evidence regarding circumvention hasbeen provided, the
United States maydeduct from thequantitative limits forthatagreement period amounts at
leastequivalent totheamount oftransshipped products ofMauritian origin. Theamounts
transshipped shallbetheamounts andthecountry oforigin shallbethecountry oforigin so
determined byUSCustoms. Inaddition, theGovernments ofMauritius andtheUnited States
agree thatdeductions from thequantitative limits established under thisAgreement maybe
made inthose instances inwhich: a)theUSpossesses factual information which ithas
provided tothecustoms authorities oftheGovernment ofMauritius showing asubstantial
likelihood thatcircumvention hasoccurred; b)theUShasrequested from Mauritius
cooperation orinformation relevant tothepossible circumvention thatisofatypethatis
available toorcould reasonably beobtained bytheGovernment ofMauritius; andc)andthe
Government ofMauritius hasnotprovided suchinformation orcooperation within theperiod
forconsultation outlined inparagraph (C).
(E) Should theUnited States choose toexercise itsrights under paragraph (D)todeduct an
amount oramounts from thequantitative limits ofacountry where repeated instances of
circumvention havebeendemonstrated within thecurrent orimmediately preceding agreement
year, thentheUnited States maydeduct fromthequantitative limitamounts uptothree times
theamounts transshipped, provided thatsuchdeductions aredistributed equally ineachofthe
three following years.
(F) Where there isclear evidence showing thatgoods originating inanother country havebeen
shipped through Mauritius totheUnited States asthough theywere products ofMauritius,
theGovernments ofMauritius andtheUnited States agree totakeappropriate action. Such
action mayinclude theintroduction ofrestraints intherelevant category orcategories or
deducting theamount ofgoods soshipped from thequantitative limits established forthe
current agreement yearunder thisAgreement forshipments originating inMauritius. Any
suchactions, together withtheirtiming andscope, maybetaken onlyafterconsultation held
withaview ofarriving atamutually satisfactory solution. Such consultations willbeheld
promptly, beginning within 30daysofreceipt byaparty ofarequest accompanied byan
explanation fortherequest from theother party, andconcluding within 90days, unless
extended bymutual agreement. Should theparties beunable toreach asatisfactory solution,
thentheGovernment ofMauritius andtheUnited States agree thatincases where clear
evidence regarding circumvention hasbeen provided, theUnited States mayintroduce a
restraint or,where arestraint already exists, may deduct from thequantitative limits
established under thisAgreement anamount equivalent totheamount ofproduct transshipped
through Mauritius. Among other factors, theGovernment oftheUnited States, during
consultations, mayconsider previous Government ofMauritius concrete accomplishments in
combating transshipment.
(G) Parties notethatsome cases ofcircumvention mayinvolve shipments transiting through
countries orplaces withnochanges oralterations made tothegoods contained insuch
shipments intheplaces oftransit. They notethatitmaynotbegenerally practicable forsuch
places oftransit toexercise control oversuchshipments.
(H) Parties agree thatfalse declaration concerning fibre content, quantities, description or
classifications ofmerchandise alsofrustrates theobjective ofthisAgreement. Where there
isclearevidence thatanysuchfalsedeclaration hasbeenmade forpurposes ofcircumvention,
bothparties agree totakeappropriate measures, consistent withtheir domestic laws and
procedures, against exporters orimporters involved. Should either party believe thatthisG/TMB/N/281
Page7
Agreement isbeing circumvented bysuch false declaration andthatno,orinadequate,
administrative measures arebeing applied toaddress and/or totakeaction against such
circumvention, thatparty should consult promptly withtheparty involved withaview to
seeking amutually satisfactory solution. Such consultations should beheld promptly,
beginning within 30daysofreceipt byaparty ofarequest accompanied byanexplanation
fortherequest from theother party, andconcluding within 90days, unless extended by
mutual agreement. Should theparties beunable toreach asatisfactory solution, thenthe
Governments ofMauritius andtheUnited States agree thatincases where clear evidence
regarding suchfalsedeclarations hasbeenprovided, thentheUnited States maydeduct from
thequantitative limits established forthecurrent agreement yearanamount equivalent tothe
amount ofproduct subject tothefalse declaration orclassification. Thisprovision isnot
intended toprevent parties from making technical adjustments when inadvertent errors in
declarations havebeenmade.
(I) Either party shallhavetherighttochallenge anyaction taken pursuant totheprovisions set
outinthisparagraph through arequest fortheestablishment ofanappropriate General
Agreement onTariffs andTrade panel.G/TMB/N/281
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ANNEX A
Categories numbered inthe:
200series areofcotton and/or man-made fibre
300series areofcotton
400series areofwool
600series areofman-made fibre
800series areofsilkblends ornon-cotton vegetable fibres
CATEGORY DESCRIPTION UNIT CONVERSION
FACTOR
TOSQUARE METRE
YARN
200 Yarns putupforretail sale, kg. 6.60
andsewing thread
201 Specialty yarns kg. 6.50
300 Carded cotton yarn kg. 8.50
301 Combed cotton yarn kg. 8.50
400 Wool yarn kg. 3.70
600 Textured filament yarn kg. 6.50
603 Yarn containing 85%ormore
byweight artificial
staple fibre kg. 6.30
604 Yarn containing 85%ormore by
weight synthetic staple
fibre kg. 7.60
606 Non-textured filament yarn kg. 20.10
607 Other staple fibreyarn kg. 6.50
800 Silkblends ornon-cotton
vegetable fibreyarn kg. 8.50
FABRIC
218 Ofyarns ofdifferent colour m2 1.00
219 Duck m2 1.00
220 Fabric ofspecial weave m2 1.00
222 Knitfabric kg. 12.30
223 Non-woven fabric kg. 14.00
224 Pile&tufted fabric m2 1.00
225 Bluedenim m2 1.00
226 Cheesecloth, batiste, lawn, voile m2 1.00
227 Oxford cloth m2 1.00
229 Special purpose fabric kg. 13.60
313 Sheeting m2 1.00
314 Poplin &broadcloth m2 1.00
315 Printcloth m2 1.00
317 Twills m2 1.00
326 Sateens m2 1.00
410 Woven fabric m2 1.00
414 Other wool fabric kg. 2.80G/TMB/N/281
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611 Woven fabric containing 85%ormore
byweight artificial staple m2 1.00
613 Sheeting m2 1.00
614 Poplin &broadcloth m2 1.00
615 Printcloth m2 1.00
617 Twills &sateens m2 1.00
618 Woven artificial filament fabric m2 1.00
619 Polyester filament fabric m2 1.00
620 Other synthetic filament fabric m2 1.00
621 Impression fabric kg. 14.40
622 Glass fibrefabric m2 1.00
624 MMF fabric, woven, containing more
than15%butlessthan36%wool m2 1.00
625 Poplin &broadcloth ofstaple/
filament fibrecombinations m2 1.00
626 Printcloth ofstaple/filament
fibrecombination m2 1.00
627 Sheeting ofstaple/filament
fibrecombinations m2 1.00
628 Twills &sateens ofstaple/filament
fibrecombinations m2 1.00
629 Other fabrics ofstaple/filament
fibrecombinations m2 1.00
810 Woven fabric, silkblend &non-
cotton vegetable fibre m2 1.00
APPAREL
237 Playsuits, sunsuits, etc. doz 19.20
239 Babies 'garments andclothing
accessories kg. 6.30
330 Handkerchiefs doz 1.40
331 Gloves andmittens dpr 2.90
332 Hosiery dpr 3.80
333 M&B suit-type coats doz 30.30
334 Other M&B coats doz 34.50
335 W&G coats doz 34.50
336 Dresses doz 37.90
338 M&B knitshirts doz 6.00
339 W&G knitshirts &blouses doz 6.00
340 M&B shirts, notknit doz 20.10
341 W&G shirts &blouses, notknit doz 12.10
342 Skirts doz 14.90
345 Sweaters doz 30.80
347 M&B trousers, breeches &shorts doz 14.90
348 W&G trousers, breeches &shorts doz 14.90
349 Brassieres &other body supporting
garments doz 4.00
350 Robes, dressing gowns, etc. doz 42.60
351 Nightwear andpyjamas doz 43.50
352 Underwear doz 9.20
353 M&B down-filled coats doz 34.50
354 W&G down-filled coats doz 34.50G/TMB/N/281
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359 Other cotton apparel kg. 8.50
431 Gloves andmittens dpr 1.80
432 Hosiery dpr 2.30
433 M&B suit-type coats doz 30.10
434 Other M&B coats doz 45.10
435 W&G coats doz 45.10
436 Dresses doz 41.10
438 Knitshirts &blouses doz 12.50
439 Babies 'garments andclothing
accessories kg. 6.30
440 Shirts &blouses, notknit doz 20.10
442 Skirts doz 15.00
443 M&B suits no. 3.76
444 W&G suits no. 3.76
445 M&B sweaters doz 12.40
446 W&G sweaters doz 12.40
447 M&B trousers, breeches &shorts doz 15.00
448 W&G trousers, breeches &shorts doz 15.00
459 Other wool apparel kg. 3.70
630 Handkerchiefs doz 1.40
631 Gloves andmittens dpr 2.90
632 Hosiery doz 3.80
633 M&B suit-type coats doz 30.30
634 Other M&B coats doz 34.50
635 W&G coats doz 34.50
636 Dresses doz 37.90
638 M&B knitshirts doz 15.00
639 W&G knitshirts &blouses doz 12.50
640 M&B shirts, nonknit doz 20.10
641 W&G shirts &blouses, notknit doz 12.10
642 Skirts doz 14.90
643 M&B suits no. 3.76
644 W&G suits no. 3.76
645 M&B sweaters doz 30.80
646 W&G sweaters doz 30.80
647 M&B trousers, breeches &shorts doz 14.90
648 W&G trousers, breeches &shorts doz 14.90
649 Brassieres &other body supporting
garments doz 4.00
650 Robes, dressing gowns, etc. doz 42.60
651 Nightwear andpyjamas doz 43.50
652 Underwear doz 13.40
653 M&B down-filled coats doz 34.50
654 W&G down-filled coats doz 34.50
659 Other man-made fibreapparel kg. 14.40
831 Gloves andmittens dpr 2.90
832 Hosiery dpr 3.80
833 M&B suit-type coats doz 30.30
834 Other M&B coats doz 34.50
835 W&G coats doz 34.50
836 Dresses doz 37.90
838 Knitshirts &blouses doz 11.70G/TMB/N/281
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839 Babies 'garments andclothing
accessories kg. 6.30
840 Shirts &blouses, notknit doz 16.70
842 Skirts doz 14.90
843 M&B suits no. 3.76
844 W&G suits no. 3.76
845 Sweaters ofnon-cotton vegetable
fibres doz 30.80
846 Sweaters, ofsilkblends doz 30.80
847 Trousers, breeches &shorts doz 14.90
850 Robes, dressing gowns, etc. doz 42.60
851 Nightwear andpyjamas doz 43.50
852 Underwear doz 11.30
858 Neckwear kg. 6.60
859 Other apparel kg. 12.50
MADE-UP AND MISCELLANEOUS TEXTILES
360 Pillowcases no. 0.90
361 Sheets no. 5.20
362 Bedspreads andquilts no. 5.80
363 Terry andother piletowels no. 0.40
369 Other cotton manufactures kg. 8.50
464 Blankets kg. 2.40
465 Floor coverings m2 1.00
469 Other wool manufactures kg. 3.70
665 Floor coverings m2 1.00
666 Other man-made fibrefurnishings kg. 14.40
669 Other man-made fibremanufactures kg. 14.40
670 Flatgoods, handbags, andluggage kg. 3.70
863 Towels no. 0.40
870 Luggage kg. 3.70
871 Flatgoods andhandbags kg. 3.70
899 Other silkandvegetable
blend manufactures kg. 11.10