CITA Allows Preferential Tariff Treatment to Certain Benin Fabrics under AGOA

Certain textile and apparel goods from Benin described as folklore articles and ethnic printed fabrics are eligible for preferential tariff treatment under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements said. The preferential treatment took effect June 14. Folklore articles described in Annex A, and ethnic printed fabrics from Annex B, are eligible under AGOA section 112(a). CITA directed CBP to allow duty-free entry for the products under HTS subheading 9819.11.21, if accompanied by an appropriate AGOA visa in grouping “9”. CITA may determine additional textile and apparel goods should be treated as handloomed, handmade, folklore articles or ethnic printed fabrics, after further talks with Benin authorities, the Committee said. For an item to qualify as a folklore product under Annex A, it must be "ornamented in characteristic Benin or regional folk style," CITA said, and not include modern features or designs like zippers, elastic, airplanes or cartoon characters. For an item to qualify as an ethnic print under Annex B, it must meet six characteristics, including having a width of less than 50 inches, and being printed or waxed in an eligible sub-Saharan African country.