PROCLAMATION 7125—SEPT. 18, 1998 112 STAT. 3801 Proclamation 7125 of September 18, 1998 To Modify Certain Provisions of the Special Textile and Apparel Regime Implemented Under the North American Free Trade Agreement By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation 1. On December 17, 1992, the Governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States entered into the North American Free Trade Agreement ("the NAFTA"). The NAFTA was approved by the Congress in section 101(a) of the North American Free Trade Agreement bnplementation Act ("the NAFTA bnplementation Act") (19 U.S.C. 3311(a)), and was implemented with respect to the United States by Presidential Proclamation 6641 of December 15, 1993. 2. Section 201(b)(1)(A) of the NAFTA bnplementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3331(b)(1)(A)) authorizes the President to proclaim such modifications or continuation of any duty as the President determines to be necessary or appropriate to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to Canada or Mexico provided for by the NAFTA, subject to the consultation and layover requirements of section 103(a) of the NAFTA Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3313(a)). Among the provisions previously proclaimed to implement the NAFTA schedule of concessions is heading 9802.00.90 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States ("HTS"), which affords duty-free entry into the United States of certain textile and apparel goods assembled in Mexico, in which all fabric components were wholly formed and cut in the United States and then exported to Mexico ready for assembly and there assembled and returned to the U.S. customs territory. 3. In order to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions under the NAFTA, I have determined that new provisions should be added to chapter 99 of the HTS to provide that specified apparel articles, which are assembled in Mexico using interlining fabrics that are cut but not formed in the United States, and which otherwise meet the conditions set forth in HTS heading 9802.00.90, may enter the United States free of duty on a temporary basis because the necessary interlining fabrics for such apparel are no longer formed in the United States. The consultation and layover requirements provided for in section 103(a) of the NAFTA Implementation Act have been observed. 4. Section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483)("Trade Act"), authorizes the President to embody in the HTS the substance of the relevant provisions of that Act, and of other Acts af- fecting import treatment and actions thereunder, including the removal, modification, continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import restriction. NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States of America, acting under the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including, but not limited to, sections 103(a) and 201(b) of the NAFTA Implementation Act, sec-
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