GENERAL AGREEMENT on T^I%^ TARIFFS and TRADE Special Distribution

RESTRICTED GENERAL AGREEMENT ON T^i%^ TARIFFS AND TRADE Special Distribution

Textiles Surveillance Body Original: English

ARRANGEMENT REGARDING INTERNATIONAL TRAPS IN TEXTILES

Notifications Under Article 2, Paragraph 1

. •' : .' JAMAICA

Attached is a notification received by the TSB from Jamaica in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 2 of the Textiles Arrangement. As required by the provisions of this paragraph the TSB is circulating this notification to participating countries in the Arrangement for their information. A summary tabulation of this notification prepared by the- secretariat is also attached.

It is, of course, open to any party to the i-rrangement to request the TSB or the secretariat to seek any further information or clarification they may wish to have, or to supply any additional information of relevance. Such information will also be circulated. C0M.TEX/SB/H9 Page 2

Permanent Mission .of Jamaica - to the Office of the United Nations at Geneva

27 January 1976

Excellency,

Pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article-2 of the Textiles •Arrangement and with reference to GATT document COM.TEX/2" - and especially paragraphs 10 to 12 - of 30 April 197A, I now, on behalf of the Government of Jamaica, attach notification on import restrictions maintained by Jamaica on textiles. Jamaica deposited its Instrument of Acceptance of the Textiles Arrangement on 17 September 1975.

.'_," These import restrictions are maintained on textiles imported from countries outside the; Caribbean Common Market (CARICOM). Jamaica is a-member of CARICOM.

Let me further state that the Government of Jamaica, being mindful of its obligations under the Arrangement, stands ready to provide additional information regarding restrictions it maintains on imports of textiles.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

(signed) Carl Barnett Counsellor

The Chairman, Textiles Surveillance Body, General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, Villa Le Bocage, CH-1211 Genève 10. COM.TEX/SB/149 Page 3

GATT ARRANGEMENT REGARDING DITSRNATIQBLIi TRADE IN TEXTILES - NOTIFICATION BY JAMAICA OF EXISTING IMPORT RESTRICTIONS UNDER PARAGRAPH 1 OF ARTICLE 2 OF THE ARRANGEMENT

A. Restrictions on textile fabrics, net and netting - including elastic fabric. and other iiipregnated fabrics, felts and all other materials

Total restriction is presently placed on the following fabrics whether grey, bleached, dyed or printed, in any widths:

Sheeting and bed sheeting Birdseye (diaper cloth) Calico Cambric Casement """•" " " Chanbray Denim Drapery fabric Gingham Haircord Handkerchief material Linen Opal Osnaburg Pocketing cloth Poplins Table cloth material Towelling Twill

Traders requirements of all types of fabrics other than those mentioned above are licensed on a quota basis involving a 1:1 value formula - i.e. J$l of imported fabric for every J$l for which confirmed orders have been placed with certain approved CARICOM suppliers.

Quota licences granted to traders are appropriately claused to ensure that woven fabrics and knitted fabrics are separately imported against licences specifically granted for the respective types; such licences are also claused to •

C0M.TEX/SB/H9 Page A ensure that all textile fabrics are imported at à minimum c.i.f. price of twenty-five cents (Jamaican) per square yardj however, limited quantities of cheap textile fabrics (other thin the prohibited"types) costing not less than twenty cents (Jamaican) per square yard c.i.f. may be imported on the approval of the -Trade Administrator^ and are chargeable to earned textile quotas and will be subject to price control^

Licences are issued to garment manufacturers for permitted types of textiles on the prior recommendation of the related advisory committee.

Licences are granted freely but against traders' consumer goods value quotas for reasonable quantities of ;'Hymo;? interlining, hessian cloth, cotton mosquito netting and buckram.

B. Restrictions on manufactures of textiles (non-clothing)

BTN ex 62.02 Table linen Imports not allowed Under normal circumstances ex 62.02 Towels and wash rags (including kitchen linen) 61.05 Handkerchiefs - Total restriction Bias and straight bindings - Restriction of. importation of types made or available locally. Import licences are granted against consumer goods quotas for these products in retail packs ex 61.11 Laminated and stitched - Restriction of importation of shoulder straps and strapping types made or available locally. Import licences are granted again. Consumer goods quotas for these products in retail packs ex 62.02 Bed linen - bedspreads, - Imports not allowed under normal sheets, pillow-cases, circumstances 62.01 including'blankot3,' travelling rugs and coverlets ex 62.02 Dusters (yellow dusters, Restriction of importation for or similar types in other types for which local product is colours) substitutable C0M.TEX/SB/H9 Page 5

BTN ex 62.04. Tents, awnings, sails and - Licences may be issued against other made-up canvas goods quotas for types which are not available locally 58.05 Ribbons, including all - Licences are presently issued narrow fabrics freely and outside of quotas 58.10 embroidery in the piece,in - Imports are presently allowed strips or in motifs against consumer goods quotas 60.06 Elastic webbing and other - Imports are presently allowed small wares of elastic put against consumer goods quotas up for retail sale ex 62.04. Tarpaulins - Imports are not allowed under normal circumstances 62.05 Made-up articles of textile - Imports of the types which may materials, n.e.s. not be reasonably substituted by local manufacturers may be allowed against consumer goods quotas Licences are issued freely and outside of quotas for branded labels of textiles ex 62.02 Draperies, ready made - Imports are not presently allowed (including curtains) 59.10 Floor covering (whether - Imports are presently prohibited. in rolls, sheets or tiles) However, licences may be issued to the distributive trade against 58.02 Carpeting rugs (i.e. rugs consumer goods quotas for specially made of carpeting) fitted motor vehicle carpets. Licences may also be issued for aircraft carpets 51.03 Yarn and thread - all types - Licences are issued freely 53.10 of - put up for retail sale 55.06

C. Restrictions on clothing

(a) Inports of certain types of clothing (determined from time to time) are not allowed - e.g. handkerchiefs, underwear and nightwear of all materials, cotton gloves, and a wide range of other items of clothing; C0M.TEX/SB/U9 Page 6

(b) licences are granted for disposable garments for industrial use required to satisfy the local market; however, the requirements of traders are • chargeable to quotas; :. . .

D. Addendum

Bilateral iigreements

Jamaica maintains no bilateral agreements on textiles - the former bilateral agreement between the United States and Jamaica under the Long-Term Arrangement on Cotton Textiles having expired on 30 March 1975.

j C0H.TEX/SB/H9 Page 7

Notification to the Textiles Surveillance Body Under Article 2(1) by JAMAICA

Date of BTN Type of Levels of imports affected Effective Expi ry Product description Country affected Remarks " notification number measure applied date of entry date' Quantity Value

27.1.1976 A. Restrictions on textile fabrics - net and netting - including elastic fabric and other impregnated fabrics, felts and all other materials

Sheeting and bed sheeting, Birdseye (diaper cloth) Total restriction on these fabrics, All sources All other types of requirements are licensed on a quota basis involving a 1:1 value formula, for which calico, cambric, casement, chambray, denim, drapery whether grey, bleached, dyed or confirmed orders have been placed with certain fabric, gingham, haircord, handkerchief material, printed in any widths approved Caricom suppliers. linen, opal, osnaburg, pocket cloth, poplins, table Quota licences are issued to ensure that woven and cloth material, towelling, twill knitted fabrics are separately imported against licences specifically granted for the respective types; also that all textile fabrics are imported at a minimum c.i.f. price of 25 Jamaican cents per sq. yard, allowing limited quantities of cheap textile fabrics, other than those prohibited, at not less than 20 Jamaican cents per sq. yard on the approval of Trade Administrator. Licences are issued to garment manufacturers for certain permitted types of textiles on the prior recommendation of the relevant advisory committee. Licences are granted freely against trader's consumer goods value quotas for reasonable quantities of "Hymo" interlining, hessian cloth, cotton, mosquito netting and buckram.

B. Restrictions on manufactures of textiles (non-clothing)

ex 62.02 Table linen Imports not allowed under normal circumstances

ex 62.02 Towels and wash rags (incl. kitchen linen)

61.05 Handkerchiefs Total restriction Import licences are granted against consumer goods quotas Bias and straight bindings Restriction of types made or available locally for these products in retail packs.

ex 61.11 Laminated and stitched shoulder straps and strapping

ex 62.02 Bed linen, bedspreads, sheets Imports not allowed under normal circumstances

62.01 Blankets, pillow cases, travelling rugs and coverlets COM.TEX/SB/149 Page 8

-Levels of imports affected Date of BTN Type of Effective Expiry Product description Country affected Remarks - • notification number measure applied date of entry date ~ "'Quanti ty Value

ex 62.02 Dusters (yellow dusters or similar types in other colours) Restriction of importation.for • • - - types for which local product is •/•'-. substitutable

ex 62.04 Tents, awnings, sails and other made-up canvas goods Licences issuable for types not locally available

58.05 Ribbons, including all narrow fabrics Licences are issued freely and outside quotas

58.10 Embroidery in the piece in strips or motifs Imports allowed under consumer goods quotas

60.06 Elastic webbing and other materials and elastic put up n H for retail sale

ex 62.04 Tarpaulins Imports not allowed under normal circumstances

62.05 Made up articles of textile materials, n.e.s. Imports of types not locally available allowed against consumer goods quotas •j -J.

ex 62.02 Draperies, ready-made (incl. curtains) Imports not allowed • 59.10 ) Floor covering (whether in.rolls, sheets or tiles) incl. Imports prohibited Licences may, however, be issued to the distributive carpets trade against consumer goods quotas for specially fitted motor vehicle carpets. Licences may also be • i issued for aircraft carpets 58.02 ) Carpeting rugs (i.e. rugs made of carpeting) it n g n 51.03 ) Yarn and thread - all types - put up for retail 53.10 ) Licences issued freely sale 55.06 )

C. Restrictions on clothinq

(a) Certain types of clothing, e.g. handkerchiefs, under Imports not allowed wear, nightwear of all materials, cotton gloves and a wide range of other items

(b) Disposable garments for industrial use required to Licences granted, but the require satisfy local market ments of traders are chargeable to quotas

No bilateral agreements on textiles are maintained. The former bilateral agreement with the United States under under the LTA expired on 30 March 1975.