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Proc 7400ProclamationClinton · D Quiet signal

Proclamation 7400

To Designate Swaziland as a Beneficiary Sub- Saharan African Country and for Other Purposes

This proclamation designates the Kingdom of Swaziland as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), qualifying it for preferential trade benefits including lesser developed country status for apparel imports. It also corrects a tariff rate error for HTS subheading 6402.99.70 under the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act and updates Harmonized Tariff Schedule general notes to reflect prior proclamations.

Federal Register Open PDF 66 FR 7373

Impact dates

  1. General HTS modifications effective upon Federal Register publication

  2. HTS subheading 6402.99.70 rate changes from 11.2% to 7.5%

Key directives

  • Designate Kingdom of Swaziland as beneficiary sub-Saharan African country
  • Modify HTS general note 16(a) to include Swaziland in alphabetical list
  • Classify Swaziland as lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for AGOA section 112(b)(3)(B) purposes
  • Correct HTS subheading 6402.99.70 rate from 11.2% to 7.5% effective January 1, 2001, then to 3.7% effective January 1, 2002
  • Update HTS general note 1 to reference notes 'through 18, inclusive'
  • Supersede inconsistent provisions in prior proclamations and Executive Orders

Timeline

Immediate

  • Swaziland designated as beneficiary sub-Saharan African country effective upon Federal Register publication
  • HTS general note updates effective upon Federal Register publication
  • Swaziland receives lesser developed beneficiary status immediately

Near term (90d)

  • Tariff rate correction for HTS subheading 6402.99.70 to 7.5% effective January 1, 2001 (already past at signing, but operative for entries on/after that date)

Long term

  • Further tariff reduction to 3.7% for HTS subheading 6402.99.70 effective January 1, 2002
  • Ongoing preferential trade access for Swaziland under AGOA program

Risks & tensions

  • AGOA eligibility criteria require ongoing compliance; designation is subject to future presidential review and potential revocation
  • Tariff rate correction for Caribbean Basin footwear may create competitive tensions with other footwear-exporting regions
  • Swaziland's political and labor rights situation historically complicated AGOA eligibility in later years
Proclamation 7400: To Designate Swaziland as a Beneficiary Sub- Saharan African Country and for Other Purposes · Executive Orders