[Federal Register: August 18, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 159)]
[Notices]
[Page 49440-49444]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18au03-65]
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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS
Solicitation of Public Comments on Request for Textile and
Apparel Safeguard Action on Imports from China
August 13, 2003.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (the
Committee)
ACTION: Solicitation of public comments concerning a request for
safeguard action on imports from China of knit fabric (Category 222).
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SUMMARY: On July 24, 2003, the Committee received a request from the
American Yarn Spinners Association, American Manufacturing Trade Action
Coalition, American Textile Manufacturers Institute and the National
Textile Association alleging that imports from China of knit fabric
(Category 222) are, due to market disruption, threatening to impede the
orderly development of trade in this product. They request that a
textile and apparel safeguard action, as provided for in the Report of
the Working Party on the Accession of China to the World Trade
Organization (the Accession Agreement), be taken on imports of such
fabric. The Committee hereby solicits
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public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether
imports from China of knit fabric are, due to market disruption,
threatening to impede the orderly development of trade in this product.
Comments must be submitted by September 17, 2003 to the Chairman,
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001,
United States Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Dulka, Office of Textiles and
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-4058.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: Section 204 of the Agriculture Act of 1956, as
amended; Executive Order 11651, as amended.
Background
The Accession Agreement textile and apparel safeguard allows the
United States and other World Trade Organization Members that believe
imports of Chinese origin textile and apparel products are, due to
market disruption, threatening to impede the orderly development of
trade in these products to request consultations with China with a view
to easing or avoiding such market disruption. Upon receipt of the
request, China has agreed to hold its shipments to a level no greater
than 7.5 percent (6 percent for wool product categories) above the
amount entered during the first 12 months of the most recent 14 months
preceding the request for consultations. The Member requesting
consultations may implement such a limit. Consultations with China will
be held within 30 days of receipt of the request for consultations, and
every effort will be made to reach agreement on a mutually satisfactory
solution within 90 days of receipt of the request for consultations. If
agreement on a different limit is reached, the Committee will issue a
Federal Register Notice containing a directive to the Bureau of Customs
and Border Protection that implements the negotiated limit. The limit
is effective beginning on the date of the request for consultations and
ending on December 31 of the year in which consultations were
requested, or where three or fewer months remained in the year at the
time of the request for consultations, for the period ending 12 months
after the request for consultations. In order to facilitate the
implementation of the Accession Agreement textile and apparel
safeguard, the Committee has published procedures (the Procedures) it
will follow in considering requests for Accession Agreement textile and
apparel safeguard actions (68 FR 27787, published May 21, 2003).
On July 24, 2003, the Committee received a request from the
American Yarn Spinners Association, American Manufacturing Trade Action
Coalition, American Textile Manufacturers Institute and the National
Textile Association alleging that imports from China of knit fabric
(Category 222) are, due to market disruption, threatening to impede the
orderly development of trade in this product, and requesting that an
Accession Agreement textile and apparel safeguard action be taken on
imports of knit fabric. The Committee has determined that this request
provides the information necessary for the Committee to consider the
request in light of the considerations set forth in the Procedures. The
text of the request is reproduced in full below.
The Committee is soliciting public comments on this request, in
particular with regard to whether imports from China of such fabric
are, due to market disruption, threatening to impede the orderly
development of trade in this product. Comments may be submitted by any
interested person. Comments must be received no later than September
17, 2003. Interested persons are invited to submit ten copies of such
comments to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile
Agreements, Room 3001, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230.
If a comment alleges that there is no market disruption or that the
subject imports are not the cause of market disruption, the Committee
will closely review any supporting information and documentation, such
as information about domestic production or prices of like or directly
competitive products. Particular consideration will be given to
comments representing the views of actual producers in the United
States of a like or directly competitive product.
The Committee will protect any business confidential information
that is marked business confidential from disclosure to the full extent
permitted by law. To the extent that business confidential information
is provided, two copies of a non-confidential version must also be
provided in which business confidential information is summarized or,
if necessary, deleted. Comments received, with the exception of
information marked ``business confidential'', will be available for
inspection between 9:00 a.m and 4:30 p.m in Room 2233, United States
Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington DC
20230.
The Committee will make a determination within 60 calendar days of
the close of the comment period as to whether the United States will
request consultations with China. If the Committee is unable to make a
determination within 60 calendar days, it will cause to be published a
notice in the Federal Register, including the date by which it will
make a determination. If the Committee makes a negative determination,
it will cause this determination and the reasons therefore to be
published in the Federal Register. If the Committee makes an
affirmative determination that imports of Chinese origin textiles and
apparel products are, due to market disruption, threatening to impede
the orderly development of trade in these products, the United States
will request consultations with China with a view to easing or avoiding
such market disruption.
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S
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James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc.03-21063 Filed 8-14-03; 11:25 am]