[Federal Register: April 14, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 71)]
[Notices]
[Page 17926-17927]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14ap03-30]
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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS
Request for Public Comments on Commercial Availability Request
under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)
April 10, 2003.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
(CITA).
ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for a
determination that certain light- and medium-weight dyed warp pile
cotton velvet, for use in apparel articles, cannot be supplied by the
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner.
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SUMMARY: On April 8, 2003, the Chairman of CITA received a petition
from Crystal Apparel Limited of Hong Kong and Sinotex Mauritius Limited
in Mauritius alleging that certain light- and medium-weight dyed warp
pile cotton velvet for use in men's and boys' jackets and pants and
women's and girls' jackets, dresses, skirts, pants, and shorts cannot
be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a
timely manner. It requests that such apparel articles of such fabrics
be eligible for preferential treatment under the AGOA. CITA hereby
solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to
whether these fabrics can be supplied by the domestic industry in
commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted by
April 29, 2003, to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of
Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce,
Washington, D.C. 20230.
EFFECTIVE DATE: April 14, 2003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Flaaten, Office of Textiles and
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-3400.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: Section 112(b)(5)(B) of the AGOA, Section 1 of
Executive Order No. 13191 of January 17, 2001.
Background
The AGOA provides for quota- and duty-free treatment for qualifying
textile and apparel products. Such treatment is generally limited to
products manufactured from yarns or fabrics formed in the United States
or a beneficiary country. The AGOA also provides for quota- and duty-
free treatment for apparel articles that are both cut (or knit-to-
shape) and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more beneficiary sub-
Saharan African countries from fabric or yarn that is not formed in the
United States or a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country, if it has
been determined that such fabric or yarns cannot be supplied by the
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. In
Executive Order No. 13191, the President delegated to CITA the
authority to determine whether yarns or fabrics cannot be supplied by
the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner under
the AGOA and directed CITA to establish procedures to ensure
appropriate public participation in any such determination. On March 6,
2001, CITA published procedures in the Federal Register that it will
follow in considering requests. (66 FR 13502).
On April 8, 2003, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from
Crystal Apparel Limited of Hong Kong and Sinotex Mauritius Limited in
Mauritius alleging that certain light- and medium-weight dyed warp pile
cotton velvet, classified in subheading 5801.25.00 of the Harmonized
System of the United States, with the following specifications, cannot
be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a
timely manner and requesting quota- and duty-free treatment under the
AGOA for certain jackets, dresses, skirts, pants and shorts, that are
cut and sewn in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries
from such fabrics:
1. Name: light-weight dyed warp pile velvet
HTS subheading: 5801.25.00
Fiber Composition: 100 percent combed cotton
Yarn: 230 g/m2 to 260 g/m2
Construction:
Woven Fabric - 96 x 98
Warp - 42/2 ply + 42/2 ply
Weft - 32 single yarn
Woven Fabric - 96 x 102
Warp - 42/2 ply + 60/2 ply
Weft - 32 single yarn
2. Name: medium-weight dyed warp pile velvet
HTS subheading: 5801.25.00
Fiber Composition: 97 to 98 percent cotton, up to 3 percent spandex
yarn
Yarn: 280 g/m2 to 330 g/m2
Construction:
Woven Fabric - 110 x 84
Warp - 42/2 ply + 50/2 ply
Weft - 30 single yarn + 40 denier spandex
Woven Fabric - 126 x 84
Warp - 42/2 ply + 50/2 ply
Weft - 30 single yarn + 40 denier spandex
CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request,
particularly with respect to whether such fabrics can be supplied by
the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Also
relevant is whether other products that are supplied by the domestic
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner are substitutable
for the fabrics for the purposes of the intended use. Comments must be
received no later than April 29, 2003. Interested persons are invited
to submit six copies of such comments or information to the Chairman,
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3100, U.S.
Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington,
DC 20230.
If a comment alleges that such fabrics can be supplied by the
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner, CITA
will closely review any supporting documentation, such as a signed
statement by a manufacturer of the yarn or fabric stating that it
produces the fabrics that are the subject of the request, including the
quantities that can be supplied and the time necessary to fill an
order, as well as any relevant information regarding past production.
CITA will protect any business confidential information that is
marked business confidential from disclosure for the full extent
permitted by law. CITA will make available to the public non-
confidential versions of the request and non-confidential versions of
any public comments received with respect to a request in room 3100 in
the Herbert Hoover Building, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, DC 20230.
[[Page 17927]]
Persons submitting comments on a request are encouraged to include a
non-confidential version and a non-confidential summary.
James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc.03-9204 Filed 4-10-03; 3:18 pm]