[Federal Register: June 2, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 106)]
[Notices]
[Page 31093-31094]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02jn04-41]
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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS
Request for Public Comment on Commercial Availability Request
under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
May 27, 2004.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
(CITA).
ACTION: Request for Public Comments concerning a request for
modification of the NAFTA rules of origin for piece-dyed acrylic pile
fabrics containing dry-spun acrylic staple fibers.
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SUMMARY: On November 12, 2003, the Government of the United States
received a request from the Government of Canada alleging that dry-spun
acrylic staple fibers, classified under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule
of the United States (HTSUS) subheading 5503.30, cannot be supplied by
the Canadian industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and
requesting that the governments of Mexico and the United States consult
to consider whether the NAFTA rule of origin for woven-warp pile
fabric, cut, which has been dyed in the piece to a single uniform
color, classified under HTSUS 5801.35 should be modified to allow the
use of non-North American dry-spun acrylic staple fiber.
The President may proclaim a modification to the NAFTA rules of
origin only after, inter alia, reaching an agreement with the other
NAFTA countries on the modification. CITA hereby solicits public
comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether the dry-
spun acrylic staple fiber described above can be supplied by the
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments
must be submitted by July 2, 2004 to the Chairman, Committee for the
Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States
Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martin J. Walsh, International Trade
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of
Commerce, (202) 482-2818.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: Section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as
amended (7 USC 1854); Section 202(q) of the North American Free
Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 USC 3332(q)); Executive Order
11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended.
BACKGROUND:
Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), NAFTA
countries are required to eliminate customs duties on textile and
apparel goods that qualify as originating goods under the NAFTA rules
of origin, which are set out in Annex 401 to the NAFTA. The NAFTA
provides that the rules of origin for textile and apparel products may
be amended through a subsequent agreement by the NAFTA countries. In
consultations regarding such a change, the NAFTA countries are to
consider issues of availability of supply of fibers, yarns, or fabrics
in the free trade area and whether domestic producers are capable of
supplying commercial quantities of the good in a timely manner. The
NAFTA Implementation Act provides the President with the authority to
proclaim modifications to the NAFTA rules of origin as are necessary to
implement an agreement with one or more NAFTA country on such a
modification.
On November 12, 2003, the Government of the United States received
a request from the Government of Canada alleging that dry-spun acrylic
staple fiber classified under HTSUS subheading 5503.30, cannot be
supplied by Canadian producers in commercial quantities in a timely
manner and requesting that the Governments of Mexico and the United
States consult on whether the NAFTA rule of origin for woven-warp pile
fabric, cut, which has been dyed in the piece to a single uniform
color, classified under HTSUS 5801.35, should be modified to allow the
use of non-North American staple fiber of the type described above.
CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request,
particularly with respect to whether dry-spun acrylic
[[Page 31094]]
staple fiber, classified in HTSUS sub-heading 5503.30, can be supplied
by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner.
Comments must be received no later than July 2, 2004. 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 dry-spun acrylic staple fiber 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 fiber stating that it
produces the fiber that is in 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 to 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. Persons submitting comments on a request are
encouraged to include a non-confidential version and a non-confidential
summary.
D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile
Agreements.
[FR Doc. 04-12546 Filed 5-28-04; 1:32 pm]