[Federal Register: May 25, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 100)]
[Notices]
[Page 30088-30089]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25my05-68]
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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) and the United
States-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA)
May 20, 2005.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
(CITA)
ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for a
determination that certain woven bamboo/cotton fabric cannot be
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely
manner under the AGOA and the CBTPA.
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SUMMARY: On May 18, 2005 the Chairman of CITA received a petition from
Columbia Sportswear Company alleging that certain woven bamboo/cotton
fabric, of specifications detailed below, classified in subheading
5516.42.0022 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial
quantities in a timely manner. The petition requests that apparel
articles of such fabrics be eligible for preferential treatment under
the AGOA and the CBTPA. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this
request, in particular with regard to whether such fabrics can be
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely
manner. Comments must be submitted by June 9, 2005 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: Anna Flaaten, International Trade
Specialist, 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 211(a) of
the CBTPA, amending Section 213(b)(2)(A)(v)(II) of the Caribbean
Basin Recovery Act (CBERA); Sections 1 and 6 of Executive Order No.
13191 of January 17, 2001; Presidential Proclamations 7350 and 7351
of October 2, 2000.
BACKGROUND:
The AGOA and the CBTPA provide for quota- and duty-free treatment
for qualifying textile and apparel products. Such treatment is
generally limited to products manufactured from yarns and fabrics
formed in the United States or a beneficiary country. The AGOA and the
CBTPA also provide 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 countries from fabric or yarn that
is not formed in the United States, if it has been determined that such
fabric or yarn 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 the CBTPA
and directed CITA to establish procedures to ensure appropriate public
participation in any such determination. On March 6, 2001, CITA
published procedures that it will follow in considering requests. (66
FR 13502).
On May 18, 2005 the Chairman of CITA received a petition from
Columbia Sportswear Company alleging that certain woven bamboo/cotton
fabric, of specifications detailed below, classified in HTSUS
subheading 5516.42.0022, for use in apparel articles, cannot be
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely
manner and requesting quota- and duty-free treatment under the AGOA and
the CBTPA for apparel articles that are both cut and sewn in one or
more beneficiary countries from such fabrics.
Specifications:
Petitioner Style Number: 008410
Construction: Woven Plain Weave
Fiber Content: 59% Bamboo / 41% Cotton
Yarn Number: 33.6/1 metric warp, 23.5/1 metric
filling, ring spun
Overall average yarn number: 17 - 18
metric
Thread Count: 27 - 28 warp ends per centimeter
20 - 21 filling picks per centimeter
Total 47 - 49 threads per square
centimeter
Weave: Plain
Weight: 170 grams per square meter
Width: 130 - 133 centimeters
Finish: Piece Dyed
CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request,
particularly with respect to whether these fabrics can be supplied by
the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Also
relevant is whether other fabrics that are supplied by the domestic
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner are substitutable
for these fabrics for purposes of the intended use. Comments must be
received no later than June 9, 2005. 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 these 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 fabric stating that it produces the
fabric that is 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 generally considers specific details, such as
quantities and lead times for providing the subject product as business
confidential. However, information such as the names of domestic
manufacturers who were contacted, questions concerning the capability
to manufacture the subject product, and the responses thereto should be
available for public review to ensure proper public participation in
the process. If this is not possible, an explanation of the necessity
for treating such information as business
[[Page 30089]]
confidential must be provided. 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. 05-10565 Filed 5-23-05; 1:18 pm]