[Federal Register: May 4, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 85)]
[Notices]
[Page 23117-23124]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04my05-41]
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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
April 28, 2005.
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 cotton and man-made fiber
dressing gowns and robes (Category 350/650).
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SUMMARY: On April 6, 2005, the Committee received a request from the
American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, the National Council of
Textile Organizations, the National Textile Association, and UNITE HERE
requesting that the Committee limit imports from China of cotton and
man-made fiber dressing gowns and robes (Category 350/650). 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 dressing gowns and robes. The Committee hereby solicits public
comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether imports
from China of such dressing gowns and robes are, due to market
disruption, threatening to impede the orderly development of trade in
this product. Comments must be submitted by June 3, 2005 to the
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room
3001A, United States Department of Commerce,
[[Page 23118]]
14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay Dowling, 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 Report of the Working Party on the Accession of China to the
World Trade Organization (Accession Agreement) provides that, if a WTO
Member, such as the United States, believes that imports of Chinese
origin textile and apparel products are, ``due to market disruption,
threatening to impede the orderly development of trade in these
products'', it may request consultations with China with a view to
easing or avoiding the disruption. Pursuant to this provision, if the
United States requests consultations with China, it must, at the time
of the request, provide China with a detailed factual statement showing
(1) the existence or threat of market disruption; and (2) the role of
products of Chinese origin in that disruption. Beginning on the date
that it receives such a request, China must restrict its shipments to
the United States 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 month in which the
request was made.
On April 6, 2005, the Committee received a request that an
Accession Agreement textile and apparel safeguard action be taken on
imports from China of cotton and man-made fiber dressing gowns and
robes (Category 350/650). 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. In this case, the Committee notes that imports from China
of cotton and man-made fiber dressing gowns and robes (Category 350/
650) have increased from 884,075 dozen in the first quarter of 2004 to
1,226,435 dozen in the first quarter of 2005 (includes preliminary data
for 2005). 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 dressing
gowns and robes 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 June 3, 2005. Interested persons are invited
to submit ten copies of such comments to the Chairman, Committee for
the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001A, U.S. Department
of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue N.W., 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 Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m and 5:30 p.m
in the Trade Reference and Assistance Center Help Desk, Suite 800M, USA
Trade Information Center, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, (202) 482-3433.
The Committee expects to 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, however, 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
cotton and man-made fiber dressing gowns and robes 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 in accordance
with the Accession Agreement and the Committee's procedures.
D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile
Agreements.
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S
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[FR Doc.05-8903 Filed 4-29-05; 4:15 pm]