[Federal Register: July 11, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 131)]
[Notices]
[Page 39757-39758]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11jy05-43]
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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS
Designation under the Textile and Apparel Commercial Availability
Provisions of the United States Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act
(CBTPA)
July 5, 2005.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
(CITA)
ACTION: Designation.
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EFFECTIVE DATE: July 11, 2005.
SUMMARY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
(CITA) has determined that certain 100 percent cotton, double faced
irregular sateen weave, flannel fabrics, of yarn-dyed, single yarns, of
the specifications detailed below, classified in subheading
5209.59.0025 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTSUS), for use in woven cotton shirts and blouses, cannot be supplied
by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner.
The CITA hereby designates woven cotton shirts and blouses, that are
both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more eligible CBTPA
beneficiary countries from such fabrics, as eligible for quota-free and
duty-free treatment under the textile and apparel commercial
availability provisions of the CBTPA and eligible under HTSUS
subheadings 9820.11.27, to enter free of quota and duties, provided
that all other fabrics in the referenced apparel articles are wholly
formed in the United States from yarns wholly formed in the United
States.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Heinzen, Office of Textiles and
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482 3400.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: Section 213(b)(2)(A)(v)(II) of the Caribbean Basin
Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), as added by Section 211(a) of the
CBTPA; Presidential Proclamation 7351 of October 2, 2000; Section 6
of Executive Order No. 13191 of January 17, 2001.
BACKGROUND:
The commercial availability provision of the CBTPA provides for
duty-free and quota-free treatment for apparel articles that are both
cut (or knit-to-shape) and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more
beneficiary CBTPA country from fabric or yarn that is not formed in the
United States if it has been determined that such yarns or fabrics
cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in
a timely manner and certain procedural requirements have been met. In
Presidential Proclamation 7351, the President proclaimed that this
treatment would apply to apparel articles from fabrics or yarn
designated by the appropriate U.S. government authority in the Federal
Register. In Executive Order 13191, the President authorized CITA to
determine whether yarns or fabrics cannot be supplied by the domestic
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner.
On March 9, 2005, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from
Sandler, Travis, and Rosenberg, P.A., on behalf of B*W*A, alleging that
certain 100 percent cotton, double faced irregular sateen weave,
flannel fabrics, of yarn-dyed, single yarns, of the specifications
detailed below, classified in HTSUS subheading 5209.59.0025, for use in
woven cotton shirts and blouses, cannot be supplied by the domestic
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. It requested
quota- and duty-free treatment under the CBTPA for woven cotton shirts
and blouses that are
[[Page 39758]]
both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more CBTPA
beneficiary countries from such fabrics. On March 15, 2005, CITA
requested public comment on the petition. See Request for Public
Comment on Commercial Availability Petition under the United States -
Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA), 70 FR 12655 (March 15,
2005). On March 31, 2005, CITA and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)
sought the advice of the Industry Trade Advisory Committee for Textiles
and Clothing and the Industry Trade Advisory Committee for Distribution
Services. On March 31, 2005, CITA and USTR offered to hold
consultations with the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate
(collectively, the Congressional Committees). On April 14, 2005, the
U.S. International Trade Commission provided advice on the petition.
Based on the information and advice received and its understanding
of the industry, CITA determined that the fabrics set forth in the
petition cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial
quantities in a timely manner. On May 4, 2005, CITA and USTR submitted
a report to the Congressional Committees that set forth the action
proposed, the reasons for such action, and the advice obtained. A
period of 60 calendar days since this report was submitted has expired.
CITA hereby designates as eligible for preferential treatment under
HTSUS subheading 9820.11.27, woven cotton shirts and blouses, that are
both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more eligible CBTPA
beneficiary countries, from certain 100 percent cotton, double faced
irregular sateen weave, flannel fabrics, of yarn-dyed, single yarns, of
the specifications detailed below, classified in HTSUS subheading
5209.59.0025, not formed in the United States. The referenced apparel
articles are eligible provided that all other fabrics are wholly formed
in the United States from yarns wholly formed in the United States,
subject to the special rules for findings and trimmings, certain
interlinings and de minimis fibers and yarns under section
211(b)(2)(A)(vii) of the CBTPA, and that such articles are imported
directly into the customs territory of the United States from an
eligible CBTPA beneficiary country.
Specifications:
Fiber Content: 100% Cotton
Weight: 325 - 327 g/m2
Width: 148 - 152 centimeters
Thread Count: 33 - 35 warp ends per centimeter; 57 -
59 filling picks per centimeter; total:
90 - 94 threads per square centimeter
Yarn Number: 50 -52 metric warp; 23 - 25 metric
filling; overall average yarn number 28
- 30 metric
Weave: Double faced irregular 1 x 3 sateen
Finish: Printed on one side on yarns of
different colors; napped on both sides;
sanforized
An ``eligible CBTPA beneficiary country'' means a country which the
President has designated as a CBTPA beneficiary country under section
213(b)(5)(B) of the CBERA (19 U.S.C. 2703(b)(5)(B)) and which has been
the subject of a finding, published in the Federal Register, that the
country has satisfied the requirements of section 213(b)(4)(A)(ii) of
the CBERA (19 U.S.C. 2703(b)(4)(A)(ii)) and resulting in the
enumeration of such country in U.S. note 1 to subchapter XX of Chapter
98 of the HTSUS.
James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. E5-3656 Filed 7-8-05; 8:45 am]