[Federal Register: September 9, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 174)]
[Notices]               
[Page 53639]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09se05-47]                         


[[Page 53639]]

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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

 
Extension of Period of Determination on Request for Textile and 
Apparel Safeguard Action on Imports from China

September 2, 2005.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (the 
Committee).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Committee is extending through October 1, 2005, the period 
for making a determination on whether to request consultations with 
China regarding imports of cotton and man-made fiber sweaters (Category 
345/645/646).

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

    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 sweaters (Category 345/645/646) due to market 
disruption. The Committee determined that this request provided the 
information necessary for the Committee to consider the request and 
solicited public comments for a period of 30 days. See Solicitation of 
Public Comments on Request for Textile and Apparel Safeguard Action on 
Imports from China, 70 FR 23107 (May 4, 2005).
    The Committee's Procedures, 68 FR 27787 (May 21, 2003) state that 
the Committee will make a determination within 60 calendar days of the 
close of the public comment period as to whether the United States will 
request consultations with China. If 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.
    The 60 day determination period for this case expired on August 2, 
2005. However, the Committee decided to extend until August 31, 2005, 
the period for making a determination on this case in order to consult 
with the domestic textile and apparel industry and members of Congress 
about whether to pursue a broader agreement with China on imports of 
Chinese textile and apparel products to the United States. Because of 
these consultations, the Committee was unable to make a determination 
within 60 days of the close of the public comment period. See Extension 
of Period of Determination on Request for Textile and Apparel Safeguard 
Action on Imports from China, 70 FR 45704 (August 8, 2005). The 
Committee is unable to make a determination within the extended period 
because it is continuing to evaluate conditions in the market for 
cotton and man-made fiber sweaters. Therefore, the Committee is further 
extending the determination period to October 1, 2005.

James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc.E5-4944 Filed 9-8-05; 8:45 am]

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