[Federal Register: July 12, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 133)]
[Notices]
[Page 39307-39308]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12jy06-58]
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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)
July 10, 2006.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA)
ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for a
determination that a certain cotton/cashmere blended yarn cannot be
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely
manner under the AGOA.
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SUMMARY: On July 5, 2006 the Chairman of CITA received a petition from
Shibani Inwear alleging that a certain combed and ring spun yarn, of a
92 percent cotton/ 8 percent cashmere blend, comprised of 2/32 Nm
resulting in a 16 Nm yarn count, classified in subheading 5205.42.00.20
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 men's knit sweaters made of
such yarn be eligible for preferential treatment under the AGOA. This
is the second submission of a petition regarding the subject yarn,
previously denied by CITA. See Denial of a Commercial Availability
Request under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) (71 FR
27467, published on May 11, 2006). CITA hereby solicits public comments
on this request, in particular with regard to whether such yarn can be
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely
manner. Comments must be submitted by July 27, 2006 to the Chairman,
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001,
United States Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW.
Washington, DC 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; Presidential
Proclamation 7350 of October 2, 2000; Section 1 of Executive Order
No. 13191 of January 17, 2001.
BACKGROUND:
The AGOA provides 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 also provides 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 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 July 5, 2006 the Chairman of CITA received a petition from
Shibani Inwear alleging that a certain combed and ring spun yarn, of a
92 percent cotton/ 8 percent cashmere blend, comprised of 2/32 Nm
resulting in a 16 Nm yarn count, classified in subheading 5205.42.00.20
of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), for use
in men's knit sweaters, cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in
commercial quantities in a timely manner. This petition is requesting
quota-and duty-free treatment under the AGOA for apparel articles that
are both cut and sewn or knit-to-shape in one or more AGOA beneficiary
countries from such yarns.
CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request,
particularly with respect to whether this yarn can be supplied by the
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Also
relevant is whether other yarns that are supplied by the domestic
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner are substitutable
for this yarn for purposes of the intended use. Comments must be
received no later than July 27, 2006. Interested persons are invited to
submit six copies of such
[[Page 39308]]
comments or information to the Chairman, Committee for the
Implementation of Textile Agreements, room 3100, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.
If a comment alleges that this yarn 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 yarn stating that it produces the yarn 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 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.
James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 06-6195 Filed 7-10-06; 2:54 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S