[Federal Register: August 21, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 161)]
[Notices]
[Page 48538-48539]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21au06-49]
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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS
Request for Public Comment on Commercial Availability Request
under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
August 16, 2006.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
(CITA).
ACTION: Request for Public Comments concerning a request for
modification of the NAFTA rules of origin for filament yarn of
cellulose acetate.
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SUMMARY: On July 21, 2006 the Government of the United States received
a request from the Government of Mexico alleging that filament yarn of
cellulose acetate, classified in heading 5403 of the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the
Mexican industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and
requesting that the governments of Canada and the United States consult
to consider whether the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
rule of origin for woven fabrics classified under HTSUS heading
[[Page 48539]]
5408 and products classified in HTSUS chapter 58 should be modified to
allow the use of non-North American filament yarns of cellulose
acetate.
The President may proclaim a modification to the NAFTA rules of
origin only after reaching an agreement with the other NAFTA countries
on the modification. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this
request, in particular with regard to whether filament yarn of
cellulose acetate of HTSUS heading 5403 can be supplied by the domestic
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be
submitted by September 20, 2006 to the Chairman, Committee for the
Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States
Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martin J. Walsh, International Trade
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of
Commerce, (202) 482-2818.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: Section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as
amended (7 USC 1854); Section 202(q) of the North American Free
Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 USC 3332(q)); Executive Order
11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended.
BACKGROUND:
Under the NAFTA, NAFTA countries are required to eliminate customs
duties on textile and apparel goods that qualify as originating goods
under the NAFTA rules of origin, which are set out in Annex 401 to the
NAFTA. The NAFTA provides that the rules of origin for textile and
apparel products may be amended through a subsequent agreement by the
NAFTA countries. See Section 202(q) of the NAFTA Implementation Act. In
consultations regarding such a change, the NAFTA countries are to
consider issues of availability of supply of fibers, yarns, or fabrics
in the free trade area and whether domestic producers are capable of
supplying commercial quantities of the good in a timely manner. The
NAFTA Implementation Act provides the President with the authority to
proclaim modifications to the NAFTA rules of origin as are necessary to
implement an agreement with one or more NAFTA country on such a
modification. See section 202(q) of the NAFTA Implementation Act.
On July 21, 2006 the Government of the United States received a
request from the Government of Mexico alleging that filament yarn of
cellulose acetate, classified in heading 5403 of the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the
Mexican industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and
requesting that the governments of Canada and the United States consult
to consider whether the NAFTA rule of origin for woven fabrics
classified under HTSUS heading 5408 and products classified in HTSUS
chapter 58 should be modified to allow the use of non-North American
filament yarns of cellulose acetate.
CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request,
particularly with respect to whether filament yarn of cellulose acetate
can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a
timely manner. Comments must be received no later than September 20,
2006. 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 filament yarn of cellulose acetate 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 stating that it produces filament
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 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. 06-7077 Filed 8-17-06; 2:33 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S