Request for Public Comments on Revoking a Commercial Availability Designation under the United States-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) and the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA)

AGENCY:

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION:

Request for public comments concerning a request for a revocation of a CITA designation under the CBTPA and the ATPDEA regarding certain compacted, plied, ring spun cotton yarns.

SUMMARY:

On January 10, 2006 the Chairman of CITA received a petition from The National Council of Textiles Organizations (NCTO), alleging that a substitutable product for certain compacted, plied, ring spun cotton yarns, with yarn counts in the range from 42 to 102 metric, classified in subheadings 5205.42.0020, 5205.43.0020, 5205.44.0020, 5205.46.0020, 5205.47.0020 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner, and requesting that CITA revoke its previous designation regarding these yarns. On September 29, 2005, following a determination that the subject yarns could not be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner under the CBTPA and ATPDEA, CITA designated men's and boys' woven cotton trousers and shirts, and women's and girls' woven cotton trousers, shirts, and blouses, made from U.S. formed fabric containing such yarns as eligible for duty-free treatment under the CBTPA and ATPDEA. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request from NCTO, in particular with regard to whether such yarns or substitutable yarns can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities. Comments must be submitted by February 3, 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:

Richard Stetson, International Trade Specialist, 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, as added by Section 211(a) of the CBTPA; Section 6 of Executive Order No. 13191 of January 17, 2001; Presidential Proclamation 7351 of October 2, 2000; Section 204 (b)(3)(B)(ii) of the ATPDEA; Presidential Proclamation 7616 of October 31, 2002, Executive Order 13277 of November 19, 2002, and the United States Trade Representative's Notice of Further Assignment of Functions of November 25, 2002.

Background

The CBTPA and ATPDEA 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 CBTPA and ATPDEA also provides for duty-free treatment for apparel articles that are both cut (or knit-to-shape) and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more CBTPA and ATPDEA beneficiary countries from fabric or yarn that is not formed in the United States or a beneficiary country, 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 CBTPA and ATPDEA 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 September 29, 2005, following a determination that the compacted, plied, ring spun cotton yarns could not be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner under the CBTPA and ATPDEA, CITA designated certain apparel made from U.S. formed fabric containing such yarns as eligible for duty-free treatment under the CBTPA and ATPDEA. On January 10, 2006, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from The National Council of Textiles Organizations (NCTO) alleging that yarns substitutable for these yarns can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner, and requesting that CITA revoke its previous designation regarding these yarns. This petition can be viewed online at http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/Commercial_Availability.htm .

CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, particularly with respect to whether these yarns or substitutable yarns can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be received by no later than February 3, 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, NW., Washington, DC 20230.

If a comment alleges that these yarns or substitutable yarns 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 yarns stating that it produces the yarns that are 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. Similarly, if a comment alleges that these yarns cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner, CITA will closely review any supporting documentation.

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.