[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 96 (Thursday, May 19, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-12260]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 19, 1994]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS
 

Request for Public Comments on Bilateral Textile Consultations 
with the Government of Pakistan on Certain Cotton and Man-Made Fiber 
Textile Products

May 13, 1994.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs establishing 
a limit.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: May 20, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anne Novak, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-4212. For information on the quota status of this 
limit, refer to the Quota Status Reports posted on the bulletin boards 
of each Customs port or call (202) 927-6714. For information on 
embargoes and quota re-openings, call (202) 482-3715. For information 
on categories on which consultations have been requested, call (202) 
482-3740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended; 
section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 
1854).

    On April 29, 1993, under the terms of the Bilateral Cotton, Man-
Made Fiber, Silk Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber Textile Agreement, 
effected by exchange of notes dated May 20, 1987 and June 11, 1987, as 
amended and extended, between the Governments of the United States and 
Pakistan, the United States Government requested consultations with the 
Government of Pakistan with respect to cotton and man-made fiber skirts 
in Categories 342/642.
    The purpose of this notice is to advise the public that, pending 
agreement on a mutually satisfactory solution concerning Categories 
342/642, the Government of the United States has decided to control 
imports during the ninety-day period which began on April 29, 1994 and 
extends through July 27, 1994 at a level of 44,933 dozen.
    If no solution is agreed upon in consultations between the two 
governments, CITA, pursuant to the agreement, may later establish a 
specific limit for the entry and withdrawal from warehouse for 
consumption of textile products in Categories 342/642, produced or 
manufactured in Pakistan and exported during the prorated period 
beginning on July 28, 1994 and extending through December 31, 1994, of 
not less than 66,266 dozen.
    A summary market statement concerning Categories 342/642 follows 
this notice.
    Anyone wishing to comment or provide data or information regarding 
the treatment of Categories 342/642, under the agreement with the 
Government of Pakistan, or to comment on domestic production or 
availability of products included in Categories 342/642, is invited to 
submit 10 copies of such comments or information to Rita D. Hayes, 
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; ATTN: Helen L. LeGrande. 
The comments received will be considered in the context of the 
consultations with the Government of Pakistan.
    Because the exact timing of the consultations is not yet certain, 
comments should be submitted promptly. Comments or information 
submitted in response to this notice will be available for public 
inspection in the Office of Textiles and Apparel, room H3100, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC.
    Further comments may be invited regarding particular comments or 
information received from the public which the Committee for the 
Implementation of Textile Agreements considers appropriate for further 
consideration.
    The solicitation of comments regarding any aspect of the agreement 
or the implementation thereof is not a waiver in any respect of the 
exemption contained in 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1) relating to matters which 
constitute ``a foreign affairs function of the United States.''
    The United States remains committed to finding a solution 
concerning Categories 342/642. Should such a solution be reached in 
consultations with the Government of Pakistan, further notice will be 
published in the Federal Register.
    A description of the textile and apparel categories in terms of HTS 
numbers is available in the CORRELATION: Textile and Apparel Categories 
with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (see Federal 
Register notice 58 FR 62645, published on November 29, 1993). Also see 
59 FR 5756, published on February 8, 1994.
Rita D. Hayes,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Market Statement--Pakistan
Category 342/642--Cotton and Man-Made Fiber Skirts
April 1994
Import Situation and Conclusion
    U.S. imports of cotton and manmade fiber skirts, Category 342/642, 
from Pakistan reached 139,441 dozen during the year ending February 
1994, 66 percent above the 83,893 dozen shipped during the year ending 
February 1993. Imports from Pakistan increased from 85,441 dozen in 
1992 to 119,637 dozen in 1993, a 40 percent increase. During the first 
two months of 1994, imports of Category 342/642 from Pakistan were 
39,497 dozen, double the 19,693 dozen imported a year earlier.
    The sharp and substantial increase of Category 342/642 imports from 
Pakistan is causing a real risk of disruption in the U.S. market for 
cotton and manmade fiber skirts.
U.S. Production, Import Penetration and Market Share
    U.S. production of cotton and manmade fiber skirts, Category 342/
642, fell from 7,444,000 dozen in 1989 to 7,181,000 dozen in 1992, a 
decrease of 4 percent. U.S. production dropped to 6,143,000 dozen in 
1993, 15 percent below the 1992 level. In contrast, U.S. imports of 
cotton and manmade fiber skirts, Category 342/642, increased from 
6,396,000 dozen in 1989 to 6,884,000 dozen in 1992, an 8 percent 
increase. U.S. imports jumped to 7,386,000 dozen in 1993, 8 percent 
above the 1992 level. In the first two months of 1994, Category 342/642 
imports are up 24 percent above the January-February 1993 level.
    The ratio of imports to domestic production increased from 86 
percent in 1989 to 96 percent in 1992 and reached 120 percent in 1993. 
The domestic manufacturers' share of the cotton and manmade fiber skirt 
market declined from 54 percent in 1989 to 51 percent in 1992. The 
domestic manufacturers' share dropped to 45 percent in 1993, 6 
percentage points below their 1992 market share.
Duty-Paid Value and U.S. Producers' Price
    Approximately 77 percent of Category 342/642 imports from Pakistan 
during the year ending February 1994 entered the U.S. under HTSUSA 
6104.22.0030--Women's knit cotton skirts, entered as part of an 
ensemble; HTSUSA 6104.52.0010--Women's knit cotton skirts; and HTSUSA 
6204.52.2070--Women's woven cotton skirts of other than corduroy and 
blue denim. These skirts entered the U.S. at landed duty-paid values 
below U.S. producers' prices for comparable skirts.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
May 13, 1994.

Commissioner of Customs,
Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC 20229.

    Dear Commissioner: This directive amends, but does not cancel, 
the directive issued to you on February 1, 1994, by the Chairman, 
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. That 
directive concerns imports of certain cotton and man-made fiber 
textile products, produced or manufactured in Pakistan and exported 
during the twelve-month period which began on January 1, 1994 and 
extends through December 31, 1994.
    Effective on May 20, 1994, you are directed to establish a limit 
for cotton and man-made fiber textile products in Categories 342/642 
for the period beginning on April 29, 1994 and extending through 
July 27, 1994 at a level of 44,933 dozen\1\.
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    \1\The limit has not been adjusted to account for any imports 
exported after April 28, 1994.
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    Textile products in Categories 342/642 which have been exported 
to the United States prior to April 29, 1994 shall not be subject to 
the limit established in this directive.
    Textile products in Category 342 which have been exported to the 
United States prior to April 29, 1994 shall continue to be subject 
to the Group limit.
    Textile products in Category 642 which have been released from 
the custody of the U.S. Customs Service under the provisions of 19 
U.S.C. 1448(b) or 1484(a)(1) prior to the effective date of this 
directive shall not be denied entry under this directive.
    The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has 
determined that this action falls within the foreign affairs 
exception of the rulemaking provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1).
    Sincerely,
Rita D. Hayes,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 94-12260 Filed 5-18-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F