[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 19, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17383]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 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 Man-Made Fiber Textile 
Products

July 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: July 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 June 29, 1994, 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 man-made twill and sateen 
staple/filament fabric in Category 628.
    The purpose of this notice is to advise the public that, pending 
agreement on a mutually satisfactory solution concerning Category 628, 
the Government of the United States has decided to control imports 
during the ninety-day period which began on June 29, 1994 and extends 
through September 26, 1994 at a level of 1,079,634 square meters.
    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 Category 628, produced or 
manufactured in Pakistan and exported during the prorated period 
beginning on September 27, 1994 and extending through December 31, 
1994, of not less than 973,572 square meters.
    A summary market statement concerning Category 628 follows this 
notice.
    Anyone wishing to comment or provide data or information regarding 
the treatment of Category 628, under the agreement with the Government 
of Pakistan, or to comment on domestic production or availability of 
products included in Category 628, 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 Category 628. 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 628--Man-Made Fiber Twill/Sateen Staple/Filament Fabric
June 1994
Import Situation and Conclusion
    U.S. imports of manmade fiber twill and sateen staple/filament 
fabric, Category 628, from Pakistan began in September 1993. During the 
eight month period September 1993 through April 1994, U.S. imports from 
Pakistan reached 3,191,471 square meters. In just eight months, 
Pakistan has become the number one supplier of manmade fiber twill and 
sateen staple/filament fabric to the U.S. market, accounting for 37 
percent of total Category 628 imports in the year ending April 1994. In 
the first four months of 1994, imports from Pakistan reached 1,774,924 
square meters, 67 percent of total U.S. imports of Category 628 during 
January-April 1994. There were no Category 628 imports from Pakistan in 
1990, 1991, and 1992. Category 628 imports from Pakistan totaled 
249,523 square meters in 1989.
    The sharp and substantial increase of Category 628 imports from 
Pakistan is causing a real risk of disruption in the U.S. market for 
manmade fiber twill and sateen staple/filament fabric.
U.S. Production, Import Penetration and Market Share
    U.S. production of manmade fiber twill and sateen staple/filament 
fabric, Category 628, declined from 98,766,000 square meters in 1989 to 
83,441,000 square meters in 1993, a 16 percent decrease. U.S. 
production for the year ending March 1994 was 9 percent below the year 
ending March 1993 level.
    In contrast, U.S. imports of Category 628 from all sources remained 
relatively stable during the years 1989-1992, averaging 4,655,000 
square meters per year. In 1993, imports surged to 7,259,000 square 
meters, 56 percent above the 1989-1992 average. Imports continue to 
surge in 1994, reaching 2,660,000 square meters in the first four 
months, more than double the January-April 1993 level. Imports reached 
8,728,000 square meters in the year-ending April 1994, 83 percent above 
the 4,772,000 square meters imported during the year ending April 1993.
    The ratio of imports to domestic production remained relatively 
stable, averaging 5.1 percent during the years 1989-1992. The ratio of 
imports to production increased to 8.7 percent in 1993 and 10.5 percent 
in the year ending March 1994, double the 1989-1992 average percent.
Duty-Paid Value and U.S. Producers' Price
    Approximately 70 percent of Category 628 imports from Pakistan 
during the year ending April 1994 entered the U.S. under HTSUSA 
5407.81.0040--Woven satin or twill synthetic filament fabrics, less 
than 85% by weight synthetic, mixed primarily with cotton, whether or 
not bleached. These fabrics entered the U.S. at landed duty-paid values 
below U.S. producers' prices for comparable fabrics.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
July 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 July 20, 1994, you are directed to establish a 
limit for man-made fiber twill and sateen staple/filament fabric in 
Category 628 for the period beginning on June 29, 1994 and extending 
through September 26, 1994 at a level of 1,079,634 square meters\1\.
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    \1\The limit has not been adjusted to account for any imports 
exported after June 28, 1994.
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    Textile products in Category 628 which have been exported to the 
United States prior to June 29, 1994 shall not be subject to the 
limit established in this directive.
    Textile products in Category 628 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. 94-17383 Filed 7-18-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F