[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 46 (Thursday, March 8, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13913-13914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5835]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Request for Public Comments on Short Supply Request Under the 
United States--Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA)

March 6, 2001.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA)

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for a 
determination that yarns of cashmere and camel hair cannot be supplied 
by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori E. Mennitt, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-3400.

SUMMARY: On February 28, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition 
from Amicale Industries, Inc. alleging that yarn of cashmere and yarn 
of camel hair, classified in heading 5108.10.60 of the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the 
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and 
requesting that the President proclaim that apparel articles of U.S. 
formed-fabric of such yarns be eligible for preferential treatment 
under the CBTPA. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, 
in particular with regard to whether cashmere and camel hair yarn can 
be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a 
timely manner. Comments must be submitted by March 23, 2001 to the 
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 
3001, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230.

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.

Background

    The CBTPA provides for quota-and duty-free treatment for qualifying 
textile and apparel products. Such treatment is generally limited to 
products manufactured from yarns or fabrics formed in the United States 
or a beneficiary country. The CBTPA 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

[[Page 13914]]

CBTPA beneficiary countries from fabric or yarn that is not formed in 
the United States or a CBTPA beneficiary country, if it has been 
determined that such fabric or yarns cannot be supplied by the domestic 
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and the President 
has proclaimed such treatment. 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 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 February 28, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition from 
Amicale Industries, Inc. alleging that yarn of cashmere and yarn of 
camel hair, classified in HTSUS heading 5108.10.60, cannot be supplied 
by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner 
and requesting that the President proclaim quota- and duty-free 
treatment under the CBTPA for apparel articles that are cut and sewn in 
one or more CBTPA beneficiary countries from U.S.-formed fabric of such 
yarns.
    CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, 
particularly with respect to whether yarn of cashmere and yarn of camel 
hair, classified in HTSUS heading 5108.10.60, can be supplied by the 
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Also 
relevant is whether other yarn that is supplied by the domestic 
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner are substitutable 
for the yarn for purposes of the intended use. Comments must be 
received no later than March 23, 2001. 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 the cashmere or camel hair 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 in 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 for 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.

D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc. 01-5835 Filed 3-6-01; 1:31 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F