[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 46 (Thursday, March 8, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13912-13913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5836]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Request for Public Comments on Short Supply Request Under the 
African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)

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

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for a 
determination that certain fabrics used for blouses and nightwear 
cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in 
a timely manner.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Heinzen, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-3400.

SUMMARY: On March 1, 2001, the Chairman of CITA received a petition 
from Esquel Enterprises Limited of Hong Kong and Textile Industries 
Limited in Mauritius alleging that certain fabrics, listed below, for 
use in blouses and nightwear, cannot be supplied by the domestic 
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and requesting 
that the President proclaim that such apparel articles of such fabrics 
be eligible for preferential treatment under the AGOA. CITA hereby 
solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to 
whether these fabrics 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.

Fabrics named in the request:

    (a) Fabrics of subheadings 5208.21, 5208.22, 5208.29, 5208.31, 
5208.32, 5208.39, 5208.41, 5208.42, 5208.49, 5208.51, 5208.52 or 
5208.59, of average yarn number exceeding 135 metric;
    (b) Fabrics of subheading 5513.11 or 5513.21, not of square 
construction, containing more than 70 warp ends and filling picks per 
square centimeter, of average yarn number exceeding 135 metric;
    (c) Fabrics of subheadings 5210.21 or 5210.31, not of square 
construction, containing more than 70 warp ends and filling picks per 
square centimeter, of average yarn number exceeding 135 metric;
    (d) Fabrics of subheadings 5208.22 or 5208.32, not of square 
construction, containing more than 75 warp ends and fillings picks per 
square centimeter, of average yarn number exceeding 135 metric;
    (e) Fabrics of subheadings 5407.81, 5407.82 or 5407.83, weighing 
less than 170 grams per square meter, having a dobby weave created by a 
dobby attachment, of average yarn number exceeding 135 metric;
    (f) Fabrics of subheadings 5208.42 or 5208.49, not of square 
construction, containing more than 85 warp ends and

[[Page 13913]]

filling picks per square centimeter, of average yarn number exceeding 
85 metric, or exceeding 135 metric if the fabric is of oxford 
construction (a modified basket weave with a large filling yarn having 
no twist woven under and over two single, twisted warp yarns);
    (g) Fabrics of subheading 5208.51, of square construction, 
containing more than 75 warp ends and filling picks per square 
centimeter, made with single yarns, of average yarn number 95 or 
greater metric;
    (h) Fabrics of subheading 5208.41, of square construction, with a 
gingham pattern, containing more than 85 warp ends and filling picks 
per square centimeter, made with single yarns, of average yarn number 
135 or greater metric, and characterized by a check effect produced by 
the variation in color of the yarns in the warp and filling;
    (i) Fabrics of subheading 5208.41, with the warp colored with 
vegetable dyes, and the filling yarns white or colored with vegetable 
dyes, of average yarn number greater than 65 metric.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Section 112(b)(5)(B) of the AGOA, Section 1 of 
Executive Order No. 13191 of January 17, 2001.

Background

    The AGOA 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 AGOA 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 beneficiary sub-
Saharan African countries from fabric or yarn that is not formed in the 
United States or a beneficiary sub-Saharan African 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 has 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 AGOA 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 March 1, 2001, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from 
Esquel Enterprises Limited of Hong Kong and Textile Industries Limited 
in Mauritius alleging that certain fabrics, listed above, for use in 
blouses and nightwear, 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 AGOA for 
such apparel articles that are cut and sewn in one or more beneficiary 
sub-Saharan African countries from such fabrics.
    CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, 
particularly with respect to whether such fabrics can be supplied by 
the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Also 
relevant is whether other fabrics that are supplied by the domestic 
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner are substitutable 
for the fabrics for the 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 such fabrics 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 or fabric stating that it 
produces the fabric 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 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. 01-5836 Filed 3-6-01; 1:31 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F