[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 48 (Monday, March 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14357-14358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6178]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


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

March 8, 2001.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for a 
determination that crushed panne velour fabric cannot be supplied by 
the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner under 
the CBTPA.

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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.

[[Page 14358]]

SUMMARY: On March 6, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition on 
behalf of Granada Sales Corporation of New York City alleging that 
crushed panne velour fabric, classified in subheading 6001.92.00.30 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 such fabric be eligible for preferential treatment under the CBTPA. 
CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular 
with regard to whether crushed panne velour fabric can be supplied by 
the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. 
Comments must be submitted by March 27, 2001 to the Chairman, Committee 
for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States 
Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 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 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 yarn 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 March 6, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition on behalf 
of Granada Sales Corporation of New York City alleging crushed panne 
velour fabric, classified in HTSUS subheading 6001.92.00.30, 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 such fabric.
    CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, 
particularly with respect to whether crushed panne velour fabric, 
classified in HTSUS subheading 6001.92.00.30, 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 fabric for purposes of the intended use. Comments must be 
received no later than March 27, 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, NW., Washington, 
DC 20230.
    If a comment alleges that crushed panne velour fabric 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 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 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, NW., 
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. 01-6178 Filed 3-8-01; 3:02 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F