[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 53 (Monday, March 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15411-15412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6807]


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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 14, 2001.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA)

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for a 
determination that 30 singles and 36 singles solution dyed staple spun 
viscose yarns 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: Janet E. Heinzen, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-3400.
    SUMMARY:
    On March 12, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition on 
behalf of Fabrictex alleging that 30 singles solution dyed staple spun 
viscose yarn and 36 singles solution dyed staple spun viscose yarn, for 
use in knit fabric, classified in subheading 5510.11.0000 of the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be 
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely 
manner. It requests that the President proclaim that apparel articles 
of U.S. formed fabrics 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 30 singles solution dyed 
staple spun viscose yarn and 36 singles solution dyed staple spun 
viscose yarn can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial 
quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted by April 3, 
2001 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, 14th and 
Constitution, NW., Washington, DC 20230.

[[Page 15412]]


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 12, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition on 
behalf of Fabrictex alleging that 30 singles solution dyed staple spun 
viscose yarn and 36 singles solution dyed staple spun viscose yarn, for 
use in knit fabric, classified in HTSUS subheading 5510.11.0000, 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 from such yarn.
    CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, 
particularly with respect to whether 30 singles solution dyed staple 
spun viscose yarn and 36 singles solution dyed staple spun viscose 
yarn, for use in knit fabric, classified in HTSUS subheading 
5510.11.0000, can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial 
quantities in a timely manner. Also relevant is whether other yarns 
that are 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 April 3, 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 30 singles solution dyed staple spun 
viscose yarn and 36 singles solution dyed staple spun viscose 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 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, 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. 01-6807 Filed 3-15-01; 11:56 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F