[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15886-15887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7017]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-428]


Apparel Inputs in ``Short Supply'': Effect of Providing 
Preferential Treatment to Apparel from Sub-Saharan African and 
Caribbean Basin Countries

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: March 14, 2001.
SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request from the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR) on March 5, 2001, the Commission instituted 
Investigation No. 332-428, Apparel Inputs in ``Short Supply': Effect of 
Providing Preferential Treatment to Apparel from Sub-Saharan African 
and Caribbean Basin Countries, under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act 
of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)) to provide advice in connection with the 
``short supply'' provisions of the African Growth and Opportunity Act 
(AGOA) and the United States-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act 
(CBTPA).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, contact 
Jackie W. Jones (202-205-3466; [email protected]) of the Office of 
Industries; for information on legal aspects, contact William Gearhart 
(202-205-3091; [email protected]) of the Office of the General 
Counsel. The media should contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Public Affairs 
Officer (202-205-1819). Hearing impaired individuals may obtain 
information on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal 
on 202-205-1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need 
special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact 
the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000. General information about 
the Commission may be obtained by accessing its internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). The public record for this investigation may be viewed 
on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS-ON-LINE) at http://dockets.usitc.gov/eol/public.

Background

    Section 112(b)(5) of the AGOA and section 213(b)(2)(A)(v) of the 
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), as added by section 
211(a) of the CBTPA, allow preferential treatment for apparel made in 
beneficiary countries from certain fabrics or yarns to the extent that 
apparel of such fabrics or yarns would be eligible for preferential 
treatment, without regard to the source of the fabric or yarn, under 
Annex 401 of the North American Free Trade Agreement. These sections 
also authorize the President, on request of an interested party, to 
proclaim preferential treatment for apparel made in beneficiary 
countries from additional fabrics or yarn, if the President determines 
that such fabrics or yarn cannot be supplied by the domestic industry 
in commercial quantities in a timely manner and the President complies 
with certain procedural requirements, one of which is to obtain the 
advice of the Commission. The President is required to submit a report 
to the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees that sets 
forth the action proposed to be proclaimed, the reasons for such 
action, and the advice obtained from the Commission and the appropriate 
advisory committee, within 60 days after a request is received from an 
interested party.
    In Executive Order No. 13191, the President delegated to the 
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) the 
authority to determine whether particular fabrics or yarns cannot be 
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely 
manner. He authorized CITA and the USTR to submit the required report 
to the Congress, and delegated to USTR the authority to obtain advice 
from the Commission.
    As requested by the USTR, the Commission will provide advice 
regarding the probable economic effect of providing preferential 
treatment for apparel made in AGOA and/or CBTPA beneficiary countries 
from fabrics or yarn, regardless of the source of the fabrics or yarn, 
which allegedly cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in 
commercial quantities in a timely manner (i.e., which allegedly are in 
``short supply''). The advice will be provided as to the probable 
economic effect of such action on affected segments of the U.S. textile 
and apparel industries, workers in these industries, and consumers of 
affected goods.
    The Commission will provide all such advice during 2001 under a 
single investigation number. The Commission will not publish notices in 
the Federal Register of receipt of individual requests for advice. 
Instead, the Commission will issue a news release each time it 
initiates an analysis, and the news release will identify the 
article(s) under consideration, indicate the deadline for submission of 
public comments on the proposed preferential treatment, and provide the 
name, telephone number, and Internet e-mail address of staff who will 
be able to provide additional information on the request. CITA 
publishes a summary of each request from interested parties in the 
Federal Register. To view these notices, see the U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Office of Textiles and Apparel's (OTEXA) Internet site at 
http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/fr.stm. The Commission has developed a special 
area on its Internet site (http://www.usitc.gov/shortsup/shortsupintro.htm) to provide the public with information on the status 
of each request for which the Commission initiated analysis. The 
Commission has also developed a group list of facsimile addresses of 
interested parties or individuals who wish to be automatically notified 
via facsimile about any requests for which the Commission initiated 
analysis. Interested parties may be added to this list by notifying 
Jackie W. Jones (202-205-3466; [email protected]).
    The Commission will submit its reports to the USTR not later than 
the 47th day after receiving a request for advice (or on the next 
business day if the 47th day falls on a weekend or holiday). The 
Commission will issue a public version of each report as soon 
thereafter as possible, with any confidential business information 
deleted.

Written Submissions

    Because of time constraints, the Commission will not hold public 
hearings in connection with the advice provided under this 
investigation number. However, interested parties will be invited to 
submit written statements (original and 3 copies) concerning the 
matters to be addressed by the Commission in this investigation. The 
Commission is particularly interested in receiving input from the 
private sector on the likely effect of any proposed preferential 
treatment on affected segments of the U.S. textile and apparel 
industries, their workers, and

[[Page 15887]]

consumers. Commercial or financial information that a person desires 
the Commission to treat as confidential must be submitted in accordance 
with Sec. 201.6 of the Commission's rules of practice and procedure (19 
CFR 201.6). The Commission's Rules do not authorize filing of 
submissions with the Secretary by facsimile or electronic means. All 
written submissions, except for confidential business information, will 
be made available in the Office of the Secretary to the Commission for 
inspection by interested parties. The Commission may include 
confidential business information submitted in the course of this 
investigation in the reports to the USTR. In the public version of 
these reports, however, the Commission will not publish confidential 
business information in a manner that could reveal the individual 
operations of the firms supplying the information. All submissions 
should be addressed to the Secretary, U.S. International Trade 
Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436.

List of Subjects:

    Caribbean, African, tariffs, imports, yarn, fabric, and apparel.

    Issued: March 15, 2001.

    By order of the Commission.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-7017 Filed 3-20-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P