[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 63 (Monday, April 2, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17534-17535]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8121]


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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 29, 2001.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA)

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for a 
determination that 100 percent polyester yarn of 150 denier/140 
filament textured polyester containing one end of 75/70 cationic 
dyeable polyester intermingled with one end of 75/70 disperse dyeable 
polyester cannot be supplied by the domestic

[[Page 17535]]

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.
SUMMARY: On March 26, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition on 
behalf of Val D'or, Inc. and Malden Mills alleging that 100 percent 
polyester yarn of 150 denier/140 filament textured polyester containing 
one end of 75/70 cationic dyeable polyester intermingled with one end 
of 75/70 disperse dyeable polyester, for use in knit fabric, classified 
in subheading 5402.33.60 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the 
United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in 
commercial quantities in a timely manner. 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 100 percent polyester yarn of 150 denier/140 filament 
textured polyester containing one end of 75/70 cationic dyeable 
polyester intermingled with one end of 75/70 disperse dyeable polyester 
can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a 
timely manner. Comments must be submitted by April 17, 2001 to the 
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 
3001, United States Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution, 
N.W., 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 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 26, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition on 
behalf of Val D-or, Inc. and Malden Mills alleging that 100 percent 
polyester yarn of 150 denier/140 filament textured polyester containing 
one end of 75/70 cationic dyeable polyester intermingled with one end 
of 75/70 disperse dyeable polyester, for use in knit fabric, classified 
in HTSUS subheading 5402.33.60, 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 (or knit-to-shape) and sewn or 
otherwise assembled 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 100 percent polyester yarn of 150 
denier/140 filament textured polyester containing one end of 75/70 
cationic dyeable polyester intermingled with one end of 75/70 disperse 
dyeable polyester, for use in knit fabric, classified in HTSUS 
subheading 5402.33.60, 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 17, 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 100 percent polyester yarn of 150 denier/
140 filament textured polyester containing one end of 75/70 cationic 
dyeable polyester intermingled with one end of 75/70 disperse dyeable 
polyester 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.01-8121 Filed 3-29-01; 1:11 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F