[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 105 (Thursday, May 31, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29549-29550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-13663]


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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) and the United States-
Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA)

May 25, 2001.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA)

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for a 
determination that rayon filament yarn cannot be supplied by the 
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori Mennitt, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-3400.
SUMMARY: On May 23, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition from 
ICF Industries, Inc. alleging that rayon filament yarn, classified in 
subheading 5403.31 and 5403.32 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 U.S. formed-fabric of such 
yarn be eligible for preferential treatment under the AGOA and CBTPA. 
CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular 
with regard to whether rayon filament yarn can be supplied by the 
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments 
must be submitted by June 15, 2001 to the Chairman, Committee for the 
Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States 
Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Section 112(b)(5)(B) of the AGOA; Section 
213(b)(2)(A)(v)(II) of the CBTPA, as added by Section 211(a) of the 
CBTPA; Sections 1 and 6 of Executive Order No. 13191 of January 17, 
2001.

Background

    The AGOA and the CBTPA provide 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 and the CBTPA 
also provide for quota- and duty-free treatment for apparel articles 
that are both cut (or knit-to-shape) and

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sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more AGOA or CBTPA beneficiary 
countries from fabric or yarn that is not formed in the United States 
or a beneficiary 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 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 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 May 23, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition from ICF 
Industries, Inc. alleging that rayon filament yarn, classified in HTSUS 
subheading 5403.31 and 5403.32 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 and CBTPA for apparel articles that are both cut (or knit-to-
shape) and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more AGOA or CBTPA 
beneficiary countries from U.S. formed fabric of such yarn.
    CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, 
particularly with respect to whether these yarns can be supplied by the 
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Also 
relevant is whether other products 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 June 15, 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 rayon filament 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 in 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. 01-13663 Filed 5-25-01; 2:30 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F