[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 27, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34156-34157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16147]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Request for Public Comment on Short Supply Petition under the 
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

June 22, 2001.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Request for Public Comments concerning a petition for 
modification of the NAFTA rules of origin for products made from 
certain yarns of cashmere and of camel hair.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martin Walsh, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-3400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as 
amended (7 USC 1854); Section 202(q) of the North American Free 
Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 USC 3332(q)); Executive Order 
11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended.

    SUMMARY: On June 14, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition 
from Amicale Industries, Inc. alleging that certain yarns of cashmere 
and of camel hair, classified in heading 5108.10.60 of the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the 
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and 
requesting that the President proclaim a modification of the NAFTA 
rules of origin. The yarns are described as (1). Yarns of cashmere, 
singles, multiple or plied, of fiber 17.5 to 19 microns average 
diameter, of natural, bleached, or dyed fiber, of metric count 9.7 or 
finer (3 run or finer), mule spun or frame spun. (2). Yarns of camel 
hair, singles, multiple or plied, of fiber 18 microns average diameter 
or finer, of bleached or dyed fiber, of metric count 16 or finer (5 run 
or finer), mule spun or frame spun.
    Such a proclamation may be made only after reaching agreement with 
the other NAFTA countries on the modification. CITA hereby solicits 
public comments on this petition, in particular with regard to whether 
cashmere and camel hair yarn can be supplied by the domestic industry 
in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted 
by July 27, 2001 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of 
Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, 
Washington, D.C. 20230.

Background

    Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), NAFTA 
countries are required to eliminate customs duties on textile and 
apparel goods that qualify as originating goods under the NAFTA rules 
of origin, which are set out in Annex 401 to the NAFTA. The NAFTA 
provides that the rules of origin for textile and apparel products may 
be amended through a subsequent agreement by the NAFTA countries. In 
consultations regarding such a change, the NAFTA countries are to 
consider issues of availability of supply of fibers, yarns, or fabrics 
in the free trade area and whether domestic producers are capable of 
supplying commercial quantities of the good in a timely manner. The 
Statement of Administrative Action (SAA) that accompanied the NAFTA 
Implementation Act stated that any interested person may submit to CITA 
a request for a modification to a particular rule of origin based on a 
change in the availability in North America of a particular fiber, yarn 
or fabric and that the requesting party would bear the burden of 
demonstrating that a change is warranted. The SAA provides that CITA 
may make a recommendation to the President regarding a change to a rule 
of origin for a textile or apparel good. The NAFTA Implementation Act 
provides the President with the authority to proclaim modifications to 
the NAFTA rules of origin as are necessary to implement an agreement 
with one or more NAFTA country on such a modification.
    On June 14, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition from 
Amicale Industries, Inc. alleging that certain yarns of cashmere and of 
camel hair, classified in HTSUS heading 5108.10.60, cannot be supplied 
by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner 
and requesting that the President proclaim a modification of the NAFTA 
rules of origin. The yarns are described as (1). Yarns of cashmere, 
singles, multiple or plied, of fiber 17.5 to 19 microns average 
diameter, of natural, bleached, or dyed fiber, of metric count 9.7 or 
finer (3 run or finer), mule spun or frame spun. (2). Yarns of camel 
hair, singles, multiple or plied, of fiber 18 microns average diameter 
or finer, of bleached or dyed fiber, of metric count 16 or finer (5 run 
or finer), mule spun or frame spun. The referenced yarns would be used 
to produce woven fabrics for use in suits, coats and suit-type jackets 
classified under HTS subheadings 6201.11, 6202.11, 6203.11, 6203.31, 
6204.11 and 6204.31.
    CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, 
particularly with respect to whether the yarns of cashmere and of camel 
hair described above, classified in HTSUS heading 5108.10.60, can be 
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely 
manner. The petition states that potential North American suppliers of 
the referenced yarns would be required to deliver them within 21 days 
of receipt of a purchase order. Also relevant are whether there has 
been a change in availability and 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 July 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, N.W., Washington, DC 20230.
    If a comment alleges that yarns of cashmere or of camel hair 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

[[Page 34157]]

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.

J. Hayden Boyd,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc.01-16147 Filed 6-26-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S