[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 131 (Monday, July 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 35777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-17208]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Request for Public Comment on Short Supply Request under the 
African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the United States - 
Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA)

July 5, 2001.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for a 
determination that micro-denier 30 singles and 36 singles solution dyed 
staple spun viscose yarns, produced on open-ended spindles, cannot be 
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely 
manner under the AGOA and CBTPA.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet E. Heinzen or Lori Mennitt, 
International Trade Specialists, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, (202) 482-3400.

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.

SUMMARY:

    On June 29, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition on behalf 
of Fabrictex alleging that micro-denier 30 singles and 36 singles 
solution dyed staple spun viscose yarn produced on open-ended spindles, 
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 apparel articles of U.S. formed knit fabrics 
of such yarns be eligible for preferential treatment under the AGOA and 
the CBTPA. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, in 
particular with regard to whether this yarn can be supplied by the 
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments 
must be submitted by July 24, 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.
    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 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 yarn cannot be 
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely 
manner. 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 June 29, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition on behalf 
of Fabrictex alleging that micro-denier 30 singles and 36 singles 
solution dyed staple spun viscose yarn, produced on open-ended 
spindles, 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 quota- and duty-free 
treatment under the AGOA and the CBTPA for apparel articles that are 
cut and sewn in one or more AGOA or CBTPA beneficiary countries from 
U.S. formed knit fabric from such yarn. This is the second petition 
submitted by Fabrictex on solution dyed staple spun viscose yarn.
    CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, 
particularly with respect to whether this yarn 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 July 24, 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 this 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.01-17208 Filed 7-5-01; 2:16 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S