[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 227 (Monday, November 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59006-59007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-29502]


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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)

November 21, 2001.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for a 
determination that cuprammonium rayon filament yarn 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: For Further Information Contact: Janet 
Heinzen, International Trade Specialist, 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; Section 1 and 6 of Executive Order No. 13191 ofJanuary 17, 
2001.

[[Page 59007]]

SUMMARY:

    On November 20, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition from 
Itochu International, Inc. on behalf of Symphony Fabrics and Unifi 
Inc., alleging that cuprammonium rayon filament yarn, classified in 
subheading 5403.39 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 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 
cuprammonium rayon filament yarn can be supplied by the domestic 
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be 
submitted by December 11, 2001 to the Chairman, Committee for the 
Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States 
Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, 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 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 November 20, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition from 
Itochu International, Inc. on behalf of Symphony Fabrics and Unifi 
Inc., alleging that cuprammonium rayon filament yarn, classified in 
HTSUS subheading 5403.39 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 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 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 December 11, 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 cuprammonium 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 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.01-29502 Filed 11-21-01; 3:14 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S