[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 17 (Friday, January 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3733-3734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-1838]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-436]


Apparel Inputs in ``Short Supply'' (2002): Effect of Providing 
Preferential Treatment to Apparel From Sub-Saharan African and 
Caribbean Basin Countries

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation.

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SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request from the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR) on January 14, 2002, the Commission instituted 
investigation No. 332-436, Apparel Inputs in ``Short Supply'' (2002): 
Effect of Providing Preferential Treatment to Apparel from Sub-Saharan 
African and Caribbean Basin Countries, under section 332(g) of the 
Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)) to provide advice in connection 
with requests filed in 2002 with respect to the ``short supply'' 
provisions of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the 
United States-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA). The 
Commission conducted a similar investigation in 2001 to provide advice 
with respect to requests filed that year. During 2001, the Commission 
conducted 10 ``short supply'' reviews under investigation No. 332-428, 
Apparel Inputs in ``Short Supply'' (2001): Effect of Providing 
Preferential Treatment to Apparel from Sub-Saharan African and 
Caribbean Basin Countries.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, contact 
Jackie W. Jones (202-205-3466; [email protected]) of the Office of 
Industries; for information on legal aspects, contact William Gearhart 
(202-205-3091; [email protected]) of the Office of the General 
Counsel. The media should contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Public Affairs 
Officer (202-205-1819). Hearing impaired individuals may obtain 
information on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal 
on 202-205-1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need 
special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact 
the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000. General information about 
the Commission may be obtained by accessing its Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). The public record for this investigation may be viewed 
on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS On-Line) http://dockets.usitc.gov/eol/public/.

[[Page 3734]]

Background

    Section 112(b)(5) of the AGOA and section 213(b)(2)(A)(v) of the 
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, as added by section 211(a) of 
the CBTPA, allow preferential treatment for apparel made in beneficiary 
countries from certain fabrics or yarns to the extent that apparel of 
such fabrics or yarns would be eligible for preferential treatment, 
without regard to the source of the fabrics or yarns, under Annex 401 
of the North American Free Trade Agreement. These sections also 
authorize the President, on request of an interested party, to proclaim 
preferential treatment for apparel made in beneficiary countries from 
additional fabrics or yarns, if the President determines that such 
fabrics or yarns cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in 
commercial quantities in a timely manner and the President complies 
with certain procedural requirements, one of which is to obtain the 
advice of the Commission. The President is required to submit a report 
to the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees that sets 
forth the action proposed to be proclaimed, the reasons for such 
action, and the advice obtained from the Commission and the appropriate 
advisory committee, within 60 days after a request is received from an 
interested party.
    In Executive Order No. 13191, the President delegated to the 
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) the 
authority to determine whether particular fabrics or yarns cannot be 
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely 
manner. He authorized CITA and the USTR to submit the required report 
to the Congress, and delegated to USTR the authority to obtain advice 
from the Commission.
    As requested by the USTR, the Commission will provide advice 
regarding the probable economic effect of providing preferential 
treatment for apparel made in AGOA and/or CBTPA beneficiary countries 
from fabrics or yarns, regardless of the source of the fabrics or 
yarns, which allegedly cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in 
commercial quantities in a timely manner (i.e., which allegedly are in 
``short supply''). The advice will be provided as to the probable 
economic effect of such action on affected segments of the U.S. textile 
and apparel industries, workers in these industries, and consumers of 
affected goods.
    The Commission will follow the same procedures as it did in 
conducting ``short supply'' reviews in 2001 under Investigation No. 
332-428. Thus, during 2002, the Commission will provide advice for each 
``short supply'' review under a single investigation number. The 
Commission will not publish notices in the Federal Register of receipt 
of individual requests for advice. Instead, the Commission will issue a 
news release each time it initiates an analysis, and the news release 
will identify the article(s) under consideration, indicate the deadline 
for submission of public comments on the proposed preferential 
treatment, and provide the name, telephone number, and Internet e-mail 
address of staff who will be able to provide additional information on 
the request. CITA publishes a summary of each request from interested 
parties in the Federal Register. To view these notices, see the 
Internet site of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Textiles 
and Apparel (OTEXA), at http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/fr.stm.
    The Commission has developed a special area on its Internet site 
(http://www.usitc.gov/shortsup/shortsupintro.htm) to provide the public 
with information on the status of each request for which the Commission 
initiated analysis. The Commission has also developed a group list of 
facsimile addresses of interested parties or individuals who wish to be 
automatically notified via facsimile about any requests for which the 
Commission initiated analysis. Interested parties may be added to this 
list by notifying Jackie W. Jones (202-205-3466; [email protected]).
    The Commission will submit its reports to the USTR not later than 
the 42nd day after receiving a request for advice. The Commission will 
issue a public version of each report as soon thereafter as possible, 
with any confidential business information deleted.
    Written Submissions: Because of time constraints, the Commission 
will not hold public hearings in connection with the advice provided 
under this investigation number. However, interested parties will be 
invited to submit written statements (original and 3 copies) concerning 
the matters to be addressed by the Commission in this investigation. 
The Commission is particularly interested in receiving input from the 
private sector on the likely effect of any proposed preferential 
treatment on affected segments of the U.S. textile and apparel 
industries, their workers, and consumers. Commercial or financial 
information that a person desires the Commission to treat as 
confidential must be submitted in accordance with Sec. 201.6 of the 
Commission's rules of practice and procedure (19 CFR 201.6). The 
Commission's Rules do not authorize filing of submissions with the 
Secretary by facsimile or electronic means. All written submissions, 
except for confidential business information, will be made available in 
the Office of the Secretary to the Commission for inspection by 
interested parties. The Commission may include confidential business 
information submitted in the course of this investigation in the 
reports to the USTR. In the public version of these reports, however, 
the Commission will not publish confidential business information in a 
manner that could reveal the individual operations of the firms 
supplying the information. All submissions should be addressed to the 
Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20436.

    List of Subjects: African, Apparel, Caribbean, Fabric, Imports, 
Tariffs, and Yarn.


    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: January 18, 2002.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-1838 Filed 1-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P