[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 21, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54175-54176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-21222]


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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)

August 15, 2002.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a petition for a 
modification of the NAFTA rules of origin for certain products made of 
yarn from combed fine animal hair.

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SUMMARY: On July 12, 2002, the Chairman of CITA received a petition 
from Amicale Industries, Inc. (Amicale) alleging that yarn of combed 
fine animal hair, classified in subheading 5108.20.60 of the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the 
NAFTA region in commercial quantities in a timely manner and requesting 
that the President proclaim a modification of the NAFTA rules of 
origin. Amicale requests that the NAFTA rules of origin for woven 
fabrics of subheadings, 5112.11.60, 5112.19.95, and for men's and 
women's apparel of subheadings 6203.11.30, 6203.11.90, 6203.21.30, 
6203.21.90, 6203.31.90, 6203.41.18, 6204.11.00, 6204.21.00, 6204.31.10, 
6204.31.20, 6204.51.00, and 6204.61.90,

[[Page 54176]]

be modified to allow for the use of non-North American origin yarn of 
subheading 5108.20.60. 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 yarn of combed fine animal hair classified under 
HTSUS subheading 5108.20.60 can be supplied by the domestic industry in 
commercial quantities in a timely manner. To be ensured full 
consideration, comments must be submitted by September 20, 2002, to the 
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 
3001, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Further Information Contact: 
Richard Stetson, 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.

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 July 12, 2002, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from 
Amicale Industries, Inc. (Amicale) alleging that yarn of combed fine 
animal hair, classified in subheading 5108.20.60 of the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the 
NAFTA region in commercial quantities in a timely manner and requesting 
that the President proclaim a modification of the NAFTA rules of 
origin. Amicale requests that the NAFTA rules of origin for woven 
fabrics of subheadings, 5112.11.60, 5112.19.95, and for men's and 
women's apparel of subheadings 6203.11.30, 6203.11.90, 6203.21.30, 
6203.21.90, 6203.31.90, 6203.41.18, 6204.11.00, 6204.21.00, 6204.31.10, 
6204.31.20, 6204.51.00, and 6204.61.90, be modified to allow for the 
use of non-North American origin yarn of subheading 5108.20.60. Such a 
proclamation may be made only after reaching agreement with the other 
NAFTA countries on the modification.
    CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, 
particularly with respect to whether yarn of combed fine animal hair, 
classified in HTSUS subheading 5108.20.60, can be supplied by the 
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. To be 
ensured full consideration, comments must be received no later than 
September 20, 2002. 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 yarn of fine animal 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 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.

James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 02-21222 Filed 8-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S