[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 201 (Thursday, October 17, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64131-64132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-26356]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-448]


Textiles and Apparel: Assessment of the Competitiveness of 
Certain Foreign Suppliers to the U.S. Market

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation, scheduling of public hearing, and 
request for public comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 10, 2002.
SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request from the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR) on September 16, 2002, the Commission instituted 
investigation No. 332-448, Textiles and Apparel: Assessment of the 
Competitiveness of Certain Foreign Suppliers to the U.S. Market, under 
section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)) for the 
purpose of assessing the textile and apparel industries of certain 
foreign suppliers with respect to their competitiveness and other 
factors pertinent to their adjustment to the final completion of the 
phaseout of quotas required by the Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles 
and Clothing (ATC) on January 1, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, contact 
Robert W. Wallace (202-205-3458; [email protected]) or Kimberlie Freund 
(202-708-5402; [email protected]) of the Office of Industries. For 
information on legal aspects, contact William Gearhart of the Office of 
the General Counsel (202-205-3091; [email protected]). 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 access to the Commission should 
contact the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000. General 
information about the Commission can be found on its Internet server at 
http://www.usitc.gov. The public record for this investigation may be 
viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS-ON-LINE) at http://dockets.usitc.gov/eol/public/.
    Background: As requested by the USTR, the Commission will assess 
the textile and apparel industries of certain countries that are 
currently suppliers to the U.S. market with respect to their 
competitiveness and other factors pertinent to their adjustment to ATC 
completion. These countries include: (a) significant ATC suppliers to 
the U.S. market, (b) Mexico, and (c) other supplying countries with 
preferential access to the U.S. market. In the letter, the USTR 
requested that, to the extent practicable, the Commission's analysis 
should discuss factors such as textile and apparel consumption, 
production, employment, and prices in major textile and apparel 
exporting countries, as well as their textile and apparel trade, 
particularly with industrial country markets. The USTR requested that 
the Commission provide the information in a confidential report by June 
30, 2003. In consultation with USTR staff, countries identified as 
significant ATC suppliers to the U.S. market for purposes of this 
investigation are Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, 
Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Macao, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri 
Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey.

[[Page 64132]]

Countries identified as ``other supplying countries with preferential 
access to the U.S. market'' are Israel, Jordan, and certain designated 
beneficiary countries under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the 
Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act, and the United States-
Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act. In the request letter, the USTR 
referred to the ATC, which entered into force with the WTO agreements 
in 1995 and created special interim rules to govern trade in textiles 
and apparel among World Trade Organization Members for 10 years. The 
ATC called for the gradual and complete elimination of import quotas on 
textiles and apparel established by the United States and other 
importing countries under the Multifiber Arrangement and predecessor 
arrangements by January 1, 2005. Also in the request letter, USTR 
stated that, in anticipation of the final completion of the quota 
phaseout required by the ATC, ``it may be that significant changes will 
occur in the global pattern of production, trade and consumption of 
these products. It would be most helpful for the Administration to be 
able to anticipate the nature of these changes as much as possible.''
    Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with the 
investigation will be held at the U.S. International Trade Commission 
Building, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on 
January 22, 2003. All persons shall have the right to appear, by 
counsel or in person, to present information and to be heard. Requests 
to appear at the public hearing should be filed with the Secretary, 
United States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20436, no later than 5:15 p.m., January 6, 2003. Any 
prehearing briefs (original and 14 copies) should be filed no later 
than 5:15 p.m., January 8, 2003; the deadline for filing post-hearing 
briefs or statements is 5:15 p.m., February 4, 2003. In the event that, 
as of the close of business on January 6, 2003, no witnesses are 
scheduled to appear at the hearing, the hearing will be canceled. Any 
person interested in attending the hearing as an observer or non-
participant may call the Secretary to the Commission (202-205-1806) 
after January 6, 2003, for information concerning whether the hearing 
will be held.
    Written Submissions: In lieu of or in addition to participating in 
the hearing, interested parties are invited to submit written 
statements (original and 14 copies) concerning the matters to be 
addressed by the Commission in its report on this investigation. 
Commercial or financial information that a submitter desires the 
Commission to treat as confidential must be submitted on separate 
sheets of paper, each clearly marked ``Confidential Business 
Information'' at the top. All submissions requesting confidential 
treatment must conform with the requirements of section 201.6 of the 
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 201.6). 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 such 
confidential business information in the report it sends to the USTR. 
To be assured of consideration by the Commission, written statements 
relating to the Commission's report should be submitted to the 
Commission at the earliest practical date and should be received no 
later than the close of business on February 4, 2003.
    All submissions should be addressed to the Secretary, United States 
International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436. 
The Commission's rules do not authorize filing submissions with the 
Secretary by facsimile or electronic means.
    List of Subjects: Textiles, apparel, quotas, and imports.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: October 10, 2002.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 02-26356 Filed 10-16-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P