[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 24, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 78424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32540]



[[Page 78424]]

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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Request for Public Comments on Commercial Availability Request 
under the United States-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA)

December 20, 2002.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for a 
determination that certain shirting fabrics, for use in blouses, cannot 
be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a 
timely manner under the CBTPA.

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SUMMARY: On December 18, 2002, the Chairman of CITA received a petition 
from School Apparel, Inc. alleging that certain shirting fabrics, 
classified in subheadings 5210.21 and 5210.31 of the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), used in the production of 
women's and girls' blouses, cannot be supplied by the domestic industry 
in commercial quantities in a timely manner. It requests that blouses 
of such fabrics be eligible for preferential treatment under the CBTPA. 
CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular 
with regard to whether such shirting fabrics can be supplied by the 
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments 
must be submitted by January 8, 2003, to the Chairman, Committee for 
the Implementation of Textile Agreements, room 3001, United States 
Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC 20230.

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 213(b)(2)(A)(v)(II) of the CBTPA, as added by 
Section 211(a) of the CBTPA; Section 6 of Executive Order No. 13191 
of January 17, 2001.

BACKGROUND:

    The CBTPA provides 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 CBTPA also authorizes 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 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. 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 CBTPA and directed CITA to 
establish procedures to ensure appropriate public participation in any 
such determination. On March 6, 2001, CITA published procedures in the 
Federal Register that it will follow in considering requests (66 FR 
13502).
    On December 18, 2002, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from 
School Apparel, Inc., alleging that certain shirting fabrics, 
specifically fabrics of subheadings 5210.21 and 5210.31, not of square 
construction, containing more than 70 warp ends and filling picks per 
square centimeter, of average yarn number exceeding 70 metric, cannot 
be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a 
timely manner and requesting quota-and duty-free treatment under the 
CBTPA for women's and girls' blouses that are both cut and sewn in one 
or more CBTPA beneficiary countries from such fabrics.
    CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, 
particularly with respect to whether these fabrics can be supplied by 
the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Also 
relevant is whether other fabrics that can be supplied by the domestic 
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner are substitutable 
for the fabrics for purposes of the intended use. Comments must be 
received no later than January 8, 2003. 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, NW., Washington, 
DC 20230.
    If a comment alleges that these shirting fabrics 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 fabrics stating that it produces the 
fabrics that are 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, NW., 
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. 02-32540 Filed 12-20-02; 2:06 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S