[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 71 (Monday, April 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17926-17927]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9204]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Request for Public Comments on Commercial Availability Request 
under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)

April 10, 2003.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(CITA).

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for a 
determination that certain light- and medium-weight dyed warp pile 
cotton velvet, for use in apparel articles, cannot be supplied by the 
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner.

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SUMMARY: On April 8, 2003, the Chairman of CITA received a petition 
from Crystal Apparel Limited of Hong Kong and Sinotex Mauritius Limited 
in Mauritius alleging that certain light- and medium-weight dyed warp 
pile cotton velvet for use in men's and boys' jackets and pants and 
women's and girls' jackets, dresses, skirts, pants, and shorts cannot 
be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a 
timely manner. It requests that such apparel articles of such fabrics 
be eligible for preferential treatment under the AGOA. CITA hereby 
solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to 
whether these fabrics can be supplied by the domestic industry in 
commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted by 
April 29, 2003, to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of 
Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, 
Washington, D.C. 20230.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 14, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Flaaten, 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 1 of 
Executive Order No. 13191 of January 17, 2001.

Background

    The AGOA 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 AGOA also provides 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 beneficiary sub-
Saharan African countries from fabric or yarn that is not formed in the 
United States or a beneficiary sub-Saharan African 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 AGOA 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 April 8, 2003, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from 
Crystal Apparel Limited of Hong Kong and Sinotex Mauritius Limited in 
Mauritius alleging that certain light- and medium-weight dyed warp pile 
cotton velvet, classified in subheading 5801.25.00 of the Harmonized 
System of the United States, with the following specifications, cannot 
be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a 
timely manner and requesting quota- and duty-free treatment under the 
AGOA for certain jackets, dresses, skirts, pants and shorts, that are 
cut and sewn in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries 
from such fabrics:

 
 
 
1. Name: light-weight dyed warp pile velvet
 
  HTS subheading: 5801.25.00
  Fiber Composition: 100 percent combed cotton
  Yarn: 230 g/m2 to 260 g/m2
  Construction:
      Woven Fabric - 96 x 98
      Warp - 42/2 ply + 42/2 ply
      Weft - 32 single yarn
 
      Woven Fabric - 96 x 102
      Warp - 42/2 ply + 60/2 ply
      Weft - 32 single yarn
 
2. Name: medium-weight dyed warp pile velvet
  HTS subheading: 5801.25.00
  Fiber Composition: 97 to 98 percent cotton, up to 3 percent spandex
   yarn
  Yarn: 280 g/m2 to 330 g/m2
  Construction:
      Woven Fabric - 110 x 84
      Warp - 42/2 ply + 50/2 ply
      Weft - 30 single yarn + 40 denier spandex
 
      Woven Fabric - 126 x 84
      Warp - 42/2 ply + 50/2 ply
      Weft - 30 single yarn + 40 denier spandex
 

    CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, 
particularly with respect to whether such fabrics can be supplied by 
the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Also 
relevant is whether other products that are supplied by the domestic 
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner are substitutable 
for the fabrics for the purposes of the intended use. Comments must be 
received no later than April 29, 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, N.W., Washington, 
DC 20230.
    If a comment alleges that such 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 yarn or fabric 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 for 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.

[[Page 17927]]

 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.03-9204 Filed 4-10-03; 3:18 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S