[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 113 (Thursday, June 12, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35202-35203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14958]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Request for Public Comments on Commercial Availability Petition 
under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the United States-
Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA), and the Andean Trade 
Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA)

June 9, 2003.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(CITA).

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a petition for a 
determination that certain ring spun single yarns, made of micro modal 
fiber and U.S. pima cotton, cannot be supplied by the domestic industry 
in commercial quantities in a timely manner under the AGOA, the CBTPA, 
and the ATPDEA.

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SUMMARY: On June 5, 2003, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from 
Alston and Bird, L.L.P., on behalf of their client, Ge-Ray Fabrics, 
Inc., alleging that ring spun single yarn of English yarn numbers 30 
and 50, containing 50 percent or more, but less than 85 percent, by 
weight of 0.9 denier or finer micro modal fiber, mixed solely with U.S. 
origin extra long pima cotton, classified in subheading 5510.30.000 of 
the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be 
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely 
manner. The petition requests that women's and girls' knit blouses, 
shirts, lingerie, and underwear from such yarns or from U.S.-formed 
fabrics containing such yarns be eligible for preferential treatment 
under the AGOA, the CBTPA, and the ATPDEA. CITA hereby solicits public 
comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether such 
yarns can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities 
in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted by June 27, 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 112(b)(5)(B) of the AGOA; Section 
213(b)(2)(A)(v)(II) of the CBTPA, as added by Section 211(a) of the 
CBTPA; Sections 1 and 6 of Executive Order No. 13191 of January 17, 
2001; Section 204 (b)(3)(B)(ii) of the ATPDEA, Presidential 
Proclamation 7616 of October 31, 2002, Executive Order 13277 of 
November 19, 2002, and the United States Trade Representative's 
Notice of Further Assignment of Functions of November 25, 2002.

Background

    The AGOA, the CBTPA, and the ATPDEA provide for quota- and duty-
free treatment for qualifying textile and apparel products. Such 
treatment is generally limited to products manufactured from yarns and 
fabrics formed in the United States or a beneficiary country. The AGOA, 
the CBTPA, and the ATPDEA also provide 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 countries from 
fabric or yarn that is not formed in the United States, if it has been 
determined that such fabric or yarn cannot be supplied by the domestic 
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. In Executive 
Order No. 13191 (66 FR 7271) and pursuant to Executive Order No. 13277 
(67 FR 70305) and the United States Trade Representative's Notice of 
Redelegation of Authority and Further Assignment of

[[Page 35203]]

Functions (67 FR 71606), 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, the CBTPA, or the ATPDEA. On March 6, 2001, CITA published 
procedures that it will follow in considering requests (66 FR 13502).
    On June 5, 2003, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from 
Alston and Bird, L.L.P., on behalf of their client, Ge-Ray Fabrics, 
Inc., alleging that ring spun single yarn of English yarn numbers 30 
and 50, containing 50 percent or more, but less than 85 percent, by 
weight of 0.9 denier or finer micro modal fiber, mixed solely with U.S. 
origin extra long pima cotton, classified in subheading 5510.30.000 of 
the HTSUS, for use in women's and girls' knit blouses, shirts, 
lingerie, and underwear, cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in 
commercial quantities in a timely manner. It requests quota- and duty-
free treatment under the AGOA, the CBTPA, and the ATPDEA for these 
apparel articles that are both cut (or knit-to-shape) and sewn in one 
or more AGOA, CBTPA, or ATPDEA beneficiary countries from such yarns or 
U.S.-formed fabrics containing such yarns.
    CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, 
particularly with respect to whether this yarn can be supplied by the 
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Also 
relevant is whether other yarns that are supplied by the domestic 
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner are substitutable 
for this yarn for purposes of the intended use. Comments must be 
received no later than June 27, 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 this yarn 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 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.03-14958 Filed 6-10-03; 12:47 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S