[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 159 (Monday, August 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49440-49444]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21063]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Solicitation of Public Comments on Request for Textile and 
Apparel Safeguard Action on Imports from China

August 13, 2003.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (the 
Committee)

ACTION: Solicitation of public comments concerning a request for 
safeguard action on imports from China of knit fabric (Category 222).

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SUMMARY: On July 24, 2003, the Committee received a request from the 
American Yarn Spinners Association, American Manufacturing Trade Action 
Coalition, American Textile Manufacturers Institute and the National 
Textile Association alleging that imports from China of knit fabric 
(Category 222) are, due to market disruption, threatening to impede the 
orderly development of trade in this product. They request that a 
textile and apparel safeguard action, as provided for in the Report of 
the Working Party on the Accession of China to the World Trade 
Organization (the Accession Agreement), be taken on imports of such 
fabric. The Committee hereby solicits

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public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether 
imports from China of knit fabric are, due to market disruption, 
threatening to impede the orderly development of trade in this product. 
Comments must be submitted by September 17, 2003 to the Chairman, 
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, 
United States Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, 
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Dulka, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-4058.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Section 204 of the Agriculture Act of 1956, as 
amended; Executive Order 11651, as amended.

Background

    The Accession Agreement textile and apparel safeguard allows the 
United States and other World Trade Organization Members that believe 
imports of Chinese origin textile and apparel products are, due to 
market disruption, threatening to impede the orderly development of 
trade in these products to request consultations with China with a view 
to easing or avoiding such market disruption. Upon receipt of the 
request, China has agreed to hold its shipments to a level no greater 
than 7.5 percent (6 percent for wool product categories) above the 
amount entered during the first 12 months of the most recent 14 months 
preceding the request for consultations. The Member requesting 
consultations may implement such a limit. Consultations with China will 
be held within 30 days of receipt of the request for consultations, and 
every effort will be made to reach agreement on a mutually satisfactory 
solution within 90 days of receipt of the request for consultations. If 
agreement on a different limit is reached, the Committee will issue a 
Federal Register Notice containing a directive to the Bureau of Customs 
and Border Protection that implements the negotiated limit. The limit 
is effective beginning on the date of the request for consultations and 
ending on December 31 of the year in which consultations were 
requested, or where three or fewer months remained in the year at the 
time of the request for consultations, for the period ending 12 months 
after the request for consultations. In order to facilitate the 
implementation of the Accession Agreement textile and apparel 
safeguard, the Committee has published procedures (the Procedures) it 
will follow in considering requests for Accession Agreement textile and 
apparel safeguard actions (68 FR 27787, published May 21, 2003).
    On July 24, 2003, the Committee received a request from the 
American Yarn Spinners Association, American Manufacturing Trade Action 
Coalition, American Textile Manufacturers Institute and the National 
Textile Association alleging that imports from China of knit fabric 
(Category 222) are, due to market disruption, threatening to impede the 
orderly development of trade in this product, and requesting that an 
Accession Agreement textile and apparel safeguard action be taken on 
imports of knit fabric. The Committee has determined that this request 
provides the information necessary for the Committee to consider the 
request in light of the considerations set forth in the Procedures. The 
text of the request is reproduced in full below.
    The Committee is soliciting public comments on this request, in 
particular with regard to whether imports from China of such fabric 
are, due to market disruption, threatening to impede the orderly 
development of trade in this product. Comments may be submitted by any 
interested person. Comments must be received no later than September 
17, 2003. Interested persons are invited to submit ten copies of such 
comments to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements, Room 3001, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230.
    If a comment alleges that there is no market disruption or that the 
subject imports are not the cause of market disruption, the Committee 
will closely review any supporting information and documentation, such 
as information about domestic production or prices of like or directly 
competitive products. Particular consideration will be given to 
comments representing the views of actual producers in the United 
States of a like or directly competitive product.
    The Committee will protect any business confidential information 
that is marked business confidential from disclosure to the full extent 
permitted by law. To the extent that business confidential information 
is provided, two copies of a non-confidential version must also be 
provided in which business confidential information is summarized or, 
if necessary, deleted. Comments received, with the exception of 
information marked ``business confidential'', will be available for 
inspection between 9:00 a.m and 4:30 p.m in Room 2233, United States 
Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington DC 
20230.
    The Committee will make a determination within 60 calendar days of 
the close of the comment period as to whether the United States will 
request consultations with China. If the Committee is unable to make a 
determination within 60 calendar days, it will cause to be published a 
notice in the Federal Register, including the date by which it will 
make a determination. If the Committee makes a negative determination, 
it will cause this determination and the reasons therefore to be 
published in the Federal Register. If the Committee makes an 
affirmative determination that imports of Chinese origin textiles and 
apparel products are, due to market disruption, threatening to impede 
the orderly development of trade in these products, the United States 
will request consultations with China with a view to easing or avoiding 
such market disruption.
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S

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James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc.03-21063 Filed 8-14-03; 11:25 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-C