[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51767-51768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22028]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Notice of Solicitation of Applications for Allocation of Tariff 
Rate Quotas on the Import of Certain Worsted Wool Fabrics

August 22, 2003.
AGENCY: Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration.

ACTION: The Department of Commerce (Department) is soliciting 
applications for an allocation of the 2004 tariff rate quotas on 
certain worsted wool fabric.

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SUMMARY: The Department hereby solicits applications from persons 
(including firms, corporations, or other legal entities) who cut and 
sew men's and boys' worsted wool suits and suit-like jackets and 
trousers for an allocation of the 2004 tariff rate quotas on certain 
worsted wool fabric. Interested persons must submit an application on 
the form provided to the address listed below by 5 p.m. on September 
29, 2003.
    The Department will cause to be published in the Federal Register 
its determination to allocate the 2004 tariff rate quotas and will 
notify applicants of their respective allocation as soon as possible 
after that date. Promptly thereafter, the Department will issue 
licenses to eligible applicants.

DATES: To be considered, applications must be received or postmarked by 
5 p.m. on September 29, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted to the Industry Assessment 
Division, Office of Textiles, Apparel and Consumer Goods Industries, 
Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230 
(telephone: (202) 482-4058). Application forms may be obtained from 
that office (via facsimile or mail) or from the following Internet 
address: http://web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/wooltrq.nsf/TRQApp.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background:

    Title V of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (the Act) created 
two tariff rate quotas (TRQs), providing for temporary reductions in 
the import duties on limited quantities of two categories of worsted 
wool fabrics suitable for use in making suits, suit-type jackets, or 
trousers: (1) for worsted wool fabric with average fiber diameters 
greater than 18.5 microns (Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
States (HTS) heading 9902.51.11); and (2) for worsted wool fabric with 
average fiber diameters of 18.5 microns or less (HTS heading 
9902.51.12).
    On August 6, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Trade Act of 
2002, which includes several amendments to Title V of the Act. These 
include the extension of the program through 2005; the reduction of the 
in-quota duty rate on HTS 9902.51.12 (average fiber diameter 18.5 
microns or less) from 6 percent to zero, effective for goods entered, 
or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 
2002; and an increase in the 2004 TRQ levels to 3,500,000 square meters 
for HTS 9902.51.12 and to 4,500,000 square meters for HTS 9902.51.11. 
These levels may be modified by the President. See 15 CFR 340.
    The Act requires that the TRQs be allocated to persons who cut and 
sew men's and boys' worsted wool suits, suit-type jackets and trousers 
in the United States. On January 22, 2001 the Department published 
regulations establishing procedures for allocating the TRQs. 66 FR 
6459, 15 CFR 335. In order to be eligible for an allocation, an

[[Page 51768]]

applicant must submit an application on the form provided at http://
web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/wooltrq.nsf/TRQApp to the address listed above by 
5 p.m. on September 29, 2003, in compliance with the requirements of 15 
CFR 335.
    Any business confidential information that is marked business 
confidential will be kept confidential and protected from disclosure to 
the full extent permitted by law.

Dated: August 22, 2003.
James C. Leonard III,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles, Apparel and Consumer Goods 
Industries, Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc.03-22028 Filed 8-27-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S