[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74554-74555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31877]


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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 22, 2003.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

[[Page 74555]]


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, 2003, the Chairman of CITA received a petition 
from School Apparel, Inc. alleging that certain shirting fabrics, 
classified in subheading 5210.11 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 
cut and sewn in one or more CBTPA beneficiary country 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, 
2004, 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 E. 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 Caribbean Basin 
Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), 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 country from fabric or yarn that is not formed in the 
United States, 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, 2003, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from 
School Apparel, Inc., alleging that certain shirting fabrics, of HTS 
subheading 5210.11, 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 country 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 are 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, 2004. 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. 03-31877 Filed 12-22-03; 4:24 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S