[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54312-54313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20298]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigations Nos. NAFTA-103-7 and NAFTA-103-8]


Certain Textile Articles: Effect of Modifications of NAFTA Rules 
of Origin for Goods of Canada and Mexico (Inv. No. NAFTA-103-7) and 
Certain Textile Articles: Effect of Modifications of NAFTA Rules of 
Origin for Goods of Canada (Inv. No. NAFTA-103-8)

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigations and request for written 
submissions.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: September 1, 2004.
SUMMARY: Following receipt of two requests on August 20, 2004, from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR) under authority delegated by 
the President and pursuant to section 103 of the North American Free 
Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3313), the 
Commission instituted investigations No. NAFTA-103-7, Certain Textile 
Articles: Effect of Modifications of NAFTA Rules of Origin for Goods of 
Canada and Mexico, and No. NAFTA-103-8, Certain Textile Articles: 
Effect of Modifications of NAFTA Rules of Origin for Goods of Canada.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information may be obtained from Heidi 
Colby-Oizumi, Office of Industries (202-205-3391, 
[email protected]). For information on the legal aspects of these 
investigations, contact William Gearhart of the Office of the General 
Counsel (202-205-3091, [email protected]). The media should 
contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of Public Affairs (202-205-1819, 
[email protected]).
    Background: Annex 300-B, Chapter 4, and Annex 401 of the NAFTA 
contain the rules of origin for textiles and apparel for application of 
the tariff provisions of the NAFTA. These rules are set forth for the 
United States in general note 12 to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule 
(HTS). According to the USTR's request letters, U.S. negotiators have 
recently reached agreements in principle with representatives of the 
governments of Canada and of Mexico, in the case of articles covered by 
investigation No. NAFTA-103-7, and the government of Canada, in the 
case of articles covered by investigation No. NAFTA-103-8, on proposed 
modifications to the rules of origin of the NAFTA. If implemented, the 
proposed rules of origin would apply to U.S. imports from and exports 
to the NAFTA parties. Section 202(q) of the North American Free Trade 
Agreement Implementation Act (the Act) authorizes the President, 
subject to the consultation and layover requirements of section 103 of 
the Act, to proclaim such modifications to the rules of origin as are 
necessary to implement an agreement with one or more of the NAFTA 
countries pursuant to paragraph 2 of section 7 of Annex 300-B of the 
Agreement. One of the requirements set out in section 103 of the Act is 
that the President obtain advice from the United States International 
Trade Commission.
    In his letters, the USTR requested that the Commission provide 
advice on the probable effect of the proposed modification of the NAFTA 
rules of origin for the five affected textile articles on U.S. trade 
under the NAFTA, on total U.S. trade, and on domestic producers of the 
affected articles. As requested, the Commission will submit its advice 
to the USTR by October 19, 2004, and soon thereafter, issue a public 
version of the report with any confidential business information 
deleted.
    The goods of Canada and Mexico covered by investigation No. NAFTA-

[[Page 54313]]

103-7 are (1) gimped nylon yarns (HTS heading 5606) and (2) woven 
fabrics of viscose rayon filament yarns (HTS 5408). The goods of Canada 
covered by investigation No. NAFTA-103-8 are (1) yarns spun from acid-
dyeable acrylic tow (HTS 5509.31), (2) fabrics woven from yarns of 
combed camel hair or cashmere (HTS 5112.11.60 or 5112.19.95), and (3) 
pile fabrics containing dry spun acrylic fibers (HTS 5801.35). 
Additional information concerning the articles and the proposed 
modifications can be obtained by accessing the electronic version of 
this notice at the Commission Internet site (http://www.usitc.gov). The 
current NAFTA rules of origin applicable to U.S. imports can be found 
in general note 12 of the 2004 HTS (see ``General Notes'' link at 
http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/tariff_chapters_current/toc.htm).
    Written Submissions: No public hearing is planned. However, 
interested parties are invited to submit written statements concerning 
the matters being addressed by the Commission in these investigations. 
Submissions should be addressed to the Secretary, United States 
International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20436. To be assured of consideration by the Commission, written 
statements related to the Commission's reports should be submitted to 
the Commission at the earliest practical date and should be received no 
later than the close of business on September 23, 2004. All written 
submissions must conform with the provisions of section 201.8 of the 
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 201.8). Section 
201.8 of the rules requires that a signed original (or copy designated 
as an original) and fourteen (14) copies of each document be filed. In 
the event that confidential treatment of the document is requested, at 
least four (4) additional copies must be filed, in which the 
confidential business information must be deleted (see the following 
paragraph for further information regarding confidential business 
information). The Commission's rules do not authorize filing 
submissions with the Secretary by facsimile or electronic means, except 
to the extent permitted by section 201.8 of the rules (see Handbook for 
Electronic Filing Procedures, ftp://ftp.usitc/gov/pub/reports/electronic_filing_handbook.pdf). Persons will questions regarding 
electronic filing should contact the Secretary (202-205-2000 or 
[email protected]).
    Any submissions that contain confidential business information 
(CBI) must also conform with the requirements of section 201.6 of the 
Commission's rules (19 CFR 201.6). Section 201.6 of the rules requires 
that the cover of the document and the individual pages clearly be 
marked as to whether they are the ``confidential'' or ``non-
confidential'' version, and that the CBI be clearly identified by means 
of brackets. All written submissions, except for CBI, will be made 
available for inspection by interested parties.
    The Commission may include some or all of the CBI it receives in 
the reports it sends to the President. However, the Commission will not 
publish CBI in the public version of the reports in a manner that would 
reveal the operations of the firm supplying the information. The public 
version of the reports will be made available to the public on the 
Commission's Web site.
    The public record for these investigations may be viewed on the 
Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at http://edis.usitc.gov. Hearing 
impaired individuals are advised that information can be obtained by 
contacting our TDD terminal on 202-205-1810. Persons with mobility 
impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the 
Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000.

List of Subjects

    NAFTA, rules of origin, textiles, apparel.

    Issued: September 1, 2004.

    By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 04-20298 Filed 9-7-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P