[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 247 (Monday, December 27, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77231-77232]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-3822]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Designations under the Textile and Apparel Commercial 
Availability Provisions of the United States-Caribbean Basin Trade 
Partnership Act (CBTPA)

December 21, 2004.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (The 
Committee).

ACTION: Designation

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SUMMARY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(CITA) has determined that certain woven, 100 percent cotton, napped 
fabrics, of the specifications detailed below, classified in the 
indicated subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
States (HTSUS), for use in products covered by textile categories 340, 
341, 347, 348, 350, 351, and woven underwear in category 352, cannot be 
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely 
manner. The CITA hereby designates such apparel articles, that are both 
cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in an eligible CBTPA beneficiary 
country, from these fabrics as eligible for quota-free and duty-free 
treatment under the textile and apparel commercial availability 
provisions of the CBTPA and eligible under HTSUS subheadings 
9820.11.27, to enter free of quota and duties, provided that all other 
fabrics are wholly formed in the United States from yarns wholly formed 
in the United States.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 27, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Heinzen, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-3400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Section 211 of the CBTPA, amending Section 
213(b)(2)(A)(v)(II) of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act 
(CBERA); Presidential Proclamation 7351 of October 2, 2000; 
Executive Order No. 13191 of January 17, 2001.

BACKGROUND:

    The commercial availability provision of the CBTPA provides for 
duty-free and quota-free treatment for apparel articles that are both 
cut (or knit-to-shape) and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more 
beneficiary CBTPA country from fabric or yarn that is not formed in the 
United States if it has been determined that such yarns or fabrics 
cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in 
a timely manner and certain procedural requirements have been met. In 
Presidential Proclamation 7351, the President proclaimed that this 
treatment would apply to apparel articles from fabrics or yarn 
designated by the appropriate U.S. government authority in the Federal 
Register. In Executive Order 13191, the President authorized CITA to 
determine whether yarns or fabrics cannot be supplied by the domestic 
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner.
    On August 12, 2004, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from 
Sandler, Travis, and Rosenberg, P.A., on behalf of Picacho, S.A., 
alleging that certain woven, 100 percent cotton, napped fabrics, of 
detailed specifications, classified in indicated HTSUS subheadings, for 
use in shirts, trousers, nightwear, robes, dressing gowns, and woven 
underwear, 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 such apparel articles that are both cut 
and sewn in one or more CBTPA beneficiary countries from such fabrics. 
On August 18, 2004, CITA requested public comment on the petition. See 
Request for Public Comment on Commercial Availability Petition under 
the United States - Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) (69 
FR 51269). On September 3, 2004, CITA and the U.S. Trade Representative 
(USTR) sought the advice of the Industry Trade Advisory Committee for 
Textiles and Clothing and the Industry Trade Advisory Committee for 
Distribution Services. On September 3, CITA and USTR offered to hold 
consultations with the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate 
(collectively, the Congressional Committees). On August 25, 2004, the 
U.S. International Trade Commission provided advice on the petitions.
    Based on the information and advice received and its understanding 
of the industry, CITA determined that the fabrics set forth in the 
petition cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial 
quantities in a timely manner. On October 5, 2004, CITA and USTR 
submitted a report to the Congressional Committees that set forth the 
action proposed, the reasons for such action, and advice obtained. A 
period of 60 calendar days since this report was submitted has expired.
    CITA hereby designates as eligible for preferential treatment under 
HTSUS subheading 9820.11.27, products covered by textile categories 
340, 341, 347, 348, 350, 351, and woven underwear in category 352, that 
are both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more eligible 
CBTPA beneficiary countries, from certain woven, 100 percent cotton, 
napped fabrics, of the specifications detailed below, classified in the 
indicated HSTUS subheadings, not formed in the United States, provided 
that all other fabrics are wholly formed in the United States from 
yarns wholly formed in the United States, subject to the special rules 
for findings and trimmings, certain interlinings and de minimis fibers 
and yarns under section 112(d) of the CBTPA, and that such articles are 
imported directly into the customs territory of the United States from 
an eligible CBTPA beneficiary country.

[[Page 77232]]

Specifications:

 
 
 
Fabric 1:                       ........................................
Petitioner Style No:            62BU1600240A
HTS Subheading:                 5209.31.60.50
Fiber Content:                  100% Cotton
Weight:                         291.5 g/m2
Width:                          160 centimeters cuttable
Thread Count:                   24.41 warp ends per centimeter; 16.53
                                 filling picks per centimeter; total:
                                 40.94 threads per square centimeter
Yarn Number:                    Warp: 25.4 metric, ring spun; filling:
                                 10.16 metric, open end spun; overall
                                 average yarn number: 14.04 metric
Finish:                         (Piece) dyed; napped on both sides,
                                 sanforized
 
Fabric 2:                       ........................................
Petitioner Style No:            62BU1600240B
HTS Subheading:                 5209.31.60.50
Fiber Content:                  100% Cotton
Weight:                         305 g/m2
Width:                          160 centimeters cuttable
Thread Count:                   24.41 warp ends per centimeter; 18.11
                                 filling picks per centimeter; total:
                                 42.52 threads per square centimeter
Yarn Number:                    Warp: 25.4 metric, ring spun; filling:
                                 10.16 metric, open end spun; overall
                                 average yarn number: 13.95 metric
Finish:                         (Piece) dyed; napped on both sides,
                                 sanforized
 

    An ``eligible CBTPA beneficiary country'' means a country which the 
President has designated as a CBTPA beneficiary country under section 
213(b)(5)(B) of the CBERA (19 U.S.C. 2703(b)(5)(B)) and which has been 
the subject of a finding, published in the Federal Register , that the 
country has satisfied the requirements of section 213(b)(4)(A)(ii) of 
the CBERA (19 U.S.C. 2703(b)(4)(A)(ii)) and resulting in the 
enumeration of such country in U.S. note 1 to subchapter XX of Chapter 
98 of the HTSUS.

D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc. E4-3822 Filed 12-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-S