[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 26, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 3728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1534]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-465]


Commercial Availability of Apparel Inputs (2005): Effect of 
Providing Preferential Treatment to Apparel From Sub-Saharan African, 
Caribbean Basin, and Andean Countries

AGENCY: International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation.

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DATES: Effective Date: January 19, 2005.
SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request from the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR) on January 13, 2005, the Commission instituted 
investigation No. 332-465, Commercial Availability of Apparel Inputs 
(2005): Effect of Providing Preferential Treatment to Apparel from Sub-
Saharan African, Caribbean Basin, and Andean Countries. The Commission 
instituted the investigation under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 
1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)) to provide advice regarding the probable 
economic effect of granting preferential treatment to apparel made from 
fabrics or yarns that are the subject of petitions filed in 2005 with 
the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) under 
the ``commercial availability'' provisions of the African Growth and 
Opportunity Act (AGOA), the United States-Caribbean Basin Trade 
Partnership Act (CBTPA), and the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug 
Eradication Act (ATPDEA). The Commission conducted similar 
investigations in the years 2001-04 to provide advice with respect to 
petitions filed in those years.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, contact 
Jackie W. Jones (202-205-3466, [email protected]) or Heidi Colby-
Oizumi (202-205-3391; [email protected]) of the Office of 
Industries; for information on legal aspects, contact William Gearhart 
(202-205-3091, [email protected]) of the Office of the General 
Counsel. The media should contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Public Affairs 
Officer (202-205-1819; [email protected]). General 
information about the Commission may be obtained by accessing its 
Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). The public record for this 
investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket 
(EDIS) http://edis.usitc.gov.
    Background: The Commission will follow procedures similar to those 
followed in the commercial availability reviews in 2004 under 
investigation No. 332-458. Thus, in 2005, the Commission will provide 
advice for each commercial availability review under one investigation 
number. In addition, the Commission will post a notification letter 
announcing the initiation of each review on its Internet site (http://www.usitc.gov) and send the notification letter to a list of interested 
parties who wish to be automatically notified about any requests for 
which the Commission initiates analysis. Interested parties may be 
added to this list by notifying Jackie W. Jones (202-205-3466, 
[email protected]) or Heidi Colby-Oizumi (202-205-3391; 
[email protected]). The notification letter will specify the 
article(s) under consideration, the deadline for submission of public 
comments on the proposed preferential treatment, and the name, 
telephone number, and Internet e-mail address of a staff contact for 
additional information. The Commission has a special area on its 
Internet site (http://www.usitc.gov/ind_econ_ana/research_ana/pres_cong/332/short_supply/shortsupintro.htm) to provide the public with 
information on the status of each request for which the Commission 
initiated analysis. CITA publishes a summary of each request from 
interested parties in the Federal Register and posts them on its 
Internet site (U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, at http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/fr.htm).
    The Commission will submit its reports to the USTR not later than 
the 42nd day after receiving a request for advice. The Commission will 
issue a public version of each report as soon as possible thereafter, 
with any confidential business information deleted.
    Written Submissions: Because of time constraints, the Commission 
will not hold public hearings in connection with the advice provided 
under this investigation number. However, interested parties will be 
invited to submit written statements concerning the matters to be 
addressed by the Commission in this investigation. The Commission is 
particularly interested in receiving input from the private sector on 
the likely effect of any proposed preferential treatment on affected 
segments of the U.S. textile and apparel industries, their workers, and 
consumers. Submissions should be addressed to the Secretary, United 
States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20436. 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), except that interested parties need file only a signed 
original (or copy designated as an original) and three (3) copies of 
each document. In the event that confidential treatment of the document 
is requested, at least two (2) 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 (19 CFR 201.8) 
(see Handbook for Electronic Filing Procedures, ftp://ftp.usitc.gov/pub/reports/electronic_filing_handbook.pdf). Persons with 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 be clearly 
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 public record for this investigation may be viewed on the 
Commission's electronic docket (EFIS) 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

    Caribbean, African, Andean, tariffs, imports, yarn, fabric, and 
apparel.

    Issued: January 24, 2005.

    By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 05-1534 Filed 1-25-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P