[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 52 (Friday, March 18, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13208-13209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5390]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. Singapore FTA 103-10]


Certain Yarns and Fabrics: Effect of Modification of U.S.-
Singapore FTA Rules of Origin for Goods of Singapore

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and request for written 
submissions.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: March 14, 2005.

SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request on March 2, 2005, from the 
Acting United States Trade Representative (USTR) under authority 
delegated by the President and pursuant to section 103 of the United 
States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA) Implementation Act (19 
U.S.C. 3805 note), the Commission instituted Investigation No. 
Singapore FTA 103-10, Certain Yarns and Fabrics: Effect of Modification 
of U.S.-Singapore FTA Rules of Origin for Goods of Singapore.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information may be obtained from 
Robert W. Wallace, Office of Industries (202-205-3458, 
[email protected]); for information on legal aspects, contact 
William Gearhart of the Office of the General Counsel (202-205-3091, 
[email protected]). The media should contact Margaret 
O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations (202-205-1819, 
[email protected]).
    Background: Chapter 3 and Annex 3-A of the USSFTA contain the rules 
of origin for textiles and apparel for application of the tariff 
provisions of the USSFTA. These rules are set forth for the United 
States in general note 25 to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). 
According to the request letter, U.S. negotiators have recently reached 
agreement in principle with representatives of the Government of 
Singapore to modify the USSFTA rules of origin for certain yarns and 
fabrics (as described below). If implemented, the proposed rules of 
origin would apply to U.S. imports from and exports to the USSFTA 
parties. Section 202(o)(2)(B)(i) of the United States-Singapore 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 Singapore pursuant to Article 
3.18.4(c) 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.
    The request letter asked that the Commission provide advice on the 
probable effect of the proposed modification of the USSFTA rules of 
origin for the four textile articles described below on U.S. trade 
under the USSFTA, on total U.S. trade, and on domestic producers of the 
affected articles. As requested, the Commission will submit its advice 
to USTR by May 27, 2005, and soon thereafter, issue a public version of 
the report with any confidential business information deleted. 
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 USSFTA rules of origin applicable to U.S. imports can be found 
in general note 25 of the 2005 HTS (see ``General Notes'' link at 
http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/bychapter/index.htm).
    The articles of Singapore covered by the investigation are (1) ring 
spun single yarn of nm 51 and 85, containing 50 percent or more, but 
less than 85 percent, by weight of 0.9 denier or finer micro modal 
fiber, mixed solely with U.S. origin extra long pima cotton, classified 
in HTS subheading 5510.30.0000, for use in women's and girls' knit 
blouses, shirts, lingerie, and underwear; (2) 100 percent cotton woven 
flannel fabrics, of yarns of different colors, containing ring-spun 
yarns of nm 21 through nm 36, of 2 x 2 twill weave construction, 
classified in HTS subheading 5208.43.0000, for use in apparel other 
than gloves; (3) fabrics of cotton classified in HTS subheadings 
5210.21 and 5210.31, not of square construction, containing more than 
70 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter, of average yarn 
number exceeding 70 nm, for use in women's and girls' blouses; and (4) 
micro-denier 30 singles and 36 singles solution dyed, open-end spun, 
staple spun viscose yarn, classified in HTS subheading 5510.11.0000, 
for use in apparel.
    Written Submissions: No public hearing is planned. However, 
interested parties are invited to submit written statements concerning 
the matters to be addressed by the Commission in this investigation. 
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 report should be submitted to 
the Commission at the earliest practical date and should be received no 
later than the close of business on April 20, 2005. 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 with questions regarding 
electronic filing should contact the Secretary (202-205-2000 or 
[email protected]).
    Any submissions that contain confidential business information must 
also conform with the requirements of section 201.6 of the Commission's 
Rules of Practice and Procedure (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 
``nonconfidential'' version, and that the confidential business 
information be clearly identified by means of brackets. All written 
submissions, except for confidential business information, will be made 
available in the Office of the Secretary to the Commission for 
inspection by interested parties.
    The Commission may include some or all of the confidential business 
information submitted in the course of this investigation in the report 
it sends to the USTR and the President. As requested by the Acting 
USTR, the Commission will publish a public version of the report. 
However, in the public version, the Commission will not publish 
confidential business information in a manner that would

[[Page 13209]]

reveal the operations of the firm supplying the information.
    The public record for this investigation may be viewed on the 
Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) http://edis.usitc.gov. Hearing 
impaired individuals may obtain information on this matter by 
contacting the Commission's 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.

    Issued: March 15, 2005.

    By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 05-5390 Filed 3-17-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P