[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 12, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19059-19060]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6733]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Request for Public Comments on Commercial Availability Petition 
under the United States - Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA)

March 31, 2005.
    [Editor's Note: The following document was filed for public 
inspection on March 31, 2005, but due to an inadvertent error was not 
published in the Federal Register issue of April 4, 2005.]
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(CITA)

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a petition for a 
determination that certain coat weight fabrics of 100 percent carded 
camelhair, 100 percent carded cashmere, or a blend of carded cashmere 
and wool fibers cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in 
commercial quantities in a timely manner under the CBTPA.

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SUMMARY: On March 30, 2005, the Chairman of CITA received a petition 
from Neville Peterson, LLP, on behalf of S. Rothschild & Co., Inc. of 
New York, New York, alleging that certain coat weight fabrics of 100 
percent carded camelhair, 100 percent carded cashmere, or a blend of 
carded cashmere and wool fibers, of the specifications detailed below, 
classified in subheading 5111.19.6020 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule 
of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the domestic 
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. The petition 
requests that outerwear articles of such fabrics assembled in one or 
more CBTPA beneficiary countries be eligible for preferential treatment 
under the CBTPA. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this petition, 
in particular with regard to whether these fabrics can be supplied by 
the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. 
Comments must be submitted by April 27, 2005 to the Chairman, Committee 
for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States 
Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution, N.W., Washington, D.C. 
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 CBERA, as added by 
Section 211(a) of the

[[Page 19060]]

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. The CBTPA also provides for 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 countries 
from fabric or yarn that is not formed in the United States, if it has 
been determined that such fabric or yarn 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 that it will follow in considering 
requests. (66 FR 13502).
    On March 30, 2005, the Chairman of CITA received a petition on 
behalf of S. Rothschild & Co., Inc. of New York, New York, alleging 
that certain coat weight fabrics of 100 percent carded camelhair, 100 
percent carded cashmere, or a blend of carded cashmere and wool fibers, 
of the specifications detailed below, classified in HTSUS subheading 
5111.19.6020, 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 outerwear articles that are cut and sewn 
in one or more CBTPA beneficiary countries from such fabrics.

Specifications:

Exhibit 1                       ........................................
100 percent camel hair fabric   ........................................
 carded
weight:                         370-400 grams per square meter
width:                          148-150 cm
yarn thickness:                 16.5 microns
Exhibit 2                       ........................................
100 percent cashmere fabric,    ........................................
 carded
weight:                         335-400 grams per square meter
width:                          148-150 cm
yarn diameter:                  12 microns
Exhibit 3                       ........................................
80 percent wool/ 20 percent     ........................................
 cashmere carded
weight:                         370-400 grams per square meter
width:                          148/150 cm
yarn thickness:                 average 20 microns
 

    The petitioner emphasizes that the weight limit of the subject 
fabrics precludes these fabrics from being used in the production of 
blazers, suits, and other types of wearing apparel. The request only 
applies to coat weight 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 fabric for purposes of the intended use. Comments must be 
received no later than April 27, 2005. 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, N.W., Washington, 
DC 20230.
    If a comment alleges that these 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 fabric stating that it produces the 
fabric that is 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 generally considers specific details, such as 
quantities and lead times for providing the subject product as business 
confidential. However, information such as the names of domestic 
manufacturers who were contacted, questions concerning the capability 
to manufacture the subject product, and the responses thereto should be 
available for public review to ensure proper public participation in 
the process. If this is not possible, an explanation of the necessity 
for treating such information as business confidential must be 
provided. 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, N.W., Washington, DC 
20230. Persons submitting comments on a request are encouraged to 
include a non-confidential version and a non-confidential summary.

D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc. 05-6733 Filed 3-31-05; 3:53 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS