[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23117-23124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8903]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Solicitation of Public Comments on Request for Textile and 
Apparel Safeguard Action on Imports from China

April 28, 2005.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (the 
Committee)

ACTION: Solicitation of public comments concerning a request for 
safeguard action on imports from China of cotton and man-made fiber 
dressing gowns and robes (Category 350/650).

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SUMMARY: On April 6, 2005, the Committee received a request from the 
American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, the National Council of 
Textile Organizations, the National Textile Association, and UNITE HERE 
requesting that the Committee limit imports from China of cotton and 
man-made fiber dressing gowns and robes (Category 350/650). They 
request that a textile and apparel safeguard action, as provided for in 
the Report of the Working Party on the Accession of China to the World 
Trade Organization (the Accession Agreement), be taken on imports of 
such dressing gowns and robes. The Committee hereby solicits public 
comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether imports 
from China of such dressing gowns and robes are, due to market 
disruption, threatening to impede the orderly development of trade in 
this product. Comments must be submitted by June 3, 2005 to the 
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 
3001A, United States Department of Commerce,

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14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay Dowling, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-4058.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Section 204 of the Agriculture Act of 1956, as 
amended; Executive Order 11651, as amended.

BACKGROUND:

    The Report of the Working Party on the Accession of China to the 
World Trade Organization (Accession Agreement) provides that, if a WTO 
Member, such as the United States, believes that imports of Chinese 
origin textile and apparel products are, ``due to market disruption, 
threatening to impede the orderly development of trade in these 
products'', it may request consultations with China with a view to 
easing or avoiding the disruption. Pursuant to this provision, if the 
United States requests consultations with China, it must, at the time 
of the request, provide China with a detailed factual statement showing 
(1) the existence or threat of market disruption; and (2) the role of 
products of Chinese origin in that disruption. Beginning on the date 
that it receives such a request, China must restrict its shipments to 
the United States to a level no greater than 7.5 percent (6 percent for 
wool product categories) above the amount entered during the first 12 
months of the most recent 14 months preceding the month in which the 
request was made.
    On April 6, 2005, the Committee received a request that an 
Accession Agreement textile and apparel safeguard action be taken on 
imports from China of cotton and man-made fiber dressing gowns and 
robes (Category 350/650). The Committee has determined that this 
request provides the information necessary for the Committee to 
consider the request in light of the considerations set forth in the 
Procedures. In this case, the Committee notes that imports from China 
of cotton and man-made fiber dressing gowns and robes (Category 350/
650) have increased from 884,075 dozen in the first quarter of 2004 to 
1,226,435 dozen in the first quarter of 2005 (includes preliminary data 
for 2005). The text of the request is reproduced in full below.
    The Committee is soliciting public comments on this request, in 
particular with regard to whether imports from China of such dressing 
gowns and robes are, due to market disruption, threatening to impede 
the orderly development of trade in this product.
    Comments may be submitted by any interested person. Comments must 
be received no later than June 3, 2005. Interested persons are invited 
to submit ten copies of such comments to the Chairman, Committee for 
the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001A, U.S. Department 
of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20230.
    If a comment alleges that there is no market disruption or that the 
subject imports are not the cause of market disruption, the Committee 
will closely review any supporting information and documentation, such 
as information about domestic production or prices of like or directly 
competitive products. Particular consideration will be given to 
comments representing the views of actual producers in the United 
States of a like or directly competitive product.
    The Committee will protect any business confidential information 
that is marked ``business confidential'' from disclosure to the full 
extent permitted by law. To the extent that business confidential 
information is provided, two copies of a non-confidential version must 
also be provided in which business confidential information is 
summarized or, if necessary, deleted. Comments received, with the 
exception of information marked ``business confidential'', will be 
available for inspection between Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m and 5:30 p.m 
in the Trade Reference and Assistance Center Help Desk, Suite 800M, USA 
Trade Information Center, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, (202) 482-3433.
    The Committee expects to make a determination within 60 calendar 
days of the close of the comment period as to whether the United States 
will request consultations with China. If, however, the Committee is 
unable to make a determination within 60 calendar days, it will cause 
to be published a notice in the Federal Register, including the date by 
which it will make a determination. If the Committee makes a negative 
determination, it will cause this determination and the reasons 
therefore to be published in the Federal Register. If the Committee 
makes an affirmative determination that imports of Chinese origin 
cotton and man-made fiber dressing gowns and robes are, due to market 
disruption, threatening to impede the orderly development of trade in 
these products, the United States will request consultations with China 
with a view to easing or avoiding such market disruption in accordance 
with the Accession Agreement and the Committee's procedures.

D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
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[FR Doc.05-8903 Filed 4-29-05; 4:15 pm]
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