[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 102 (Friday, May 27, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30705-30706]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10742]


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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) 
and the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA)

May 25, 2005.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(CITA)

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a petition for a 
determination that certain compacted, plied, ring spun cotton yarns 
cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in 
a timely manner under the CBTPA and the ATPDEA.

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SUMMARY: On May 23, 2005, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from 
AM&S Trade Service, L.L.P., on behalf of their client, Galey and Lord, 
Inc., alleging that certain compacted, plied, ring spun cotton yarns, 
with yarn counts in the range from 42 to 102 metric, classified in 
subheadings 5205.42.0020, 5205.43.0020, 5205.44.0020, 5205.46.0020, 
5205.47.0020 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 men's and 
boys' woven cotton trousers and shirts and women's and girls' woven 
cotton trousers, shirts and blouses from U.S.-formed fabrics containing 
such yarns be eligible for preferential treatment under the CBTPA and 
the ATPDEA. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, in 
particular with regard to whether such yarns can be supplied by the 
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments 
must be submitted by June 13, 2005 to the Chairman, Committee for the 
Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States 
Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, 
D.C. 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Stetson, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-2582.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Section 213(b)(2)(A)(v)(II) of the Caribbean Basin 
Economic Recovery Act, as added by Section 211(a) of the CBTPA; 
Section 6 of Executive Order No. 13191 of January 17, 2001; 
Presidential Proclamation 7351 of October 2, 2000; Section 204 
(b)(3)(B)(ii) of the ATPDEA; Presidential Proclamation 7616 of 
October 31, 2002, Executive Order 13277 of November 19, 2002, and 
the United States Trade Representative's Notice of Further 
Assignment of Functions of November 25, 2002.

BACKGROUND:

    The CBTPA and the ATPDEA provide for duty-free treatment for 
qualifying textile and apparel products. Such treatment is generally 
limited to products manufactured from yarns and fabrics formed in the 
United States or a beneficiary country. The CBTPA and the ATPDEA also 
provide for duty-free treatment for apparel articles that are both cut 
(or knit-to-shape) and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more 
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 (66 FR 7271) and pursuant 
to Executive Order No. 13277 (67 FR 70305) and the United States Trade 
Representative's Notice of Redelegation of Authority and Further 
Assignment of Functions (67 FR 71606), 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 or the ATPDEA. On March 6, 2001, CITA published 
procedures that it will follow in considering requests (66 FR 13502).
    On May 23, 2005, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from AM&S 
Trade Service, L.L.P., on behalf of their client, Galey and Lord, Inc., 
alleging that certain compacted, plied, ring spun cotton yarns, with 
yarn counts in the range from 42 to 102 metric, classified in HTSUS 
subheadings 5205.42.0020, 5205.43.0020, 5205.44.0020, 5205.46.0020, 
5205.47.0020, cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial 
quantities in a timely manner. It requests duty-free treatment under 
the CBTPA and the ATPDEA for men's and boys' woven cotton trousers and 
shirts and women's and girls' woven cotton trousers, shirts and blouses 
that are both cut (or knit-to-shape) and sewn in one or more CBTPA or 
ATPDEA beneficiary countries from U.S.-formed fabrics containing such 
yarns.
    CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, 
particularly with respect to whether this yarn can be supplied by the 
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Also 
relevant is whether other

[[Page 30706]]

yarns that are supplied by the domestic industry in commercial 
quantities in a timely manner are substitutable for this yarn for 
purposes of the intended use. Comments must be received no later than 
June 13, 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 this yarn 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 yarn stating that it produces the yarn 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.

James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc.05-10742 Filed 5-25-05; 2:08 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S