[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3057-3058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-538]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Request for Public Comments on Revoking a Commercial Availability 
Designation under the United States-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership 
Act (CBTPA) and the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act 
(ATPDEA)

January 17, 2006.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for a 
revocation of a CITA designation under the CBTPA and the ATPDEA 
regarding certain compacted, plied, ring spun cotton yarns.

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SUMMARY: On January 10, 2006 the Chairman of CITA received a petition 
from The National Council of Textiles Organizations (NCTO), alleging 
that a substitutable product for 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), can be supplied by the domestic industry in 
commercial quantities in a timely manner, and requesting that CITA 
revoke its previous designation regarding these yarns. On September 29, 
2005, following a determination that the subject yarns could not be 
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely 
manner under the CBTPA and ATPDEA, CITA designated men's and boys' 
woven cotton trousers and shirts, and women's and girls' woven cotton 
trousers, shirts, and blouses, made from U.S. formed fabric containing 
such yarns as eligible for duty-free treatment under the CBTPA and 
ATPDEA. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request from NCTO, 
in particular with regard to whether such yarns or substitutable yarns 
can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities. 
Comments must be submitted by February 3, 2006 to the Chairman, 
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, 
United States Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, 
NW., Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Stetson, 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 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 ATPDEA provides for quota-and 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 ATPDEA also 
provides for duty-free treatment for apparel articles that are both cut 
(or knit-to-shape) and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more CBTPA 
and ATPDEA beneficiary countries from fabric or yarn that is not formed 
in the United States or a beneficiary country, 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 ATPDEA 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 September 29, 2005, following a determination that the 
compacted, plied, ring spun cotton yarns could not be supplied by the 
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner under the 
CBTPA and ATPDEA, CITA designated certain apparel made from U.S. formed 
fabric containing such yarns as eligible for duty-free treatment under 
the CBTPA and ATPDEA. On January 10, 2006, the Chairman of CITA 
received a petition from The National Council of Textiles Organizations 
(NCTO) alleging that yarns substitutable for these yarns can be 
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely 
manner, and requesting that CITA revoke its previous designation 
regarding these yarns. This petition can be viewed online at http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/Commercial_Availability.htm.

[[Page 3058]]

    CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, 
particularly with respect to whether these yarns or substitutable yarns 
can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a 
timely manner. Comments must be received by no later than February 3, 
2006. 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, NW., Washington, DC 20230.
    If a comment alleges that these yarns or substitutable yarns 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 yarns stating that it 
produces the yarns that are 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. 
Similarly, if a comment alleges that these yarns cannot be supplied by 
the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner, CITA 
will closely review any supporting documentation.
    CITA will protect any business confidential information that is 
marked business confidential from disclosure to the full extent 
permitted by law. 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. 06-538 Filed 1-17-06; 2:33 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S