[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 29 (Monday, February 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 7542]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-1370]



[[Page 7542]]

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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)

February 8, 2006.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA)

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a petition for a 
determination that certain 100 percent cotton, 3- or 4-thread twill 
weave, flannel fabrics cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in 
commercial quantities in a timely manner under the CBTPA.

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SUMMARY: On February 7, 2006, the Chairman of CITA received a petition 
from Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., on behalf of B*W*A of New York, 
New York, alleging that certain 100 percent cotton, 3- or 4-thread 
twill weave, flannel fabrics, of yarn-dyed, combed and ring spun single 
yarns, of the specifications detailed below, classified in subheading 
5208.43.0000 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 woven cotton 
shirts, blouses, and dressing gowns 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 February 28, 2006 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: Maria K. Dybczak, 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.

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 February 7, 2006, the Chairman of CITA received a petition on 
behalf of B*W*A of New York, New York, alleging that certain 100 
percent cotton, 3- or 4-thread twill weave, flannel fabrics, of yarn-
dyed, combed and ring spun single yarns, of the specifications detailed 
below, classified HTSUS subheading 5208.43.0000, 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 woven 
cotton shirts, blouses and dressing gowns that are cut and sewn in one 
or more CBTPA beneficiary countries from such fabrics.

Specifications:

 
 
 
Fiber Content:                  100% Cotton
Weight:                         98 - 150 g/m2
Thread Count:                   39 - 66 warp ends per centimeter; 27 -
                                 39 filling picks per centimeter;
Yarn Number:                    84 - 86 metric warp and filling, ring
                                 spun, combed;
Weave:                          3- or 4-thread twill;
Finish:                         Of yarns of different colors; plaids,
                                 checks and stripes, napped on both
                                 sides, and pre-shrunk.
 

    The petitioner emphasizes that the fabrics in question are made of 
yarn dyed with fiber reactive dyes, that are combed and ring spun, and 
that the finished fabric must be napped on both sides, and pre-shrunk.
    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 February 28, 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 St. N..W. 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 St. N.W. 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.06-1370 Filed 2-9-06; 2:29 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S