[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 12, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18727-18728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5405]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Request for Public Comment on Short Supply Petition under the 
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

April 7, 2006.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(CITA)

ACTION: Request for Public Comments concerning a request for 
modification of the NAFTA rules of origin for blankets made from 
acrylic staple fiber.

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SUMMARY: On March 24, 2006 the Chairman of CITA received a request from 
Biederlack of America alleging that acrylic staple fiber, not carded, 
combed or otherwise processed for spinning, classified in subheading 
5503.30 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), 
cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in 
a timely manner and requesting that CITA consider whether the North 
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rule of origin for blankets 
classified under HTSUS subheading 6301.40 should be modified to allow 
the use of non-North American acrylic staple fiber.
    The President may proclaim a modification to the NAFTA rules of 
origin only after reaching an agreement with the other NAFTA countries 
on the modification. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this 
request, in particular with regard to whether acrylic staple fiber of 
HTSUS subheading 5503.30 can be supplied by the domestic industry in 
commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted by 
May 12, 2006 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of 
Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, 
Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martin J. Walsh, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-2818.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as 
amended (7 USC 1854); Section 202(q) of the North American Free 
Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 USC 3332(q)); Executive Order 
11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended.

BACKGROUND:

    Under the NAFTA, the member countries are required to eliminate 
customs duties on textile and apparel goods that qualify as originating 
goods under the NAFTA rules of origin, which are set out in Annex 401 
to the NAFTA. The NAFTA provides that the rules of origin for textile 
and apparel products may be amended through a subsequent agreement by 
the NAFTA countries. See Section 202(q) of the NAFTA Implementation 
Act. In consultations regarding such a change, the NAFTA countries are 
to consider issues of availability of supply of fibers, yarns, or 
fabrics in the free trade area and whether domestic producers are 
capable of supplying commercial quantities of the good in a timely 
manner. The Statement of Administrative Action (SAA) that accompanied 
the NAFTA Implementation Act stated that any interested person may 
submit to CITA a request for a modification to a particular rule of 
origin based on a change in the availability in North America of a 
particular fiber, yarn or fabric and that the requesting party would 
bear the burden of demonstrating that a change is warranted. NAFTA 
Implementation Act, SAA, H. Doc. 103-159, Vol. 1, at 491 (1993). The 
SAA provides that CITA may make a recommendation to the President 
regarding a change to a rule of origin for a textile or apparel good. 
SAA at 491. The NAFTA Implementation Act provides the President with 
the authority to proclaim modifications to the NAFTA rules of origin as 
are necessary to implement an agreement with one or more NAFTA country 
on such a modification. See section 202(q) of the NAFTA Implementation 
Act.

[[Page 18728]]

    On March 24, 2006 the Chairman of CITA received a request from 
Biederlack of America alleging that acrylic staple fiber, not carded, 
combed or otherwise processed for spinning, classified in subheading 
5503.30 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), 
cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in 
a timely manner and requesting that CITA consider whether the NAFTA 
rule of origin for blankets classified under HTSUS subheading 6301.40 
should be modified to allow the use of non-North American acrylic 
staple fiber. The petitioner requested that the modification be 
effective for entries made on or after January 24, 2006, the date they 
alleged production of all acrylic fiber that meets their specifications 
ended in North America.
    CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, 
particularly with respect to whether acrylic staple fiber can be 
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely 
manner. Comments must be received no later than May 12, 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 acrylic staple fiber 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 stating that it produces fiber 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 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.E6-5405 Filed 4-11-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S