[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 161 (Monday, August 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48538-48539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7077]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Request for Public Comment on Commercial Availability Request 
under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

August 16, 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 filament yarn of 
cellulose acetate.

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SUMMARY: On July 21, 2006 the Government of the United States received 
a request from the Government of Mexico alleging that filament yarn of 
cellulose acetate, classified in heading 5403 of the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the 
Mexican industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and 
requesting that the governments of Canada and the United States consult 
to consider whether the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) 
rule of origin for woven fabrics classified under HTSUS heading

[[Page 48539]]

5408 and products classified in HTSUS chapter 58 should be modified to 
allow the use of non-North American filament yarns of cellulose 
acetate.
    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 filament yarn of 
cellulose acetate of HTSUS heading 5403 can be supplied by the domestic 
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be 
submitted by September 20, 2006 to the Chairman, Committee for the 
Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States 
Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 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, NAFTA 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 
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.
    On July 21, 2006 the Government of the United States received a 
request from the Government of Mexico alleging that filament yarn of 
cellulose acetate, classified in heading 5403 of the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the 
Mexican industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and 
requesting that the governments of Canada and the United States consult 
to consider whether the NAFTA rule of origin for woven fabrics 
classified under HTSUS heading 5408 and products classified in HTSUS 
chapter 58 should be modified to allow the use of non-North American 
filament yarns of cellulose acetate.
    CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, 
particularly with respect to whether filament yarn of cellulose acetate 
can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a 
timely manner. Comments must be received no later than September 20, 
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, N.W., Washington, DC 20230.
    If a comment alleges that filament yarn of cellulose acetate 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 filament 
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 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. 06-7077 Filed 8-17-06; 2:33 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S