[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 45758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-16059]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Determination under the Textile and Apparel Commercial 
Availability Provision of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United 
States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR Agreement)

August 9, 2007.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(CITA).

ACTION: Determination to add a product in unrestricted quantities to 
Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: August 15, 2007.
SUMMARY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(CITA) has determined that certain circular knit, three-end fleece 
fabrics, as specified below, are not available in commercial quantities 
in a timely manner in the CAFTA-DR region. The product will be added to 
the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted 
quantities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Dybczak, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482 3651.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON-LINE: http://web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/CaftaReqTrack.nsf. Reference number: 
26.2007.07.06.Fabric.ST&RforGaranMfg

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Section 203(o)(4) of the Dominican Republic-Central 
America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act 
(CAFTA-DR Act); the Statement of Administrative Action (SAA), 
accompanying the CAFTA-DR Act; Presidential Proclamations 7987 
(February 28, 2006) and 7996 (March 31, 2006).

BACKGROUND:

    The CAFTA-DR Agreement provides a list in Annex 3.25 for fabrics, 
yarns, and fibers that the Parties to the CAFTA-DR Agreement have 
determined are not available in commercial quantities in a timely 
manner in the territory of any Party. Articles that otherwise meet the 
rule of origin to qualify for preferential treatment are not 
disqualified because they contain one of the products on the Annex 3.25 
list.
    The CAFTA-DR Agreement provides that this list may be modified 
pursuant to Article 3.25(4)-(5), when the President of the United 
States determines that a fabric, yarn, or fiber is not available in 
commercial quantities in a timely manner in the territory of any Party. 
The CAFTA-DR Act states that the President will make a determination on 
whether additional fabrics, yarns, and fibers are available in 
commercial quantities in a timely manner in the territory of any Party.
    The CAFTA-DR Act requires the President to establish procedures 
governing the submission of a request and providing opportunity for 
interested entities to submit comments and supporting evidence before a 
commercial availability determination is made. In Presidential 
Proclamations 7987 and 7996, the President delegated to CITA the 
authority under section 203(o)(4) of the CAFTA-DR Act for modifying the 
Annex 3.25 list. On March 21, 2007, CITA published final procedures it 
would follow in considering requests to modify the Annex 3.25 list (72 
FR 13256).
    On July 6, 2007, the Chairman of CITA received a request from 
Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., on behalf of their client, Garan 
Manufacturing, for certain circular knit, three-end fleece fabrics of 
the specifications detailed below. On July 10, 2007, CITA notified 
interested parties of, and posted on its website, the accepted request 
and requested that any interested entity provide, by July 20, 2007, a 
response advising of its objection to the request or its ability to 
supply the subject product, and rebuttals to responses by July 26, 
2007.
    No interested entity filed a response advising of its objection to 
the request or its ability to supply the subject product.
    In accordance with Section 203(o)(4)(C)(iii)(II) of the CAFTA-DR 
Act, and its procedures, as no interested entity submitted a response 
objecting to the request or expressing an ability to supply the subject 
product, CITA has determined to add the specified fabrics to the list 
in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement.
    The subject fabrics are added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the 
CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities. A revised list has been 
published on-line.

Specifications:

 
 
 
HTS Subheading:                        6001.21
Fiber Content:                         70% cotton / 30% polyester
Average Yarn Number:                   .................................
                                        Face yarn - 100% combed cotton;
                                        50/1 to 57/1 metric (30/1 to 34/
                                        1)
                                        Tie yarn - 100% filament
                                        polyester, 179 metric / 48
                                        filaments; (50 denier / 48
                                        filaments)
                                        Fleece yarn - 60% combed cotton/
                                        40% polyester; 18/1 to 20/1
                                        metric (9/1 to 12/1)
Gauge:                                 20
Weight:                                271 to 300 grams per square meter
                                        (8.0 to 8.85 ounces per square
                                        yard)
Width:                                 152 to 183 centimeters (60 to 72
                                        inches)
Finish:                                (Piece) dyed; printed
 

    In addition, technical back must be heavily napped to produce a 
fabric thickness of not less than 4.5 millimeters, including the napped 
pile. Additionally, a portion of the fabric is brushed on the technical 
face to produce a sueded hand and appearance and a portion is treated 
with a stain release finish. Finally, the following performance 
criteria must be satisfied:
Vertical and horizontal shrinkage must be less than 5%
Torque may not exceed 4%
All fabrics must have a Class 1 flammability rating
    For optimum fabric integrity and stitch definition, this fabric 
must be knit on machines whose number of yarn feeds is a multiple of 3.

R. Matthew Priest,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. E7-16059 Filed 8-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S