[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 26, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54643-54644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18986]


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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)

September 19, 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: September 26, 2007.
SUMMARY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(CITA) has determined that certain two-way stretch woven fabric of 
polyester, rayon, and elastomeric yarns, as specified below, are not 
available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the CAFTA-DR 
countries. The product will be added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the 
CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Stetson, Office of Textiles 
and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482 2582.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON-LINE: http://web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/CaftaReqTrack.nsf. Reference number: 
34.2007.08.20.Fabric.Alston&Birdfor GlenRiverTrading.

SUPPLEMENTARYINFORMATION:

    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

[[Page 54644]]

timely manner in the territory of any Party. 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. See Annex 3.25, Note; see also 
section 203(o)(4)(C) of the Act.
    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 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 August 20, 2007, the Chairman of CITA received a commercial 
availability request from Alston & Bird, LLP, on behalf of Glen River 
Trading, for certain two-way stretch woven fabrics of polyester, rayon, 
and elastomeric yarns, of the specifications detailed below. On August 
22, 2007, CITA notified interested parties of, and posted on its 
website, the accepted petition and requested that interested entities 
provide, by September 4, 2007, a response advising of its objection to 
the commercial availability request or its ability to supply the 
subject product. CITA also explained that rebuttals to responses were 
due to CITA by September 10, 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) 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.


Woven fabric specifications:

 
 
 
HTS Subheading:........................  5515.11.00
Fiber content:.........................  50 to 77 percent polyester
                                          (except for fabrics comprising
                                          single yarns in the warp, the
                                          polyester content may be
                                          higher); 18 to 47 percent
                                          rayon; 3 to 8 percent spandex
Staple length:.........................  4.44 to 6.99 centimeters
Yarns..................................  (three configurations):
                                         Configuration 1: Warp
                                          and filling: plied polyester/
                                          rayon staple of various yarn
                                          sizes, combined with spandex
                                          filament of various deniers.
                                         Configuration 2: Warp
                                          and filling: 34/1 metric or
                                          finer* polyester/rayon staple
                                          yarn, combined with spandex
                                          filament yarn of various
                                          deniers.
                                         Configuration 3:
                                         Warp: 34/1 metric or finer*
                                          polyester/rayon staple, or
                                          plied polyester/rayon staple
                                          of various yarn sizes,
                                          combined with spandex filament
                                          of various deniers.
                                         Filling: singles or plied
                                          polyester filament of various
                                          yarn sizes, combined with
                                          spandex filament of various
                                          deniers.
                                         * NOTE:The designation ``34/1
                                          (English 20/1) or finer''
                                          describes a range of yarn
                                          specifications for yarn it its
                                          greige condition before dyeing
                                          and finishing of the yarn (if
                                          applicable) and before
                                          weaving, dyeing and finishing
                                          of the fabric. It is intended
                                          as a specification to be
                                          followed by the mill in
                                          sourcing yarn used to produce
                                          the fabric. Dyeing, finishing
                                          and weaving can alter the
                                          characteristic of the yarn as
                                          it appears in the finished
                                          fabric. This specification
                                          therefore includes yarns
                                          appearing in the finished
                                          fabric as coarser than 34/1
                                          (English 20/1) provided that
                                          the coarser appearance occurs
                                          solely as the result of such
                                          processes.
Thread count:..........................  23 to 51 warp ends by 16 to 39
                                          filling picks per centimeter
Weave type:............................  Various (including plain and
                                          twill)
Weight:................................  ...............................
                                         200 to 290 grams per square
                                          meter for fabrics comprising
                                          of single yarns in the warp
                                          200 to 310 grams per square
                                          meter for fabrics comprising
                                          of plied yarns in the warp
Width:.................................  121 to 165 centimeters
Finish:................................  Dyed and of yarns of different
                                          colors
 


R. Matthew Priest,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. E7-18986 Filed 9-25-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS