[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 123 (Wednesday, June 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36062-36063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14408]


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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)

June 19, 2008.
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 thread and yarn of 
acrylic staple fiber.

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SUMMARY: On June 10, 2008, the Government of the United States received 
a request from the Government of Canada alleging that acrylic staple 
fiber, 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 the governments of Mexico and the United States consult 
to consider whether the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) 
rule of origin for thread and yarns classified under HTSUS subheadings 
55.08 through 55.11 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 
July 25, 2008 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 or Maria K. Dybczak, 
International Trade Specialists, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, (202) 482-2818 and (202) 482-3651, 
respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARYINFORMATION:

    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 June 10, 2008, the Government of the United States received a 
request from the Government of Canada alleging that acrylic staple 
fiber, classified in subheading 5503.30 of the HTSUS, cannot be 
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely 
manner and requesting that the governments of Mexico and the United 
States consult to consider whether the NAFTA rule of origin for thread 
and yarns classified under HTSUS subheadings 55.08 through 55.11 should 
be modified to allow the use of non-North American acrylic staple 
fiber.
    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 July 25, 2008. 
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 acrylic staple fiber can be supplied by 
the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner, CITA 
will

[[Page 36063]]

closely review any supporting documentation, such as a signed statement 
by a manufacturer stating that it produces the acrylic staple 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.

R. Matthew Priest,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. E8-14408 Filed 6-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S