[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 42783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16890]


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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)

July 18, 2008.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

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

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EFFECTIVE DATE: July 23, 2008.
SUMMARY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(CITA) has determined that certain corduroy fabrics, 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: 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: 
78.2008.06.18.Fabric.GovofDominican Republic.

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. 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 CAFTA-DR 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 June 18, 2008, the Chairman of CITA received a commercial 
availability request from the Government of the Dominican Republic for 
certain corduroy fabrics, of the specifications detailed below. On June 
19, 2008, CITA notified interested parties of, and posted on its 
website, the accepted request. In its notification, CITA advised that 
interested entities objecting to the request may provide a response, no 
later than July 2, 2008, advising CITA of its objection to the request 
and its ability to supply the subject product by providing an offer to 
supply the subject product as described in the request. CITA also 
notified interested parties that that any rebuttals to responses must 
be submitted to CITA by July 9, 2008.
    No interested entity filed a response advising of its objection to 
the request and 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 fabric has been 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:
 
Certain Corduroy Fabrics
 
HTS: 5801.22.90
Fiber Content: 100% cotton
Average Yarn Number:
  Metric: 20/1 - 21/1; 20/1 - 21/1;
  English: 12/1; 12/1;
Thread Count:
  Metric: 25-26 warp ends/ 49-52 filling picks per cm.
  English: 62-66 warp ends/125-131 filling picks per inch
Weave: Corduroy 4.3 wales/cm. (11 wales per inch).
Weight:
  Metric: 297-313 gm/sq. m.
  English: 8.8 - 9.2 oz/sq. yd.
Width:
  Metric: 139-146 cm
  English: 55-57 inches
Finish: Piece dyed
 


R. Matthew Priest,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. E8-16890 Filed 7-22-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S