[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 172 (Thursday, September 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51630-51631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20537]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Notice of Solicitation of Applications for Allocation of Tariff 
Rate Quotas on the Import of Certain Worsted Wool Fabrics to Persons 
Who Cut and Sew Men's and Boys' Worsted Wool Suits, Suit-Type Jackets 
and Trousers in the United States

AGENCY: Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration.

ACTION: The Department of Commerce (Department) is soliciting 
applications for an allocation of the 2009 tariff rate quotas on 
certain worsted wool fabric to persons who cut and sew men's and boys' 
worsted wool suits, suit-type jackets and trousers in the United 
States.

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SUMMARY: The Department hereby solicits applications from persons 
(including firms, corporations, or other legal entities) who cut and 
sew men's and boys' worsted wool suits and suit-like jackets and 
trousers in the United States for an allocation of the 2009 tariff rate 
quotas on certain worsted wool fabric. Interested persons must submit 
an application on the form provided to the address listed below by 
October 6, 2008. The Department will cause to be published in the 
Federal Register its determination to allocate the 2009 tariff rate 
quotas and will notify applicants of their respective allocation as 
soon as possible after that date. Promptly thereafter, the Department 
will issue licenses to eligible applicants.

DATES: To be considered, applications must be received or postmarked by 
5 p.m. on October 6, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted to Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, 
D.C. 20230 (telephone: (202) 482-3400). Application forms may be 
obtained from that office (via facsimile or mail) or from the following 
Internet address: http://web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/wooltrq.nsf/TRQApp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Carrigg, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-2573.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

BACKGROUND:

    Title V of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (the Act) created 
two tariff rate quotas (TRQs), providing for temporary reductions in 
the import duties on limited quantities of two categories of worsted 
wool fabrics suitable for use in making suits, suit-type jackets, or 
trousers: (1) for worsted wool fabric with average fiber diameters 
greater than 18.5 microns (Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
States (HTS) heading 9902.51.11); and (2) for worsted wool fabric with 
average fiber diameters of 18.5 microns or less (HTS heading 
9902.51.12). On August 6, 2002, President Bush signed into law the 
Trade Act of 2002, which includes several amendments to Title V of the 
Act. On December 3, 2004, the Act was further amended pursuant to the 
Miscellaneous Trade Act of 2004, Public Law 108-429, by increasing the 
TRQ for worsted wool fabric with average fiber diameters greater than 
18.5 microns, HTS 9902.51.11, to an annual total level of 5.5 million 
square meters, and extending it through 2007, and increasing the TRQ 
for average fiber diameters of 18.5 microns or less, HTS

[[Page 51631]]

9902.51.15 (previously 9902.51.12), to an annual total level of 5 
million square meters and extending it through 2006. On August 17, 2006 
the Act was further amended pursuant to the Pension Protection Act of 
2006, Public Law 109-280, which extended both TRQs, 9902.51.11 and 
9902.51.15, through 2009.
    The Act requires that the TRQs be allocated to persons who cut and 
sew men's and boys' worsted wool suits, suit-type jackets and trousers 
in the United States. On October 24, 2005, the Department adopted final 
regulations establishing procedures for allocating the TRQ. See 70 FR 
61363; 19 CFR 335. In order to be eligible for an allocation, an 
applicant must submit an application on the form provided at http://web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/wooltrq.nsf/TRQApp to the address listed above by 
5 p.m. on October 6, 2008 in compliance with the requirements of 15 CFR 
335. Any business confidential information that is marked business 
confidential will be kept confidential and protected from disclosure to 
the full extent permitted by law.

Dated: August 29, 2008.
R. Matthew Priest,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles and Apparel.
[FR Doc. E8-20537 Filed 9-3-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS