[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65882-65883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26362]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-501]


Textile and Apparel Imports From China: Statistical Reports

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation.

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SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request on October 9, 2008, from the 
Committee on Ways and Means of the U.S. House of Representatives 
(Committee) under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 
1332(g)), the U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission) 
instituted investigation No. 332-501, Textile and Apparel Imports from 
China: Statistical Reports.

DATES: December 1, 2008: Submission of first report, including 
compilation of historical data.
    Every 2 weeks: Statistical reports sent to the Committee every 2 
weeks thereafter and posted on the Commission's Web site.
    Annually: Publication of a compilation of monthly Census data.

ADDRESSES: All Commission offices, including the Commission's hearing 
rooms, are located in the United States International Trade Commission 
Building, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC. Any written submissions 
should be addressed to the Secretary, United States International Trade 
Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436. The public record 
for this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic 
docket (EDIS) at http://www.usitc.gov/secretary/edis.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project leader Donald Sussman (202-
205-3331 or [email protected]) for information specific to this 
investigation. For information on the legal aspects of these 
investigations, contact William Gearhart of the Commission's Office of 
the General Counsel (202-205-3091 or [email protected]). The 
media should contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations 
(202-205-1819 or [email protected]). Hearing-impaired 
individuals may obtain information on this matter by contacting the 
Commission's TDD terminal at 202-205-1810. General information 
concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its 
Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). Persons with mobility 
impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the 
Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000.
    Background: In its letter the Committee noted that the U.S.-China 
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Concerning Trade in Textile and 
Apparel Products expires on December 31, 2008. The Committee noted that 
the United States, in entering into the agreement in November 2005, 
sought to provide a more stable and predictable trading environment. 
The Committee expressed concern that a market disrupting surge in 
textile and apparel imports from China could occur after the MOU 
expires.
    In order that the Committee might have accurate and timely 
information regarding the imports, the Committee requested that the 
Commission provide statistical reports every 2 weeks on the volume, 
value, unit value, and import market share of certain textile and 
apparel imports from China. Specifically, the Committee asked that the 
Commission compile these data for each product covered by the MOU at 
both the three-digit textile/apparel category level and at the 10-digit 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule level for each product within each of the 
three-digit textile/apparel categories. The Committee asked that the 
Commission, to the extent practicable and within a reasonable time 
after data become available, provide the Committee with preliminary 
Customs data once every 2 weeks and that the Commission post these 
reports on its Web site. The Committee also asked that the Commission 
include updated final Census data in the appropriate report when they 
become available. The Committee stated that it is not, at this time, 
requesting any analysis of the data, but rather is seeking the 
statistical data that will allow it to monitor the volume and unit 
values of textile and apparel imports from China to determine whether a 
more comprehensive investigation is appropriate. The Committee noted 
that the data the Commission provides already will have been compiled 
and

[[Page 65883]]

available, and said that it is simply asking that they be reported in 
the format requested.
    As requested by the Committee, the Commission will provide its 
first report by December 1, 2008, and this first report will include a 
historical compilation of the volume, value, unit value, and import 
market share of the articles specified above dating from January 1, 
2003, to the most recent month available. As requested, the Commission 
will subsequently provide the Committee with reports as the preliminary 
and final data become available, and will publish a compilation of 
monthly Census data on an annual basis. The Committee asked that the 
Commission continue to provide these reports until such time that the 
Committee terminates or amends the request.
    The Committee has requested that the Commission make its reports 
available to the public either on its Web site or in a published 
version. Consequently, the reports that the Commission sends to the 
Committee and posts on its Web site will not contain any confidential 
business information. Any confidential business information received by 
the Commission in this investigation and used in preparing its report 
will not be published in a manner that would reveal the operations of 
the firm supplying the information.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: October 31, 2008.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-26362 Filed 11-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P