[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35847-35848]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-17277]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Request for Public Comment on a Commercial Availability Request 
under the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement

July 15, 2009.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for 
modification of the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (USBFTA) rules of 
origin for certain compacted, single, ring spun cotton yarns.

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SUMMARY: On April 1, 2009, the Government of the United States received 
a request from the Government of Bahrain for consultations under 
Article 3.2.3 of the USBFTA. Bahrain is seeking agreement to revise the 
rules of origin for certain bedding, curtains, bed covers, and pillow 
covers to address availability of supply of certain compacted ring spun 
cotton yarns in the territories of the Parties. On July 7, 2009, the 
United States received additional information from Bahrain to address 
certain issues with respect to the April 1 request, including 
identification that the subject request is for certain compacted, 
single, ring spun cotton yarns classified in subheadings 5205.27.0020 
and 5205.28.0020 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTSUS). The President may proclaim a modification to the USBFTA rules 
of origin for textile and apparel products after reaching an agreement 
with the Government of Bahrain on the modification. CITA hereby 
solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to 
whether certain compacted, single, ring spun cotton yarns of HTSUS 
5205.27.0020 and 5205.28.0020 can be supplied by the domestic industry 
in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted 
by August 20, 2009 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of 
Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, 
Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Bennett, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-4058.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Section 202 (j)(2)(B)(i) of the United States - 
Bahrain Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3805 
note) (USBFTA Implementation Act); Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 
1972, as amended.

Background

    Under the USBFTA, the parties are required to progressively 
eliminate customs duties on originating goods. See Article 2.3.2. The 
USBFTA provides that, after consultations, the parties may agree to 
revise the rules of origin for textile and apparel products to address 
issues of availability of supply of fibers, yarns, or fabrics in the 
free trade area. See Article 3.2.3 of the USBFTA. In the consultations, 
each party must consider data presented by the other party showing 
substantial production of the good. Substantial production has been 
shown if domestic producers are capable of supplying commercial 
quantities of the good in a timely manner. See Article 3.2.4 of the 
USBFTA.
    The USBFTA Implementation Act provides the President with the 
authority to proclaim modifications to the USBFTA rules of origin as 
are necessary to implement the agreement after complying with the 
consultation and layover requirements of Section 104 of the USBFTA 
Implementation Act. See Section 202(j)(2)(B)(i) of the USBFTA 
Implementation Act. Executive Order 11651 established CITA to supervise 
the implementation of textile trade agreements and authorizes the 
Chairman of CITA to take actions or recommend that the United States 
take actions necessary to implement textile trade agreements. 37 FR 
4699 (March 4, 1972).
    On April 1, 2009, the Government of the United States received a 
request from the Government of Bahrain, alleging that certain compacted 
ring spun cotton yarns cannot be supplied by the domestic or Bahraini 
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and requesting 
that the United States consider whether the USBFTA rule of origin for 
certain bedding, curtains, bed covers, and pillow covers, classified 
under HTSUS subheadings 6302.21.9010, 6302.21.9020, 6302.31.5010, 
6302.31.5020, 6302.31.9010, 6302.31.9020, 6303.91.0020, 6304.92.0000, 
6307.90.8945, 6307.90.8985, and 6307.90.8995, should be modified to 
allow the use of non-U.S. and non-

[[Page 35848]]

Bahraini certain compacted ring spun cotton yarns. On July 7, 2009, the 
United States received additional information from Bahrain to address 
certain issues with respect to the April 1 request, including 
identification that the subject request is for certain compacted, 
single, ring spun cotton yarns classified in subheadings 5205.27.0020 
and 5205.28.0020 of the HTSUS.
    CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, 
particularly with respect to whether certain compacted, single, ring 
spun cotton yarns described above can be supplied by the domestic 
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be 
received no later than August 20, 2009. Interested persons are invited 
to submit six copies of such comments or information to the Chairman, 
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, 
DC 20230.
    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 3001 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.

Janet E. Heinzen,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc. E9-17277 Filed 7-20-09; 8:45 am]
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