[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 47 (Thursday, March 11, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11559-11560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5218]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. Bahrain-FTA-103-025]


Certain Combed Cotton Yarns: Effect of Modification of U.S.-
Bahrain FTA Rules of Origin

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation.

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SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request on February 12, 2010, from the 
U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) under authority delegated by the 
President and pursuant to section 104 of the United States-Bahrain Free 
Trade Agreement (FTA) Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3805 note), the 
Commission instituted investigation No. Bahrain FTA-103-025, Certain 
Combed Cotton Yarns: Effect of Modification of U.S.-Bahrain FTA Rules 
Of Origin.

DATES: April 29, 2010: Deadline for filing all written submissions.
    On or before July 12, 2010: Transmittal of report to the USTR.

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. All 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 https://edis.usitc.gov/edis3-internal/app.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Co-project Leaders Heidi Colby-Oizumi 
(202-205-3391 or [email protected]) or Kimberlie Freund (202-708-
5402 or [email protected]) for information specific to this 
investigation. For information on the legal aspects of this 
investigation, contact William Gearhart of the Commission's Office of 
the General Counsel (202-205-3091 or 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 (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: Chapter 3, Annex 3-A and Chapter 4 of the FTA contain 
the rules of origin for textiles and apparel for application of the 
tariff provisions of the FTA. These rules are reflected in General Note 
30 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS). 
According to the USTR's request letter, U.S. negotiators have recently 
reached agreement in principle with representatives of the government 
of Bahrain on certain modifications to the rules of origin to the FTA 
for certain combed cotton yarns used in the production of certain home 
furnishings, as described in the attachment to the letter (for the text 
of the letter and attachment, see the Commission's Web site for this 
investigation at http://www.usitc.gov/research_and_analysis/What_We_Are_Working_On.htm). Section 202(j) of the United States-Bahrain 
Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (the Act) authorizes the 
President, subject to the consultation and layover requirements of 
section 104 of the Act, to proclaim such modifications to the rules of 
origin as are necessary to implement an agreement pursuant to Article 
3.2.5 of the FTA. One of the requirements set out in section 104 of the 
Act is that the President obtain advice from the United States 
International Trade Commission. The request letter asks that the 
Commission provide advice on the probable effect of the proposed 
modifications on U.S. trade under the U.S.-Bahrain FTA, total U.S. 
trade, and on domestic producers of the affected articles. The USTR 
asked that the Commission provide its report containing its advice by 
July 12, 2010, and that the Commission shortly thereafter issue a 
public version of the report with any confidential business information 
deleted. Additional information concerning the articles and the 
proposed modifications, including a copy of the USTR's request letter, 
can be obtained by accessing the Commission's Web site at http://www.usitc.gov. The current U.S.-Bahrain FTA rules of origin applicable 
to U.S. imports can be found in general note 30 of the HTS (see 
``General Notes'' link at http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/bychapter/index.htm).
    Written Submissions: No public hearing is planned. However, 
interested parties are invited to file written submissions and other 
information concerning the matters to be addressed in this 
investigation. All written submissions should be addressed to the 
Secretary. To be assured of consideration by the Commission, written 
submissions relating to the Commission's advice should be submitted at 
the earliest possible date, and should be received not later than 5:15 
p.m., April 29, 2010. All written submissions must conform to the 
provisions of section 201.8 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and 
Procedure (19 CFR 201.8). Section 201.8 requires that a signed original 
(or a copy so designated) and fourteen (14) copies of each document be 
filed. In the event that confidential treatment of a document is 
requested, at least four (4) additional copies must be filed, in which 
the confidential information must be deleted (see the following 
paragraph for further information regarding confidential business 
information). The Commission's rules authorize the filing submissions 
with the Secretary by facsimile or electronic means only to the extent 
permitted by section 201.8 of the rules (see Handbook on Electronic 
Filing Procedures, http://www.usitc.gov/docket_services/documents/handbook_on_electronic_filing.pdf). Persons with questions regarding 
electronic filing should contact the Secretary (202-205-2000).
    Any submissions that contain confidential business information must 
also conform with the requirements of section 201.6 of the Commission's 
Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 201.6). Section 201.6 of the 
rules requires that the cover of the document and the individual pages 
be clearly marked as to whether they are the Aconfidential@ or Anon-
confidential@ version, and that the confidential business information 
be clearly identified by means of brackets. All written submissions, 
except for confidential business information, will be made available 
for inspection by interested parties.
    The Commission may include some or all of the confidential business 
information submitted in the course of this investigation in the report 
it sends to the USTR and the President. As requested by the USTR, the 
Commission will publish a public version of the report. However, in the 
public version, the Commission will not publish confidential business 
information in a manner that would reveal the operations of the firm 
supplying the information.

    Issued: March 4, 2010.


[[Page 11560]]


    By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2010-5218 Filed 3-10-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P