[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 21, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58465-58466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-24257]


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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 Weave Such Fabrics 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 2012 tariff rate quotas on 
certain worsted wool fabric to persons who weave such fabrics in the 
United States.

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SUMMARY: The Department hereby solicits applications from persons 
(including firms, corporations, or other legal entities) who weave 
worsted wool fabrics in the United States for an allocation of the 2012 
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 21, 2011. The Department will cause to be published in 
the Federal Register its determination to allocate the 2012 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 21, 2011.

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

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

[[Page 58466]]

(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. The 2004 amendment included authority 
for the Department to allocate a TRQ for new HTS category, HTS 
9902.51.16. This HTS category refers to worsted wool fabric with 
average fiber diameter of 18.5 microns or less. The amendment provided 
that HTS 9902.51.16 is for the benefit of persons (including firms, 
corporations, or other legal entities) who weave such worsted wool 
fabric in the United States that is suitable for making men's and boys' 
suits. The TRQ for HTS 9902.51.16 provided for temporary reductions in 
the import duties on 2,000,000 square meters annually for 2005 and 
2006. The amendment requires that the TRQ be allocated to persons who 
weave worsted wool fabric with average fiber diameter of 18.5 microns 
or less, which is suitable for use in making men's and boys' suits, in 
the United States. On August 17, 2006, the Act was further amended 
pursuant to the Pension Protection Act of 2006, Public Law 109-280, 
which extended the TRQ for HTS 9902.51.16 through 2009. The Senate-
passed Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 extending the TRQ 
for HTS 9902.51.16 through 2014.
    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://otexa.ita.doc.gov/wooltrq/wool_fabric.htm to the address listed above by 5 p.m. on 
October 21, 2011 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: September 14, 2011.
Kim Glas,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles and Apparel.
[FR Doc. 2011-24257 Filed 9-20-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P