[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 184 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58524-58525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23358]


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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 2013 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, suit-type jackets and trousers 
in the United States for an allocation of the 2013 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 
22, 2012. The Department will cause to be published in the Federal 
Register its determination to allocate the 2013 tariff rate quotas and 
will notify applicants of their respective allocation as soon as 
possible after that date. Promptly

[[Page 58525]]

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 22, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted to the Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, Room 30003, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution 
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20230 (telephone: (202) 482-3400). Application 
forms may be obtained from that office (via mail or facsimile) or from 
the following Internet address: http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/wooltrq/wool_app.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurie Mease, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-2043.

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 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 Senate-passed Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 
2008 extended the TRQ for both HTS numbers through 2014.
    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://otexa.ita.doc.gov/wooltrq/wool_app.htm to the address listed above by 
5 p.m. on October 22, 2012 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 17, 2012.
Kim Glas,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles and Apparel.
[FR Doc. 2012-23358 Filed 9-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P