[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 32 (Friday, February 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11159-11160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03618]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Determination under the Textile and Apparel Commercial 
Availability Provision of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United 
States Free Trade Agreement (``CAFTA-DR Agreement'')

AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

ACTION: Determination to add a product in unrestricted quantities to 
Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement.

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DATES: Effective Date: February 15, 2013.
SUMMARY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(``CITA'') has determined that certain three-layered composite fabric, 
as specified below, is not available in commercial quantities in a 
timely manner in the CAFTA-DR countries. The product will be added to 
the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted 
quantities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Dybczak, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-3651.
    For Further Information On-Line: http://web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/CaftaReqTrack.nsf under ``Approved Requests,'' Reference number: 
173.2013.01.16.Fabric.ST&RforVFCorp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Authority: The CAFTA-DR Agreement; Section 203(o)(4) of the 
Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement 
Implementation Act (``CAFTA-DR Implementation Act''), Pub. Law 109-53; 
the Statement of Administrative Action, accompanying the CAFTA-DR 
Implementation Act; and Presidential Proclamations 7987 (February 28, 
2006) and 7996 (March 31, 2006).
    Background: The CAFTA-DR Agreement provides a list in Annex 3.25 
for fabrics, yarns, and fibers that the Parties to the CAFTA-DR 
Agreement have determined are not available in commercial quantities in 
a timely manner in the territory of any Party. The CAFTA-DR Agreement 
provides that this list may be modified pursuant to Article 3.25(4)-
(5), when the President of the United States determines that a fabric, 
yarn, or fiber is not available in commercial quantities in a timely 
manner in the territory of any Party. See Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR 
Agreement; see also section 203(o)(4)(C) of the CAFTA-DR Implementation 
Act.
    The CAFTA-DR Implementation Act requires the President to establish

[[Page 11160]]

procedures governing the submission of a request and providing 
opportunity for interested entities to submit comments and supporting 
evidence before a commercial availability determination is made. In 
Presidential Proclamations 7987 and 7996, the President delegated to 
CITA the authority under section 203(o)(4) of CAFTA-DR Implementation 
Act for modifying the Annex 3.25 list. Pursuant to this authority, on 
September 15, 2008, CITA published modified procedures it would follow 
in considering requests to modify the Annex 3.25 list of products 
determined to be not commercially available in the territory of any 
Party to CAFTA-DR (Modifications to Procedures for Considering Requests 
Under the Commercial Availability Provision of the Dominican Republic-
Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, 73 FR 53200) 
(``CITA's procedures'').
    On January 16, 2013, the Chairman of CITA received a request for a 
Commercial Availability determination (``Request'') from Sandler, 
Travis & Rosenberg, P.A. on behalf of VF Corp. for certain three-
layered composite fabric, as specified below. On January 18, 2013, in 
accordance with CITA's procedures, CITA notified interested parties of 
the Request, which was posted on the dedicated Web site for CAFTA-DR 
Commercial Availability proceedings. In its notification, CITA advised 
that any Response with an Offer to Supply (``Response'') must be 
submitted by January 31, 2013, and any Rebuttal Comments to a Response 
must be submitted by February 6, 2013, in accordance with sections 6 
and 7 of CITA's procedures. No interested entity submitted a Response 
to the Request advising CITA of its objection to the Request and its 
ability to supply the subject product.
    In accordance with section 203(o)(4)(C) of the CAFTA-DR 
Implementation Act, and section 8(c)(2) of CITA's procedures, as no 
interested entity submitted a Response objecting to the Request and 
providing an offer to supply the subject product, CITA has determined 
to add the specified fabric to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR 
Agreement.
    The subject product has been added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the 
CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities. A revised list has been 
posted on the dedicated Web site for CAFTA-DR Commercial Availability 
proceedings.

Specifications: Certain 3-layered Composite Fabric

    Fabric type: Composite fabric consisting of a 3-layered fleece/
shell construction, woven outer layer and brushed inner layer, bonded 
with a polyurethane (``PU'') membrane.
    HTS: 6001.22.
    Woven Face Fabric:
    Fiber Content: 83.5% to 88.5% polyester; 13.3%-14.7% spandex.
    Yarn Size (single ply, warp and filling): Textured polyester: 80.9 
to 85.8 decitex/144 filament (116.5 to 123.6
    Nm/144 filament) (72.8 to 77.3 denier/144 filament); Spandex: 43.1 
to 45.7 decitex (218.4 to 231.8 Nm) (38.8 to 41.2 denier).
    Thread Count: 44.9-49.6 warp ends per sq. cm by 35.2-41.3 filling 
picks per sq. cm.
    Weave type: Plain weave.
    Weight: 118.1 to 130.2 g/sq. m (3.5 to 3.9 oz./sq. yd).
    Finish: Woven face--piece dyed and/or printed; Woven back--piece 
dyed.
    Circular Double Knit Fleece Back Pile Fabric:
    Fiber content: 100% polyester.
    Yarn Size (single ply): 80.9 to 85.8 decitex (72.8 to 77.3 Denier) 
(116.5 to 123.6 Nm).
    Weave type: circular double knit looped pile.
    Weight: 157.1 to 173.2 g/sq. m (4.6 to 5.1 oz/sq. yd).
    Finish: Knit face--piece dyed; Knit back--piece dyed.
    Composite fabric:
    Weight: 333.3 to 367.5 gm/sq. m (9.8 to 10.8 oz/sq. yd).
    Width: 130 cm (51.18 inches).
    Finish: Full contact bonding.
    Properties:
    Windproof: ASTM D737--Initial 1.0 cfm; 3x wash = 1.0 cfm.
    Durable water resistant: AATCC 22--Initial >= 90 points; 10x wash 
>= 70 points.
    High light fastness: AATCC 16 Opt 3--Class 3.0 @ 40 hours AFU.
    Low Range Hydrostatic: JIS 1092--Initial 20,000 mm; 3x wash--20,000 
mm. AATCC 127--Initial 20,000 mm; 3x wash 20,000 mm.
    Water Vapour Permeability: JIS 1099--Initial 20,000 g/sq. m/24 
hours; 3x wash 20,000 g/sq. m per 24 hours.
    Water Vapour Transmission: ASTM E96 B--Initial 500 g/sq. m/24 
hours; 3x wash 500 g/sq. m per 24 hours.
    Remarks: Ranges above allow for a variance of up to five (5) 
percent for fabric weight, thread count and three (3) percent for fiber 
content and yarn size. NOTE: The yarn size designations describe a 
range of yarn specifications for yarn before knitting, dyeing and 
finishing of the fabric. They are intended as specifications to be 
followed by the mill in sourcing yarn used to produce the fabric. 
Dyeing, finishing and knitting can alter the characteristic of the yarn 
as it appears in the finished fabric. This specification therefore 
includes yarns appearing in the finished fabric as finer or coarser 
than the designated yarn sizes provided that the variation occurs after 
processing of the greige yarn and production of the fabric. The 
specifications for the fabric apply to the fabric itself prior to 
cutting and sewing of the finished garment. Such processing may alter 
the measurements.

Kim Glas,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 2013-03618 Filed 2-14-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P