[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 52 (Monday, March 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16661-16662]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06181]


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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: March 18, 2013.
SUMMARY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(``CITA'') has determined that certain laminated 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: 
176.2013.02.06.Fabric.SoriniSametforPatagoniaInc.

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''), 
Public 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 
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 February 6, 2013, the Chairman of CITA received a request for a 
Commercial Availability determination (``Request'') from Sorini Samet & 
Associates on behalf of Patagonia, Inc. for certain laminated composite 
fabric, as specified below. On February 7, 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 
February 21, 2013, and any Rebuttal Comments to a Response must be 
submitted by February 27, 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: Laminated Composite Fabric

HTS: 6001.22.0000; 6001.92.0000
Overall Fabric Description: Laminated polyester woven/micro velour grid 
one-way stretch with polyurethane laminate.
Overall Fabric Construction: Woven face/polyurethane laminate/circular 
knit velour with grid pattern.
Overall Fiber Content: 90-96% polyester/4-10% spandex (includes both 
face and backer fabric).
Overall weight: 287-351 grams per square meter.
Overall width: Selvedge: 150.4-154.4 cm; Minimum cuttable: 145.3-149.3 
cm.
Finishing: Bonded laminate with durable water repellency on the face 
fabric, and optional on back.
Performance criteria for overall fabric:
    Air permeability (ASTM D737): maximum 1.5

[[Page 16662]]

    Durable water repellency (AATCC 22): greater than or equal to 80 
before wash.

Face Fabric Details:

Construction: plain weave
Fiber content: 81-87% polyester/13-19% spandex
Warp fiber content/denier: 73-77 denier polyester; 39-41 denier spandex
Filling fiber content/denier: 73-77 denier polyester; 39-41 denier 
spandex
Characteristics of yarns: core spun spandex (filament)
Thread count: 49-52 picks per cm x 43-45 picks per cm
Weight: 121.5-148.5 grams per square meter
Width: Selvedge: 150.4-154.4 cm; Minimum cuttable: 145.3-149.3 cm
Coloration: piece dyed
Finishing: bonded laminate with durable water repellency
Other special characteristics: 2-way stretch

Backer Fabric Details:

Construction: circular knit with a dropped stitch for the grid-brushed 
looped pile
Fiber content: 100% polyester
Warp fiber content/denier: 145-155 denier polyester
Filling fiber content/denier: 73-77 denier polyester
Characteristics of yarns: filament
Knitting gauge: 27-29
Weight: 140.4-171.6 grams per square meter
Width: Selvedge: 150.4-154.4 cm; Minimum cuttable: 145.3-149.3 cm
Coloration: piece dyed
Finishing: Optional bonded laminate with durable water repellency
Performance criteria:
    Pilling (ASTM D3512): minimum 3
    Other special characteristics: grid pattern
Laminate Description and performance: Bonded laminate with durable 
water repellency (air permeability maximum 1.5 per ASTM D737)
NOTE (ranges): Ranges in these specifications reflect a tolerance from 
the target figures of up to three percent for fiber content, yarn size, 
and thread count; up to ten percent for weight; and up to five 
centimeters (two inches) for width.
NOTE (processing variations): 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. These specifications 
therefore include 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. 2013-06181 Filed 3-15-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P