[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 139 (Friday, July 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43141-43142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17301]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Implementation 
of Tariff Rate Quota Established Under Title V of the Trade and 
Development Act of 2000 for Imports of Certain Worsted Wool Fabric

AGENCY: International Trade Administration (ITA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 17, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Laurie Mease, Office of Textiles and Apparel, Telephone: 
202-482-3400, Fax: 202-482-2331, Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    Title V of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (``the Act'') as 
amended by the Trade Act of 2002, the Miscellaneous Trade Act of 2004, 
the Pension Protection Act of 2006, and the Emergency Economic 
Stabilization Act of 2008, contains several provisions to assist the 
wool products industries. These include the establishment of tariff 
rate quotas (``TRQ'') for a limited quantity of worsted wool fabrics. 
The Act requires the President to fairly allocate the TRQ to persons 
who cut and sew men's and boys' worsted wool suits and suit-like 
jackets and trousers in the United States, and who apply for an 
allocation based on the amount of suits they produce in the prior year. 
The Act specifies factors to be addressed in considering such requests. 
On December 1, 2000, the President issued Proclamation 7383 that, among 
other things, delegates authority to the Secretary of Commerce to 
allocate the TRQ and to issue regulations to implement these 
provisions. On January 22, 2001, the Department of Commerce published 
regulations establishing procedures for allocation of the tariff rate 
quotas (66 FR 6459, 15 CFR 335). The interim regulations were adopted, 
without change, as a final rule published on October 24, 2005 (70 FR 
61363).
    The TRQ was originally effective for goods entered or withdrawn 
from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 2001, and was to 
remain in force through 2003. On August 6, 2002, President Bush signed 
into law the Trade Act of 2002, which includes several amendments to 
Title V of the Act including the extension of the program through 2005. 
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 Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 extended 
the TRQs through 2014.
    The Department must collect certain information in order to fairly 
allocate the TRQ to eligible persons. In order to be eligible for an 
allocation, an applicant must submit an application. An applicant must 
provide the following information in the format set forth in the 
application form provided by the Department:
    (1) Identification. Applicant's name, address, telephone number, 
email address, and federal tax identification number; name of person 
submitting the application, and title, or capacity in which the person 
is acting for the applicant.
    (2) Production Information. Name and address of each plant or 
location where Worsted Wool Suits, Worsted Wool Suit-Type Jackets, and 
Worsted Wool Trousers were cut and sewn by the applicant and the name 
and address of all plants or locations that cut and sewed such products 
on behalf of the applicant. Production data, including the following: 
the quantity and value of the Worsted Wool Suits, Worsted Wool Suit-
Type Jackets, and Worsted Wool Trousers cut and sewn in the United 
States by applicant, or on behalf of applicant, from fabric owned by 
applicant. This data must indicate actual production (not estimates) of 
Worsted Wool Suits, Worsted Wool Suit-Type Jackets and Worsted Wool 
Trousers containing at least 85 percent worsted wool fabric by weight 
with an average diameter of 18.5 microns or less. This data must also 
indicate actual production (not estimates) of Worsted Wool Suits, 
Worsted Wool Suit-Type Jackets and Worsted Wool Trousers containing at 
least 85 percent worsted wool fabric by weight with average diameter 
greater than 18.5 microns. Production data must be provided for the 
first six months of the year of the application. This data will be 
annualized for the purpose of making Tariff Rate Quota allocation.
    (3) Worsted Wool Fabric. Data indicating the quantity and value of 
the Worsted Wool Fabric used in reported production.
    (4) Certification. A statement by the applicant, or on behalf of 
the applicant, by an employee, officer or agent, with

[[Page 43142]]

personal knowledge of the matters set out in the application, 
certifying that the information contained therein is complete and 
accurate, signed and sworn before a Notary Public, and acknowledging 
that false representations to a federal agency may result in criminal 
penalties under federal law.
    Not later than September 30 of each Tariff Rate Quota Year, a 
licensee that will not import the full quantity granted in a license 
during the Tariff Rate Quota Year shall surrender the allocation that 
will not be used to the Department for purposes of reallocation. The 
surrender shall be final, and shall apply only to that Tariff Rate 
Quota Year.
    Revision: Forms for surrender and reallocation have been developed 
in order to create a standardized method of reporting such information. 
The information collected on the surrender and reallocation application 
is utilized to determine the eligibility of applicants for additional 
quota and the amount of additional quota they shall receive. The 
information includes:
    (1) Identification. Licensee's name and the license control number. 
(2) The amount surrendered and/or the amount requested for 
reallocation.

II. Method of Collection

    The information collection forms will be provided via the Internet 
and by mail to requesting firms.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0625-0240.
    Form Number(s): ITA-4139, ITA-4140P.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (revision to a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 3 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 160.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $450.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and costs) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or forms of information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: July 15, 2013.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-17301 Filed 7-18-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P