[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 166 (Tuesday, August 27, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 52907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20765]


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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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SUMMARY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(``CITA'') has determined that certain polyester/nylon cut corduroy 
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.

DATES: Effective August 27, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Dybczak, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-3651.
    For Further Information Online: http://web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/CaftaReqTrack.nsf under ``Approved Requests,'' Reference number: 
184.2013.07.25.Fabric.Alston&BirdforSPCGlobal

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 July 25, the Chairman of CITA received a request for a 
Commercial Availability determination (``Request'') from Alston & Bird, 
LLP on behalf of SPC Global, LLC, for certain polyester/nylon cut 
corduroy fabric, as specified below. On July 29, 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 August 8, 2013, and any Rebuttal Comments to a Response 
must be submitted by August 14, 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 to object to the Request with 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 Polyester/Nylon Cut Corduroy Fabric.

    HTS: 5801.32.0000.
    Fiber Content: 80-95% polyester, 5-20% nylon.
    Yarn Size:
    Warp: Polyester filament between 111-222 decitex (English: 100-
200 denier).
    Fill: Polyester filament 111-278 decitex (English: 100-250 
denier) and bi-constituent polyester-nylon filament between 222-389 
decitex (English: 200-350 denier).
    NOTE 1: In the bi-constituent yarn, the polyester and nylon are 
mixed prior to extrusion.
    NOTE 2: The yarn size designations describe a range of 
specifications for yarn in its greige condition. They are intended 
as specifications to be followed by the mill in sourcing yarn used 
to produce the fabric. Weaving, dyeing, and finishing can alter the 
characteristics 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.
    Thread count: 20-34 warp ends x 50-67 fill picks per centimeter 
(English: 50-86 warp ends x 127-170 fill picks per inch).
    Weight: 220-290 grams per sq. meter (English: 6.48-8.55 oz per 
sq. yard).
    Width: 142-162 cm (English: 56-64 inches).
    Weave: Cut corduroy with 3-6 wales per cm (English: 8-16 wales 
per inch).
    Finishing: Piece dyed or of yarns of different colors.

Kim Glas,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 2013-20765 Filed 8-26-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P