[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 148 (Thursday, August 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42787-42788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16323]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Interim Procedures for Considering Requests Under the 
Commercial Availability Provision of the United States-Colombia Trade 
Promotion Agreement (U.S.-Colombia TPA)

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before October 4, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Ms. Laurie Mease, International Trade Specialist, International Trade 
Administration, Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), by email to 
[email protected], or [email protected]. Please reference OMB 
Control Number 0625-0272 in the subject line of your comments. Do not 
submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Ms. Laurie Mease, International Trade Specialist, International 
Trade Administration, Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), (202) 
482-2043 or by email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Title II, Section 203(o) of the United States-Colombia Trade 
Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (the ``Act'') [Pub. L. 112-42] 
implements the commercial availability provision provided for in 
Article 3.3 of the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement 
(the ``Agreement''). The Agreement entered into force on May 15, 2012. 
Subject to the rules of origin in Annex 4.1 of the Agreement, pursuant 
to the textile provisions of the Agreement, fabric, yarn, and fiber 
produced in Colombia or the United States and traded between the two 
countries are entitled to duty-free tariff treatment. Annex 3-B of the 
Agreement also lists specific fabrics, yarns, and fibers that the two 
countries agreed are not available in commercial quantities in a timely 
manner from producers in Colombia or the United States. The fabrics 
listed are commercially unavailable fabrics, yarns, and fibers, which 
are also entitled to duty-free treatment despite not being produced in 
Colombia or the United States.
    The list of commercially unavailable fabrics, yarns, and fibers may 
be changed pursuant to the commercial availability provision in Chapter 
3, Article 3.3, Paragraphs 5-7 of the Agreement. Under this provision, 
interested entities from Colombia or the United States have the right 
to request that a specific fabric, yarn, or fiber be added to, or 
removed from, the list of commercially unavailable fabrics, yarns, and 
fibers in Annex 3-B of the Agreement.
    Chapter 3, Article 3.3, paragraph 7 of the Agreement requires that 
the President ``promptly'' publish procedures for parties to exercise 
the right to make these requests. Section 203(o)(4) of the Act 
authorizes the President to establish procedures to modify the list of 
fabrics, yarns, or fibers not available in commercial quantities in a 
timely manner in either the United States or Colombia as set out in 
Annex 3-B of the Agreement. The President delegated the responsibility 
for publishing the procedures and administering commercial availability 
requests to the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(``CITA''), which issues procedures and acts on requests through the 
U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Textiles and Apparel (``OTEXA'') 
(See Proclamation No. 8818, 77 FR 29519, May 18, 2012).
    The intent of the U.S.-Colombia TPA Commercial Availability 
Procedures is to foster the use of U.S. and regional products by 
implementing procedures that allow products to be placed on or removed 
from a product list, on a timely basis, and in a manner that is 
consistent with normal business practice. The procedures are intended 
to facilitate the transmission of requests; allow the market to 
indicate the availability of the supply of products that are the 
subject of requests; make available promptly, to interested entities 
and the public, information regarding the requests for products and 
offers received for those products; ensure wide participation by 
interested entities and parties; allow for careful review and 
consideration of information provided to substantiate requests, 
responses and rebuttals; and provide timely public dissemination of 
information used by CITA in making commercial availability 
determinations.
    CITA must collect certain information about fabric, yarn, or fiber 
technical specifications and the production capabilities of Colombian 
and U.S. textile producers to determine whether certain fabrics, yarns, 
or fibers are available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in 
the United States or Colombia, subject to Section 203(o) of the Act.

II. Method of Collection

    Participants in a commercial availability proceeding must submit 
public versions of their Requests, Responses or Rebuttals 
electronically (via email) for posting on OTEXA's website. Confidential 
versions of those submissions which contain business confidential 
information must be delivered in hard copy to the Office of Textiles 
and Apparel (OTEXA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0625-0272.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 16.

[[Page 42788]]

    Estimated Time per Response: 8 hours per Request, 2 hours per 
Response, and 1 hour per Rebuttal.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 89.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $5,340.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title II, Section 203(o) of the United States-
Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (Pub. L. 112-42).

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2021-16323 Filed 8-4-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P