[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 83 (Friday, April 29, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25444-25445]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-09287]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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-Panama Trade 
Promotion Agreement (U.S.-Panama TPA)

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On behalf of the Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements (CITA), 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 June 28, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Ms. Laurie Mease, International Trade Specialist, International Trade 
Administration, by email to [email protected], or 
[email protected]. Please reference OMB Control Number 0625-0273 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, by email at [email protected], or by phone 
at (202) 482-2043.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Title II, Section 203(o) of the United States-Panama Trade 
Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (the ``Act'') [Pub. L. 112-43] 
implements the commercial availability provision provided for in 
Article 3.25 of the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (the 
``Agreement''). The Agreement entered into force on October 31, 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 Panama or the United States and traded between the two 
countries are entitled to duty-free tariff treatment. Annex 3.25 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 Panama or the United States. The items listed 
in Annex 3.25 are commercially unavailable fabrics, yarns, and fibers. 
Articles containing these items are entitled to duty-free or 
preferential treatment despite containing inputs not produced in Panama 
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 3.25, Paragraphs 4-6 of the Agreement. Under this provision, 
interested entities from Panama 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 3.25 of the Agreement.
    Pursuant to Chapter 3, Article 3.25, paragraph 6 of the Agreement, 
which requires that the President 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 Panama as set out in Annex 
3.25 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. 8894, 77 FR 66507, November 5, 2012).
    The intent of the U.S.-Panama 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 and 
responses; 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 Panamanian 
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 Panama, subject to Section 203(o) of the Act.

[[Page 25445]]

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: 0625-0273.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission, extension of a current 
information collection.
    Affected Public: Business or for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 16.
    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-
Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (the ``Act'') [Pub. 
L. 112-43].

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. 2022-09287 Filed 4-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P