[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 184 (Monday, September 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77486-77487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-21679]


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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'')

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.

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SUMMARY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(``CITA'') has determined that certain two-way stretch woven polyester, 
rayon, spandex fabric, as specified below, is not available in 
commercial quantities in a timely manner in the CAFTA-DR countries. The 
product is added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR in 
unrestricted quantities.

DATES: Applicable Date: September 23, 2024.

ADDRESSES: https://otexaprod.trade.gov/otexacapublicsite/requests/cafta 
under ``Approved Requests,'' File Number: CA2024004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kayla Johnson, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-2532 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Authority: The CAFTA-DR; 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 Proclamation 7987 (February 28, 
2006).
    Background: The CAFTA-DR provides a list in Annex 3.25 for fabrics, 
yarns, and fibers that the Parties to the CAFTA-DR have determined are 
not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the 
territory of any Party. The CAFTA-DR provides that this list may be 
modified pursuant to Article 3.25.4, when 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; 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 Proclamation 7987, 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 the 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 August 12, 2024, CITA received a Commercial Availability Request 
(``Request'') from CFI Textiles (``CFI'') for certain two-way stretch 
woven polyester, rayon, spandex fabric, as specified below. On August 
14, 2024, in accordance with CITA's Procedures, CITA notified 
interested parties of the Request, which was posted on the dedicated 
website for CAFTA-DR Commercial Availability proceedings. In its 
notification, CITA advised that any Response with an Offer to Supply

[[Page 77487]]

(``Response'') must be submitted by August 26, 2024, and any Rebuttal 
to a Response (``Rebuttal'') must be submitted by August 30, 2024, 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 with an offer to supply the subject product in 
accordance with CITA's Procedures.
    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 in accordance with 
CITA's Procedures, CITA has determined to add the specified fabric to 
the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR.
    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 website for CAFTA-DR Commercial Availability 
proceedings, at https://otexaprod.trade.gov/otexacapublicsite/shortsupply/cafta.

Specifications: Certain Two-Way Stretch Woven Polyester, Rayon, Spandex 
Fabric

    HTS: 5515.11.00.
    Fiber Content: 50 to 77 percent polyester; 18 to 47 percent rayon; 
3 to 8 percent spandex (for fabrics comprising single yarns in the 
warp, the polyester content may be higher).
    Staple Length (where applicable): 4.44 to 6.99 centimeters (1.75 to 
2.75 inches).

    Note:  The staple length designation 1.75''--2.75'' inches 
describes a range of long staple fiber in its raw griege condition 
before spinning, weaving, dyeing and finishing of the fabric. It is 
intended as a specification to be followed by the mill in sourcing 
long staple fiber used to produce the yarn and fabric. Spinning, 
weaving, dyeing and finishing alter the characteristic of the staple 
fiber as it appears in the finished fabric. This specification 
therefore includes staple appearing in the finished fabric as 
shorter than 1.75'' inches provided that the shorter appearance 
occurs solely as the result of such processes.

Yarn (Three Configurations)

    #1: Warp and filling: plied polyester/rayon staple of various yarn 
sizes, combined with spandex filament of various deniers.
    #2: Warp and filling 34/1 (English 20/1) or finer polyester/rayon 
staple, combined with spandex filament of various deniers.
    #3: Warp: 34/1 (English 20/1) or finer polyester/rayon staple, or 
plied polyester/rayon staple of various yarn sizes, combined with 
spandex filament of various deniers;
    Filling: singles or plied polyester filament of various yarn sizes, 
combined with spandex filament of various deniers.

    Note: The designation ``34/1 (English 20/1) or finer'' describes 
a range of yarn specifications for yarn it its greige condition 
before dyeing and finishing of the yarn (if applicable) and before 
weaving, dyeing and finishing of the fabric. It is intended as a 
specification to be followed by the mill in sourcing yarn used to 
produce the fabric. Dyeing, finishing and weaving can alter the 
characteristic of the yarn as it appears in the finished fabric. 
This specification therefore includes yarns appearing in the 
finished fabric as coarser than 34/1 (English 20/1) provided that 
the coarser appearance occurs solely as the result of such 
processes.

    Thread Count: 23 to 51 warp ends by 16 to 39 filling picks per 
centimeter (60 to 130 warp ends by 40 to 100 filling picks per inch).
    Weave Type: Various (including plain and twill).
    Weight:

 Fabrics comprising single yarns in the warp--200 to 290 grams per 
square meter (5.9 to 8.6 ounces per square yard).
 Fabrics comprising plied yarns in the warp--200 to 310 grams per 
square meter (5.9 to 9.1 ounces per square yard).

    Width: 121 to 165 centimeters (English 48 to 65 inches).
    Finish: Dyed and of yarns of different colors.

Megan Crowe,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc. 2024-21679 Filed 9-20-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P