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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 248 (Monday, December 29, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78066-78067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30399]

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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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DATES: Effective Date: December 29, 2014.
SUMMARY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(``CITA'') has determined that certain 100% polyester composite 
laminated 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurie Mease, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-2043.
    For Further Information On-Line: http://web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/CaftaReqTrack.nsf. under ``Approved Requests,'' Reference number: 
194.2014.11.18.Fabric.ST&RforVFCorp

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'').

[[Page 78067]]

    On November 18, 2014, the Chairman of CITA received a request for a 
Commercial Availability determination (``Request'') from Sandler, 
Travis and Rosenberg, P.A. on behalf of VF Corp. for certain 100% 
polyester composite laminated fabric, as specified below. On November 
20, 2014, 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 December 3, 2014, and any Rebuttal 
Comments to a Response must be submitted by December 9, 2014, 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 100% Polyester Composite Laminated Fabric

Fabric Type: Composite fabric consisting of a 3-layered fleece/shell 
construction, woven outer layer and brushed inner layer, bonded with 
a PU membrane
HTS: 6001.22
Woven Face Fabric:
Fiber Content: 100% Polyester
Yarn Size (single ply, warp and filling):
Textured polyester: 323.0 to 343.0 decitex/144 F (31.0 to 29.0 Nm/
144 F) (291 to 309 denier/144 F)
Thread Count: 57-61 warp ends per inch by 55-59 filling picks per 
inch; 22-24 warp ends per centimeter by 21-23 filling picks per 
centimeter
Weave type: Plain weave
Weight: 156.8 g/m\2\ to 204.8 g/m\2\ (4.6 to 6.0 oz./yd\2\)
Finish: Woven face--piece dyed and/or printed; Woven back--piece 
dyed
Circular Double Knit Fleece Back Pile Fabric:
Fiber content: 100% polyester
Yarn Size (single ply): 81.0 to 86.0 decitex (73.0 to 78.0 Denier) 
(124.0 to 116.0 Nm)
Weave type: circular double knit looped pile
Weight: 157.1 to 173.2 g/m\2\ (4.6 to 5.1 oz./yd\2\)
Finish: Knit face--piece dyed; Knit back--piece dyed
Composite fabric:
Weight: 355.3 to 405.4 g/m\2\ (10.5 to 12.0 oz./yd\2\)
Width: 130 cm wide (51.18 inches)
Finish: Full contact bonding
Properties:
Windproof: ASTM D737--Initial = 90 Points--10x Wash >= 
70 Points
High Light Fastness: AATCC 16 Opt 3--Class 3.0 @ 40 Hours AFU
Low Range Hydrostatic: JIS1092-Initial 20,000 mm--3x Wash 20,000 mm; 
AATCC127-Initial 20,000 mm-3x Wash 20,000 mm
Water Vapour Permeability: JIS 1099--Initial 20,000 g/m\2\/24hr-3x 
Wash 20,000 g/m\2\/24hr
Water Vapour Transmission: ASTM E96 B--Initial 500 g/m\2\/24hr-3x 
Wash 500 g/m\2\/24hr
Remarks: Ranges above allow for a variance of up to five percent for 
fabric weight, thread count and three percent for yarn size.

    Note: The yarn size designations describe a range of yarn 
specifications for yarn before knitting, dyeing and finishing of the 
fabric. They are intended as specifications to be followed by the 
mill in sourcing yarn used to produce the fabric.

Dyeing, finishing and knitting 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 finer 
or coarser than the designated yarn sizes provided that the 
variation occurs after processing of the greige yarn and production 
of the fabric. The specifications for the fabric apply to the fabric 
itself prior to cutting and sewing of the finished garment. Such 
processing may alter the measurements.

Joshua Teitelbaum,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 2014-30399 Filed 12-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P
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