[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 15, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26841-26842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12282]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Request for Public Comment on Short Supply Request Under the 
United States-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA)

May 11, 2001.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for a 
determination that microfilament fabric of continuous polyester and 
nylon filaments with average size of 0.02 to 0.8 decitex cannot be 
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely 
manner under the CBTPA.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Heinzen, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-3400.
SUMMARY: On May 8, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition on 
behalf of The Freudenberg Nonwovens Group alleging that microfilament 
fabric of continuous polyester and nylon filaments with average size of 
0.02 to 0.8 decitex, classified in subheading 5603.11.0090, 
5603.12.0090, 5603.13.0090 or 5603.14.9090 of the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the 
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. It 
requests that the President proclaim that apparel articles of such 
fabrics be eligible for preferential treatment under the CBTPA. CITA 
hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with 
regard to whether microfilament fabric of continuous polyester and 
nylon filaments with average size of 0.02 to 0.8 decitex can be 
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely 
manner. Comments must be submitted by May 30, 2001 to the Chairman, 
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, 
United States Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Section 213(b)(2)(A)(v)(II) of the Caribbean Basin 
Economic Recovery Act, as added by Section 211(a) of the CBTPA; 
Section 6 of Executive Order No. 13191 of January 17, 2001.

    BACKGROUND: The CBTPA provides for quota- and duty-free treatment 
for qualifying textile and apparel products. Such treatment is 
generally limited to products manufactured from yarns or fabrics formed 
in the United States or a beneficiary country. The CBTPA also provides 
for quota- and duty-free treatment for apparel articles that are both 
cut (or knit-to-shape) and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more 
CBTPA beneficiary countries from fabric or yarn that is not formed in 
the United States or a CBTPA beneficiary country, if it has been 
determined that such fabric or yarn cannot be supplied by the domestic 
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and the President 
has proclaimed such treatment. In Executive Order No. 13191, the 
President delegated to CITA the authority to determine whether yarns or 
fabrics cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial 
quantities in a timely manner under the CBTPA and directed CITA to 
establish procedures to ensure appropriate public participation in any 
such determination. On March 6, 2001, CITA published procedures that it 
will follow in considering requests. (66 FR 13502).

[[Page 26842]]

    On May 8, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition on behalf 
of The Freudenberg Nonwovens Group alleging that microfilament fabric 
of continuous polyester and nylon filaments with average size of 0.02 
to 0.8 decitex, classified in HTSUS subheading 5603.11.0090, 
5603.12.0090, 5603.13.0090 or 5603.14.9090, cannot be supplied by the 
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and 
requesting that the President proclaim quota- and duty-free treatment 
under the CBTPA for apparel articles that are cut and sewn or otherwise 
assembled in one or more CBTPA beneficiary countries from such fabrics.
    CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, 
particularly with respect to whether such fabrics can be supplied by 
the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Also 
relevant is whether fabrics that are supplied by the domestic industry 
in commercial quantities in a timely manner are substitutable for the 
fabric for purposes of the intended use. Comments must be received no 
later than May 30, 2001. Interested persons are invited to submit six 
copies of such comments or information to the Chairman, Committee for 
the Implementation of Textile Agreements, room 3100, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.
    If a comment alleges that such fabrics can be supplied by the 
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner, CITA 
will closely review any supporting documentation, such as a signed 
statement by a manufacturer of the fabric stating that it produces the 
fabric that is the subject of the request, including the quantities 
that can be supplied and the time necessary to fill an order, as well 
as any relevant information regarding past production.
    CITA will protect any business confidential information that is 
marked business confidential from disclosure to the full extent 
permitted by law. CITA will make available to the public non-
confidential versions of the request and non-confidential versions of 
any public comments received with respect to a request in room 3100 in 
the Herbert Hoover Building, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230. Persons submitting comments on a request are 
encouraged to include a non-confidential version and a non-confidential 
summary.

J. Hayden Boyd,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc.01-12282 Filed 5-11-01; 11:47 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F