Request for Public Comments on Commercial Availability Request under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the United States-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA)

COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Request for Public Comments on Commercial Availability Request under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the United States-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA)

May 20, 2005.

AGENCY:

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA)

ACTION:

Request for public comments concerning a request for a determination that certain woven bamboo/cotton fabric cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner under the AGOA and the CBTPA.

SUMMARY:

On May 18, 2005 the Chairman of CITA received a petition from Columbia Sportswear Company alleging that certain woven bamboo/cotton fabric, of specifications detailed below, classified in subheading 5516.42.0022 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. The petition requests that apparel articles of such fabrics be eligible for preferential treatment under the AGOA and the CBTPA. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether such fabrics can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted by June 9, 2005 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Anna Flaaten, International Trade Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-3400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority:

Section 112(b)(5)(B) of the AGOA; Section 211(a) of the CBTPA, amending Section 213(b)(2)(A)(v)(II) of the Caribbean Basin Recovery Act (CBERA); Sections 1 and 6 of Executive Order No. 13191 of January 17, 2001; Presidential Proclamations 7350 and 7351 of October 2, 2000.

BACKGROUND:

The AGOA and the CBTPA provide for quota- and duty-free treatment for qualifying textile and apparel products. Such treatment is generally limited to products manufactured from yarns and fabrics formed in the United States or a beneficiary country. The AGOA and the CBTPA also provide 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 beneficiary countries from fabric or yarn that is not formed in the United States, if it has been determined that such fabric or yarn cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. 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 AGOA and 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).

On May 18, 2005 the Chairman of CITA received a petition from Columbia Sportswear Company alleging that certain woven bamboo/cotton fabric, of specifications detailed below, classified in HTSUS subheading 5516.42.0022, for use in apparel articles, cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and requesting quota- and duty-free treatment under the AGOA and the CBTPA for apparel articles that are both cut and sewn in one or more beneficiary countries from such fabrics.

Specifications:

Petitioner Style Number:

008410

Construction:

Woven Plain Weave

Fiber Content:

59% Bamboo / 41% Cotton

Yarn Number:

33.6/1 metric warp, 23.5/1 metric filling, ring spun

Overall average yarn number: 17 - 18 metric

Thread Count:

27 - 28 warp ends per centimeter

20 - 21 filling picks per centimeter

Total 47 - 49 threads per square centimeter

Weave:

Plain

Weight:

170 grams per square meter

Width:

130 - 133 centimeters

Finish:

Piece Dyed

CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, particularly with respect to whether these fabrics can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Also relevant is whether other fabrics that are supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner are substitutable for these fabrics for purposes of the intended use. Comments must be received no later than June 9, 2005. 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, N.W., Washington, DC 20230.

If a comment alleges that these 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 generally considers specific details, such as quantities and lead times for providing the subject product as business confidential. However, information such as the names of domestic manufacturers who were contacted, questions concerning the capability to manufacture the subject product, and the responses thereto should be available for public review to ensure proper public participation in the process. If this is not possible, an explanation of the necessity for treating such information as business

confidential must be provided. 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, N.W., Washington, DC 20230. Persons submitting comments on a request are encouraged to include a non-confidential version and a non-confidential summary.

D. Michael Hutchinson,

Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

[FR Doc. 05-10565 Filed 5-23-05; 1:18 pm]

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