Request for Public Comments on Government of Colombia Request to Consult with the United States on Non-Textured Polyester Filament Yarn

COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Request for Public Comments on Government of Colombia Request to

Consult with the United States on Non-Textured Polyester Filament Yarn

September 25, 1998.

AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Notice.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William J. Dulka, Director, Industry

Assessment Division, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of

Commerce, (202) 482-4058.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority: Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended;

section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C.

1854).

The Customs, Tariffs and Foreign Trade Committee of Colombia (AAA

Committee) has stated that there was a substantial and ongoing increase

in imports of non-textured polyester filament yarn (Tariff Heading

5402.43.00) which was causing serious damage to the Colombian industry

during the period June 1997 through May 1998, and that damage was

attributable to imports from Korea, the United States, Malaysia,

Thailand and Taiwan.

On August 17, 1998, under Article 6 of the Uruguay Round Agreement

on Textiles and Clothing (ATC), the AAA Committee requested

consultations with the Government of the United States with respect to

non-textured polyester filament yarn, produced or manufactured in the

United States and exported to Colombia. The Government of Colombia

proposes to establish a one-year quantitative restraint for U.S.

imports of this product at a level of 588.79 metric tons (588,790

kilograms).

Anyone wishing to comment or provide data or information regarding

these consultations, particularly with regard to the export of non-

textured polyester filament yarn to Colombia, is invited to submit 10

copies of such comments or information to Troy H. Cribb, Chairman,

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, U.S. Department

of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230; ATTN: Helen L. LeGrande.

As consultation may occur soon, comments should be submitted as

soon as possible, preferably by October 12, 1998. Comments or

information submitted in response to this notice will be available for

public inspection in the Office of Textiles and Apparel, room H3100,

U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW.,

Washington, D.C.

Further comments may be invited regarding particular comments or

information received from the public which the Committee for the

Implementation of Textile Agreements considers appropriate for further

consideration.

The solicitation of comments regarding any aspect of the

implementation of an agreement is not a waiver in any respect of the

exemption contained in 5 U.S.C.553(a)(1) relating to matters which

constitute ``a foreign affairs function of the United States.''

Should a solution be reached in consultations with the Government

of Colombia, further notice will be published in the Federal Register.

Troy H. Cribb,

Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

[FR Doc.98-26171 Filed 9-28-98; 8:45 am]

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