Request for Public Comments on a Request that the United States Consult with Mexico and Canada Concerning Short Supply of Certain Polyester Filament Yarns

COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Request for Public Comments on a Request that the United States

Consult with Mexico and Canada Concerning Short Supply of Certain

Polyester Filament Yarns

April 6, 1998.

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

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for

consultations on certain polyester filament yarns.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori Mennitt, International Trade

Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of

Commerce, (202) 482-3400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority: Section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as

amended (7 U.S.C. 1854); Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as

amended.

The purpose of this notice is to advise the public that CITA has

been petitioned to initiate consultations with Mexico and Canada under

Section 7(2) of Annex 300-B of the North American Free Trade Agreement

(NAFTA) for the purpose of amending the NAFTA rules of origin for HTS

subheading 6002.43 and the subheadings in chapter 61 to allow the use

of certain non-North American polyester filament yarns, described

below, which are classified in HTS subheadings 5402.33, 5402.43 and

5402.52, in NAFTA originating goods.

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Denier (Decitex) Filament count Cross section Luster Luster Luster

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\1\ 75 (83.3).... 72 Round Semi dull

75 (83.3)........ 72 Trilobal Semi dull

75 (83.3)........ 36 Round Semi dull Bright Dull

75 (83.3)........ 36 Trilobal Semi dull Bright Dull

75 (83.3)........ 36 Octolobal Semi dull Bright Dull

40 (44.4)........ 12 Round Semi dull Bright Dull

40 (44.4)........ 12 Trilobal Semi dull Bright Dull

40 (44.4)........ 12 Octolobal Semi dull Bright Dull

40 (44.4)........ 24 Round Semi dull Bright Dull

40 (44.4)........ 24 Trilobal Semi dull Bright Dull

40 (44.4)........ 24 Octolobal Semi dull Bright Dull

40 (44.4)........ 30 Round Semi dull Bright Dull

40 (44.4)........ 30 Trilobal Semi dull Bright Dull

40 (44.4)........ 30 Octolobal Semi dull Bright Dull

40 (44.4)........ 36 Round Semi dull Bright Dull

40 (44.4)........ 36 Trilobal Semi dull Bright Dull

40 (44.4)........ 36 Octolobal Semi dull Bright Dull

50 (55.6)........ 24 Round Semi dull Bright Dull

50 (55.6)........ 24 Trilobal Semi dull Bright Dull

[[Page 17823]]

50 (55.6)........ 36 Round Semi dull Bright Dull

50 (55.6)........ 36 Trilobal Semi dull Bright Dull

50 (55.56)....... 36 Octolobal Semi dull Bright Dull

21textured (23.3) 1 Round Semi dull

20 (22.2)........ 1 Round Semi dull

45 (50.0)........ 20 Round Dull

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\1\ In both flat (non-textured) and textured forms. Unless otherwise noted, all above-listed yarns are flat.

There will be a 30-day comment period beginning on April 10, 1998

and extending through May 11, 1998.. Anyone wishing to comment or

provide data or information regarding domestic production or

availability of the listed polyester filament yarns classified in HTS

subheadings 5402.33, 5402.43 and 5402.52 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, DC 20230; ATTN: Helen L. LeGrande.

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, DC.

The solicitation of comments 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.''

A description of the textile and apparel categories in terms of HTS

numbers is available in the CORRELATION: Textile and Apparel Categories

with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (see Federal

Register notice 62 FR 66057, published on December 17, 1997).

Troy H. Cribb,

Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

[FR Doc. 98-9509 Filed 4-9-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F