Request for Public Comment on Short Supply Request under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and United States-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA)

AGENCY:

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION:

Request for public comments concerning a request for a determination that certain yarns of 55 percent polyester staple fibers and 45 percent worsted wool cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUMMARY: On May 4, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition from Stillwater Sales, Inc./Metcalf Bros. and Company alleging that yarns of 55 percent polyester staple fibers and 45 percent worsted wool, 1, 2, and 3 ply yarns, in their natural (undyed) state or in their stock dyed state (fiber dyed), with 12 to 20 twists per inch, and in sizes of 1/15 to 1/30, 2/30 to 2/60, and 3/48 to 3/60 worsted count (1/17 to 1/34, 2/34 to 2/68 and 3/54 to 3/68 metric count), classified in subheading 5107.20.6000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and requesting that the President proclaim that apparel articles of woven U.S. formed-fabric of such yarns 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 these yarns can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted by May 25, 2001 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Authority: Section 112(b)(5)(B) of the AGOA; Section 213(b)(2)(A)(v)(II) of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, as added by Section 211(a) of the CBTPA; Sections 1 and 6 of Executive Order No. 13191 of January 17, 2001.

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 or 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 AGOA or CBTPA beneficiary countries from fabric or yarn that is not formed in the United States or a beneficiary country, if it has been determined that such fabric or yarns 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 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 4, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition from Stillwater Sales, Inc./Metcalf Bros. and Company alleging that yarns of 55 percent polyester staple fibers and 45 percent worsted wool, 1, 2, and 3 ply yarns, in their natural (undyed) state or in their stock dyed state (fiber dyed), with 12 to 20 twists per inch, and in sizes of 1/15 to 1/30, 2/30 to 2/60, and 3/48 to 3/60 worsted count (1/17 to 1/34, 2/34 to 2/68 and 3/54 to 3/68 metric count) classified in subheading 5107.20.6000 of the HTSUS, 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 AGOA and the CBTPA for apparel articles that are cut and sewn in one or more AGOA or CBTPA beneficiary countries from woven U.S.-formed fabric of such yarns.

CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, particularly with respect to whether these yarns can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Also relevant is whether other yarns that are supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner are substitutable for these yarns for purposes of the intended use. Comments must be received no later than May 25, 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, N.W., Washington, DC 20230.

If a comment alleges that these yarns 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 yarn stating that it produces the yarn that is in 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, N.W., Washington, DC 20230. Persons submitting comments on a request are encouraged to include a non-confidential version and a non-confidential summary.