[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 27, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34156-34157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16147]
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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS
Request for Public Comment on Short Supply Petition under the
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
June 22, 2001.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).
ACTION: Request for Public Comments concerning a petition for
modification of the NAFTA rules of origin for products made from
certain yarns of cashmere and of camel hair.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martin Walsh, 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 USC 1854); Section 202(q) of the North American Free
Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 USC 3332(q)); Executive Order
11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended.
SUMMARY: On June 14, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition
from Amicale Industries, Inc. alleging that certain yarns of cashmere
and of camel hair, classified in heading 5108.10.60 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 a modification of the NAFTA
rules of origin. The yarns are described as (1). Yarns of cashmere,
singles, multiple or plied, of fiber 17.5 to 19 microns average
diameter, of natural, bleached, or dyed fiber, of metric count 9.7 or
finer (3 run or finer), mule spun or frame spun. (2). Yarns of camel
hair, singles, multiple or plied, of fiber 18 microns average diameter
or finer, of bleached or dyed fiber, of metric count 16 or finer (5 run
or finer), mule spun or frame spun.
Such a proclamation may be made only after reaching agreement with
the other NAFTA countries on the modification. CITA hereby solicits
public comments on this petition, in particular with regard to whether
cashmere and camel hair yarn can be supplied by the domestic industry
in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted
by July 27, 2001 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of
Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce,
Washington, D.C. 20230.
Background
Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), NAFTA
countries are required to eliminate customs duties on textile and
apparel goods that qualify as originating goods under the NAFTA rules
of origin, which are set out in Annex 401 to the NAFTA. The NAFTA
provides that the rules of origin for textile and apparel products may
be amended through a subsequent agreement by the NAFTA countries. In
consultations regarding such a change, the NAFTA countries are to
consider issues of availability of supply of fibers, yarns, or fabrics
in the free trade area and whether domestic producers are capable of
supplying commercial quantities of the good in a timely manner. The
Statement of Administrative Action (SAA) that accompanied the NAFTA
Implementation Act stated that any interested person may submit to CITA
a request for a modification to a particular rule of origin based on a
change in the availability in North America of a particular fiber, yarn
or fabric and that the requesting party would bear the burden of
demonstrating that a change is warranted. The SAA provides that CITA
may make a recommendation to the President regarding a change to a rule
of origin for a textile or apparel good. The NAFTA Implementation Act
provides the President with the authority to proclaim modifications to
the NAFTA rules of origin as are necessary to implement an agreement
with one or more NAFTA country on such a modification.
On June 14, 2001 the Chairman of CITA received a petition from
Amicale Industries, Inc. alleging that certain yarns of cashmere and of
camel hair, classified in HTSUS heading 5108.10.60, cannot be supplied
by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner
and requesting that the President proclaim a modification of the NAFTA
rules of origin. The yarns are described as (1). Yarns of cashmere,
singles, multiple or plied, of fiber 17.5 to 19 microns average
diameter, of natural, bleached, or dyed fiber, of metric count 9.7 or
finer (3 run or finer), mule spun or frame spun. (2). Yarns of camel
hair, singles, multiple or plied, of fiber 18 microns average diameter
or finer, of bleached or dyed fiber, of metric count 16 or finer (5 run
or finer), mule spun or frame spun. The referenced yarns would be used
to produce woven fabrics for use in suits, coats and suit-type jackets
classified under HTS subheadings 6201.11, 6202.11, 6203.11, 6203.31,
6204.11 and 6204.31.
CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request,
particularly with respect to whether the yarns of cashmere and of camel
hair described above, classified in HTSUS heading 5108.10.60, can be
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely
manner. The petition states that potential North American suppliers of
the referenced yarns would be required to deliver them within 21 days
of receipt of a purchase order. Also relevant are whether there has
been a change in availability and whether other products that are
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely
manner are substitutable for the yarn for purposes of the intended use.
Comments must be received no later than July 27, 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 yarns of cashmere or of camel hair 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
[[Page 34157]]
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.
J. Hayden Boyd,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile
Agreements.
[FR Doc.01-16147 Filed 6-26-01; 8:45 am]
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