[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 168 (Tuesday, August 31, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 53046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-19904]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Request for Public Comments on a Commercial Availability Request 
under the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA)

August 26, 2004.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for a 
determination that certain polyester monofilament yarn, for use in 
women's and children's apparel, cannot be supplied by the domestic 
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner under the ATPDEA.

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SUMMARY: On August 23, 2004, the Chairman of CITA received a petition 
from Textiles Erre Emme Ltda. of Bogota, Colombia, alleging that 
certain polyester monofilament texturized, raw, white yarn, of denier 
20D/F1, classified in subheading 5402.33.30 of the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), for use in women's and 
children's apparel, cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in 
commercial quantities in a timely manner. It requests that such apparel 
made from such yarn be eligible for preferential treatment under the 
ATPDEA. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, in 
particular with regard to whether such yarn can be supplied by the 
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments 
must be submitted by September 15, 2004 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: Shikha Bhatnagar, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-3821.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Section 204 (b)(3)(B)(ii) of the ATPDEA, Presidential 
Proclamation 7616 of October 31, 2002, Executive Order 13277 of 
November 19, 2002, and the United States Trade Representative's 
Notice of Further Assignment of Functions of November 25, 2002.

BACKGROUND:

    The ATPDEA provides 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 ATPDEA also provides 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 
ATPDEA 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 yarn cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in 
commercial quantities in a timely manner. Pursuant to Executive Order 
No. 13277 (67 FR 70305) and the United States Trade Representative's 
Notice of Redelegation of Authority and Further Assignment of Functions 
(67 FR 71606), the President's authority to determine whether yarns or 
fabrics cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial 
quantities in a timely manner under the ATPDEA has been delegated to 
CITA.
    On August 23, 2004, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from 
Textiles Erre Emme Ltda of Bogota, Colombia, alleging that certain 
polyester monofilament texturized, raw, white yarn, of denier 20D/F1, 
classified in subheading 5402.33.30 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule 
of the United States (HTSUS), for use in women's and children's 
apparel, cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial 
quantities in a timely manner and requesting quota- and duty-free 
treatment under the ATPDEA for such apparel that are woven or knit in 
one or more ATPDEA beneficiary countries from such yarn.
    CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, 
particularly with respect to whether this yarn 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 September 15, 2004. 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 this yarn 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 yarns stating that it produces the yarns that are 
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.

D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc. 04-19904 Filed 8-27-04; 11:32 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S