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.
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.04-0000 Filed 0-00-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S