Extension of Period of Determination on Request for Textile and Apparel Safeguard Action on Imports from China, 58387 [E5-5520]

Agencies

• Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 193 (Thursday, October 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 58387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-5520]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Extension of Period of Determination on Request for Textile and 
Apparel Safeguard Action on Imports from China

October 3, 2005.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (the 
Committee).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Committee is extending through November 30, 2005, the 
period for making a determination on whether to request consultations 
with China regarding imports of cotton and man-made fiber sweaters 
(Category 345/645/646).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay Dowling, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-4058.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Section 204 of the Agriculture Act of 1956, as 
amended; Executive Order 11651, as amended.

BACKGROUND:

    On April 6, 2005, the Committee received a request from the 
American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, the National Council of 
Textile Organizations, the National Textile Association, and UNITE HERE 
requesting that the Committee limit imports from China of cotton and 
man-made fiber sweaters (Category 345/645/646) due to market 
disruption. The Committee determined that this request provided the 
information necessary for the Committee to consider the request and 
solicited public comments for a period of 30 days. See Solicitation of 
Public Comment on Request for Textile and Apparel Safeguard Action on 
Imports from China, 70 FR 23107 (May 4, 2005).
    The Committee's Procedures, 68 FR 27787 (May 21, 2003) state that 
the Committee will make a determination within 60 calendar days of the 
close of the public comment period as to whether the United States will 
request consultations with China. If the Committee is unable to make a 
determination within 60 calendar days, it will cause to be published a 
notice in the Federal Register, including the date by which it will 
make a determination.
    The 60 day determination period for this case expired on August 2, 
2005. However, the Committee decided to extend until August 31, 2005, 
the period for making determinations on these cases in order to consult 
with the domestic textile and apparel industry and members of Congress 
about whether to pursue a broader agreement with China on imports of 
Chinese textile and apparel products to the United States. Because of 
these consultations, the Committee was unable to make a determination 
within 60 days of the close of the public comment period. See Extension 
of Period of Determination on Request for Textile and Apparel Safeguard 
Action on Imports from China, 70 FR 45704 (August 8, 2005). The 
Committee was unable to make a determination within the extended period 
because it was continuing to evaluate conditions in the market for 
cotton and man-made fiber knit sweaters. Therefore, the Committee 
further extended the determination period to October 1, 2005. See 
Extension of Period of Determination on Request for Textile and Apparel 
Safeguard Action on Imports from China, 70 FR 53639 (September 9, 
2005). The United States and China have held three rounds of 
consultations on a broader agreement on textiles, and further 
consultations will be scheduled. Because of these consultations, the 
Committee is further extending the determination period to November 30, 
2005.

James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. E5-5520 Filed 10-5-05; 8:45 am]
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