Extension of Period of Determination for Textile and Apparel Safeguard Action on Imports from Honduras of Cotton, Wool and Man-Made Fiber Socks, 71377 [E7-24370]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 241 / Monday, December 17, 2007 / Notices Dated: December 7, 2007. David M. Spooner, Assistant Secretary for Import Administration. [FR Doc. E7–24397 Filed 12–14–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS Extension of Period of Determination for Textile and Apparel Safeguard Action on Imports from Honduras of Cotton, Wool and Man-Made Fiber Socks December 11, 2007. The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (the Committee) ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Committee is extending through January 18, 2008 the period for making a determination on whether to request consultations with Honduras regarding imports of cotton, wool and man-made fiber socks (merged Category 332/432 and 632 part). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sergio Botero, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-2487. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ebenthall on PROD1PC69 with NOTICES Authority: Title III, Subtitle B, Section 321 through Section 328 of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (‘‘CAFTA-DR’’ or the ‘‘Agreement’’) Implementation Act; Article 3.23 of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement. BACKGROUND: In accordance with section 4 of the Committee’s Procedures (‘‘Procedures’’) for considering action under the CAFTA-DR textile and apparel safeguard, (71 FR 25157, April 28, 2006), the Committee decided, on its own initiative, to consider whether imports of Honduran origin cotton, wool and man-made fiber socks are being imported into the United States in such increased quantities, in absolute terms or relative to the domestic market for cotton, wool and man-made fiber socks, and under such conditions as to cause serious damage, or actual threat thereof, to the U.S. industry producing these products. On August 21, 2007 the Committee solicited public comments regarding a possible safeguard action on imports from Honduras of cotton, wool and man-made fiber socks (merged Category 332/432 and 632 part). This 30 day VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:18 Dec 14, 2007 Jkt 214001 period allowed the public an opportunity to provide information and analysis to assist the Committee in considering this issue and in determining whether a safeguard action is appropriate. See Solicitation of Public Comments Regarding Possible Safeguard Action on Imports from Honduras of Cotton, Wool and ManMade Fiber Socks, 72 FR 46611. The Procedures 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 Honduras. However, 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 original 60-day determination period for this case expired on November 19, 2007. On November 6, 2007, the Committee decided to extend the deadline for making its determination until December 19, 2007. (72 FR 64050, November 14, 2007). At this time, the Committee is unable to make a determination within the extended period because it is continuing to evaluate conditions in the market as well as examining the current trade data and other relevant information available. Therefore, the Committee is further extending the determination period to January 18, 2008. R. Matthew Priest, Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. [FR Doc. E7–24370 Filed 12–14–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS Limitation of Duty-free Imports of Apparel Articles Assembled in Haiti under the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity Through Partnership for Encouragement Act (HOPE) December 11, 2007. Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA). ACTION: Publishing the 12-Month Cap on Duty-Free Benefits AGENCY: EFFECTIVE DATE: December 17, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Dybczak, International Trade Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482–3651. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 71377 Authority: The Caribbean Basin Recovery Act (CBERA), as amended by the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity Through Partnership for Encouragement Act of 2006 (collectively, HOPE), Title V of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006. HOPE provides for duty-free treatment for certain apparel articles imported directly from Haiti. Section 213A (b)(2) of HOPE provides duty-free treatment for apparel articles wholly assembled, or knit-to-shape, in Haiti from any combination of fabrics, fabric components, components knit-to-shape, and yarns, if the sum of the cost or value of materials produced in Haiti or one or more countries, as described in HOPE, or any combination thereof, plus the direct costs of processing operations performed in Haiti or one or more countries, as described in HOPE, or any combination thereof, is not less than an applicable percentage of the declared customs value of such apparel articles, subject to quantitative limitation. Section 213A (a)(1)(B) of HOPE provides that the initial applicable oneyear period of quantitative limitation means the one-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of HOPE, beginning on December 20, 2006. Section 213A (b)(3) of HOPE provides that annual quantitative limitations will be recalculated for each subsequent 12month period. Section 213A (b)(3) of HOPE also provides that the quantitative limitations for qualifying apparel imported from Haiti under this provision for the twelve-month period beginning on December 20, 2007 will be an amount not to exceed 1.25 percent of the aggregate square meter equivalent of all apparel articles imported into the United States in the most recent 12month period for which data are available. For purposes of this notice, the most recent 12-month period for which data are available as of December 20, 2007 is the 12-month period ending on October 31, 2007. For the one-year period beginning on December 20, 2007 and extending through December 19, 2008, the quantity of imports eligible for preferential treatment under this provision is 313,000,534 square meters equivalent. Apparel articles entered in excess of these quantities will be subject to otherwise applicable tariffs. These quantities are calculated using the aggregate square meters equivalent of all apparel articles imported into the United States, derived from the set of Harmonized System lines listed in the Annex to the World Trade Organization Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC), and the conversion factors for units of measure into square meter E:\FR\FM\17DEN1.SGM 17DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 241 (Monday, December 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 71377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24370]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Extension of Period of Determination for Textile and Apparel 
Safeguard Action on Imports from Honduras of Cotton, Wool and Man-Made 
Fiber Socks

December 11, 2007.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (the 
Committee)

ACTION:  Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Committee is extending through January 18, 2008 the period 
for making a determination on whether to request consultations with 
Honduras regarding imports of cotton, wool and man-made fiber socks 
(merged Category 332/432 and 632 part).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sergio Botero, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-2487.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Title III, Subtitle B, Section 321 through Section 
328 of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free 
Trade Agreement (``CAFTA-DR'' or the ``Agreement'') Implementation 
Act; Article 3.23 of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United 
States Free Trade Agreement.

BACKGROUND:

    In accordance with section 4 of the Committee's Procedures 
(``Procedures'') for considering action under the CAFTA-DR textile and 
apparel safeguard, (71 FR 25157, April 28, 2006), the Committee 
decided, on its own initiative, to consider whether imports of Honduran 
origin cotton, wool and man-made fiber socks are being imported into 
the United States in such increased quantities, in absolute terms or 
relative to the domestic market for cotton, wool and man-made fiber 
socks, and under such conditions as to cause serious damage, or actual 
threat thereof, to the U.S. industry producing these products.
    On August 21, 2007 the Committee solicited public comments 
regarding a possible safeguard action on imports from Honduras of 
cotton, wool and man-made fiber socks (merged Category 332/432 and 632 
part). This 30 day period allowed the public an opportunity to provide 
information and analysis to assist the Committee in considering this 
issue and in determining whether a safeguard action is appropriate. See 
Solicitation of Public Comments Regarding Possible Safeguard Action on 
Imports from Honduras of Cotton, Wool and Man-Made Fiber Socks, 72 FR 
46611.
    The Procedures 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 Honduras. 
However, 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 original 60-day determination period for this case expired on 
November 19, 2007. On November 6, 2007, the Committee decided to extend 
the deadline for making its determination until December 19, 2007. (72 
FR 64050, November 14, 2007). At this time, the Committee is unable to 
make a determination within the extended period because it is 
continuing to evaluate conditions in the market as well as examining 
the current trade data and other relevant information available. 
Therefore, the Committee is further extending the determination period 
to January 18, 2008.

R. Matthew Priest,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. E7-24370 Filed 12-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS
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