Request for Public Comment on a Commercial Availability Request Under the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement, 75999 [2015-30766]

Agencies

• Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 234 (Monday, December 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 75999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30766]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Request for Public Comment on a Commercial Availability Request 
Under the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement

AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for 
modification of the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (USMFTA) rules of 
origin for certain printed and piece-dyed warp knit fabrics of 
polyester or nylon fibers.

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SUMMARY: On November 16, 2015, the Government of the United States 
received a request from Swimsuit Commission Corporation (SCC) to 
initiate consultations with the Government of Morocco under Article 
4.3.3 of the USMFTA. SCC is requesting that the United States and 
Morocco consider revising the rules of origin for certain women's and 
girls' swimwear to address availability of supply of certain printed 
and piece-dyed warp knit fabrics of polyester or nylon fibers in the 
territories of the Parties. The President may proclaim a modification 
to the USMFTA rules of origin for textile and apparel products after 
reaching an agreement with the Government of Morocco on the 
modification. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, in 
particular with regard to whether certain printed and piece-dyed warp 
knit fabrics of polyester or nylon fibers classified under Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading 6004.10 
containing between 3 percent and 41 percent elastomeric yarns, in which 
the elastomeric yarns were engineered for chlorine resistance, can be 
supplied by the U.S. domestic industry in commercial quantities in a 
timely manner. Comments must be submitted by January 6, 2016 to the 
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 
3001, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria D'Andrea, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-1550.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Authority: Section 203 (j)(2)(B)(i) of the United States-Morocco 
Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3805 note) (USMFTA 
Implementation Act); Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as 
amended.

Background

    Under the USMFTA, except as otherwise provided in the USMFTA, the 
Parties are required to progressively eliminate customs duties on 
originating goods in accordance with their schedules. See Article 
2.3.2. The USMFTA provides that, on the request of either Party, the 
Parties shall consult to consider whether the rules of origin 
applicable to a particular textile or apparel good should be revised to 
address issues of availability of supply of fibers, yarns, or fabrics 
in the territories of the Parties. See Article 4.3.3 of the USMFTA. In 
the consultations, each Party must consider data presented by the other 
Party showing substantial production in its territory of a particular 
fiber, yarn, or fabric. Substantial production has been shown if 
domestic producers are capable of supplying commercial quantities of 
the fiber, yarn, or fabric in a timely manner. See Article 4.3.4 of the 
USMFTA.
    The USMFTA Implementation Act provides the President with the 
authority to proclaim as part of the HTSUS, modifications to the USMFTA 
rules of origin set out in Annex 4-A of the USMFTA as are necessary to 
implement the USMFTA after complying with the consultation and layover 
requirements of Section 104 of the USMFTA Implementation Act. See 
Section 203(j)(2)(B)(i) of the USMFTA Implementation Act. Executive 
Order 11651 established CITA to supervise the implementation of textile 
trade agreements and authorizes the Chairman of CITA to take actions or 
recommend that appropriate officials or agencies of the United States 
take actions necessary to implement textile trade agreements. 37 FR 
4699 (March 4, 1972).
    On November 16, 2015, the Government of the United States received 
a request from SCC, alleging that certain printed and piece-dyed warp 
knit fabrics of polyester or nylon fibers classified under HTSUS 
subheading 6004.10 containing between 3 percent and 41 percent 
elastomeric yarns, in which the elastomeric yarns were engineered for 
chlorine resistance, cannot be supplied by the domestic or Moroccan 
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and requesting 
that the United States consider whether the USMFTA rule of origin for 
certain women's and girls' swimwear, classified under HTSUS subheading 
6112.41, should be modified to allow the use of certain non-U.S. and 
non-Moroccan printed and piece-dyed warp knit fabrics of polyester or 
nylon fiber, classified under HTSUS subheading 6004.10 containing 
between 3 percent and 41 percent elastomeric yarns, in which the 
elastomeric yarns are engineered for chlorine resistance. CITA is 
soliciting public comments regarding this request, particularly with 
respect to whether certain printed and piece-dyed warp knit fabrics of 
polyester or nylon fibers described above can be supplied by the U.S. 
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments 
must be received no later than January 6, 2016. Interested persons are 
invited to submit six copies of such comments or information to the 
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 
3001, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20230.
    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 3001 in 
the Herbert Hoover Building, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20230. Persons submitting comments on a request are 
encouraged to include a non-confidential version and a non-confidential 
summary.

Joshua Teitelbaum,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 2015-30766 Filed 12-4-15; 8:45 am]
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