Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Interim Procedures for Considering Requests Under the Commercial Availability Provision of the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (U.S.-Panama TPA), 9432-9433 [2016-03971]

Download as PDF 9432 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 37 / Thursday, February 25, 2016 / Notices sidewall, certifying that the tire conforms to applicable motor vehicle safety standards. Subject tires may also have one of the following suffixes in their tire size designation, which also appear on the sidewall of the tire: TR—Identifies tires for service on trucks or buses to differentiate them from similarly sized passenger car and light truck tires; MH—Identifies tires for mobile homes; and HC—Identifies a 17.5 inch rim diameter code for use on low platform trailers. All tires with a ‘‘TR,’’ ‘‘MH,’’ or ‘‘HC’’ suffix in their size designations are covered by this investigation regardless of their intended use. In addition, all tires that lack one of the above suffix markings are included in the scope, regardless of their intended use, as long as the tire is of a size that is among the numerical size designations listed in the ‘‘Truck-Bus’’ section of the Tire and Rim Association Year Book, as updated annually, unless the tire falls within one of the specific exclusions set out below. Truck and bus tires, whether or not mounted on wheels or rims, are included in the scope. However, if a subject tire is imported mounted on a wheel or rim, only the tire is covered by the scope. Subject merchandise includes truck and bus tires produced in the subject country whether mounted on wheels or rims in the subject country or in a third country. Truck and bus tires are covered whether or not they are accompanied by other parts, e.g., a wheel, rim, axle parts, bolts, nuts, etc. Truck and bus tires that enter attached to a vehicle are not covered by the scope. Specifically excluded from the scope of this investigation are the following types of tires: (1) Pneumatic tires, of rubber, that are not new, including recycled and retreaded tires; and (2) non-pneumatic tires, such as solid rubber tires. The subject merchandise is currently classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings: 4011.20.1015 and 4011.20.5020. Tires meeting the scope description may also enter under the following HTSUS subheadings: 4011.99.4520, 4011.99.4590, 4011.99.8520, 4011.99.8590, 8708.70.4530, 8708.70.6030, and 8708.70.6060. While HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and for customs purposes, the written description of the subject merchandise is dispositive. [FR Doc. 2016–04063 Filed 2–24–16; 8:45 am] mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:07 Feb 24, 2016 Jkt 238001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Interim Procedures for Considering Requests Under the Commercial Availability Provision of the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (U.S.-Panama TPA) International Trade Administration. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: On behalf of the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA), the Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 25, 2016. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at JJessup@doc.gov). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Laurie Mease, Office of Textiles and Apparel, Telephone: 202– 482–2043, Email: Laurie.Mease@ trade.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: I. Abstract Title II, Section 203(o) of the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (the ‘‘Act’’) [Pub. L. 112–43] implements the commercial availability provision provided for in Article 3.25 of the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (the ‘‘Agreement’’). The Agreement entered into force on October 31, 2012. Subject to the rules of origin in Annex 4.1 of the Agreement, pursuant to the textile provisions of the Agreement, fabric, yarn, and fiber produced in Panama or the United States and traded between the two countries are entitled to duty-free tariff treatment. Annex 3.25 of the Agreement also lists specific fabrics, yarns, and fibers that the two countries agreed are not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner from producers in Panama or the United States. The items PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 listed in Annex 3.25 are commercially unavailable fabrics, yarns, and fibers. Articles containing these items are entitled to duty-free or preferential treatment despite containing inputs not produced in Panama or the United States. The list of commercially unavailable fabrics, yarns, and fibers may be changed pursuant to the commercial availability provision in Chapter 3, Article 3.25, Paragraphs 4–6 of the Agreement. Under this provision, interested entities from Panama or the United States have the right to request that a specific fabric, yarn, or fiber be added to, or removed from, the list of commercially unavailable fabrics, yarns, and fibers in Annex 3.25 of the Agreement. Pursuant to Chapter 3, Article 3.25, paragraph 6 of the Agreement, which requires that the President publish procedures for parties to exercise the right to make these requests, Section 203(o)(4) of the Act authorizes the President to establish procedures to modify the list of fabrics, yarns, or fibers not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in either the United States or Panama as set out in Annex 3.25 of the Agreement. The President delegated the responsibility for publishing the procedures and administering commercial availability requests to the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (‘‘CITA’’), which issues procedures and acts on requests through the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Textiles and Apparel (‘‘OTEXA’’) (See Proclamation No. 8894, 77 FR 66507, November 5, 2012). The intent of the U.S.-Panama TPA Commercial Availability Procedures is to foster the use of U.S. and regional products by implementing procedures that allow products to be placed on or removed from a product list, on a timely basis, and in a manner that is consistent with normal business practice. The procedures are intended to facilitate the transmission of requests; allow the market to indicate the availability of the supply of products that are the subject of requests; make available promptly, to interested entities and the public, information regarding the requests for products and offers received for those products; ensure wide participation by interested entities and parties; allow for careful review and consideration of information provided to substantiate requests and responses; and provide timely public dissemination of information used by CITA in making commercial availability determinations. CITA must collect certain information about fabric, yarn, or fiber technical E:\FR\FM\25FEN1.SGM 25FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 37 / Thursday, February 25, 2016 / Notices specifications and the production capabilities of Panamanian and U.S. textile producers to determine whether certain fabrics, yarns, or fibers are available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the United States or Panama, subject to Section 203(o) of the Act. II. Method of Collection Participants in a commercial availability proceeding must submit public versions of their Requests, Responses or Rebuttals electronically (via email) for posting on OTEXA’s Web site. Confidential versions of those submissions which contain business confidential information must be delivered in hard copy to the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce. III. Data OMB Control Number: 0625–0273. Form Number(s): N/A. Type of Review: Regular submission. Affected Public: Business or for-profit organizations. Estimated Number of Respondents: 16. Estimated Time per Response: 8 hours per Request, 2 hours per Response, and 1 hour per Rebuttal. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 89. Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $5,340. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES IV. Request for Comments Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record. Dated: February 19, 2016. Glenna Mickelson, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2016–03971 Filed 2–24–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:07 Feb 24, 2016 Jkt 238001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Interim Procedures for Considering Requests From the Public for Textile and Apparel Safeguard Actions on Imports From Panama International Trade Administration (ITA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: On behalf of the Committee for the Implementation for Textile Agreements (CITA), the Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 25, 2016. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at jjessup@doc.gov). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Laurie Mease, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, Telephone: 202–482– 2043, Email: Laurie.Mease@trade.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: I. Abstract Title III, Subtitle B, Section 321 through Section 328 of the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (the ‘‘Act’’) [Pub. L. 112–43] implements the textile and apparel safeguard provisions, provided for in Article 3.24 of the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (the ‘‘Agreement’’). This safeguard mechanism applies when, as a result of the elimination of a customs duty under the Agreement, a Panamanian textile or apparel article is being imported into the United States in such increased quantities, in absolute terms or relative to the domestic market for that article, and under such conditions as to cause serious damage or actual threat thereof to a U.S. industry producing a like or directly competitive article. In these circumstances, Article 3.24 permits the United States to increase duties on the imported article PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 9433 from Panama to a level that does not exceed the lesser of the prevailing U.S. normal trade relations (NTR)/mostfavored-nation (MFN) duty rate for the article or the U.S. NTR/MFN duty rate in effect on the day the Agreement entered into force. The Statement of Administrative Action accompanying the Act provides that the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) will issue procedures for requesting such safeguard measures, for making its determinations under Section 322(a) of the Act, and for providing relief under section 322(b) of the Act. In Proclamation No. 8894 (77 FR 66507, November 5, 2012), the President delegated to CITA his authority under Subtitle B of Title III of the Act with respect to textile and apparel safeguard measures. CITA must collect information in order to determine whether a domestic textile or apparel industry is being adversely impacted by imports of these products from Panama, thereby allowing CITA to take corrective action to protect the viability of the domestic textile industry, subject to section 322(b) of the Act. Pursuant to Section 321(a) of the Act and Paragraph (7) of Presidential Proclamation 8894, an interested party in the U.S. domestic textile and apparel industry may file a request for a textile and apparel safeguard action with CITA. Consistent with longstanding CITA practice in considering textile safeguard actions, CITA will consider an interested party to be an entity (which may be a trade association, firm, certified or recognized union, or group of workers) that is representative of either: (A) A domestic producer or producers of an article that is like or directly competitive with the subject Panamanian textile or apparel article; or (B) a domestic producer or producers of a component used in the production of an article that is like or directly competitive with the subject Panamanian textile or apparel article. In order for a request to be considered, the requestor must provide the following information in support of a claim that a textile or apparel article from Panama is being imported into the United States in such increased quantities, in absolute terms or relative to the domestic market for that article, and under such conditions as to cause serious damage or actual threat thereof, to a U.S. industry producing an article that is like or directly competitive with the imported article: (1) Name and description of the imported article concerned; (2) import data E:\FR\FM\25FEN1.SGM 25FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 37 (Thursday, February 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9432-9433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03971]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Interim 
Procedures for Considering Requests Under the Commercial Availability 
Provision of the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (U.S.-
Panama TPA)

AGENCY: International Trade Administration.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On behalf of the Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements (CITA), the Department of Commerce, as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites 
the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity 
to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as 
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 25, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at JJessup@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Laurie Mease, Office of Textiles and Apparel, Telephone: 
202-482-2043, Email: Laurie.Mease@trade.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Title II, Section 203(o) of the United States-Panama Trade 
Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (the ``Act'') [Pub. L. 112-43] 
implements the commercial availability provision provided for in 
Article 3.25 of the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (the 
``Agreement''). The Agreement entered into force on October 31, 2012. 
Subject to the rules of origin in Annex 4.1 of the Agreement, pursuant 
to the textile provisions of the Agreement, fabric, yarn, and fiber 
produced in Panama or the United States and traded between the two 
countries are entitled to duty-free tariff treatment. Annex 3.25 of the 
Agreement also lists specific fabrics, yarns, and fibers that the two 
countries agreed are not available in commercial quantities in a timely 
manner from producers in Panama or the United States. The items listed 
in Annex 3.25 are commercially unavailable fabrics, yarns, and fibers. 
Articles containing these items are entitled to duty-free or 
preferential treatment despite containing inputs not produced in Panama 
or the United States.
    The list of commercially unavailable fabrics, yarns, and fibers may 
be changed pursuant to the commercial availability provision in Chapter 
3, Article 3.25, Paragraphs 4-6 of the Agreement. Under this provision, 
interested entities from Panama or the United States have the right to 
request that a specific fabric, yarn, or fiber be added to, or removed 
from, the list of commercially unavailable fabrics, yarns, and fibers 
in Annex 3.25 of the Agreement.
    Pursuant to Chapter 3, Article 3.25, paragraph 6 of the Agreement, 
which requires that the President publish procedures for parties to 
exercise the right to make these requests, Section 203(o)(4) of the Act 
authorizes the President to establish procedures to modify the list of 
fabrics, yarns, or fibers not available in commercial quantities in a 
timely manner in either the United States or Panama as set out in Annex 
3.25 of the Agreement. The President delegated the responsibility for 
publishing the procedures and administering commercial availability 
requests to the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(``CITA''), which issues procedures and acts on requests through the 
U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Textiles and Apparel (``OTEXA'') 
(See Proclamation No. 8894, 77 FR 66507, November 5, 2012).
    The intent of the U.S.-Panama TPA Commercial Availability 
Procedures is to foster the use of U.S. and regional products by 
implementing procedures that allow products to be placed on or removed 
from a product list, on a timely basis, and in a manner that is 
consistent with normal business practice. The procedures are intended 
to facilitate the transmission of requests; allow the market to 
indicate the availability of the supply of products that are the 
subject of requests; make available promptly, to interested entities 
and the public, information regarding the requests for products and 
offers received for those products; ensure wide participation by 
interested entities and parties; allow for careful review and 
consideration of information provided to substantiate requests and 
responses; and provide timely public dissemination of information used 
by CITA in making commercial availability determinations.
    CITA must collect certain information about fabric, yarn, or fiber 
technical

[[Page 9433]]

specifications and the production capabilities of Panamanian and U.S. 
textile producers to determine whether certain fabrics, yarns, or 
fibers are available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the 
United States or Panama, subject to Section 203(o) of the Act.

II. Method of Collection

    Participants in a commercial availability proceeding must submit 
public versions of their Requests, Responses or Rebuttals 
electronically (via email) for posting on OTEXA's Web site. 
Confidential versions of those submissions which contain business 
confidential information must be delivered in hard copy to the Office 
of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0625-0273.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 16.
    Estimated Time per Response: 8 hours per Request, 2 hours per 
Response, and 1 hour per Rebuttal.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 89.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $5,340.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: February 19, 2016.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-03971 Filed 2-24-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.