Request for Public Comment on a Commercial Availability Request Under the U.S-Morocco Free Trade Agreement, 10596 [2016-04450]

Agencies

• Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 10596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04450]


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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 100% viscose woven fabric.

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SUMMARY: On January 27, 2016, the Government of the United States 
received a request from the Government of Morocco, on behalf of HTL 
FASHION to initiate consultations with the Government of Morocco under 
Article 4.3.3 of the USMFTA. The Government of Morocco is requesting 
that the United States and Morocco (``the Parties'') consider revising 
the rules of origin for dresses, skirts, and blouses and tops to 
address availability of supply of 100% viscose woven fabric in the 
territories of the Parties. The President of the United States 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 a modification under Article 4.3.6 of the USMFTA to address 
issues of availability of supply of fibers, yarns, or fabrics in the 
territories of the Parties.

DATES: CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, in 
particular with regard to whether 100% viscose woven fabric of 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading 
5408.24 can be supplied by the U.S. domestic industry in commercial 
quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted by March 31, 
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

    Article 4.3.3 of 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. In the consultations, 
pursuant to Article 4.3.4 of the USMFTA, each Party shall consider data 
presented by the other Party that demonstrate substantial production in 
its territory of a particular fiber, yarn, or fabric. The Parties shall 
consider that there is substantial production if a Party demonstrates 
that its domestic producers are capable of supplying commercial 
quantities of the fiber, yarn, or fabric in a timely manner. 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 
an agreement with Morocco under article 4.3.6 of the USMFTA, subject to 
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 January 27, 2016, the Government of the United States received a 
request from the Government of Morocco dated January 14, 2016, on 
behalf of HTL FASHION, requesting that the United States consider 
whether the USMFTA rule of origin for dresses, skirts, blouses and tops 
classified in HTSUS chapter 62, should be modified to allow the use of 
100% viscose woven fabric classified in subheading 5408.24 of the HTSUS 
that is not originating under the USMFTA.
    CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, 
particularly with respect to whether 100% viscose woven fabric 
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 March 31, 2016.
    Interested persons are invited to submit such comments or 
information electronically to OTEXA_MoroccoFTA@trade.gov, and/or in 
hard copy to: Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements, Room 30001, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230.
    If comments include business confidential information, commenters 
must submit a business confidential version in hard copy to the 
Chairman of CITA, and also provide a public version, either in hard 
copy or electronically. CITA will protect any information that is 
marked business confidential from disclosure to the full extent 
permitted by law. All public versions of comments will be posted on 
OTEXA's Web site for Commercial Availability proceedings under the 
Morocco FTA: https://otexa.trade.gov/Morocco_CA.htm.

Joshua Teitelbaum,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 2016-04450 Filed 2-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P