Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On October 24, 2005 the Chairman of CITA received a request from Quaker Fabrics alleging that certain acrylic staple fibers, classified in subheading 5503.30.0000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and requesting that CITA consider whether the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rule of origin for chenille fabric classified under HTSUS 5801.36.0000 should be modified to allow the use of non-North American acrylic staple fiber. The President may proclaim a modification to the NAFTA rules of origin only after reaching an agreement with the other NAFTA countries on the modification. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether acrylic staple fiber can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted by January 9, 2006. to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230.

On October 28, 2005, the Chairman of CITA received a request from Alston & Bird LLP, on behalf of Polymer Group, Inc. (PGI), alleging that rayon viscose staple fiber, classified in subheading 5504.10 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and requesting that CITA consider whether the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rule of origin for nonwoven wipes classified under HTSUS subheadings 5603.91, 5603.92, 5603.93 and 5603.94 should be modified to allow the use of non-North American viscose rayon staple fiber. The President may proclaim a modification to the NAFTA rules of origin only after reaching an agreement with the other NAFTA countries on the modification. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether woven fabrics of the type described below can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted by January 9, 2006 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230.

The Committee is terminating further consideration of requests for safeguard action on imports from China of twenty-four textile and apparel product categories.

On November 18, 2005, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from Oxford Industries alleging that 100 percent cotton woven flannel fabrics, made from 21 through 36 NM single ring-spun yarns, of 2 X 2 twill weave construction, weighing not more than 200 grams per square meter, classified under subheading 5208.43.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. The petition requests that such fabrics, for use in the manufacture of shirts, trousers, nightwear, robes and dressing gowns and woven underwear in an ATPDEA beneficiary country for export to the United States, be eligible for preferential treatment under the ATPDEA. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this petition, in particular with regard to whether these fabrics can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted by December 12, 2005 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution, NW., Washington, D.C. 20230.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain textile and apparel goods from Sierra Leone shall be treated as ``handloomed, handmade, folklore articles, or ethnic printed fabrics'' and qualify for preferential treatment under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Imports of eligible products from Sierra Leone with an appropriate visa will qualify for duty-free treatment.

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 skirts (Category 342/642).

The Committee is extending through November 30, 2005, the period for making a determination on whether to request consultations with China regarding imports of women's and girls' cotton and man-made fiber shirts and blouses, not-knit (Category 341/641).

The Committee is extending through December 31, 2005, the period for making a determination on whether to request consultations with China regarding imports of cotton, wool and man-made fiber socks (Category 332/432 and 642 Part).

The Committee is extending through November 8, 2005, the period for making a determination on whether to request consultations with China regarding imports of cotton and man-made fiber swimwear (Category 359-S/659-S).

The Committee is extending through November 8, 2005, the period for making a determination on whether to request consultations with China regarding imports of cotton and man-made fiber skirts (Category 342/642).

On September 21, 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 polyester filament fabric, light weight (Category 619). They request that a textile and apparel safeguard action, as provided for in the Report of the Working Party on the Accession of China to the World Trade Organization (the Accession Agreement) be applied on imports of such fabric. The Committee hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether imports from China of such fabric are, due to market disruption, threatening to impede the orderly development of trade in this product. Comments must be submitted by November 10, 2005 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001A, United States Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20230.

On September 21, 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 cheesecloth, batistes, lawns/voiles (Category 226). They request that a textile and apparel safeguard action, as provided for in the Report of the Working Party on the Accession of China to the World Trade Organization (the Accession Agreement) be applied on imports of such fabric. The Committee hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether imports from China of such fabric are, due to market disruption, threatening to impede the orderly development of trade in this product. Comments must be submitted by November 10, 2005 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001A, United States Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20230.

On September 14, 2005, the Committee received a request from the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, the National Council of Textile Organizations, the National Textile Association, SEAMS, and UNITE HERE requesting that the Committee reapply a limit on imports from China of man-made fiber knit shirts and blouses (Category 638/ 639). They request that a textile and apparel safeguard action, as provided for in the Report of the Working Party on the Accession of China to the World Trade Organization (the Accession Agreement), be reapplied on imports of man-made fiber knit shirts and blouses. The current limit on man-made fiber knit shirts and blouses expires on December 31, 2005. The Committee hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether imports from China of man-made fiber knit shirts and blouses are, due to the threat of market disruption, threatening to impede the orderly development of trade in this product. Comments must be submitted by November 10, 2005 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001A, United States Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20230.

On September 14, 2005, the Committee received a request from the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, the National Council of Textile Organizations, the National Textile Association, SEAMS, and UNITE HERE requesting that the Committee reapply a limit on imports from China of cotton and man-made fiber underwear (Category 352/652). They request that a textile and apparel safeguard action, as provided for in the Report of the Working Party on the Accession of China to the World Trade Organization (the Accession Agreement), be reapplied on imports of cotton and man-made fiber underwear. The current limit on cotton and man-made fiber underwear expires on December 31, 2005. The Committee hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether imports from China of cotton and man- made fiber underwear are, due to the threat of market disruption, threatening to impede the orderly development of trade in this product. Comments must be submitted by November 10, 2005 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001A, United States Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20230.

On September 14, 2005, the Committee received a request from the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, the National Council of Textile Organizations, the National Textile Association, SEAMS, and UNITE HERE requesting that the Committee reapply a limit on imports from China of cotton trousers (Category 347/348). They request that a textile and apparel safeguard action, as provided for in the Report of the Working Party on the Accession of China to the World Trade Organization (the Accession Agreement), be reapplied on imports of such trousers. The current limit on cotton trousers expires on December 31, 2005. The Committee hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether imports from China of such trousers are, due to the threat of market disruption, threatening to impede the orderly development of trade in this product. Comments must be submitted by November 10, 2005 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001A, United States Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20230.

On September 14, 2005, the Committee received a request from the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, the National Council of Textile Organizations, the National Textile Association, SEAMS, and UNITE HERE requesting that the Committee reapply a limit on imports from China of cotton knit shirts and blouses (Category 338/339). They request that a textile and apparel safeguard action, as provided for in the Report of the Working Party on the Accession of China to the World Trade Organization (the Accession Agreement), be reapplied on imports of cotton knit shirts and blouses. The current limit on cotton knit shirts and blouses expires on December 31, 2005. The Committee hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether imports from China of cotton knit shirts and blouses are, due to the threat of market disruption, threatening to impede the orderly development of trade in this product. Comments must be submitted by November 10, 2005 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001A, United States Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20230.

The Committee is extending through November 30, 2005, the period for making a determination on whether to request consultations with China regarding imports of men's and boys' wool trousers (Category 447).

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).

CITA has determined that certain compacted, plied, ring spun cotton yarns, with yarn counts in the range from 42 to 102 metric, classified in subheadings 5205.42.0020, 5205.43.0020, 5205.44.0020, 5205.46.0020, and 5205.47.0020 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), for use in U.S. formed fabric used in men's and boys' woven cotton trousers and shirts, and women's and girls' woven cotton trousers, shirts, and blouses, cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner under the CBTPA and ATPDEA. CITA hereby designates such apparel articles, that are both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more eligible CBTPA beneficiary country from U.S. formed fabrics containing such yarns, as eligible to enter free of quotas and duties under HTSUS subheading 9820.11.27, provided all other yarns used in the apparel articles are U.S. formed and all other fabrics used in the apparel articles are U.S. formed from yarns wholly formed in the United States. CITA also hereby designates such yarns as eligible under HTSUS subheading 9821.11.10, if used in the referenced apparel articles, that are sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more eligible ATPDEA beneficiary countries from U.S. formed fabrics containing such yarns. The referenced apparel articles from U.S. formed fabrics containing such yarns shall be eligible to enter free of quotas and duties under this subheading, provided all other yarns used in the apparel articles are U.S. formed and all other fabrics used in the apparel articles are U.S. formed from yarns wholly formed in the United States. CITA notes that this designation under the ATPDEA renders apparel articles, sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more eligible ATPDEA beneficiary countries, containing such yarns as eligible for quota-free and duty- free treatment under HTSUS subheading 9821.11.13, provided the requirements of that subheading are met.