Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain 100% polyester stripe fabric, as specified below, is not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the CAFTA-DR countries. The product will be added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain 100% polyester sharkskin fabric, as specified below, is not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the CAFTA-DR countries. The product will be added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain three-yarn circular stretch knit fleece fabrics, as specified below, are not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the CAFTA-DR countries. The product will be added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities.

This notice presents the modifications to CITA's Final Procedures under the CAFTA-DR Commercial Availability Provisions.

On February 26, 2008, CITA published in the Federal Register a request for public comment on a commercial availability petition from Gentry Mills that there be a modification to the rules of origin for a certain viscose/polyester blended yarn (73 FR 10227). No public comments were received alleging that viscose rayon fiber could be supplied in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Subsequently, the United States requested consultations with the Government of Australia on its proposal to modify the rule of origin for 5510.90.2000 to allow the use of non-U.S. and non-Australian viscose rayon fiber. In those consultations, the Government of Australia proposed expanding the scope of the U.S. proposal for a modification to the rule of origin. The Government of Australia proposes that the modification to the rule of origin be applied to all yarns of subheading 5510.90 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). The President may proclaim a modification to the USAFTA rules of origin for textile and apparel products after reaching an agreement with the Government of Australia on the modification. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this proposal to expand the scope of the rule of origin modification to all yarns in HTSUS subheading 5510.90 to allow the use of non-U.S. and non-Australian viscose rayon fiber. Comments must be submitted by September 5, 2008 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain corduroy fabrics, as specified below, are not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the CAFTA-DR countries. The product will be added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain twill fabrics, as specified below, are not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the CAFTA-DR countries. The product will be added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain polyester/nylon corduroy fabrics, as specified below, are not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the CAFTA-DR countries. The product will be added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities.

On June 10, 2008, the Government of the United States received a request from the Government of Canada alleging that acrylic staple fiber, classified in subheading 5503.30 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 the governments of Mexico and the United States consult to consider whether the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rule of origin for thread and yarns classified under HTSUS subheadings 55.08 through 55.11 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 of HTSUS subheading 5503.30 can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted by July 25, 2008 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain 100% cotton woven indigo-dyed fabric, as specified below, is not available in commercial quantities in a tiely manner in the CAFTA-DR region. The product will be added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR in unrestricted quantities.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain 100% cotton woven indigo-dyed fabric, as specified below, is not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the CAFTA-DR region. The product will be added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR in unrestricted quantities.

The Committee has determined to apply a textile safeguard measure on imports of Honduran origin cotton socks classifiable under subheading 9115.95 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (``HTSUS'').

On February 1, 2008, the Chairman of CITA received a request from Gentry Mills, alleging that certain viscose rayon fiber, classified in subheading 5504.10.0000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the domestic or Australian industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and requesting that CITA consider whether the USAFTA rule of origin for 52% viscose/48% polyester blended yarn, classified under HTSUS subheading 5510.90.2000 should be modified to allow the use of non-U.S. and non- Australian viscose rayon fiber. The President may proclaim a modification to the USAFTA rules of origin for textile and apparel products after reaching an agreement with the Government of Australia on the modification. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether viscose rayon fiber of HTSUS 5504.10.0000 can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted by March 27, 2008. to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain composite fabrics, as specified below, are not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the CAFTA-DR countries. The product will be added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities.

The Committee is submitting written notice to the Government of Honduras with respect to its intent to apply a textile safeguard measure on imports of Honduran origin cotton socks (Category 332).