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

The Committee is extending through December 19, 2007 the period for making a determination on whether to request consultations with Honduras regarding imports of cotton, wool and man-made fiber socks (merged Category 332/432 and 632 part).

On October 29, 2007, the Chairman of CITA received a request from Monterey Mills, alleging that certain acrylic staple fibers, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning, classified under 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 CITA consider whether the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rule of origin for knit pile fabrics, classified under HTSUS subheading 6001.10, 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 December 3, 2007 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 two-way stretch woven fabric of polyester, rayon, and elastomeric yarns, 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 has decided, on its own initiative, to consider whether imports of Honduran cotton, wool, and man-made fiber socks (merged Category 332/432 and 632 part) are being imported into the United States in such increased quantities, in absolute terms or relative to the domestic market for such socks, and under such conditions as to cause serious damage, or actual threat thereof, to the U.S. industry producing such socks. The Committee is soliciting public comments to assist it in considering this issue and in determining whether safeguard action is appropriate. Comments must be submitted by September 20, 2007 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001A, United States Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain raschel knit open work crepe fabrics, as specified below, are 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 Agreement in unrestricted quantities.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain circular knit, three-end fleece fabrics, as specified below, are 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 Agreement in unrestricted quantities.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain circular knit, three-end fleece fabrics, as specified below, are 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 Agreement in unrestricted quantities.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain circular knit, three-end fleece fabrics, as specified below, are 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 Agreement in unrestricted quantities.

This notice reduces the 2007 TPL for Nicaragua to 97,584,339 square meters equivalent to account for the shortfall in meeting the one-to-one commitment for cotton and man-made fiber woven trousers exported from Nicaragua to the United States.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain cotton/polyester circular knit fleece fabrics, as specified below, are 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 for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain two-way stretch woven fabric of polyester/rayon/spandex, as specified below, are 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 for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain textile and apparel goods from Mali 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 Mali with an appropriate visa will qualify for duty-free treatment.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain textile and apparel goods from Niger 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 Niger with an appropriate visa will qualify for duty-free treatment.