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

On July 8, 2005, the Committee received a request from the Domestic Manufacturers Committee of The Hosiery Association, the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, the National Council of Textile Organizations, and the National Textile Association requesting that the Committee reapply the limit on imports from China of cotton, wool, and man-made socks (Category 332/432 and 632 Part). 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 socks. The current limit on socks expires on October 28, 2005. The Committee hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether imports from China of such socks are, due to market disruption and/or the threat of market disruption, threatening to impede the orderly development of trade in this product. Comments must be submitted by September 2, 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 July 31, 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 July 31, 2005, the period for making a determination on whether to request consultations with China regarding imports of other synthetic filament fabric (Category 620).

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain 100 percent cotton, 4-thread twill weave, flannel fabrics, of yarn-dyed, combed, and ring spun single yarns, of the specifications detailed below, classified in subheading 5208.43.0000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), for use in men's and boys' woven cotton shirts, cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. The CITA hereby designates men's and boys' woven cotton shirts, that are both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more eligible CBTPA beneficiary countries from such fabrics, as eligible for quota-free and duty-free treatment under the textile and apparel commercial availability provisions of the CBTPA and eligible under HTSUS subheadings 9820.11.27, to enter free of quota and duties, provided that all other fabrics in the referenced apparel articles are wholly formed in the United States from yarns wholly formed in the United States.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain 100 percent cotton, 4-thread twill weave and herringbone twill weave, flannel fabrics, of yarn-dyed, ring spun, and plied yarns, of the specifications detailed below, classified in subheadings 5209.43.0050 and 5209.49.0090 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), for use in men's and boys' woven cotton shirts, cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. The CITA hereby designates men's and boys' woven cotton shirts, that are both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more eligible CBTPA beneficiary countries from such fabrics, as eligible for quota-free and duty-free treatment under the textile and apparel commercial availability provisions of the CBTPA and eligible under HTSUS subheadings 9820.11.27, to enter free of quota and duties, provided that all other fabrics in the referenced apparel articles are wholly formed in the United States from yarns wholly formed in the United States.

On June 1, 2005, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., on behalf of their client B*W*A of New York City, alleging that certain 100 percent cotton, yarn dyed, plain weave double warp beam seersucker fabrics, of specifications detailed below, classified in subheadings 5208.42.30, 5208.42.40, 5208.42.50, and 5209.41.60 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 woven shirts, blouses, and sleepwear of such fabrics be eligible for preferential treatment under the CBTPA. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether such fabrics can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted by June 23, 2005 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20230.

On March 30, 2005 the Chairman of CITA received a petition from Neville Peterson, LLP, on behalf of S. Rothschild & Co., Inc. of New York, New York, alleging that certain coat weight fabrics of 100 percent carded camel hair, 100 percent carded cashmere, or a blend of carded cashmere and wool fibers, classified in subheading 5111.19.6020 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 requested that outerwear articles of such fabrics be eligible for preferential treatment under the U.S. - Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA). CITA has determined that the subject fabrics can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and, therefore, denies the request.

CITA has determined that certain colored, open-end spun yarns, ranging in size from 6/1 to 18/1 English count (10.16/1 to 30.47/1 metric) of a blend of reclaimed and reprocessed cotton and not less than 35 percent nor more than 49 percent by weight of Outlast licensed phase change acrylic staple fibers, produced under license from Outlast, classified in subheadings 5206.11.00.00 and 5206.12.00.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), for use in chief weight cotton sweaters, cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner under the CBTPA. CITA hereby designates chief weight cotton sweaters, made from knit fabrics formed in the United States or an eligible beneficiary CBTPA country from such yarns, that are both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more eligible CBTPA beneficiary country as eligible to enter free of quotas and duties under HTSUS subheading 9820.11.27, provided all other yarns used in the referenced apparel articles are U.S. formed and all other fabrics used in the referenced apparel articles are U.S. formed from yarns wholly formed in the United States.

On May 18, 2005 the Chairman of CITA received a petition from Columbia Sportswear Company alleging that certain woven bamboo/cotton fabric, of specifications detailed below, classified in subheading 5516.42.0022 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 apparel articles of such fabrics be eligible for preferential treatment under the AGOA and the CBTPA. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether such fabrics can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted by June 9, 2005 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, 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 textile and apparel goods from Senegal shall be treated as ``hand-loomed, handmade, or folklore articles'' and qualify for preferential treatment under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Imports of eligible products from Senegal with an appropriate visa will qualify for duty-free treatment.

CITA has determined that certain ring spun single yarns of English yarn number 30 and higher of 0.9 denier or finer micro modal fibers, classified in subheading 5510.11.0000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), for use in women's and girls' knit apparel articles, cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner under the AGOA, the ATPDEA, and the CBTPA. CITA hereby designates such apparel articles that are both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more eligible beneficiary sub Saharan African country or 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 9819.11.24 or 9820.11.27, provided all other yarns used in the referenced apparel articles are U.S. formed and all other fabrics used in the referenced 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 women's and girls' knit apparel articles sewn or otherwise assembled in an eligible ATPDEA beneficiary country from U.S. formed fabric containing such yarns; such apparel containing such yarns shall be eligible to enter free of quotas and duties under this subheading, provided all other yarns used in the referenced apparel articles are U.S. formed and all other fabrics used in the referenced apparel articles are U.S. formed from yarns wholly formed in the United States. CITA notes that this designation under the ATPDEA renders women's and girls' knit apparel articles sewn or otherwise assembled in an eligible ATPDEA beneficiary country containing such yarn as eligible for quota-free and duty-free treatment under HTSUS subheading 9821.11.13, provided the requirements of that subheading are met.

The Committee has resumed consideration of twelve requests for safeguard action that were received from certain textile and apparel trade associations in October, November and December, 2004. The Requestors asked the Committee to limit imports from China of twelve textile and apparel products in accordance with the textile and apparel safeguard provision in the Report of the Working Party on the Accession of China to the World Trade Organization (the Accession Agreement). Although the Committee decided to consider these requests, and solicited public comments, the Court of International Trade preliminarily enjoined CITA from taking any further action on the requests on December 30, 2004. The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit stayed the injunction on April 27, 2005. The Committee is not soliciting any further public comment with respect to those requests where the public comment period closed before the court issued its injunction. With respect to the remaining requests, the Committee hereby solicits public comments during a period beginning the day following publication of this notice in the Federal Register and encompassing the number of days remaining in the original comment period when the court issued its injunction.

On April 6, 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 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 taken on imports of such man-made fiber knit shirts and blouses. The Committee hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether imports from China of such man-made fiber knit shirts and blouses are, due to market disruption, threatening to impede the orderly development of trade in this product. Comments must be submitted by June 3, 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, D.C. 20230.

On April 6, 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 cotton and man-made fiber dressing gowns and robes (Category 350/650). 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 taken on imports of such dressing gowns and robes. The Committee hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether imports from China of such dressing gowns and robes are, due to market disruption, threatening to impede the orderly development of trade in this product. Comments must be submitted by June 3, 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, D.C. 20230.

On April 6, 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 cotton and man-made fiber sweaters (Category 345/645/646). 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 taken on imports of such sweaters. The Committee hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether imports from China of such sweaters are, due to market disruption, threatening to impede the orderly development of trade in this product. Comments must be submitted by June 3, 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, D.C. 20230.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain woven fabric, of the specifications detailed below, classified in the indicated subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), for use in boys' suits, trousers, and suit-type jackets or blazers, sizes 2T - 20, cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. CITA hereby designates such apparel articles, that are both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in an eligible CBTPA beneficiary country, from this fabric as eligible for quota free and duty free treatment under the textile and apparel commercial availability provisions of the CBTPA and eligible under HTSUS subheadings 9820.11.27, to enter free of quota and duties, provided that all other fabrics are wholly formed in the United States from yarns wholly formed in the United States.

On March 30, 2005, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from Neville Peterson, LLP, on behalf of S. Rothschild & Co., Inc. of New York, New York, alleging that certain coat weight fabrics of 100 percent carded camelhair, 100 percent carded cashmere, or a blend of carded cashmere and wool fibers, of the specifications detailed below, classified in subheading 5111.19.6020 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 outerwear articles of such fabrics assembled in one or more CBTPA beneficiary countries be eligible for preferential treatment under the CBTPA. 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 April 27, 2005 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230.

The Committee has decided, on its own initiative, to consider whether imports of Chinese origin cotton and man-made fiber underwear, Category 352/652 are, due to market disruption, threatening to impede the orderly development of trade in these products. The Committee is soliciting public comments to assist it in considering this issue and in determining whether safeguard action is appropriate. Comments may be submitted by any interested person. Comments must be received no later than May 9, 2005.

On March 29, 2005 the Chairman of CITA received a petition from Sandler,Travis, & Rosenberg, P.A., on behalf of their client, Dillard's Inc.,alleging that certain 100 percent cotton, carbon- emerized, four-threadtwill weave fabric, of the specifications detailed below, classified insubheading 5208.33.00.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the UnitedStates (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercialquantities in a timely manner. The petition requests that woven cottonshirts and blouses of such fabrics assembled in one or more CBTPAbeneficiary countries be eligible for preferential treatment under theCBTPA. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particularwith regard to whether such fabrics can be supplied by the domesticindustry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must besubmitted by April 19, 2005, to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements,Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, 14th and ConstitutionAvenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20230.

On March 9, 2005, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., on behalf of B*W*A of New York, New York alleging that certain 100 percent cotton, double faced irregular sateen weave, flannel fabrics, of yarn-dyed, single yarns, of the specifications detailed below, classified in subheading 5209.59.0025 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 woven cotton shirts and blouses of such fabrics assembled in one or more CBTPA beneficiary countries be eligible for preferential treatment under the CBTPA. 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 March 30, 2005 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230.

On March 3, 2005, the Chairman of CITA received two petitions from Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., on behalf of B*W*A of New York, New York, alleging that certain, 100 percent cotton, 4-thread twill weave, flannel fabrics, of yarn-dyed, ring spun and plied yarns, and certain 100 percent cotton, double faced sateen weave, flannel fabrics, of yarn-dyed, single yarns, of certain specifications, cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. The petitions requested that men's and boys' woven cotton shirts and woven cotton shirts and blouses, respectively, of such fabrics assembled in one or more CBTPA beneficiary countries be eligible for preferential treatment under the CBTPA. On March 9, 2005, CITA published notices in the Federal Register (70 FR 11621 and 70 FR 11620) soliciting public comments on these petitions, in particular with regard to whether these fabrics can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. On March 9, 2005, CITA received a letter from Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A. withdrawing the petitions. The specifications of these fabrics are repeated below. The petitioner states that the weight of the fabrics was incorrectly stated in both petitions.