The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA)
Request for public comments concerning a request for a determination that anti-microbial elastomeric filament yarn, incorporated in knit fabric, used in apparel articles, cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner under the AGOA, the CBTPA, and the ATPDEA.
On January 3, 2005, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from Alston & Bird, LLP, on behalf of their client, Ge-Ray Fabrics, Inc., that a certain anti-microbial elastomeric filament yarn, of the specifications below, classified in under subheadings 5402.49.9005 and 5404.10.8005 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 from such yarns or from U.S. formed fabrics containing such yarns be eligible for preferential treatment under the AGOA, the CBTPA, and the ATPDEA. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether such yarns can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted by January 25,2005 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.
Shikha Bhatnagar, International Trade Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-3400.
Section 112(b)(5)(B) of the AGOA; Section 213(b)(2)(A)(v)(II) of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, as added by Section 211(a) of the CBTPA; Sections 1 and 6 of Executive Order No. 13191 of January 17, 2001; Presidential Proclamations 7350 and 7351 of October 4, 2000; Section 204 (b)(3)(B)(ii) of the
The AGOA, the CBTPA, and the ATPDEA provide for quota- and duty-free treatment for qualifying textile and apparel products. Such treatment is generally limited to products manufactured from yarns and fabrics formed in the United States or a beneficiary country. The AGOA, the CBTPA, and the ATPDEA also provide for quota- and duty-free treatment for apparel articles that are both cut (or knit-to-shape) and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more beneficiary countries from fabric or yarn that is not formed in the United States, if it has been determined that such fabric or yarn cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. In Executive Order No. 13191 (66 FR 7271) and pursuant to Executive Order No. 13277 (67 FR 70305) and the United States Trade Representative's Notice of Redelegation of Authority and Further Assignment of Functions (67 FR 71606), CITA has been delegated the authority to determine whether yarns or fabrics cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner under the AGOA, the CBTPA, or the ATPDEA. On March 6, 2001, CITA published procedures that it will follow in considering requests (66 FR 13502).
On January 3, 2005, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from Alston & Bird, LLP, on behalf of their client, Ge-Ray Fabrics, Inc., that a certain anti-microbial elastomeric filament yarn, of the specifications below, classified in under HTSUS subheadings 5402.49.9005 and 5404.10.8005 cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. It request quota and duty-free treatment under the AGOA, the CBTPA, and the ATPDEA for apparel articles that are both cut (or knit-to-shape) and sewn in one or more AGOA CBTPA, or ATPDEA beneficiary countries from such yarns or U.S.-formed fabrics containing such yarns.
The anti-microbial elastomeric yarn that is the subject of this request is of filament fiber, ranging from 20 to 70 denier (22.2 to 77.8 decitex). This elastomeric yarn looks like and can be processed like ordinary elastomeric yarn, but it includes an anti-microbial agent that gives the yarn a unique and desirable functionality. The anti-microbial agent is a compound that represents 0.2 to 5 percent by weight of the elastomeric yarn.
CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, particularly with respect to whether these yarns can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Also relevant is whether other yarns that are supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner are substitutable for this yarn for purposes of the intended use. Comments must be received no later than January 25, 2005. Interested persons are invited to submit six copies of such comments or information to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, room 3100, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20230.
If a comment alleges that this yarn can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner, CITA will closely review any supporting documentation, such as a signed statement by a manufacturer of the yarn stating that it produces the yarn that is the subject of the request, including the quantities that can be supplied and the time necessary to fill an order, as well as any relevant information regarding past production.
CITA will protect any business confidential information that is marked business confidential from disclosure to the full extent permitted by law. CITA will make available to the public non-confidential versions of the request and non-confidential versions of any public comments received with respect to a request in room 3100 in the Herbert Hoover Building, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20230. Persons submitting comments on a request are encouraged to include a non-confidential version and a non-confidential summary.