Citation: [Federal Register Volume 77, Number 184 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58524-58525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23358]


DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Notice of Solicitation of Applications for Allocation of Tariff
Rate Quotas on the Import of Certain Worsted Wool Fabrics to Persons
Who Cut and Sew Men's and Boys' Worsted Wool Suits, Suit-Type Jackets
and Trousers in the United States

AGENCY: Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration.

ACTION: The Department of Commerce (``Department'') is soliciting
applications for an allocation of the 2013 tariff rate quotas on
certain worsted wool fabric to persons who cut and sew men's and boys'
worsted wool suits, suit-type jackets and trousers in the United
States.

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SUMMARY: The Department hereby solicits applications from persons
(including firms, corporations, or other legal entities) who cut and
sew men's and boys' worsted wool suits, suit-type jackets and trousers
in the United States for an allocation of the 2013 tariff rate quotas
on certain worsted wool fabric. Interested persons must submit an
application on the form provided to the address listed below by October
22, 2012. The Department will cause to be published in the Federal
Register its determination to allocate the 2013 tariff rate quotas and
will notify applicants of their respective allocation as soon as
possible after that date. Promptly

[[Page 58525]]

thereafter, the Department will issue licenses to eligible applicants.

DATES: To be considered, applications must be received or postmarked by
5 p.m. on October 22, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted to the Office of Textiles and
Apparel, Room 30003, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20230 (telephone: (202) 482-3400). Application
forms may be obtained from that office (via mail or facsimile) or from
the following Internet address:
http://otexa.trade.gov/wooltrq/wool_app.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurie Mease, Office of Textiles and
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-2043.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Title V of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (the Act) created
two tariff rate quotas (TRQs), providing for temporary reductions in
the import duties on limited quantities of two categories of worsted
wool fabrics suitable for use in making suits, suit-type jackets, or
trousers: (1) For worsted wool fabric with average fiber diameters
greater than 18.5 microns (Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States (HTS) heading 9902.51.11); and (2) for worsted wool fabric with
average fiber diameters of 18.5 microns or less (HTS heading
9902.51.12). On August 6, 2002, President Bush signed into law the
Trade Act of 2002, which includes several amendments to Title V of the
Act. On December 3, 2004, the Act was further amended pursuant to the
Miscellaneous Trade Act of 2004, Public Law 108-429, by increasing the
TRQ for worsted wool fabric with average fiber diameters greater than
18.5 microns, HTS 9902.51.11, to an annual total level of 5.5 million
square meters, and extending it through 2007, and increasing the TRQ
for average fiber diameters of 18.5 microns or less, HTS 9902.51.15
(previously 9902.51.12), to an annual total level of 5 million square
meters and extending it through 2006. On August 17, 2006 the Act was
further amended pursuant to the Pension Protection Act of 2006, Public
Law 109-280, which extended both TRQs, 9902.51.11 and 9902.51.15,
through 2009. The Senate-passed Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of
2008 extended the TRQ for both HTS numbers through 2014.
The Act requires that the TRQs be allocated to persons who cut and
sew men's and boys' worsted wool suits, suit-type jackets and trousers
in the United States. On October 24, 2005, the Department adopted final
regulations establishing procedures for allocating the TRQ. See 70 FR
61363; 19 CFR 335. In order to be eligible for an allocation, an
applicant must submit an application on the form provided at
http://otexa.trade.gov/wooltrq/wool_app.htm to the address listed above by
5 p.m. on October 22, 2012 in compliance with the requirements of 15
CFR 335. Any business confidential information that is marked business
confidential will be kept confidential and protected from disclosure to
the full extent permitted by law.

Dated: September 17, 2012.
Kim Glas,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles and Apparel