Citation: Federal Register Volume 80, Number 234 (Monday, December 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 75999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30766


COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Request for Public Comment on a Commercial Availability Request
Under the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement

AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for
modification of the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (USMFTA) rules of
origin for certain printed and piece-dyed warp knit fabrics of
polyester or nylon fibers.

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SUMMARY: On November 16, 2015, the Government of the United States
received a request from Swimsuit Commission Corporation (SCC) to
initiate consultations with the Government of Morocco under Article
4.3.3 of the USMFTA. SCC is requesting that the United States and
Morocco consider revising the rules of origin for certain women's and
girls' swimwear to address availability of supply of certain printed
and piece-dyed warp knit fabrics of polyester or nylon fibers in the
territories of the Parties. The President may proclaim a modification
to the USMFTA rules of origin for textile and apparel products after
reaching an agreement with the Government of Morocco on the
modification. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, in
particular with regard to whether certain printed and piece-dyed warp
knit fabrics of polyester or nylon fibers classified under Harmonized
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading 6004.10
containing between 3 percent and 41 percent elastomeric yarns, in which
the elastomeric yarns were engineered for chlorine resistance, can be
supplied by the U.S. domestic industry in commercial quantities in a
timely manner. Comments must be submitted by January 6, 2016 to the
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room
3001, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria D'Andrea, Office of Textiles and
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-1550.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
   Authority: Section 203 (j)(2)(B)(i) of the United States-Morocco
Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3805 note) (USMFTA
Implementation Act); Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as
amended.

Background

   Under the USMFTA, except as otherwise provided in the USMFTA, the
Parties are required to progressively eliminate customs duties on
originating goods in accordance with their schedules. See Article
2.3.2. The USMFTA provides that, on the request of either Party, the
Parties shall consult to consider whether the rules of origin
applicable to a particular textile or apparel good should be revised to
address issues of availability of supply of fibers, yarns, or fabrics
in the territories of the Parties. See Article 4.3.3 of the USMFTA. In
the consultations, each Party must consider data presented by the other
Party showing substantial production in its territory of a particular
fiber, yarn, or fabric. Substantial production has been shown if
domestic producers are capable of supplying commercial quantities of
the fiber, yarn, or fabric in a timely manner. See Article 4.3.4 of the
USMFTA.
   The USMFTA Implementation Act provides the President with the
authority to proclaim as part of the HTSUS, modifications to the USMFTA
rules of origin set out in Annex 4-A of the USMFTA as are necessary to
implement the USMFTA after complying with the consultation and layover
requirements of Section 104 of the USMFTA Implementation Act. See
Section 203(j)(2)(B)(i) of the USMFTA Implementation Act. Executive
Order 11651 established CITA to supervise the implementation of textile
trade agreements and authorizes the Chairman of CITA to take actions or
recommend that appropriate officials or agencies of the United States
take actions necessary to implement textile trade agreements. 37 FR
4699 (March 4, 1972).
   On November 16, 2015, the Government of the United States received
a request from SCC, alleging that certain printed and piece-dyed warp
knit fabrics of polyester or nylon fibers classified under HTSUS
subheading 6004.10 containing between 3 percent and 41 percent
elastomeric yarns, in which the elastomeric yarns were engineered for
chlorine resistance, cannot be supplied by the domestic or Moroccan
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and requesting
that the United States consider whether the USMFTA rule of origin for
certain women's and girls' swimwear, classified under HTSUS subheading
6112.41, should be modified to allow the use of certain non-U.S. and
non-Moroccan printed and piece-dyed warp knit fabrics of polyester or
nylon fiber, classified under HTSUS subheading 6004.10 containing
between 3 percent and 41 percent elastomeric yarns, in which the
elastomeric yarns are engineered for chlorine resistance. CITA is
soliciting public comments regarding this request, particularly with
respect to whether certain printed and piece-dyed warp knit fabrics of
polyester or nylon fibers described above can be supplied by the U.S.
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments
must be received no later than January 6, 2016. Interested persons are
invited to submit six copies of such comments or information to the
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room
3001, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20230.
   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 3001 in
the Herbert Hoover Building, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20230. Persons submitting comments on a request are
encouraged to include a non-confidential version and a non-confidential
summary.

Joshua Teitelbaum,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 2015-30766 Filed 12-4-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P