80 FR 18827 - Determination Under the Textile and Apparel Commercial Availability Provision of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (“CAFTA-DR Agreement”)

COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 67 (April 8, 2015)

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (``CITA'') has determined that certain three-thread circular knit fleece fabrics, as specified below, are available in the CAFTA-DR countries in commercial quantities in a timely manner. The product, which is currently included in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities, will be removed, effective 180 days after publication of this notice.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18827-18828]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-08029]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Determination Under the Textile and Apparel Commercial 
Availability Provision of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United 
States Free Trade Agreement (``CAFTA-DR Agreement'')

AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

ACTION: Determination to remove a product currently included in Annex 
3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement.

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DATES: October 5, 2015.
SUMMARY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(``CITA'') has determined that certain three-thread circular knit 
fleece fabrics, as specified below, are available in the CAFTA-DR 
countries in commercial quantities in a timely manner. The product, 
which is currently included in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement in 
unrestricted quantities, will be removed, effective 180 days after 
publication of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurie Mease, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-2043. For information 
online see http://web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/CaftaReqTrack.nsf under 
``Approved Requests,'' Reference number: 
195.2015.02.27.Fabric.SS&AforGildanUSA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

    Authority: The CAFTA-DR Agreement; Section 203(o)(4) of the 
Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade 
Agreement Implementation Act (``CAFTA-DR Implementation Act''), 
Public Law 109-53; the Statement of Administrative Action 
accompanying the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act; and Presidential 
Proclamation 7987 (February 28, 2006).

    Background: The CAFTA-DR Agreement provides a list in Annex 3.25 
for fabrics, yarns, and fibers that the Parties to the CAFTA-DR 
Agreement have determined are not available in commercial quantities in 
a timely manner in the territory of any Party. The CAFTA-DR Agreement 
provides that this list may be modified pursuant to Article 3.25(4)-(5) 
by adding or removing items when the United States determines that a 
fabric, yarn, or fiber is not available in commercial quantities in a 
timely manner in the territory of any Party; or when the United States 
determines that a fabric, yarn, or fiber currently on the list is 
available in commercial quantities in a timely manner. The CAFTA-DR 
Implementation Act authorizes the President to make such modifications 
to the list in Annex 3.25. See Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement; 
see also section 203(o)(4)(C) and (E) of the CAFTA-DR Implementation 
Act.
    The CAFTA-DR Implementation Act requires the President to establish 
procedures governing the submission of a request and providing 
opportunity for interested entities to submit comments and supporting 
evidence before a commercial availability determination is made. In 
Presidential Proclamation 7987, the President delegated to CITA the 
authority under section 203(o)(4) of the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act 
for modifying the list in Annex 3.25. Pursuant to this authority, CITA

[[Page 18828]]

published modified procedures it would follow in considering requests 
to modify the Annex 3.25 list of products determined to be not 
commercially available in the territory of any Party to CAFTA-DR 
(Modifications to Procedures for Considering Requests Under the 
Commercial Availability Provision of the Dominican Republic-Central 
America-United States Free Trade Agreement, 73 FR 53200 (September 15, 
2008)) (``CITA's procedures'').
    On February 27, 2015, the Chairman of CITA received a request from 
Sorini Samet & Associates, on behalf of Gildan USA, Inc. (``Gildan'') 
for a Commercial Availability determination to remove or restrict 
(``Request to Remove'') certain three-thread circular knit fleece 
fabrics, currently listed in Annex 3.25. Gildan offered to supply the 
specified fabrics and provided information demonstrating its ability to 
supply commercial quantities in a timely manner. On March 3, 2015, in 
accordance with CITA's procedures, CITA notified interested parties of 
the Request to Remove, which was posted on the dedicated Web site for 
CAFTA-DR commercial availability proceedings. In its notification, CITA 
advised that any Response to the Request to Remove must be submitted by 
March 13, 2015, and any Rebuttal Comments to a Response must be 
submitted by March 19, 2015, in accordance with Sections 6, 7 and 9 of 
CITA's procedures. No interested entity submitted a Response advising 
CITA of its objection to the Request to Remove. In accordance with 
section 203(o)(4)(C) of the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act, Section 8(a) 
and (b), and Section 9(c)(3) of CITA's procedures, as no interested 
entity submitted a Response objecting to the Request to Remove, CITA 
has determined to approve the Request to Remove the subject product 
from the list in Annex 3.25. Pursuant to Section 9(c)(3)(iii)(A), 
textile and apparel articles containing the subject product are not to 
be treated as originating in a CAFTA-DR country if the subject product 
is obtained from non-CAFTA-DR sources, effective for goods entered into 
the United States on or after 180 calendar days after the date of 
publication of this notice. A revised list in Annex 3.25, noting the 
effective date of the removal of the subject product, has been posted 
on the dedicated Web site for CAFTA-DR commercial availability 
proceedings.

Specifications: Certain Three-Thread Circular Knit Fleece Fabrics

HTS Subheading: 6001.21.0000

Fabric #1:

Fiber Content: 72 to 78 percent cotton, 22 to 28 percent polyester
Yarn:
Face Yarn--Single ply, ring spun cotton. Metric yarn number: 41 to 48; 
English yarn number: 24 to 28
Tie Yarn--Polyester filament of 49 to 51 denier
Fleece yarn--Single ply staple of 57 to 63 percent cotton and 37 to 43 
percent polyester. Metric yarn number: 24 to 30; English yarn number 14 
to 18.
Gauge: 20 to 24
Knit Type: Three-thread circular knit
Weight: Metric--285 to 300 grams per square meter; English--8.42 to 
9.75 ounces per square yard.
Width: Metric--172 to 183 centimeters; English--68 to 72 inches.
Finish: Napped on the technical back; bleached, yarn dyed, or piece 
dyed.
    Performance Criteria: Not more than 5 percent vertical and 
horizontal shrinkage and not more than 4 percent vertical torque.

Fabric #2:

Fiber Content: 77 to 83 percent cotton, 17 to 23 percent polyester
Yarn:
Face Yarn--Single ply, ring spun cotton. Metric yarn number: 47 to 54; 
English yarn number: 28 to 32
Tie Yarn--Polyester filament of 49 to 51 denier
Fleece yarn--Single ply staple of 67 to 73 percent cotton and 27 to 33 
percent polyester. Metric yarn number: 24 to 30; English yarn number 14 
to 18.
Gauge: 20 to 24
Knit Type: Three-thread circular knit
Weight: Metric--266 to 308 grams per square meter; English--7.85 to 
9.08 ounces per square yard.
Width: Metric--146 to 183 centimeters; English--58 to 72 inches.
Finish: Napped on the technical back; bleached, yarn dyed, or piece 
dyed.
Performance Criteria: Not more than 5 percent vertical and horizontal 
shrinkage and not more than 4 percent vertical torque.

Joshua Teitelbaum,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 2015-08029 Filed 4-7-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P