80 FR 33243 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Procedures for Considering Requests and Comments From the Public for Textile and Apparel Safeguard Actions on Imports From Colombia

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 112 (June 11, 2015)

Page Range		33243-33244
FR Document		2015-14217

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 112 (Thursday, June 11, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 112 (Thursday, June 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33243-33244]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14217]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Procedures for 
Considering Requests and Comments From the Public for Textile and 
Apparel Safeguard Actions on Imports From Colombia

AGENCY: International Trade Administration (ITA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 10, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Laurie Mease, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, Telephone: 202-482-2043, Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Title III, Subtitle B, Section 321 through Section 328 of the 
United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act 
(the ``Act'') [Pub. L. 112-42] implements the textile and apparel 
safeguard provisions, provided for in Article 3.1 of the United States-
Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (the ``Agreement''). This safeguard 
mechanism applies when, as a result of the elimination of a customs 
duty under the Agreement, a Colombian textile or apparel article is 
being imported into the United States in such increased quantities, in 
absolute terms or relative to the domestic market for that article, and 
under such conditions as to cause serious damage or actual threat 
thereof to a U.S. industry producing a like or directly competitive 
article. In these circumstances, Article 3.1 permits the United States 
to increase duties on the imported article from Colombia to a level 
that does not exceed the lesser of the prevailing U.S. normal trade 
relations (NTR)/most-favored-nation (MFN) duty rate for the article or 
the U.S. NTR/MFN duty rate in effect on the day before the Agreement 
entered into force.
    The Statement of Administrative Action accompanying the Act 
provides that the Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements (CITA) will issue procedures for requesting such safeguard 
measures, for making its determinations under Section 322(a) of the 
Act, and for providing relief under section 322(b) of the Act.
    In Proclamation No. 8818 (77 FR 29519, May 18, 2012), the President 
delegated to CITA his authority under Subtitle B of Title III of the 
Act with respect to textile and apparel safeguard measures.
    CITA must collect information in order to determine whether a 
domestic textile or apparel industry is being adversely impacted by 
imports of these products from Colombia, thereby allowing CITA to take 
corrective action to protect the viability of the domestic textile 
industry, subject to section 322(b) of the Act.
    Pursuant to Section 321(a) of the Act and Section (9) of 
Presidential Proclamation 8818, an interested party in the U.S. 
domestic textile and apparel industry may file a request for a textile 
and apparel safeguard action with CITA. Consistent with longstanding 
CITA practice in considering textile safeguard actions, CITA will 
consider an interested party to be an entity (which may be a trade 
association, firm, certified or recognized union, or group of workers) 
that is representative of either: (A) A domestic producer or producers 
of an article that is like or directly competitive with the subject 
Colombian textile or apparel article; or (B) a domestic producer or 
producers of a component used in the production of an article that is 
like or directly competitive with the subject Colombian textile or 
apparel article.
    In order for a request to be considered, the requester must provide 
the following information in support of a claim that a textile or 
apparel article from Colombia is being imported into the United States 
in such increased quantities, in absolute terms or relative to the 
domestic market for that article, and under such conditions as to cause 
serious damage or actual threat thereof, to a U.S. industry producing 
an article that is like, or directly competitive with, the imported 
article: (1) Name and description of the imported article concerned; 
(2) import data demonstrating that imports of a Colombian origin 
textile or apparel article that are like or directly competitive with 
the articles produced by the domestic industry concerned are increasing 
in absolute terms or relative to the domestic market for that article; 
(3) U.S. domestic production of the like or directly competitive 
articles of U.S. origin indicating the nature and extent of the serious 
damage or actual threat thereof, along with an affirmation that to the 
best of the requester's knowledge, the data represent substantially all 
of the domestic production of the like or directly competitive 
article(s) of U.S. origin; (4) imports from Colombia as a percentage of 
the domestic market of the like or directly competitive article; and 
(5) all data available to the requester showing changes in 
productivity, utilization of capacity, inventories, exports, wages, 
employment, domestic prices, profits, and investment, and any other 
information, relating to the existence of serious damage or actual 
threat thereof caused by imports from Colombia to the industry 
producing the like or directly competitive article that is the subject 
of the request. To the extent that such information is not available, 
the requester should provide best estimates and the basis therefore.
    If CITA determines that the request provides the information 
necessary for it to be considered, CITA will publish a notice in the 
Federal Register seeking public comments regarding the request. The 
comment period shall be 30

[[Page 33244]]

calendar days. The notice will include a summary of the request. Any 
interested party may submit information to rebut, clarify, or correct 
public comments submitted by any interested party.
    CITA will make a determination on any request it considers within 
60 calendar days of the close of the comment period. If CITA is unable 
to make a determination within 60 calendar days, it will publish a 
notice in the Federal Register, including the date it will make a 
determination.
    If a determination under Section 322(b) of the Act is affirmative, 
CITA may provide tariff relief to a U.S. industry to the extent 
necessary to remedy or prevent serious damage or actual threat thereof 
and to facilitate adjustment by the domestic industry to import 
competition. The import tariff relief is effective beginning on the 
date that CITA's affirmative determination is published in the Federal 
Register.
    Entities submitting requests, responses or rebuttals to CITA may 
submit both a public and confidential version of their submissions. If 
the request is accepted, the public version will be posted on the 
dedicated Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement textile safeguards section 
of the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) Web site. The 
confidential version of the requests, responses or rebuttals will not 
be shared with the public as it may contain business confidential 
information. Entities submitting responses or rebuttals may use the 
public version of the request as a basis for responses.

II. Method of Collection

    When an interested party files a request for a textile and apparel 
safeguard action with CITA, ten copies of any such request must be 
provided in a paper format. If business confidential information is 
provided, two copies of a non-confidential version must also be 
provided.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0625-0271.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6 (1 for Request; 5 for Comments).
    Estimated Time per Response: 4 hours for a Request; and 4 hours for 
each Comment.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 24.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $960.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: June 5, 2015.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-14217 Filed 6-10-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 112 / Thursday, June 11, 2015 / Notices 33243

notice in accordance with sections directed to Laurie Mease, Office of practice in considering textile safeguard
751(a)(1) and 777(i) of the Act. Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department actions, CITA will consider an
Dated: June 3, 2015. of Commerce, Telephone: 202–482– interested party to be an entity (which
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
2043, Email: Laurie.Mease@trade.gov. may be a trade association, firm,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: certified or recognized union, or group
Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement
and Compliance.
of workers) that is representative of
I. Abstract either: (A) A domestic producer or
Appendix—Issues and Decision Title III, Subtitle B, Section 321 producers of an article that is like or
Memorandum through Section 328 of the United directly competitive with the subject
Summary States-Colombia Trade Promotion Colombian textile or apparel article; or
Scope of the Order Agreement Implementation Act (the (B) a domestic producer or producers of
Discussion of the Issues ‘‘Act’’) [Pub. L. 112–42] implements the a component used in the production of
I. General Issues textile and apparel safeguard provisions, an article that is like or directly
Comment 1: Respondent Selection provided for in Article 3.1 of the United competitive with the subject Colombian
Comment 2: Surrogate Country Selection States-Colombia Trade Promotion textile or apparel article.
A. Whether South Africa is a Significant Agreement (the ‘‘Agreement’’). This In order for a request to be
Producer of Comparable Merchandise safeguard mechanism applies when, as considered, the requester must provide
B. Quality of the Indonesian and South the following information in support of
a result of the elimination of a customs
African Surrogate Value Data
C. Surrogate Financial Statements duty under the Agreement, a Colombian a claim that a textile or apparel article
Comment 3: SV for Paper Core textile or apparel article is being from Colombia is being imported into
II. Company-Specific Issues imported into the United States in such the United States in such increased
Comment 4: Treatment of Green Packing’s increased quantities, in absolute terms quantities, in absolute terms or relative
Reintroduced PET By-Product or relative to the domestic market for to the domestic market for that article,
Comment 5: Value-Added Tax (‘‘VAT’’) that article, and under such conditions and under such conditions as to cause
Adjustment to Wanhua’s U.S. Sales Price as to cause serious damage or actual serious damage or actual threat thereof,
Comment 6: Deduction of Marine threat thereof to a U.S. industry to a U.S. industry producing an article
Insurance from Wanhua’s U.S. Sales producing a like or directly competitive that is like, or directly competitive with,
Prices
article. In these circumstances, Article the imported article: (1) Name and
Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2015–14349 Filed 6–10–15; 8:45 am] 3.1 permits the United States to increase description of the imported article
duties on the imported article from concerned; (2) import data
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
Colombia to a level that does not exceed demonstrating that imports of a
the lesser of the prevailing U.S. normal Colombian origin textile or apparel
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE trade relations (NTR)/most-favored- article that are like or directly
nation (MFN) duty rate for the article or competitive with the articles produced
International Trade Administration the U.S. NTR/MFN duty rate in effect on by the domestic industry concerned are
the day before the Agreement entered increasing in absolute terms or relative
Proposed Information Collection; into force. to the domestic market for that article;
Comment Request; Procedures for The Statement of Administrative (3) U.S. domestic production of the like
Considering Requests and Comments Action accompanying the Act provides or directly competitive articles of U.S.
From the Public for Textile and Apparel that the Committee for the origin indicating the nature and extent
Safeguard Actions on Imports From Implementation of Textile Agreements of the serious damage or actual threat
Colombia (CITA) will issue procedures for thereof, along with an affirmation that to
requesting such safeguard measures, for the best of the requester’s knowledge,
AGENCY: International Trade making its determinations under the data represent substantially all of
Administration (ITA), Commerce. Section 322(a) of the Act, and for the domestic production of the like or
ACTION: Notice. providing relief under section 322(b) of directly competitive article(s) of U.S.
SUMMARY: The Department of the Act. origin; (4) imports from Colombia as a
In Proclamation No. 8818 (77 FR percentage of the domestic market of the
Commerce, as part of its continuing
29519, May 18, 2012), the President like or directly competitive article; and
effort to reduce paperwork and
delegated to CITA his authority under (5) all data available to the requester
respondent burden, invites the general
Subtitle B of Title III of the Act with showing changes in productivity,
public and other Federal agencies to
respect to textile and apparel safeguard utilization of capacity, inventories,
take this opportunity to comment on
measures. exports, wages, employment, domestic
proposed and/or continuing information CITA must collect information in
collections, as required by the prices, profits, and investment, and any
order to determine whether a domestic other information, relating to the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. textile or apparel industry is being existence of serious damage or actual
DATES: Written comments must be adversely impacted by imports of these threat thereof caused by imports from
submitted on or before August 10, 2015. products from Colombia, thereby Colombia to the industry producing the
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments allowing CITA to take corrective action like or directly competitive article that
to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental to protect the viability of the domestic is the subject of the request. To the
Paperwork Clearance Officer, textile industry, subject to section extent that such information is not
Department of Commerce, Room 6616,
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

322(b) of the Act. available, the requester should provide
14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Pursuant to Section 321(a) of the Act best estimates and the basis therefore.
Washington, DC 20230 (or via the and Section (9) of Presidential If CITA determines that the request
Internet at JJessup@doc.gov). Proclamation 8818, an interested party provides the information necessary for it
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: in the U.S. domestic textile and apparel to be considered, CITA will publish a
Requests for additional information or industry may file a request for a textile notice in the Federal Register seeking
copies of the information collection and apparel safeguard action with CITA. public comments regarding the request.
instrument and instructions should be Consistent with longstanding CITA The comment period shall be 30

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Document Created: 2015-12-15 15:07:25
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 15:07:25

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		Written comments must be submitted on or before August 10, 2015.
Contact		Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Laurie Mease, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, Telephone: 202-482-2043, Email: [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 33243

80 FR 33243 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Procedures for Considering Requests and Comments From the Public for Textile and Apparel Safeguard Actions on Imports From Colombia

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCEInternational Trade Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 112 (June 11, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration