81 FR 12461 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Procedures for Considering Requests and Comments From the Public for Textile and Apparel Safeguard Actions on Imports From Oman

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 46 (March 9, 2016)

Page Range		12461-12462
FR Document		2016-05165

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 81 Issue 46 (Wednesday, March 9, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12461-12462]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05165]


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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 Oman

AGENCY: International Trade Administration (ITA).

ACTION: Notice.

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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 May 9, 2016.

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 email at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Maria D'Andrea, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, Tel. (202) 482-1550, Maria.D'[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Title III, Subtitle B, Section 321 through Section 328 of the 
United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (the 
``Act'') implements the textile and apparel safeguard provisions, 
provided for in Article 3.1 of the United States-Oman Free Trade 
Agreement (the ``Agreement''). This safeguard mechanism applies when, 
as a result of the elimination of a customs duty under the Agreement, 
an Omani 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 Oman 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 U.S.-Oman 
Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (the ``Act'') provides that 
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. 8332 (73 FR 80,289, December 31, 2008), 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 Oman, 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 7 of Presidential 
Proclamation 8332 of December 29, 2008, 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 
Omani 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 Omani textile or apparel 
article.
    In order for a request to be considered, the requestor must provide 
the following information in support of a claim that a textile or 
apparel article from Oman 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 an Omani 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.

[[Page 12462]]

origin; (4) imports from Oman 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 Oman 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 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 Oman Free Trade Agreement textile safeguards section of the 
Office of Textile and Apparel (OTEXA) Web site. The confidential 
version of the request, 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. If CITA determines that the request provides the necessary 
information to be considered, it publishes a Federal Register notice 
seeking public comments on the request. To the extent business 
confidential information is provided, a non-confidential version must 
also be provided. Any interested party may submit information to rebut, 
clarify, or correct public comments submitted by any interested party.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0625-0266.
    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: March 3, 2016.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-05165 Filed 3-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 9, 2016 / Notices 12461

means installation, maintenance, repair, SUMMARY: The Department of In Proclamation No. 8332 (73 FR
modification or testing. Commerce, as part of its continuing 80,289, December 31, 2008), the
Third, that, after notice and effort to reduce paperwork and President delegated to CITA his
opportunity for comment as provided in respondent burden, invites the general authority under Subtitle B of Title III of
section 766.23 of the EAR, any other public and other Federal agencies to the Act with respect to textile and
person, firm, corporation, or business take this opportunity to comment on apparel safeguard measures.
organization related to a Denied Person proposed and/or continuing information CITA must collect information in
by affiliation, ownership, control, or collections, as required by the order to determine whether a domestic
position of responsibility in the conduct Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. textile or apparel industry is being
of trade or related services may also be adversely impacted by imports of these
DATES: Written comments must be
made subject to the provisions of this products from Oman, thereby allowing
submitted on or before May 9, 2016.
Order. CITA to take corrective action to protect
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments the viability of the domestic textile
In accordance with the provisions of to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental
Section 766.24(e) of the EAR, the industry, subject to section 322(b) of the
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Act.
Respondents may, at any time, appeal Department of Commerce, Room 6616, Pursuant to Section 321(a) of the Act
this Order by filing a full written 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., and Section 7 of Presidential
statement in support of the appeal with Washington, DC 20230 or via email at Proclamation 8332 of December 29,
the Office of the Administrative Law JJessup@doc.gov. 2008, an interested party in the U.S.
Judge, U.S. Coast Guard ALJ Docketing domestic textile and apparel industry
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Center, 40 South Gay Street, Baltimore, may file a request for a textile and
Maryland 21202–4022. Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection apparel safeguard action with CITA.
In accordance with the provisions of Consistent with longstanding CITA
instrument and instructions should be
Section 766.24(d) of the EAR, BIS may practice in considering textile safeguard
directed to Maria D’Andrea, Office of
seek renewal of this Order by filing a actions, CITA will consider an
Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department
written request not later than 20 days interested party to be an entity (which
of Commerce, Tel. (202) 482–1550,
before the expiration date. The may be a trade association, firm,
Maria.D’Andrea@trade.gov.
Respondents may oppose a request to certified or recognized union, or group
renew this Order by filing a written SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
of workers) that is representative of
submission with the Assistant Secretary I. Abstract either: (A) a domestic producer or
for Export Enforcement, which must be producers of an article that is like or
received not later than seven days Title III, Subtitle B, Section 321 directly competitive with the subject
before the expiration date of the Order. through Section 328 of the United Omani textile or apparel article; or (B)
A copy of this Order shall be served States-Oman Free Trade Agreement a domestic producer or producers of a
on Ribway Airlines Company Limited, Implementation Act (the ‘‘Act’’) component used in the production of an
John Edward Meadows, Jeffrey John implements the textile and apparel article that is like or directly
James Ashfield, moreJet Ltd., Stefan safeguard provisions, provided for in competitive with the subject Omani
Piotr Kondak, AC AVIATIE UK Limited, Article 3.1 of the United States-Oman textile or apparel article.
Af-Aviation Limited, and Andy Farmer, Free Trade Agreement (the In order for a request to be
and shall be published in the Federal ‘‘Agreement’’). This safeguard considered, the requestor must provide
Register. mechanism applies when, as a result of the following information in support of
the elimination of a customs duty under a claim that a textile or apparel article
This Order is effective immediately
the Agreement, an Omani textile or from Oman is being imported into the
and shall remain in effect until July 17,
apparel article is being imported into United States in such increased
2016, unless renewed in accordance
the United States in such increased quantities, in absolute terms or relative
with Section 766.24(d) of the
quantities, in absolute terms or relative to the domestic market for that article,
Regulations.
to the domestic market for that article, and under such conditions as to cause
Dated: March 1, 2016. and under such conditions as to cause serious damage or actual threat thereof,
David W. Mills, serious damage or actual threat thereof to a U.S. industry producing an article
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export to a U.S. industry producing a like or that is like, or directly competitive with,
Enforcement. directly competitive article. In these the imported article: (1) Name and
[FR Doc. 2016–05218 Filed 3–8–16; 8:45 am] circumstances, Article 3.1 permits the description of the imported article
BILLING CODE P United States to increase duties on the concerned; (2) import data
imported article from Oman to a level demonstrating that imports of an Omani
that does not exceed the lesser of the origin textile or apparel article that are
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE prevailing U.S. normal trade relations like or directly competitive with the
(NTR)/most-favored-nation (MFN) duty articles produced by the domestic
International Trade Administration rate for the article or the U.S. NTR/MFN industry concerned are increasing in
duty rate in effect on the day before the absolute terms or relative to the
Proposed Information Collection;
Agreement entered into force. domestic market for that article; (3) U.S.
Comment Request; Procedures for
Considering Requests and Comments The Statement of Administrative domestic production of the like or
From the Public for Textile and Apparel Action accompanying the U.S.-Oman directly competitive articles of U.S.
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Safeguard Actions on Imports From Free Trade Agreement Implementation origin indicating the nature and extent
Oman Act (the ‘‘Act’’) provides that CITA will of the serious damage or actual threat
issue procedures for requesting such thereof, along with an affirmation that to
AGENCY: International Trade safeguard measures, for making its the best of the requester’s knowledge,
Administration (ITA). determinations under section 322(a) of the data represent substantially all of
the Act, and for providing relief under the domestic production of the like or
ACTION: Notice.
section 322(b) of the Act. directly competitive article(s) of U.S.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:08 Mar 08, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09MRN1.SGM 09MRN1

Document Created: 2016-03-09 00:13:55
Document Modified: 2016-03-09 00:13:55

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 May 9, 2016.
Contact		Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Maria D'Andrea, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, Tel. (202) 482-1550, Maria.D'[email protected]
FR Citation		81 FR 12461

81 FR 12461 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Procedures for Considering Requests and Comments From the Public for Textile and Apparel Safeguard Actions on Imports From Oman

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCEInternational Trade Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 46 (March 9, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration