81 FR 9432 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Interim Procedures for Considering Requests Under the Commercial Availability Provision of the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (U.S.-Panama TPA)
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 37 (February 25, 2016)
International Trade Administration
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 37 (February 25, 2016)
| Page Range | 9432-9433 | |
| FR Document | 2016-03971 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 37 (Thursday, February 25, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 9432-9433] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-03971] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Interim Procedures for Considering Requests Under the Commercial Availability Provision of the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (U.S.- Panama TPA) AGENCY: International Trade Administration. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: On behalf of the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA), 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 April 25, 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 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, Telephone: 202-482-2043, Email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract Title II, Section 203(o) of the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (the ``Act'') [Pub. L. 112-43] implements the commercial availability provision provided for in Article 3.25 of the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (the ``Agreement''). The Agreement entered into force on October 31, 2012. Subject to the rules of origin in Annex 4.1 of the Agreement, pursuant to the textile provisions of the Agreement, fabric, yarn, and fiber produced in Panama or the United States and traded between the two countries are entitled to duty-free tariff treatment. Annex 3.25 of the Agreement also lists specific fabrics, yarns, and fibers that the two countries agreed are not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner from producers in Panama or the United States. The items listed in Annex 3.25 are commercially unavailable fabrics, yarns, and fibers. Articles containing these items are entitled to duty-free or preferential treatment despite containing inputs not produced in Panama or the United States. The list of commercially unavailable fabrics, yarns, and fibers may be changed pursuant to the commercial availability provision in Chapter 3, Article 3.25, Paragraphs 4-6 of the Agreement. Under this provision, interested entities from Panama or the United States have the right to request that a specific fabric, yarn, or fiber be added to, or removed from, the list of commercially unavailable fabrics, yarns, and fibers in Annex 3.25 of the Agreement. Pursuant to Chapter 3, Article 3.25, paragraph 6 of the Agreement, which requires that the President publish procedures for parties to exercise the right to make these requests, Section 203(o)(4) of the Act authorizes the President to establish procedures to modify the list of fabrics, yarns, or fibers not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in either the United States or Panama as set out in Annex 3.25 of the Agreement. The President delegated the responsibility for publishing the procedures and administering commercial availability requests to the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (``CITA''), which issues procedures and acts on requests through the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Textiles and Apparel (``OTEXA'') (See Proclamation No. 8894, 77 FR 66507, November 5, 2012). The intent of the U.S.-Panama TPA Commercial Availability Procedures is to foster the use of U.S. and regional products by implementing procedures that allow products to be placed on or removed from a product list, on a timely basis, and in a manner that is consistent with normal business practice. The procedures are intended to facilitate the transmission of requests; allow the market to indicate the availability of the supply of products that are the subject of requests; make available promptly, to interested entities and the public, information regarding the requests for products and offers received for those products; ensure wide participation by interested entities and parties; allow for careful review and consideration of information provided to substantiate requests and responses; and provide timely public dissemination of information used by CITA in making commercial availability determinations. CITA must collect certain information about fabric, yarn, or fiber technical [[Page 9433]] specifications and the production capabilities of Panamanian and U.S. textile producers to determine whether certain fabrics, yarns, or fibers are available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the United States or Panama, subject to Section 203(o) of the Act. II. Method of Collection Participants in a commercial availability proceeding must submit public versions of their Requests, Responses or Rebuttals electronically (via email) for posting on OTEXA's Web site. Confidential versions of those submissions which contain business confidential information must be delivered in hard copy to the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce. III. Data OMB Control Number: 0625-0273. Form Number(s): N/A. Type of Review: Regular submission. Affected Public: Business or for-profit organizations. Estimated Number of Respondents: 16. Estimated Time per Response: 8 hours per Request, 2 hours per Response, and 1 hour per Rebuttal. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 89. Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $5,340. 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: February 19, 2016. Glenna Mickelson, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2016-03971 Filed 2-24-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
![9432 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 37 / Thursday, February 25, 2016 / Notices
sidewall, certifying that the tire conforms to DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE listed in Annex 3.25 are commercially
applicable motor vehicle safety standards. unavailable fabrics, yarns, and fibers.
Subject tires may also have one of the International Trade Administration Articles containing these items are
following suffixes in their tire size entitled to duty-free or preferential
designation, which also appear on the Proposed Information Collection; treatment despite containing inputs not
sidewall of the tire: Comment Request; Interim Procedures produced in Panama or the United
TR—Identifies tires for service on trucks or for Considering Requests Under the States.
buses to differentiate them from similarly Commercial Availability Provision of The list of commercially unavailable
sized passenger car and light truck tires; the United States-Panama Trade fabrics, yarns, and fibers may be
MH—Identifies tires for mobile homes; and Promotion Agreement (U.S.-Panama changed pursuant to the commercial
HC—Identifies a 17.5 inch rim diameter TPA) availability provision in Chapter 3,
code for use on low platform trailers. Article 3.25, Paragraphs 4–6 of the
AGENCY: International Trade
All tires with a ‘‘TR,’’ ‘‘MH,’’ or ‘‘HC’’ Agreement. Under this provision,
Administration.
suffix in their size designations are covered interested entities from Panama or the
ACTION: Notice.
by this investigation regardless of their United States have the right to request
intended use. SUMMARY: On behalf of the Committee that a specific fabric, yarn, or fiber be
In addition, all tires that lack one of the for the Implementation of Textile added to, or removed from, the list of
above suffix markings are included in the Agreements (CITA), the Department of commercially unavailable fabrics, yarns,
scope, regardless of their intended use, as Commerce, as part of its continuing and fibers in Annex 3.25 of the
long as the tire is of a size that is among the effort to reduce paperwork and Agreement.
numerical size designations listed in the respondent burden, invites the general Pursuant to Chapter 3, Article 3.25,
‘‘Truck-Bus’’ section of the Tire and Rim public and other Federal agencies to paragraph 6 of the Agreement, which
Association Year Book, as updated annually, take this opportunity to comment on requires that the President publish
unless the tire falls within one of the specific proposed and/or continuing information procedures for parties to exercise the
exclusions set out below. collections, as required by the right to make these requests, Section
Truck and bus tires, whether or not Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. 203(o)(4) of the Act authorizes the
mounted on wheels or rims, are included in President to establish procedures to
DATES: Written comments must be
the scope. However, if a subject tire is modify the list of fabrics, yarns, or fibers
submitted on or before April 25, 2016.
imported mounted on a wheel or rim, only not available in commercial quantities
the tire is covered by the scope. Subject ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental in a timely manner in either the United
merchandise includes truck and bus tires States or Panama as set out in Annex
produced in the subject country whether Paperwork Clearance Officer,
Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 3.25 of the Agreement. The President
mounted on wheels or rims in the subject delegated the responsibility for
country or in a third country. Truck and bus 14th and Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20230 (or via the publishing the procedures and
tires are covered whether or not they are administering commercial availability
accompanied by other parts, e.g., a wheel, Internet at JJessup@doc.gov).
requests to the Committee for the
rim, axle parts, bolts, nuts, etc. Truck and bus FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Implementation of Textile Agreements
tires that enter attached to a vehicle are not Requests for additional information or (‘‘CITA’’), which issues procedures and
covered by the scope. copies of the information collection acts on requests through the U.S.
Specifically excluded from the scope of instrument and instructions should be Department of Commerce, Office of
this investigation are the following types of directed to Laurie Mease, Office of Textiles and Apparel (‘‘OTEXA’’) (See
tires: (1) Pneumatic tires, of rubber, that are Textiles and Apparel, Telephone: 202– Proclamation No. 8894, 77 FR 66507,
not new, including recycled and retreaded 482–2043, Email: Laurie.Mease@ November 5, 2012).
tires; and (2) non-pneumatic tires, such as trade.gov. The intent of the U.S.-Panama TPA
solid rubber tires. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Commercial Availability Procedures is
The subject merchandise is currently to foster the use of U.S. and regional
classifiable under Harmonized Tariff I. Abstract products by implementing procedures
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) Title II, Section 203(o) of the United that allow products to be placed on or
subheadings: 4011.20.1015 and States-Panama Trade Promotion removed from a product list, on a timely
4011.20.5020. Tires meeting the scope Agreement Implementation Act (the basis, and in a manner that is consistent
description may also enter under the ‘‘Act’’) [Pub. L. 112–43] implements the with normal business practice. The
following HTSUS subheadings: commercial availability provision procedures are intended to facilitate the
4011.99.4520, 4011.99.4590, 4011.99.8520, provided for in Article 3.25 of the transmission of requests; allow the
4011.99.8590, 8708.70.4530, 8708.70.6030, United States-Panama Trade Promotion market to indicate the availability of the
and 8708.70.6060. Agreement (the ‘‘Agreement’’). The supply of products that are the subject
While HTSUS subheadings are provided Agreement entered into force on of requests; make available promptly, to
for convenience and for customs purposes,
October 31, 2012. Subject to the rules of interested entities and the public,
the written description of the subject
origin in Annex 4.1 of the Agreement, information regarding the requests for
merchandise is dispositive.
pursuant to the textile provisions of the products and offers received for those
[FR Doc. 2016–04063 Filed 2–24–16; 8:45 am] Agreement, fabric, yarn, and fiber products; ensure wide participation by
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P produced in Panama or the United interested entities and parties; allow for
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
States and traded between the two careful review and consideration of
countries are entitled to duty-free tariff information provided to substantiate
treatment. Annex 3.25 of the Agreement requests and responses; and provide
also lists specific fabrics, yarns, and timely public dissemination of
fibers that the two countries agreed are information used by CITA in making
not available in commercial quantities commercial availability determinations.
in a timely manner from producers in CITA must collect certain information
Panama or the United States. The items about fabric, yarn, or fiber technical
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 37 / Thursday, February 25, 2016 / Notices 9433
specifications and the production DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE from Panama to a level that does not
capabilities of Panamanian and U.S. exceed the lesser of the prevailing U.S.
textile producers to determine whether International Trade Administration normal trade relations (NTR)/most-
certain fabrics, yarns, or fibers are favored-nation (MFN) duty rate for the
available in commercial quantities in a Proposed Information Collection; article or the U.S. NTR/MFN duty rate
timely manner in the United States or Comment Request; Interim Procedures in effect on the day the Agreement
Panama, subject to Section 203(o) of the for Considering Requests From the entered into force.
Act. Public for Textile and Apparel The Statement of Administrative
Safeguard Actions on Imports From Action accompanying the Act provides
II. Method of Collection Panama that the Committee for the
Participants in a commercial AGENCY: International Trade Implementation of Textile Agreements
availability proceeding must submit Administration (ITA). (CITA) will issue procedures for
public versions of their Requests, requesting such safeguard measures, for
ACTION: Notice.
Responses or Rebuttals electronically making its determinations under
(via email) for posting on OTEXA’s Web SUMMARY: On behalf of the Committee Section 322(a) of the Act, and for
site. Confidential versions of those for the Implementation for Textile providing relief under section 322(b) of
submissions which contain business Agreements (CITA), the Department of the Act.
confidential information must be Commerce, as part of its continuing In Proclamation No. 8894 (77 FR
delivered in hard copy to the Office of effort to reduce paperwork and 66507, November 5, 2012), the President
Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) at the respondent burden, invites the general delegated to CITA his authority under
U.S. Department of Commerce. public and other Federal agencies to Subtitle B of Title III of the Act with
take this opportunity to comment on respect to textile and apparel safeguard
III. Data measures.
proposed and/or continuing information
OMB Control Number: 0625–0273. collections, as required by the CITA must collect information in
Form Number(s): N/A. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. order to determine whether a domestic
Type of Review: Regular submission. textile or apparel industry is being
DATES: Written comments must be
Affected Public: Business or for-profit adversely impacted by imports of these
submitted on or before April 25, 2016.
organizations. products from Panama, thereby allowing
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments CITA to take corrective action to protect
Estimated Number of Respondents: to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental
16. the viability of the domestic textile
Paperwork Clearance Officer, industry, subject to section 322(b) of the
Estimated Time per Response: 8 hours Department of Commerce, Room 6616,
per Request, 2 hours per Response, and Act.
14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Pursuant to Section 321(a) of the Act
1 hour per Rebuttal. Washington, DC 20230 (or via the
Estimated Total Annual Burden and Paragraph (7) of Presidential
Internet at jjessup@doc.gov). Proclamation 8894, an interested party
Hours: 89.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: in the U.S. domestic textile and apparel
Estimated Total Annual Cost to
Public: $5,340. Requests for additional information or industry may file a request for a textile
copies of the information collection and apparel safeguard action with CITA.
IV. Request for Comments instrument and instructions should be Consistent with longstanding CITA
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether directed to Laurie Mease, Office of practice in considering textile safeguard
the proposed collection of information Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department actions, CITA will consider an
is necessary for the proper performance of Commerce, Telephone: 202–482– interested party to be an entity (which
of the functions of the agency, including 2043, Email: Laurie.Mease@trade.gov. may be a trade association, firm,
whether the information shall have SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: certified or recognized union, or group
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the of workers) that is representative of
I. Abstract either: (A) A domestic producer or
agency’s estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the Title III, Subtitle B, Section 321 producers of an article that is like or
proposed collection of information; (c) through Section 328 of the United directly competitive with the subject
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and States-Panama Trade Promotion Panamanian textile or apparel article; or
clarity of the information to be Agreement Implementation Act (the (B) a domestic producer or producers of
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the ‘‘Act’’) [Pub. L. 112–43] implements the a component used in the production of
burden of the collection of information textile and apparel safeguard provisions, an article that is like or directly
on respondents, including through the provided for in Article 3.24 of the competitive with the subject
use of automated collection techniques United States-Panama Trade Promotion Panamanian textile or apparel article.
or other forms of information Agreement (the ‘‘Agreement’’). This In order for a request to be
technology. safeguard mechanism applies when, as considered, the requestor must provide
Comments submitted in response to a result of the elimination of a customs the following information in support of
this notice will be summarized and/or duty under the Agreement, a a claim that a textile or apparel article
included in the request for OMB Panamanian textile or apparel article is from Panama is being imported into the
approval of this information collection; being imported into the United States in United States in such increased
they also will become a matter of public such increased quantities, in absolute quantities, in absolute terms or relative
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
record. terms or relative to the domestic market to the domestic market for that article,
for that article, and under such and under such conditions as to cause
Dated: February 19, 2016. conditions as to cause serious damage or serious damage or actual threat thereof,
Glenna Mickelson, actual threat thereof to a U.S. industry to a U.S. industry producing an article
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief producing a like or directly competitive that is like or directly competitive with
Information Officer. article. In these circumstances, Article the imported article: (1) Name and
[FR Doc. 2016–03971 Filed 2–24–16; 8:45 am] 3.24 permits the United States to description of the imported article
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P increase duties on the imported article concerned; (2) import data
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Document Created: 2018-02-02 14:35:29
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 14:35:29
| 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 April 25, 2016. | |
| 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, Telephone: 202-482-2043, Email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 9432 |
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