82 FR 19027 - 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 82, Issue 78 (April 25, 2017)

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (``CITA'') has determined that certain woven modal-polyester print fabric, as specified below, is not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the CAFTA-DR countries. The product will be added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 25, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19027-19028]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08278]


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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: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

ACTION: Determination to add a product in unrestricted quantities to 
Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement.

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DATES: Effective Date: April 25, 2017.
SUMMARY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(``CITA'') has determined that certain woven modal-polyester print 
fabric, as specified below, is not available in commercial quantities 
in a timely manner in the CAFTA-DR countries. The product will be added 
to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted 
quantities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Goodman, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-3651.
    For Further Information Online: http://web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/CaftaReqTrack.nsf under ``Approved Requests,'' Reference number: 
208.2017.03.20.Fabric.BWAandDillards

[[Page 19028]]


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 Proclamations 7987 (February 28, 
2006) and 7996 (March 31, 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 and 3.25.5, 
when the President of 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. See Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR 
Agreement; see also section 203(o)(4)(C) 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 Proclamations 7987 and 7996, the President delegated to 
CITA the authority under section 203(o)(4) of CAFTA-DR Implementation 
Act for modifying the Annex 3.25 list. Pursuant to this authority, on 
September 15, 2008, CITA 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) 
(``CITA's procedures'').
    On March 20, 2017, the Chairman of CITA received a request for a 
Commercial Availability determination (``Request'') from BWA Inc. 
(``BWA'') and Dillard's Inc. for certain woven modal-polyester print 
fabric. On March 21, 2017, in accordance with CITA's procedures, CITA 
notified interested parties of the Request, which was posted on the 
dedicated Web site for CAFTA-DR Commercial Availability proceedings. In 
its notification, CITA advised that anyResponse with an Offer to Supply 
(``Response'') must be submitted by April 3, 2017, and any Rebuttal 
Comments to a Response must be submitted by April 7, 2017, in 
accordance with sections 6 and 7 of CITA's procedures. No interested 
entity submitted a Response to the Request advising CITA of its 
objection to the Request and its offer to supply the subject product. 
In accordance with section 203(o)(4)(C) of the CAFTA-DR Implementation 
Act, and section 8(c)(2) of CITA's procedures, as no interested entity 
submitted a Response objecting to the Request and providing an offer to 
supply the subject product, CITA has determined to add the specified 
fabric to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement.
    The subject product has been added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the 
CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities. A revised list has been 
posted on the dedicated Web site for CAFTA-DR Commercial Availability 
proceedings, at http://otexa.trade.gov/caftaannex325.htm.

Specifications

Certain Woven Modal-Polyester Print Fabric

    HTSUS: 5516.14; 5516.24.
    Fiber Content: 52-95% spun modal rayon; 5-48% filament polyester.
    Yarn Size:

    Spun Modal Rayon--32/1 to 88/1 (metric)
    Filament Polyester--52 to 122 (metric)

    Thread Count: 31 to 60 warp ends per cm (metric); 25 to 40 filling 
picks per cm (metric).
    Weave type: Plain weave, or twill or dobby or jacquard or oxford or 
satin.
    Weight: 100-300 grams per sq. meter.
    Width: 137 to 153 cm (metric).
    Coloration: Print.
    Finishing processes: Sandwash in combination with or without one or 
more of the following: Wicking, UV blocker, peached, stain-resistant, 
Teflon finish, insect resistance.

Terry Labat,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc. 2017-08278 Filed 4-24-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P