[Federal Register: October 11, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 195)]
[Notices]
[Page 59046-59047]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11oc05-35]
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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS
Solicitation of Public Comments on Request for Textile and
Apparel Safeguard Action on Imports from China
October 5, 2005.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (the
Committee).
ACTION: Solicitation of public comments concerning a request for
safeguard action on imports from China of cheesecloth, batistes, lawns/
voiles (Category 226).
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SUMMARY: On September 21, 2005, the Committee received a request from
the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, the National Council
of Textile Organizations, the National Textile Association, and UNITE
HERE requesting that the Committee limit imports from China of
cheesecloth, batistes, lawns/voiles (Category 226). They request that a
textile and apparel safeguard action, as provided for in the Report of
the Working Party on the Accession of China to the World Trade
Organization (the Accession Agreement) be applied on imports of such
fabric. The Committee hereby solicits public comments on this request,
in particular with regard to whether imports from China of such fabric
are, due to market disruption, threatening to impede the orderly
development of trade in this product. Comments must be submitted by
November 10, 2005 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of
Textile Agreements, Room 3001A, United States Department of Commerce,
14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay Dowling, Office of Textiles and
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-4058.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: Section 204 of the Agriculture Act of 1956, as
amended; Executive Order 11651, as amended.
BACKGROUND
The Report of the Working Party on the Accession of China to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) provides that, if a WTO Member, such as
the United States, believes that imports of Chinese origin textile and
apparel products are, ``due to market disruption, threatening to impede
the orderly development of trade in these products'', it may request
consultations with China with a view to easing or avoiding the
disruption. Pursuant to this provision, if the United States requests
consultations with China, it must, at the time of the request, provide
China with a detailed factual statement showing (1) the existence or
threat of market disruption; and (2) the role of products of Chinese
origin in that disruption. Beginning on the date that it receives such
a request, China must restrict its shipments to the United States to a
level no greater than 7.5 percent (6 percent for wool product
categories) above the amount entered during the first 12 months of the
most recent 14 months preceding the month in which the request was
made.
The Committee has published procedures (the Procedures) it follows
in considering requests for Accession Agreement textile and apparel
safeguard actions (68 FR 27787, May 21, 2003; 68 FR 49440, August 18,
2003), including the information that must be included in such requests
in order for the Committee to consider them.
On September 21, 2005, the Committee received a request that an
Accession Agreement textile and apparel safeguard action be applied on
imports from China of cheesecloth, batistes, lawns/voiles (Category
226). The Committee has determined that this request provides the
information necessary for the Committee to consider the request in
light of the considerations set forth in the Procedures. The text of
the request is available at http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/Safeguard05.htm.
The Committee is soliciting public comments on this request, in
particular with regard to whether imports from China of such fabric
are, due to market disruption, threatening to impede the orderly
development of trade in this product.
Comments may be submitted by any interested person. Comments must
be received no later than November 10, 2005. Interested persons are
invited to submit ten copies of such comments to the Chairman,
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001A,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue N.W.,
Washington, DC 20230.
If a comment alleges that there is no market disruption or that the
subject imports are not the cause of market disruption, the Committee
will closely review any supporting information and documentation, such
as information about domestic production or prices of like or directly
competitive products. Particular consideration will be given tocomments
representing the views of actual producers in the United States of a
like or directly competitive product.
The Committee will protect any business confidential information
that is marked ``business confidential'' from disclosure to the full
extent permitted by law. To the extent that business confidential
information is provided, two copies of a non-confidential version must
also be provided in which business confidential information is
summarized or, if necessary, deleted. Comments received, with the
exception of information marked ``business confidential'', will be
available for inspection between Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m and 5:30 p.m
in the Trade Reference and Assistance Center Help Desk, Suite 800M, USA
Trade Information Center, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, (202) 482-3433.
[[Page 59047]]
The Committee expects to make a determination within 60 calendar
days of the close of the comment period as to whether the United States
will request consultations with China. If, however, the Committee is
unable to make a determination within 60 calendar days, it will cause
to be published a notice in the Federal Register, including the date by
which it will make a determination. If the Committee makes a negative
determination, it will cause this determination and the reasons
therefore to be published in the Federal Register. If the Committee
makes an affirmative determination that imports of Chinese origin
cheesecloth, batistes, lawns/voiles are, due to market disruption,
threatening to impede the orderly development of trade in these
products, the United States will request consultations with China with
a view to easing or avoiding such market disruption in accordance with
the Accession Agreement and the Committee's Procedures.
James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 05-20411 Filed 10-6-05; 1:38 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S