SFTA: CITA Seeks Comments on "Commercial Availability" Request for Certain Yarns and Fabrics
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a notice requesting public comments by June 16, 2004 regarding a "commercial availability" request it received under the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SFTA) from the government of Singapore:
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- requesting consultations on the SFTA rules of origin for certain products that have been the subject of prior determinations made by CITA under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the U.S.-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) and the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA); and
- requesting that the U.S. government consider whether the SFTA rules of origin for these products should be modified to allow the use of certain yarns and fabrics that do not originate in the territory of the U.S. or Singapore.
According to CITA, the products covered by this request are:
(1) Ring spun single yarn of nm 51 and 85, containing 50% or more, but less than 85%, by weight of 0.9 denier or finer micro modal fiber, mixed solely with U.S. origin extra long pima cotton, classified in HTS 5510.30.0000, for use in women's and girls' knit blouses, shirts, lingerie, and underwear.
(2) 100% cotton woven flannel fabrics, of yarns of different colors, containing ring-spun yarns of nm 21 through nm 36, of 2 X 2 twill weave construction, classified in HTS 5208.43.0000, for use in apparel other than gloves.
(3) Fabrics classified in HTS 5210.21 and 5210.31, not of square construction, containing more than 70 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter, of average yarn number exceeding 70 nm, for use in women's and girl's blouses.
(4) Micro-denier 30 singles and 36 singles solution dyed, open-end spun, staple spun viscose yarn, classified in HTS 5510.11.0000, for use in apparel.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 11/03/03, 08/01/03, 05/05/03, and 03/09/04 news, 03110325, 03080125, (Ref:03050520), and (Ref:04030940), for BP summaries of CITA's notices designating the above-listed yarns and fabrics as "commercially unavailable" under the AGOA, CBTPA, and/or ATPDEA.)
CITA Requests Comments on Whether Subject Yarns/Fabrics are Commercially Available
CITA is seeking public comments regarding this request, particularly with respect to whether the yarns and fabrics listed above can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner.
According to CITA, if a comment alleges that any of the yarns or fabrics listed above can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner, CITA will closely review any supporting documentation, such as a signed statement by a manufacturer stating that it produces a subject yarn or fabric, including the quantities that can be supplied and the time necessary to fill an order, as well as any relevant information regarding past production.
- written comments must be submitted to CITA by June 16, 2004
CITA contact - Martin Walsh (202) 482-3400
CITA notice (FR Pub 05/17/04) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-11123.pdf