ITC Issues Report on Probable Effects of Proposed Modifications to Singapore FTA Rules of Origin for Apparel of Certain Yarns/Fabrics
As requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a report which provides advice on the probable effect of proposed U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SFTA) rules of origin modifications for apparel articles of certain yarns and fabrics on (1) total U.S. trade (imports and exports), (2) U.S. trade under SFTA (imports and exports), and (3) U.S. domestic production.
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If these proposed modifications are implemented by a Presidential Proclamation, the modified rules of origin would apply to U.S. imports from and exports to Singapore.
Probable Effect of Proposed Modifications Would Be Negligible
According to the report, each of the proposed modifications to the SFTA rules of origin detailed below would have a probable negligible effect on: (1) total U.S. trade (both imports and exports), (2) U.S. trade under SFTA (both imports and exports), and (3) U.S. domestic production.
SFTA Rules of Origin For Affected Apparel Articles Would Be Modified
The following are the proposed SFTA rules of origin modifications, as detailed in the ITC's report, for the four types of apparel articles that are classified in HTS Chapters 61 and 62 and are made of certain yarns and fabrics:
1) Certain apparel of micro modal fibers and U.S. pima cotton
The proposed rule of origin change would allow women's and girls' knit blouses, shirts, lingerie, and underwear made of ring spun single yarn of 51 and 85 number metric (nm), containing 50% or more, but less than 85%, by weight of 0.9 denier or finer micro Modal fiber, mixed solely with U.S. extra long pima cotton, classified in HTS 5510.30.00 that is formed outside an SFTA party to still be considered an originating good for SFTA purposes. However, the fabric would still need to be made in an SFTA party.
HTS headings mainly affected: 6106, 6108, 6109, and 6112
2) Apparel of woven cotton flannel fabrics
The proposed rule of origin change would allow apparel (other than gloves) made of 100% cotton woven flannel fabrics, of yarns of different colors, containing ring-spun yarns of 21 nm through 36 nm, of 2 x 2 twill weave construction, classified in HTS 5208.43.0000 that is formed outside an SFTA party to still be considered an originating good for SFTA purposes.
HTS headings mainly affected: 6205, 6206, 6207, 6208, and 6211
3) Blouses of woven cotton shirting fabrics
The proposed rule of origin change would allow women's and girls' blouses made of fabrics of cotton 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 that are formed outside an SFTA party to still be considered an originating good for SFTA purposes.
Affected HTS subheadings: 6206.30.30 and 6211.42.00
4) Apparel of micro-denier, solution-dyed, open-end spun viscose yarn
The proposed rule of origin change would allow apparel made of micro-denier 30 singles and 36 singles solution dyed, open-end spun, staple spun viscose yarn, classified in HTS 5510.11.00 that is formed outside a SFTA party to still be considered an originating good for SFTA purposes. However, the fabric would still need to be made in an SFTA party.
Affected HTS chapters: 61 (knitted or crocheted) and 62 (not knitted or crocheted)
(See ITT's Online Archives or 03/21/05 news, 05032120, for BP summary of the institution of this investigation.)
ITC press release (05-068, dated 06/14/05) available at http://www.usitc.gov/ext_relations/news_release/2005/er0614cc2.HTM
ITC report (Inv. No. Singapore FTA-103-10, ITC Publication 3783, dated May 2005) available at http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/docs/pubs/103/pub3783.PDF