Notice of Solicitation of Applications for Allocation of Tariff Rate Quotas on the Import of Certain Worsted Wool Fabrics

AGENCY:

Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration.

ACTION:

The Department of Commerce (Department) is soliciting applications for an allocation of the 2005 tariff rate quotas on certain worsted wool fabric.

SUMMARY:

The Department hereby solicits applications from persons (including firms, corporations, or other legal entities) who cut and sew men's and boys' worsted wool suits and suit-like jackets and trousers for an allocation of the 2005 tariff rate quotas on certain worsted wool fabric. Interested persons must submit an application on the form provided to the address listed below by September 24, 2004. The Department will cause to be published in the Federal Register its determination to allocate the 2005 tariff rate quotas and will notify applicants of their respective allocation as soon as possible after that date. Promptly thereafter, the Department will issue licenses to eligible applicants.

DATES:

To be considered, applications must be received or postmarked by 5 p.m. on September 24, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Applications must be submitted to the Industry Assessment Division, Office of Textiles and Apparel, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230 (telephone: (202) 482-4058). Application forms may be obtained from that office (via facsimile or mail) or from the following Internet address: http://web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/wooltrq.nsf/TRQApp .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sergio Botero, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-4058.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

BACKGROUND:

Title V of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (the Act) created two tariff rate quotas (TRQs), providing for temporary reductions in the import duties on limited quantities of two categories of worsted wool fabrics suitable for use in making suits, suit-type jackets, or trousers: (1) For worsted wool fabric with average fiber diameters greater than 18.5 microns (Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) heading 9902.51.11); and (2) for worsted wool fabric with average fiber diameters of 18.5 microns or less (HTS heading 9902.51.12). On August 6, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Trade Act of 2002, which includes several amendments to Title V of the Act. These include the extension of the program through 2005; the reduction of the in-quota duty rate on HTS 9902.51.12 (average fiber diameter 18.5 microns or less) from 6 percent to zero, effective for goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 2002; and an increase in the 2004 and 2005 TRQ levels to 3,500,000 square meters for HTS 9902.51.12 and to 4,500,000 square meters for HTS 9902.51.11. These levels may be modified by the President. See 15 CFR 340.

The Act requires that the TRQs be allocated to persons who cut and sew men's and boys' worsted wool suits, suit-type jackets and trousers in the United States. On January 22, 2001 the Department published regulations establishing procedures for allocating the TRQs. 66 FR 6459, 15 CFR 335. In order to be eligible for an allocation, an applicant must submit an application on the form provided at http://web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/wooltrq.nsf/TRQApp to the address listed above by 5 p.m. on September 24, 2004 in compliance with the requirements of 15 CFR 335. Any business confidential information that is marked “business confidential” will be kept confidential and protected from disclosure to the full extent permitted by law.