04-4073. Implementation of Tariff Rate Quota Established Under Title V of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 as Amended by the Trade Act of 2002 for Imports of Certain Worsted Wool Fabric

AGENCY:

International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION:

Proposed collection; comment request.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 35068 (2)(A)).

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted on or before April 26, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 or via the Internet at [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Request for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to: Sergio Botero, Trade Development, Room 3119, 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; phone number: [phone] and fax number: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

Title V of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (“the Act”) as amended by the Trade Act of 2002 contains several provisions to assist the wool products industries. These include the establishment of tariff rate quotas (TRQ) for a limited quantity of worsted wool fabrics. The Act requires the President to fairly allocate the TRQ to persons who cut and sew men's and boys' worsted wool suits and suit like jackets and trousers in the United States, and who apply for an allocation based on the amount of suits they produce in the prior year. The Act further requires the President, on an annual basis, to consider requests from the manufacturers of the apparel products listed above, to modify the limitation on the quantity of imports subject to the TRQ. The Act specifies factors to be addressed in considering such requests. The TRQ was originally effective for goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 2001, and was to remain in force through 2003. On August 6, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Trade Act of 2002, which includes several amendments to Title V of the Act including the extension of the program through 2005. A TRQ allocation will be valid only in the year for which it is issued.

On December 1, 2000, the President issued Proclamation 7383 that, among other things, delegates authority to the Secretary of Commerce to allocate the TRQ; to consider, on an annual basis, requests to modify the limitation on the quantity of the TRQ and to recommend appropriate modifications to the President; and to issue regulations to implement these provisions. On January 22, 2001, the Department of Commerce published regulations establishing procedures for allocation of the tariff rate quotas (66 FR 6459, 15 CFR part 335) and for considering requests for modification of the limitations (66 FR 6459, 15 CFR part 340).

The Department must collect certain information in order to fairly allocate the TRQ to eligible persons and to make informed recommendations to the President on whether or not to modify the limitation on the quantity of the TRQ.

II. Method of Collection

The information collection forms will be provided via the Internet and by mail to requesting firms.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0625-0240.

Form Number: ITA-4139, and ITA-4140P.

Type of Review: Regular.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 24.

Estimated Time Per Response: 1-24 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 352 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Costs: $76,200.

The estimated annual cost for this collection is $76,200 ($15,000 for respondents and $61,200 for Federal government).

IV. Request for Comments

Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and costs) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or forms of information technology. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Dated: February 19, 2004.

Madeleine Clayton,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.