E8-20537. Notice of Solicitation of Applications for Allocation of Tariff Rate Quotas on the Import of Certain Worsted Wool Fabrics to Persons Who Cut and Sew Men's and Boys' Worsted Wool Suits, Suit-Type Jackets and Trousers in the United States

AGENCY:

Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration.

ACTION:

The Department of Commerce (Department) is soliciting applications for an allocation of the 2009 tariff rate quotas on certain worsted wool fabric to persons who cut and sew men's and boys' worsted wool suits, suit-type jackets and trousers in the United States.

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 in the United States for an allocation of the 2009 tariff rate quotas on certain worsted wool fabric. Interested persons must submit an application on the form provided to the address listed below by October 6, 2008. The Department will cause to be published in the Federal Register its determination to allocate the 2009 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 October 6, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Applications must be submitted to Office of Textiles and Apparel, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230 (telephone: [phone]). 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:

Robert Carrigg, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, [phone].

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. On December 3, 2004, the Act was further amended pursuant to the Miscellaneous Trade Act of 2004, Public Law 108-429, by increasing the TRQ for worsted wool fabric with average fiber diameters greater than 18.5 microns, HTS 9902.51.11, to an annual total level of 5.5 million square meters, and extending it through 2007, and increasing the TRQ for average fiber diameters of 18.5 microns or less, HTS 9902.51.15 (previously 9902.51.12), to an annual total level of 5 million square meters and extending it through 2006. On August 17, 2006 the Act was further amended pursuant to the Pension Protection Act of 2006, Public Law 109-280, which extended both TRQs, 9902.51.11 and 9902.51.15, through 2009.

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 October 24, 2005, the Department adopted final regulations establishing procedures for allocating the TRQ. See 70 FR 61363; 19 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 October 6, 2008 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.

Dated: August 29, 2008.

R. Matthew Priest,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles and Apparel.