The CAFTA-DR Agreement provides a list in Annex 3.25 for fabrics, yarns, and fibers that the Parties to the CAFTA-DR Agreement have determined are not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the territory of any Party. The CAFTA-DR Agreement provides that this list may be modified pursuant to Article 3.25(4)-(5), when the President of the United States determines that a fabric, yarn, or fiber is not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the territory of any Party. See Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement; see also section 203(o)(4)(C) of the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act.
The CAFTA-DR Implementation Act requires the President to establish procedures governing the submission of a request and providing opportunity for interested entities to submit comments and supporting evidence before a commercial availability determination is made. In Presidential Proclamations 7987 and 7996, the President delegated to CITA the authority under section 203(o)(4) of CAFTA-DR Implementation Act for modifying the Annex 3.25 list. On September 15, 2008, CITA published modified procedures it would follow in considering requests to modify the Annex 3.25 list of products determined to be not commercially available in the territory of any Party to CAFTA-DR (Modifications to Procedures for Considering Requests Under the Commercial Availability Provision of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, 73 FR 53200) ("procedures").
On May 15, 2009, the Chairman of CITA received a Request for a Commercial Availability Determination ("Request") from Sorini, Samet & Associates ("SS&A") for Cintas Corporation for certain yarn dyed plaid poplin fabrics. On May 19, 2009, in accordance with CITA's procedures, CITA notified interested parties of the Request, which was posted on the dedicated website for CAFTA-DR Commercial Availability proceedings. In its notification, CITA advised that any Response with an Offer to Supply ("Response") must be submitted by June 1, 2009, and any Rebuttal Comments to a Response ("Rebuttal") must be submitted by June 5, 2009. No interested entity submitted a Response to the Request advising CITA of its objection to the Request and its ability to supply the subject product.
In accordance with section 203(o)(4)(C) of the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act, and Section 8(c)(2) of CITA's procedures, as no interested entity submitted a Response objecting to the Request and demonstrating its ability to supply the subject product, CITA has determined to add the specified fabric to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement.
The subject product has been added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities. A revised list has been posted on the dedicated website for CAFTA-DR Commercial Availability proceedings.
| Specifications: Certain Yarn Dyed Plaid Poplin Fabric |
| HTSUS: 5513.31 |
| Fiber Content: 64% to 67% polyester; 33% to 36% cotton |
| Yarn size, warp: Ring spun 49/1 to 53/1 metric: 64% to 67% polyester; 33% to 36% cotton |
| Yarn size, filling: Ring spun 49/1 to 53/1 metric: 64% to 67% polyester; 33% to 36% cotton |
| Thread count: 34.5 to 38 ends x 21 to 23 picks per centimeter |
| Weave type: Plain |
| Fabric Weight: 127 to 140 grams per square meter |
| Fabric Width: 156 to 170 centimeters, cuttable |
| Coloration: Warp stripes, filling yarns dyed multiple colors |
| Finishing Processes: Moisture management, pre-cure permanent press, 10% mechanical stretch in filling direction |