Notification of Proposed Export Production Activity Gildan Yarns, LLC (Cotton, Cotton/Polyester Yarns)

On June 23, 2017, the Foreign Trade Zone Board published in the Federal Register (82 FR 28628) Foreign-Trade Zone 57--Mecklenburg County, North Carolina; Application for Production Authority; Gildan Yarns, LLC (Cotton and Cotton/Polyester Yarns); Salisbury, North Carolina.

An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board by the Charlotte Regional Partnership, Inc., grantee of FTZ 57, requesting export-only production authority on behalf of Gildan Yarns, LLC (Gildan), located in Salisbury, North Carolina. The application conforming to the requirements of the regulations of the FTZ Board (15 CFR 400.23) was docketed on June 16, 2017.

The Gildan facility (400 employees, 104 acres) is located within Site 19 of FTZ 57. The facility is used to produce spun cotton and cotton/polyester yarns for export. Production under FTZ procedures could exempt Gildan from customs duty payments on the foreign component used in export production. The sole foreign-origin material (representing 10% of the value of the finished product) to be used in the export production is polyester staple fiber (duty rate 4.3%). Customs duties also could possibly be deferred or reduced on foreign-status production equipment. The request indicates that the savings from FTZ procedures would help improve the plant's international competitiveness.

In accordance with the FTZ Board's regulations, Elizabeth Whiteman of the FTZ Staff is designated examiner to evaluate and analyze the facts and information presented in the application and case record and to report findings and recommendations to the FTZ Board.

Public comment is invited from interested parties. Submissions shall be addressed to the FTZ Board's Executive Secretary at the address below. The closing period for their receipt is August 22, 2017. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-day period to September 6, 2017.

This is Gildan's second attempt at seeking authorization for FTZ procedures for yarn production for export using imported polyester staple fiber. In 2014 Gildan filed a "short form" Notification of Proposed Export Production Activity (Docket B-86-2014). The American Fiber Manufacturers Association opposed and the application was denied.

The FTC Seeks Comments on Proposal to Eliminate Obsolete Provisions in Textile Labeling Rule

The Commission recently announced a new initiative to eliminate or change outdated, unnecessary regulations and processes. While the textile regulation at issue here does not impose large costs on business, the cumulative burden of unnecessary regulations can impose significant costs and undermine the efficiency with which government delivers services to the public. With these concerns in mind, the Commission now proposes eliminating the requirement in 16 CFR 303.19(a) that businesses furnish the Commission with registered word trademarks prior to using these marks to satisfy the Textile Rules. Eliminating this requirement is expected to reduce compliance costs while increasing firms’ flexibility.

Section 303.19 of the Textile Rules allows the owners of registered word trademarks who use these trademarks as house marks to disclose such trademarks on labels in lieu of their business names. However, before doing so, the company must file a copy of the trademark's USPTO registration with the Commission. This requirement was imposed in 1959 presumably to obviate the need for the Commission to obtain from the USPTO paper copies of trademark registrations. However, the registered marks can be found by searching online or at the USPTO's Website (www.uspto.gov). The Commission, therefore, proposes to eliminate the requirement for businesses to file paper copies of the registration with the Commission because it appears unnecessary and could in some cases impose unnecessary costs on businesses.

For the Commission to consider your comment, they must receive it on or before July 31, 2017.

CALL FOR PAPERS Deadline: June 30, 2017

The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists' 2018 International Conference will be held March 6-8, 2018, in Greenville, South Carolina. They have a Call for Papers posted on the AATCC website and are seeking submittals for both oral and poster presentations. They are seeking abstract submittals for three educational tracks, Concept 2 Consumer®, Chemical Applications, and Materials. The deadline for submittal is June 30, 2017, for oral presentations and October 23, 2017, for poster presentations.

Federal Business Opportunities through June 21, 2017

Recently posted federal business opportunities.

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Agency:            Department of the Navy
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Agency:            Department of Homeland Security
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Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
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Sol. #:            HHSP233201700048P
Agency:            Department of Health and Human Services
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Title:             Inflatable Canopy Shelters
Sol. #:            W912JB17T2027
Agency:            Department of the Army
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Title:             Cold Weather Gear
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Agency:            Department of the Air Force
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Title:             GLOVES, ELECTRICAL WORKER
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Title:             Vital Torso Protection - Full Rate Production
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Title:             GLOVES,ELECTRICAL W
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Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
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Title:             Use in Jute Materials
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Agency:            Department of the Army
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Title:             CLOTH,COATED
Sol. #:            SPE1C117T1463
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
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Clients of Agathon Associates and subscribers to Agathon Associates' Trade Advisor Service can find links to the full solicitations at www.agathonassociates.com/textile-pri/berry/fbo.htm. You will need to enter your username and password. If you do not know your username and password email David Trumbull at david@agathonassociates.com.

Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning an Out-of-Cycle Review of Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda Eligibility for Benefits Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), in consultation with the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), is announcing the initiation of an out-of-cycle review of the eligibility of the Republic of Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania, and Republic of Uganda to receive benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in response to a petition. The AGOA Subcommittee of the TPSC (Subcommittee) will consider written comments, written testimony, and oral testimony in response to this notice to develop recommendations for the President as to whether the Republic of Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania, and Republic of Uganda are meeting the AGOA eligibility criteria. The deadline for filing requests to appear at the July 13, 2017, public hearing, and for filing pre-hearing briefs, statements, or comments on the AGOA eligibility of the Republic of Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania, and Republic of Uganda is June 30, 2017.

New center for development of high-tech fibers and fabrics opens headquarters, unveils two products ready for commercialization.

Just over a year after its funding award, a new center for the development and commercialization of advanced fabrics officially opened its headquarters June 14th in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and will be unveiling the first two advanced fabric products to be commercialized from the center's work. READ MORE HERE

More NAFTA Comments Posted

As REPORTED EARLIER, the Office of the United States Trade Representative received over 12,000 comments relating to re-negotiation of NAFTA. As USTR processed the comments they are added, a few hundred each day, to a publicly available website. As of Noon, June 19th, over 1,300 had been posted. In addition to the ones earlier reported in this blog, these new comments have been posted:

• Thomas Crockett, on behalf of Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America (FDRA)
• Linda Dempsey, on behalf of National Association of Manufacturers
• Melanie Foley, on behalf of Public Citizen