Short Supply Request Filed Relating to Certain Polyester/Nylon Cut Corduroy Fabric

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements ("CITA") is considering a Commercial Availability Request for certain polyester/nylon cut corduroy fabric (file number: 184.2013.07.25.Fabric.Alston&BirdforSPCGlobal) as specified below.

Responses are due by 11:59 P.M. (EST), August 8, 2013. Rebuttals are due by 11:59 P.M. (EST), August 14, 2013.

SPECIFICATIONS: Certain Polyester/Nylon Cut Corduroy Fabric
HTS: 5801.32.0000
Fiber Content: 80-95% polyester, 5-20% nylon
Yarn Size:
Warp: Polyester filament between 111-222 decitex (English: 100-200 denier)
Fill: Polyeter filament 111-278 decitex (English: 100-250 denier) and bi-constiutent polyester-nylon filament between 222-389 decitex (English: 200-350 denier)
NOTE 1: In the bi-constituent yarn, the polyester and nylon are mixed prior to extrusion.
NOTE 2: The yarn size designations describe a range of specifications in its greige condition. They are intended as specifications to be followed by the mill in sourcing yarn used to produce the fabric. Weaving, dyeing, and finishing can alter the characteristics of the yarn as it appears in the finished fabric. This specification therefore includes yarns appearing in the finished fabric as finer or coarser than the designated sizes provided that the variation occurs after processing after the greige yarn and production of the fabric.
Thread count: 20-34 warp ends x 50-67 fill picks per centimeter (English: 50-86 warp ends x 127-170 fill picks per inch)
Weight: 220-290 grams per sq. meter (English: 6.48-8.55 oz per sq. yard).
Width: 142-162 cm (English: 56-64 inches)
Weave: Cut corduroy with 3-6 wales per cm (English: 8-16 wales per inch).
Finishing: Piece dyed or of yarns of different colors.

Burlington Apparel Fabrics Awarded Army Wool/Polyester Cloth Contracts

Burlington Apparel Fabrics, Division of Burlington Industries LLC., Greensboro, N.C., has been awarded a maximum $19,200,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract. This contract is for Army, poly/wool, cloth serge. Location of performance is North Carolina with an Oct. 31, 2014 performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 Defense Working Capital funds The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM1C1-13-D-1052). Burlington Apparel Fabrics has also been awarded a maximum $13,423,200 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment-contract. This contract is for Army, poly/wool, cloth serge. Location of performance is North Carolina with an Oct. 31, 2014 performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 Defense Working Capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM1C1-13-D-1051).

Florida Company Applies for FTZ for Polyester and Cotton Fabrics for Adhesive Bandages

An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board ("FTZ Board") by ASO LLC ("ASO"), operator of Subzone 169A, for its facility located in Sarasota, Florida. The ASO facility (270 employees, 31 acres/150,000 square feet) is located within Subzone 169A, in Sarasota, Florida. The facility is used for the production of plastic and textile fabric adhesive bandages. ASO is also proposing to coat foreign uncoated textile fabric under FTZ procedures. Production under FTZ procedures could exempt ASO from customs duty payments on the foreign textile fabrics used in export production. The company anticipates that some four percent of the plant's shipments will be exported. On its domestic sales, ASO would be able to choose the duty rate during customs entry procedures that applies to textile fabric adhesive bandages (duty-free) for the foreign inputs noted below. 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.

Uncoated textile fabrics sourced from abroad (representing some 22% of the value of the finished product) include the following: 100% polyester, 100% cotton dyed plain weave, and 62% cotton/38% polyester plain weave (duty rates range from 7 to 12%).

Public comment is invited from interested parties. Submissions shall be addressed to the Board's Executive Secretary at the address below. The closing period for their receipt is May 28, 2013. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-day period to June 10, 2013.

Apparel Manufacturer Seeks Woven Fabric of Lyocell for DR-CAFTA Shirt-Making Operation

An apparel manufacturer is seeking a supplier of three separate fabrics with construction specifications as outlined below. The fabrics will be manufactured into shirts in Central America, and therefore the fabric must comply with the rules of origin of the U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement ("DR-CAFTA"). If you are interested in supplying these fabrics please contact David Trumbull at david@agathonassociates.com and he will connect you with the company seeking the fabrics.

Fabric # 1

Fabric Type: Woven fabric of standard lyocell staple fiber.

Fiber Content: 100% standard lyocell staple fiber.

Yarn Size: Metric 29.6/ 1 to 93.1/ 1 (English 17.5/ 1 to 55/ 1).

Thread Count (Warp): 19.7 to 78.7 warp ends per centimeter (50 to 200 ends per inch).

Thread Count (Weft): 11.8 to 59 filling picks per centimeter (30 to 150 picks per inch).

Weave Type: Plain or twill or dobby or jacquard or oxford or satin.

Fabric Weight: 101.7 to 200 grams per square meter (3 to 5.9 ounces per square yard).

Fabric Width: 139.7 to 154.9 centimeters (55 to 61 inches), cuttable.

Coloration: Yarns of different colors or piece dyed or printed.

Finishing Processes: Enzyme washed and/or AIRO finish and/or sandwash and/or wicking finish.

Quantity: 25,600 to 28,300 meters (28,500 to 31,500 yards) per month beginning April 2013.

Fabric # 2

Fabric Type: Woven fabric of standard lyocell staple fiber and man-made staple fibers and/or linen.

Fiber Content: 55% to 85% standard lyocell staple fiber; and 15% to 45% synthetic staple fiber and/or other artificial staple fiber and/or linen.

Yarn Size: Metric 29.6/ 1 to 93.1/ 1 (English 17.5/ 1 to 55/ 1).

Thread Count (Warp): 19.7 to 78.7 warp ends per centimeter (50 to 200 ends per inch).

Thread Count (Weft): 11.8 to 59 filling picks per centimeter (30 to 150 picks per inch).

Weave Type: Plain or twill or dobby or jacquard or oxford or satin.

Fabric Weight: 101.7 to 200 grams per square meter (3 to 5.9 ounces per square yard).

Fabric Width: 139.7 to 154.9 centimeters (55 to 61 inches), cuttable.

Coloration: Yarns of different colors or piece dyed or printed.

Finishing Processes: Enzyme washed and/or AIRO finish and/or sandwash and/or wicking finish.

Quantity: 25,600 to 28,300 meters (28,500 to 31,500 yards) per month beginning April 2013.

Fabric # 3

Fabric Type: Woven fabric of standard lyocell staple fiber and man-made filament and/or linen.

Fiber Content: 55% to 85% standard lyocell staple fiber; and 15% to 45% man-made filament and/or linen.

Yarn Size: Metric 29.6/ 1 to 93.1/ 1 (English 17.5/ 1 to 55/ 1).

Thread Count (Warp): 19.7 to 78.7 warp ends per centimeter (50 to 200 ends per inch).

Thread Count (Weft): 11.8 to 59 filling picks per centimeter (30 to 150 picks per inch).

Weave Type: Plain or twill or dobby or jacquard or oxford or satin.

Fabric Weight: 101.7 to 200 grams per square meter (3 to 5.9 ounces per square yard).

Fabric Width: 139.7 to 154.9 centimeters (55 to 61 inches), cuttable.

Coloration: Yarns of different colors or piece dyed or printed.

Finishing Processes: Enzyme washed and/or AIRO finish and/or sandwash and/or wicking finish.

Quantity: 25,600 to 28,300 meters (28,500 to 31,500 yards) per month beginning April 2013.

Certain Three-layered Composite Fabric Added to DR-CAFTA Short Supply List

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has published its notice modifying Annex 3.25 of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (“CAFTA-DR”) to add certain three-layered composite fabric, as specified below, in unrestricted quantities, to the list of products determined to be not commercially available in a timely manner in the territory of any Party to the CAFTA-DR.

Specifications: Certain Three-layered Composite Fabric

Fabric type: Composite fabric consisting of a 3-layered fleece/shell construction, woven outer layer and brushed inner layer, bonded with a polyurethane ("PU") membrane.

HTS: 6001.22

Woven Face Fabric:

Fiber Content: 83.5% to 88.5% polyester; 13.3% - 14.7% spandex

Yarn Size (single ply, warp and filling): Textured polyester: 80.9 to 85.8 decitex/144 filament (116.5 to 123.6 Nm/144 filament) (72.8 to 77.3 denier/144 filament); Spandex: 43.1 to 45.7 decitex (218.4 to 231.8 Nm) (38.8 to 41.2 denier).

Thread Count: 44.9 - 49.6 warp ends per sq. cm by 35.2 - 41.3 filling picks per sq. cm.

Weave type: Plain weave

Weight: 118.1 to 130.2 g/sq. m (3.5 to 3.9 oz./sq. yd)

Finish: Woven face - piece dyed and/or printed; Woven back - piece dyed.

Circular Double Knit Fleece Back Pile Fabric:

Fiber content: 100% polyester

Yarn Size (single ply): 80.9 to 85.8 decitex (72.8 to 77.3 Denier) (116.5 to 123.6 Nm).

Weave type: circular double knit looped pile

Weight: 157.1 to 173.2 g/sq. m (4.6 to 5.1 oz/sq. yd)

Finish: Knit face - piece dyed; Knit back - piece dyed.

Composite fabric:

Weight: 333.3 to 367.5 gm/sq. m (9.8 to 10.8 oz/sq. yd).

Width: 130 cm (51.18 inches)

Finish: Full contact bonding

Properties:

Windproof: ASTM D737 - Initial <= 1.0 cfm; 3x wash <= 1.0 cfm.

Durable water resistant: AATCC 22 - Initial >= 90 points; 10x wash >= 70 points.

High light fastness: AATCC 16 Opt 3 - Class 3.0 @ 40 hours AFU.

Low Range Hydrostatic: JIS 1092 - Initial 20,000 mm; 3x wash - 20,000 mm. AATCC 127 - Initial 20,000 mm; 3x wash 20,000 mm.

Water Vapour Permeability: JIS 1099 - Initial 20,000 g/sq. m /24 hours; 3x wash 20,000 g/sq. m per 24 hours.

Water Vapour Transmission: ASTM E96 B - Initial 500 g/sq. m / 24 hours; 3x wash 500 g/sq. m per 24 hours.

Remarks: Ranges above allow for a variance of up to five (5) percent for fabric weight, thread count and three (3) percent for fiber content and yarn size NOTE: The yarn size designations describe a range of yarn specifications for yarn before knitting, dyeing and finishing of the fabric. They are intended as specifications to be followed by the mill in sourcing yarn used to produce the fabric Dyeing, finishing and knitting can alter the characteristic of the yarn as it appears in the finished fabric This specification therefore includes yarns appearing in the finished fabric as finer or coarser than the designated yarn sizes provided that the variation occurs after processing of the greige yarn and production of the fabric. The specifications for the fabric apply to the fabric itself prior to cutting and sewing of the finished garment. Such processing may alter the measurements.