Stretch Poly-Spandex Woven Fabric Allowed From Outside CAFTA-DR Region

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements determined that polyester/spandex woven fabric, covered by Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheadings 5407.51, 5407.52, or 5407.53, of a certain specification sought by Konffetty, can be imported from outside the region, without losing the tariff benefits of the Dominican Republic-Central America-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Konffetty has a factory in El Salvador; a textile mill in Guatemala argued that the fabric wasn't in short supply, that it could supply Konffetty, but CITA ruled that Summitex didn't demonstrate "its ability to supply the subject product in commercial quantities in a timely manner."

The request took two months to process.

Manufacturers seeking to use CAFTA-DR benefits will be allowed to import this sort of fabric in unrestricted quantities, CITA said in a Federal Register notice scheduled for Jan. 3 publication.