International Trade Today is a Warren News publication.

Requests Filed to Add Cashmere and Rayon Yarns to South Korea FTA Short Supply List

The Commerce Department’s Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) recently received two requests to put new yarns on the short supply list for the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KFTA). In a request submitted March 18, Heritage Cashmere Korea requests that OTEXA place certain cashmere yarns on the short supply list. In another request filed March 11, Dae Yong Textile requests that certain textured and non-textured cuprammonium rayon filament yarns be added to the list.

Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article

If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.

Under short supply provisions of KFTA, fibers, yarns, and fabrics that are “not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner from suppliers in the United States” may be placed on the short supply list on Appendix 4-B-1. A textile or apparel good imported into the U.S. containing fibers, yarns, or fabrics that are included on the list in Appendix 4-B-1 is treated as if it is an originating good for purposes of the specific rules of origin in Annex 4--A of the Agreement, regardless of the actual origin of those inputs, says OTEXA.

Cashmere Yarns

Heritage Cashmere Korea Co., Ltd. on March 18 requested OTEXA add to the short supply list 100% cashmere 2-ply yarns, classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheadings 5108.10 and 5108.20. The yarn is put up in cone type packages. Denier and length of staple are as follows (+/- 10% variance that may occur after knitting, weaving and finishing, conversion factor Ne x 1.69336 = Nm):

  • Weaving Count (single yarn): 22.86 -- 27.94 nm (13.5 -- 16.5 Ne), 25.2 - 33mm
  • Knitting Count (two plied): 39.62 -- 48.43 nm (23.4 -- 28.626 Ne), 30.6 37.4mm

Responses to the request from suppliers that oppose adding the yarn to the short supply list are due April 1, and a rebuttal by the requestor is due April 7. OTEXA says it anticipates ruling on the request by April 29.

Cuprammonum Rayon Filament Yarns

Dae Yong Textile Co., Ltd. on March 11 requested the agency add to the short supply list certain textured and non-textured cuprammonium rayon filament yarns, classifiable under HTS subheading 5403.39. The yarn has no turns, a bright raw white finish, and a cone type package. The yarn sizes are as follows (+/-10% variance that may occur after knitting, weaving and finishing, conversion factor 9000 / denier = Nm):

  • 200 -- 163.64 Nm/30 filaments (45 - 55 denier)
  • 133.33 -- 109.09 Nm/45 filaments (67.5 -- 82.5 denier)
  • 133.33 -- 109.09 Nm/54 filaments (67.5 -- 82.5 denier)
  • 100 -- 81.81 Nm/70 filaments (90 - 110 denier)

Responses to the request from suppliers that oppose adding the yarn to the short supply list are due March 25, and a rebuttal from the requestor is due March 31. OTEXA says it anticipates ruling on the request by April 22.