Logo of the International Trade Association
Office of Textiles and Apparel
Dedicated to increasing the international competitiveness of the U.S. fiber, textile, apparel, footwear, and travel goods industries

FTA Commercial Availability Korea

FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS
Korea Commercial Availability



Annex 4-B, the commercial availability provision of the U.S.-Korea FTA, ceased to apply beginning on January 1, 2017. As a result, after that date articles that had been included in Appendix 4-B-1 are no longer treated as originating goods for purposes of the specific rules of origin in Annex-4-A of the Agreement. Article 4.2.3, which remains in effect, provides a consultation mechanism to consider whether the rules of origin applicable to a particular textile or apparel good should be revised to address issues of availability of supply of fibers, yarns, or fabrics in the territories of the Parties.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

Certain Fibers and Yarns

Request: Submitted by the Government of Korea, November 9, 2021
Request for Public Comments: Federal Register Notice, December 6, 2021. Public comments due January 5, 2022.

Request for Public Comments: USITC request for written comments. Deadline for filing is August 26, 2022.
December 2022: USITC Advice on Proposed Modifications.

  • Status: Korea requested that the rule of origin for certain woven fabrics containing certain textured and non-textured triacetate filament yarn be revised to address issues of availability of the supply of the yarn in the territory of the parties.  

 

Certain Fibers and Yarns

Request: Submitted by the Government of Korea, 9/24/2018
Federal Register Notice, October 17, 2018. Public comments due November 16, 2018.
USITC request for written comments. Deadline for filing is March 29, 2019.
July 2019: USITC Advice on Proposed Modifications.

  • Status: Korea requested that the rule of origin for certain fabrics containing the yarn listed as (2) in its request be revised to address issues of availability of the supply of the yarn in the territory of the parties. The governments of the United States and Korea consulted and reached agreement on a corresponding proposed rule of origin change for certain woven fabrics of heading 5408. The rule change was included in Presidential Proclamation 10053  of June 29, 2020.  Once Korea has notified the United States that it has completed its domestic procedures, the USTR will issue a notice in the Federal Register with the effective date of the rule changes.