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FTA Commercial Availability CAFTA FAQs

CAFTA-DR Commercial Availability (Short Supply)
Frequently Asked Question 

If you have any questions about CAFTA-DR commercial availability procedures, please contact Kayla Johnson and Laurie Mease or email OTEXA.CAFTACA@trade.gov.


1. Where can I find the commercial availability section in the text of the CAFTA-DR Agreement?

2. Where can I find the CAFTA-DR commercial availability procedures?

  • The procedures for considering CAFTA-DR commercial availability requests can be found here.

3. Where can I sign up to receive updates and mass e-mailings regarding the CAFTA-DR commercial availability?

4. Is the CAFTA-DR Commercial Availability process the same as the CBTPA commercial availability process?

No. The concept is similar, but processes are different. Some notable differences include:

  • Time: A determination under the CAFTA-DR commercial availability process takes 30-44 business days. The commercial availability process under the CBTPA takes between 60 to 120 calendar days.
  • Scope of suppliers: A “supplier,” for purposes of the CAFTA-DR, must be located in the U.S. or any of the other six CAFTA-DR countries. A “supplier,” for purposes of the CBTPA, must be located in the United States.
  • End use of products: CAFTA-DR products determined to be not commercially available can be used to make all textile and apparel goods. A product determined to be not commercially available under the CBTPA has limited end uses in apparel articles as defined by the requester.
  • CAFTA products determined not commercially available and added to the list can subsequently be petitioned by a supplier and removed from the list.
  • Due diligence: The CAFTA-DR commercial availability procedures require that requesters document all efforts made to contact potential suppliers of the subject product, prior to submitting a request, and to submit a due diligence certificate.

5. What are the important things to remember when submitting a request?

  • Follow the directions closely.
  • If you have specific questions, please email OTEXA at OTEXA.CAFTACA@trade.gov.
  • Provide information as requested under each heading of the procedures.
  • If a request lacks any of the required information as outlined in the procedures, the request will be rejected.
  • Be sure to include a due diligence certification with both the electronic and mailed copies of the request.

6. Is there a particular format for submitting a request?

There is no particular format for a request submission. A request must include information as identified in each section of the procedures. A commercial availability request should include:

  • Both an electronic version and a signed original document, in English
  • Business Confidential Information clearly identified, as described in the procedures
  • Document headings indicating “Confidential Version” or “Public Version”
  • A signed Due Diligence Certification
  • Product specifications (clearly identified):
  • 1. Detailed description of the subject product, such as:
    • Fiber content
    • Construction
    • Relevant size(s)
    • Finishing
  • 2. HTSUS classification
  • 3. All measurements in metric units.
  • 4. Quantity in metric units
    • Fibers, Yarns: in Kilograms
    • Woven Fabrics: in Square Meters (SMEs)
    • Knit Fabrics: in Square Meters (SMEs) or Kilograms
  • 5. If the requester wants variances allowed for certain specifications, the variance range for each specification must be clearly stated in the product description provided in the request.
    • Names and addresses of suppliers contacted, and a description of the email, phone and other type of correspondence, documented clearly and chronologically
    • Copies of the relevant correspondence
    • Discussion of Substitutable Products: Be sure to clearly describe the unique characteristics of the subject product that distinguishes it from other similar or substitutable products. Describe why such characteristics are required for the purposes of the end-use of the product and cannot be substituted by another product available from a CAFTA-DR supplier.

7. How do I submit a request?

  • When ready to submit an official request, the public version only can be sent to otexa.caftaca@trade.gov (please note that OTEXA_CAFTA@ita.doc.gov is no longer in use). Due to the current telework policy in place for the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Chairman of CITA and OTEXA staff are not able to take receipt of printed and mailed copies of the versions of submissions that contain business confidential information, as required under Section 3(a)(2) of CITA’s procedures. Under these specific circumstances, CITA has authorized a waiver to accept business confidential versions of requests via Kiteworks, the Department of Commerce’s secure file sharing tool. Instructions for the use of Kiteworks will be provided after the public version of the request is received via email.

8. How do I verify that the HTSUS classification I am using in my commercial availability request is correct?

  • It is important that the HTSUS classification listed in the request matches the identified product specifications. HTSUS classifications can be verified by submitting a ruling request to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Generally, a ruling will be issued within 30 calendar days of receipt. Past rulings may be accessed online through the Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS). CBP’s Apparel, Footwear, and Textiles Center of Excellence and Expertise is also available to help answer inquiries. It is best practice to verify the correct HTSUS classification before starting the due diligence process.

9. What are the important things to remember when submitting a response with an offer to supply?

  • Due dates must be met or the response will not be considered
  • The response must provide detailed information regarding the supplier’s ability to supply the subject product of the request. Suppliers should address their ability to provide a product that has all the unique characteristics that are identified in the request such as construction, finishing, sizes, weights, performance, dying, and any other characteristics that define the product.
  • General comments from interested parties will not be considered as an offer to supply
  • An electronic and original signed copy of the response must be submitted by the due date
  • Both versions must contain a signed due diligence certification
  • If a similar or substitutable product can be supplied, provide a detailed description of why the product is substitutable for the intended use, addressing each point made by the requester.
  • Discuss the commercial quantity and time frames for delivering the product.

10. What are the important things to remember when submitting a rebuttal to a response?

  • Due dates must be met or the response will not be considered
  • An electronic and signed original copy of the rebuttal response must be submitted by the due date
  • Both versions must contain a signed due diligence certification
  • The rebuttal response must only address the points raised in the offer to supply and cannot introduce new information.

11. What is meant by due diligence?

  • Every effort should be made to contact potential suppliers. For example, we cannot accept that a potential supplier “did not respond” to an e-mail or phone call after only one attempt to contact the supplier.
  • Contact should be attempted with an appropriate official of a potential supplier. As an example, the CEO of a company may or may not be the most appropriate contact for determining whether the company can supply the requested product.
  • When requesting a fiber, yarn, or fabric from a supplier, the requester must describe the product with the same specifications submitted in the ’Request‘.
  • A requester should be able to clearly substantiate its belief that the subject product is not available from a supplier in a CAFTA-DR country.
  • Whether a substitutable product is available from a potential supplier should be addressed in the submissions.
  • In addition to contacting individual suppliers, requesters should consider contacting textile trade associations. A listing of some U.S. textile trade associations can be found on the OTEXA website.
  • The main Central America/Dominican Republic trade associations are:

12. What is Business Confidential Information?

  • Information that the requester believes is proprietary, the release of which could harm the financial interests or business relationships of the company, will be treated as Business Confidential Information (BCI). If the requester believes specific details, such as quantities and lead times are BCI, then brackets must be placed around such information and the Public Version of the submission must indicate that such information has been redacted. Actual correspondence with a potential supplier can be labeled as BCI, however the names of potential suppliers who were contacted, what was asked generally about the capability to supply the subject product, and the responses thereto must be summarized in the Public Version of the submission.

13. What is the best practice for marking Business Confidential Information in the submission?

  • Place brackets around anything that is Business Confidential Information in the Confidential Version and place asterisks in place of the bracketed information in the Public (electronic) Version. For example, in the confidential version: ABC Fabrics produces [30 million] square meters of fabric per year. In the public version: ABC Fabrics produces * * square meters of fabric per year.

14. Can a product be removed from the Annex 3.25 List?

  • Yes, for products added to the List in unrestricted quantities since the signing of the CAFTA-DR. Items # 1 - # 43 are not eligible to be removed.
  • A request to remove a product must wait for 6 months after a product has been added to the list in an unrestricted quantity. For example, if a product is added to the list on January 1, a request to remove the product may not be submitted prior to July 1.
  • If CITA determines that the product is available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the U.S. or CAFTA-DR countries, a Federal Register notice will be published, stating that the product will be removed from the Annex 3.25 List six months from publication of the notice.

15. What does a general timeline of the CAFTA-DR commercial availability request process look like?

  • Business day 0 – Request received by CITA
  • Business day 2 – Request accepted or rejected Business day 2 – If accepted, mass e-mail sent to all interested parties
  • Business day 10 – Responses with an offer to supply the product are due
  • Business day 14 – Rebuttals Comments are due
  • Business day 30 – CITA announces determination (unless the time is extended)
  • Business day 44 - CITA announces determination (if the time is extended due insufficient information)