[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 161 (Monday, August 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 42934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21028]



[[Page 42934]]

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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Amendment of Export Visa Requirements for Certain Man-Made Fiber 
Apparel Products Produced or Manufactured in the Republic of Maldives

August 13, 1996.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs amending 
visa requirements.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: September 1, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ross Arnold, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-4212.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended; 
section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 
1854).

    In 1983, the Governments of the United States and the Republic of 
Maldives agreed to amend their Visa Arrangement, effected by exchange 
of letters dated December 29, 1981 and March 22, 1982, to require the 
use of a standard nine-digit visa number, beginning with the year of 
quota.
    Effective on September 1, 1996, all export visas issued by the 
Republic of Maldives for cotton, wool and man-made fiber apparel 
products in Categories 237, 239, 330-359, 431-459 and 630-659, produced 
or manufactured in Maldives and exported from Maldives on and after 
September 1, 1996, must contain the nine-digit visa number, beginning 
with the last digit of the year of export rather than the year of 
quota. During the period September 1, 1996 through September 30, 1996, 
U.S. Customs will accept either the new or the old visa number format. 
Goods exported on and after October 1, 1996 shall be denied entry if 
not accompanied by an appropriate export visa, beginning with the 
correct year of export.
    In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the 
Commissioner of Customs to amend the visa requirements to require the 
use of the standard nine-digit visa number, beginning with one numeric 
digit for the last digit of the year of export, followed by the two 
character alpha country code and a six digit numeric serial number 
identifying the shipment; e.g., 6MV123456.
    See 47 FR 36879, published on August 24, 1992.
Troy H. Cribb,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
August 13, 1996.

Commissioner of Customs,
Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC 20229.

    Dear Commissioner: This directive amends, but does not cancel, 
the directive issued to you on August 18, 1982, as amended, by the 
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. 
That directive directs you to prohibit entry of certain cotton, wool 
and man-made fiber apparel, produced or manufactured in Maldives 
which were not properly visaed by the Government of the Republic of 
Maldives.
    Effective on September 1, 1996, all export visas issued by the 
Republic of Maldives for cotton, wool and man-made fiber apparel in 
Categories 237, 239, 330-359, 431-459 and 630-659, produced or 
manufactured in Maldives and exported from Maldives on and after 
September 1, 1996, must contain the nine-digit visa number, 
beginning with the last digit of the year of export rather than the 
year of quota. During the period September 1, 1996 through September 
30, 1996, you are directed to accept either the new or the old visa 
number format. Goods exported on and after October 1, 1996 must be 
accompanied by a visa which contains the standard nine-digit visa 
number, beginning with one numeric digit for the last digit of the 
year of export, followed by the two character alpha country code and 
a six digit numeric serial number identifying the shipment; e.g., 
6MV123456.
    Shipments entered or withdrawn from warehouse according to this 
directive which are not accompanied by an appropriate export visa 
shall be denied entry and a new visa must be obtained.
    The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has 
determined that this action falls within the foreign affairs 
exception to the rulemaking provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1).
    Sincerely,
Troy H. Cribb,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 96-21028 Filed 8-16-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F