[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 20, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59088-59089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29649]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Amendment Export Visa Requirements for Certain Silk Apparel and 
Cotton, Wool, Man-Made Fiber, Silk Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber 
Textiles and Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in the People's 
Republic of China

November 15, 1996.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs providing 
for the use of export licenses/commercial invoices printed on light 
grey guilloche paper with a map of the People's Republic of China in 
the middle.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Aldrich, 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).

    The Governments of the United States and the People's Republic of 
China have agreed to amend the existing export visa requirements to 
provide for the use of export licenses/commercial invoices, issued by 
the Government of the People's Republic of China, for shipments of 
goods produced or manufactured in China and exported from China on and 
after January 1, 1997, which are printed on light grey guilloche 
patterned background paper with a newly added dull color map of the 
People's Republic of China in the middle. The light grey form replaces 
the light green export license/commercial invoice currently in use. The 
visa stamp is not being changed at this time. The Chinese Embassy in 
Washington, DC, will continue to issue the white pre-printed 
replacement visa now in use.
    Shipments of textile and apparel products which are produced or 
manufactured in China and exported from China during the period January 
1, 1997 through February 28, 1997 may be accompanied by a visa printed 
on either the light green or light grey background paper with a dull 
color map of the People's Republic of China in the middle.
    See 59 FR 35324, published on July 11, 1994; and 60 FR 22567, 
published on May 8, 1995.
Troy H. Cribb,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
November 15, 1996.

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

    Dear Commissioner: This directive amends, but does not cancel, 
the directives issued to you on July 5, 1994 and May 3, 1995, by the 
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. 
Those directives establish export visa arrangements for certain silk 
apparel and cotton, wool, man-made fiber, silk blend, and other 
vegetable fiber textiles and textile products, produced or 
manufactured in the People's Republic of China.
    Effective on January 1, 1997, you are directed to amend the July 
5, 1994 and May 3, 1995 directives to provide for the use of export 
licenses/commercial invoices issued

[[Page 59089]]

by the Government of the People's Republic of China which are 
printed on light grey guilloche patterned background paper with a 
newly added dull color map of the People's Republic of China in the 
middle. The light grey form will replace the light green form 
currently being used. The Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC, will 
continue to issue the white pre-printed replacement visa now in use.
    To facilitate implementation of this amendment to the export 
licensing system, I request that you permit entry of textile 
products, produced or manufactured in China and exported from China 
during the period January 1, 1997 through February 28, 1997, for 
which the Government of the People's Republic of China has issued an 
export license/commercial invoice printed on either a light green 
form or a light grey form with a dull color map of the People's 
Republic of China in the middle.
    Goods exported on and after March 1, 1997 must be accompanied by 
an export visa issued by the Government of the People's Republic of 
China only on the light grey license/invoice form with a dull color 
map of the People's Republic of China in the middle.
    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. 96-29649 Filed 11-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F