[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 31, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 68264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-34065]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


New Export Visa Stamp for Certain Textiles and Textile Products 
Produced or Manufactured in Hong Kong

December 23, 1997.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs providing 
for the use of a new export visa stamp.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1998.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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

    Beginning on January 1, 1998, the Government of the Hong Kong 
Special Administrative Region will start issuing a new circular visa 
stamp. The visa number, date of issue, category(ies) and quantity(ies) 
will be printed by computer inside the circular stamp. This new visa 
will be issued on Export Licenses covering shipments of textile 
products, produced or manufactured in Hong Kong and exported on or 
after January 1, 1998.
    Effective on January 1, 1998, textile products produced or 
manufactured in Hong Kong and exported on or after January 1, 1998 
shall be accompanied by a circular visa which includes the visa number, 
date of issue, category(ies) and quantity(ies) printed by computer 
inside the circular stamp. There will be a grace period from January 1, 
1998 through January 31, 1998 during which the old or the new visa will 
be acceptable. The new visa stamp must accompany goods exported after 
January 31, 1998. If the merchandise is not accompanied by the 
appropriate visa, products will be denied entry and a new visa must be 
obtained.
    A facsimile of the new visa stamp is on file at the U.S. Department 
of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, room 
3100.
    See 58 FR 2400, published on January 19, 1983.
J. Hayden Boyd,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
December 23, 1997.

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 January 14, 1983, as amended, by the 
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. 
That directive directed you to prohibit entry of certain textiles 
and textile products, produced or manufactured in Hong Kong for 
which the Government of Hong Kong has not issued an appropriate 
visa.
    Beginning on January 1, 1998, the Government of the Hong Kong 
Special Administrative Region will start issuing a new circular visa 
stamp. The visa number, date of issue, category(ies) and 
quantity(ies) will be printed by computer inside the circular stamp. 
This new visa will be issued on Export Licenses covering shipments 
of textile products, produced or manufactured in Hong Kong and 
exported on or after January 1, 1998.
    Effective on January 1, 1998, you are directed to accept 
shipments of textile products, produced or manufactured in Hong Kong 
and exported on or after January 1, 1998 which are accompanied by a 
circular visa issued by the Government of Hong Kong Special 
Administrative Region which includes the visa number, date of issue, 
category(ies) and quantity(ies) printed by computer inside the 
circular stamp. There will be a grace period from January 1, 1998 
through January 31, 1998 during which the old or the new visa will 
be acceptable. The new visa stamp must accompany goods exported 
after January 31, 1998. If the merchandise is not accompanied by the 
appropriate visa, products will be denied entry and a new visa must 
be obtained.
    A facsimile of the new visa stamp is enclosed with this letter.
    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,
J. Hayden Boyd,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc. 97-34065 Filed 12-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F