[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 199 (Thursday, October 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 55369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27714]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Amendment of Export Visa Requirements for Certain 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

October 8, 1998.
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 textile export license/commercial invoice printed 
on jade green guilloche patterned background paper.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1999.

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.

    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 a new textile export license/commercial invoice, 
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, 1999. The new license/invoice shall be 
printed on jade green guilloche patterned background paper with the map 
of the People's Republic of China in the middle. The jade green form 
replaces the light purple export license/commercial invoice currently 
in use. The visa stamp is not being changed at this time.
    Shipments of textile and apparel products which are produced or 
manufactured in China and exported from China during the period January 
1, 1999 through January 31, 1999 may be accompanied by a visa printed 
on either the light purple background paper or the jade green 
background paper as described above. Both the light purple and the jade 
green forms have a map of the People's Republic of China in the middle.
    See 62 FR 15465, published on April 1, 1997.
D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
October 8, 1998.

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 March 27, 1997, by the Chairman, 
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. That 
directive establishes an export visa arrangement for certain 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, 1999, for products exported from China 
on or after January 1, 1999, you are directed to amend the March 27, 
1997 directive to provide for the use of export licenses/commercial 
invoices issued by the Government of the People's Republic of China 
which are printed on jade green guilloche patterned background paper 
with a map of the People's Republic of China in the middle. The jade 
green form will replace the light purple form currently being used.
    To facilitate implementation of this amendment to the export 
licensing system, you are directed to permit entry of textile 
products, produced or manufactured in China and exported from China 
during the period January 1, 1999 through January 31, 1999, for 
which the Government of the People's Republic of China has issued an 
export license/commercial invoice printed on either the light purple 
background paper or the jade green background paper as described 
above. Both the light purple and the jade green forms have a map of 
the People's Republic of China in the middle.
    Products exported on and after February 1, 1999 must be 
accompanied by an export visa issued by the Government of the 
People's Republic of China only on the jade green license/invoice 
form.
    The requirements for ELVIS (Electronic Visa Information System) 
remain unchanged.
    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,
D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc. 98-27714 Filed 10-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F