[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 229 (Monday, November 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65753-65754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31772]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Elimination of Export Visa and Electronic Visa Information System 
(ELVIS) Requirements for Silk Apparel Products Produced or Manufactured 
in the People's Republic of China

November 23, 1998.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs eliminating 
export visa and ELVIS requirements.

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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.

    In accordance with the Export Visa Arrangement, effected by a 
Memorandum of Understanding dated February 1, 1997, between the 
Governments of the United States and the People's Republic of China, 
the U.S. Government has agreed to discontinue the requirement for 
export licenses and ELVIS (Electronic Visa Information System) 
transmissions for silk apparel products in Categories 733-736, 738-748, 
750-752, 758 and 759, produced or manufactured in China and entered 
into the United States after December 31, 1998.

[[Page 65754]]

    In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the 
Commissioner of Customs to no longer require a visa or ELVIS 
transmission for silk apparel products in the aforementioned categories 
which are produced or manufactured in China and entered into the United 
States on and after January 1, 1999. Other export documentation will 
continue to be required.
    See 62 FR 15465, published on April 1, 1997.
Troy H. Cribb,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
November 23, 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, and silk apparel products, produced or 
manufactured in the People's Republic of China.
    Effective on January 1, 1999, you are directed to no longer 
require a visa or ELVIS (Electronic Visa Information System) 
transmission for silk apparel products in Categories 733-736, 738-
748, 750-752, 758 and 759, produced or manufactured in China and 
entered into the United States after December 31, 1998.
    Shipments of silk apparel products in the aforementioned 
categories which are produced or manufactured in China and entered 
into the United States on and after January 1, 1999 shall not be 
denied entry for lack of an export visa or ELVIS transmission. Other 
export documentation will continue to be required.
    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. 98-31772 Filed 11-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F