[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 38 (Friday, February 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10054-10055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4473]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


New Export Visa and Certification Stamps for Certain Textiles and 
Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in Japan

February 18, 2000.
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 and a new certification stamp.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: April 1, 2000.

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); Uruguay Round Agreements Act.

    Three of the textile visa issuing bodies for Japan are being merged 
into one and will use one stamp for goods exported on and after April 
1, 2000. That is, the Japan Textiles Exporters` Association, the Japan 
Textile Products Exporters Association, and the Japan Woolen & Linen 
Textiles Exporters Association will merge into one organization: the 
Japan Textiles Exporters Association. Also, a fourth textile visa 
issuing body, Japan General Merchandise Exporters` Association, will no 
longer be authorized to issue visas for Japan.
    Effective on April 1, 2000, goods exported on and after April 1, 
2000 must be accompanied by the textile visa or exempt certification 
with the ``Japan Textiles Exporters Association'' name on it. The 
requirement that both of these stamps be in blue ink remains. There 
will be a grace period from April 1, 2000 through April 30, 2000. Goods 
exported prior to April 1, 2000, and during the one-month grace period 
may be allowed entry with either the new ``Japan Textiles Exporters 
Association'' textile visa or exempt certification, or the old visa 
with ``The Japan Textiles Exporters' Association'', the ``Japan Textile 
Products Exporters Association'', the ``Japan Woolen & Linen Textiles 
Exporters Association'', or the ``Japan General Merchandise Exporters' 
Association'' name on the visa stamp, or the old exempt certification 
stamp with ``The Japan Textile Products Exporters Association'' name on 
it. Goods exported on and after May 1, 2000 must have either a valid 
visa or exempt certification with the ``Japan Textiles Exporters 
Association'' name on it.
    See 52 FR 4639, published on February 13, 1987; 54 FR 31069, 
published on July 26, 1989; and 62 FR 10027, published on March 5, 
1997.

Troy H. Cribb,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

February 18, 2000.

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 February 6, 1987, 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 Japan for which 
the Government of Japan has not issued an appropriate visa or exempt 
certification.
    Three of the textile visa issuing bodies for Japan are being 
merged into one and will use one stamp for goods exported on and 
after April 1, 2000. That is, the Japan Textiles Exporters` 
Association, the Japan Textile Products Exporters Association, and 
the Japan Woolen & Linen Textiles Exporters Association will merge 
into one organization: the Japan Textiles Exporters Association. 
Also, a fourth textile visa issuing body, Japan General Merchandise 
Exporters` Association, will no longer be authorized to issue visas 
for Japan.
    Effective on April 1, 2000, goods exported on and after April 1, 
2000 must be accompanied by the textile visa or exempt certification 
with the ``Japan Textiles Exporters Association'' name on it. The 
requirement that both of these stamps be in blue ink remains. There 
will be a grace period from April 1, 2000 through April 30, 2000. 
Goods exported prior to April 1, 2000, and during the one-month 
grace period may be allowed entry with either the new ``Japan 
Textiles Exporters Association'' textile visa or exempt 
certification, or the old visa with ``The Japan Textiles Exporters' 
Association'', the ``Japan Textile Products Exporters Association'', 
the ``Japan Woolen & Linen Textiles Exporters Association'', or the 
``Japan General Merchandise Exporters' Association'' name on the 
visa stamp, or the old exempt certification stamp with ``The Japan 
Textile Products Exporters Association'' name on it. Goods exported 
on and after May 1, 2000 must have either a valid visa or exempt 
certification with the ``Japan Textiles Exporters Association'' name 
on it.
    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).

[[Page 10055]]

    Sincerely,

Troy H. Cribb,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

(Japan Textiles Exporters Association)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN25FE00.062

(Japan Textiles Exporters Association)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN25FE00.063

[FR Doc. 00-4473 Filed 2-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F