[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 160 (Friday, August 17, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 43227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-20762]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Request for Public Comments on the Elimination of the Paper Visa 
Requirement for Certain Textile Products Exported from the Philippines

August 13, 2001.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Request for public comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori Mennitt, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-3400.

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.
    Pursuant to a textile visa arrangement between the United States 
and the Government of the Philippines, certain textiles and textile 
products exported from the Philippines must be accompanied by a visa 
issued by the Government of the Philippines in order to be imported 
into the United States. See 44 FR 68005 (November 28, 1979).
    The Electronic Visa Information System (ELVIS) allows certain 
foreign governments to electronically transfer textile and textile 
product shipment information to the U.S. Customs Service and thereby 
issue a visa electronically. On August 18, 1997 (62 FR 43993), CITA 
announced that the Government of the Philippines would begin an ELVIS 
test implementation phase using both paper and electronic visas.
    As a result of successful use of the dual visa system, preparations 
are under way to move beyond the current dual system to the paperless 
ELVIS system with the Philippines. Exempt goods, for example cottage 
industry handwoven and handloomed fabrics, handmade articles and 
garments of handwoven and handloomed fabric, and traditional folklore 
handicraft products, would still require an exempt certification issued 
by the Government of the Philippines.
    CITA is soliciting public comments on the elimination of the paper 
visa requirement for the Philippines and utilization of the ELVIS 
system exclusively. Comments must be received on or before October 16, 
2001. Comments may be mailed to D. Michael Hutchinson, Acting Chairman, 
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, room 3001, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, 
DC 20230.
    The solicitation of comments is not a waiver in any respect of the 
exemption to the rulemaking provisions contained in 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1) 
relating to matters which constitute a foreign affairs 
function of the United States.

D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc.01-20762 Filed 8-16-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S