[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 4, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 56538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22423]


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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 Korea

August 28, 2002.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1945, 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 Republic of Korea, certain textiles and textile products 
exported from Korea must be accompanied by a visa issued by the 
Government of the Republic of Korea in order to be imported in the 
United States. (See 56 FR 18574, published on April 23, 1991 and 61 FR 
69082, published on December 31, 1996).
    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 December 31, 1996 (61 FR 69082), CITA 
announced that the Government of the Republic of Korea would begin 
implementation of a dual system, issuing both paper and electronic 
visas.
    As a result of the 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 Republic of Korea. Exempt goods, 
for example cottage industry handwoven and handloomed fabrics, handmade 
articles and garments of handwoven and handloomed fabrics, and 
traditional folklore handicraft products, would still require an exempt 
certification issued by the Government of the Republic of Korea.
    CITA is soliciting public comments on the elimination of the paper 
visa requirement for the Republic of Korea and utilization of the ELVIS 
system exclusively. Comments must be received on or before November 4, 
2002. Comments may be mailed to James C. Leonard, III, Chairman, 
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, 
D.C. 20230.
    The solicitation of comments is not a waiver in any respect of the 
exemption of the rulemaking provision 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. 02-22423 Filed 9302; 8:45 am]
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