[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 165 (Tuesday, August 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51250-51251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21745]


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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

August 20, 2003.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner, Bureau of Customs and 
Border Protection providing for the use of a new textile export 
license/commercial invoice bearing a new watermark.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roy Unger, 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, 2004. The new license/invoice will bear a 
watermark issued by ``the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic 
of China.'' This replaces the old watermark issued by ``the Ministry of 
Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation.'' 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, 2004 through January 31, 2004 may be accompanied by a visa bearing 
either the old or new watermark, as described above.
    Products exported on and after February 1, 2004 must be accompanied 
by an export visa issued by the Government of the People's Republic of 
China bearing the new watermark, as described above.
    The requirements for ELVIS (Electronic Visa Information System) 
remain unchanged.
    See 62 FR 15465, published on April 1, 1997.

James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

August 20, 2003.

Commissioner,
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, 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, 2004, for products exported from China 
on or after January 1, 2004, 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 bear the watermark ``the Ministry of Commerce of the People's 
Republic of China.'' This watermark replaces the old watermark 
issued by ``the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic 
Cooperation.''
    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

[[Page 51251]]

period January 1, 2004 through January 31, 2004, for which the 
Government of the People's Republic of China has issued an export 
license/commercial invoice bearing either the old or new watermarks, 
as described above.
    Products exported on and after February 1, 2004 must be 
accompanied by an export visa issued by the Government of the 
People's Republic of China bearing the new watermark, as described 
above.
    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,
James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 03-21745 Filed 8-25-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S