[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 225 (Tuesday, November 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68134-68135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-3305]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Removal of Export Visa and ELVIS Requirements for Certain Cotton, 
Wool, and Man-Made Fiber Socks in Category 432 and 632 Part Produced or 
Manufactured in the People's Republic of China

November 18, 2004.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner, Bureau of Customs and 
Border Protection removing visa and ELVIS requirements.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: November 24, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ross Arnold, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-4212. For information on the quota status of these 
limits, refer to the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection website 
(http://www.cbp.gov), or call (202) 344-2650. For information on 
embargoes and quota re-openings, refer to the Office of Textiles and 
Apparel website at http://otexa.ita.doc.gov.

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.

    On October 29, 2004, as provided for under paragraph 242 of the 
Report of the Working Party on the Accession of China to the World 
Trade Organization

[[Page 68135]]

(Accession Agreement), the United States requested consultations with 
the Government of the People's Republic of China with respect to 
imports of Chinese origin socks in Category 332/432 and 632 part. 
Through a letter published on November 1, 2004, the Chairman of CITA 
directed the Commission, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to 
establish a twelve-month limit on these products, beginning on October 
29, 2004, and extending through October 28, 2005 (69 FR 63371). At the 
same time, the Chairman of CITA directed the Commissioner to require 
that shipments of these products be accompanied by an export visa and 
Electronic Visa Information System (ELVIS) transmission issued by the 
Government of the People's Republic of China; this requirement did not 
apply to shipments exported prior to November 28, 2004. The Government 
of the People's Republic of China has objected to the requirement that 
shipments of products in Category 432 and 632 Part be accompanied by an 
export visa and ELVIS transmission. Therefore, effective on November 
24, 2004, the United States is rescinding the visa and ELVIS 
requirements for products in these categories. However, the quota limit 
for Category 332/432 and 632 Part remains in effect. Goods in Category 
332 shall remain subject to the Group II limit, and will continue to be 
subject to export visa and ELVIS requirements. CITA will revisit this 
issue if the situation warrants.
    A description of the textile and apparel categories in terms of 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States numbers is available in 
the CORRELATION: Textile and Apparel Category with the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States (see Federal Register notice 69 FR 
4926, published on February 2, 2004). Also see 68 FR 65445, published 
on November 20, 2003.

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

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

November 18, 2004.

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 October 28, 2004. Those directives 
concern the establishment of quota and visa requirements for certain 
cotton, wool, and man-made fiber socks in Category 332/432 and 632 
Part, produced or manufactured in China and exported during the 
period beginning on October 29, 2004, and extending through October 
28, 2005.
    Effective on November 24, 2004, you are directed to remove the 
visa and ELVIS requirements for textile products in Category 432 and 
632 part. However, the quota limit for Category 332/432 and 632 Part 
remains in effect. Goods in Category 332 shall remain subject to the 
Group II limit, and will continue to be subject to export visa and 
ELVIS requirements.
    The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has 
determined that this action falls within the foreign affairs 
exception of 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. E4-3305 Filed 11-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S