[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 198 (Tuesday, October 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 53321]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27086]



[[Page 53321]]

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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

October 7, 1997.
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 textile export license/commercial invoice printed 
on purple guilloche pattern background paper.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Heinzen, 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).

    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, 1998. The new license/invoice shall be 
printed on purple guilloche patterned background paper with the map of 
the People's Republic of China in the middle. The new form has 
perforated tractor feeds on both sides, and the pattern of the paper 
has smaller intersecting waves. The purple form replaces the light grey 
export license/commercial invoice currently in use. 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, 1998 through February 28, 1998 may be accompanied by a visa printed 
on either the light grey background paper or the purple background 
paper as described above. Both the light grey and the purple forms have 
a map of the People's Republic of China in the middle.
    See 60 FR 22567, published on May 8, 1995.
D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
October 7, 1997.

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 May 3, 1995, 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, 1998, you are directed to amend the May 
3, 1995 directive to provide for the use of export licenses/
commercial invoices issued by the Government of the People's 
Republic of China which are printed on purple guilloche patterned 
background paper with a map of the People's Republic of China in the 
middle. The new form has perforated tractor feeds on both sides, and 
the pattern of the paper has smaller intersecting waves. The purple 
form will replace the light grey form currently being used.
    To facilitate implementation of this amendment to the export 
licensing system, I request that you permit entry of textile 
products, produced or manufactured in China and exported from China 
during the period January 1, 1998 through February 28, 1998, for 
which the Government of the People's Republic of China has issued an 
export license/commercial invoice printed on either the light grey 
background paper or the purple background paper as described above. 
Both the light grey and the purple forms have a map of the People's 
Republic of China in the middle.
    Goods exported on and after March 1, 1998 must be accompanied by 
an export visa issued by the Government of the People's Republic of 
China only on the purple license/invoice form.
    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,
D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc. 97-27086 Filed 10-10-97 ; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F