COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Amendment of Visa Requirements for Certain Cotton, Wool and Man-Made Fiber Apparel Produced or Manufactured in the Republic of Maldives

March 20, 1998.

AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).


ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs amending visa requirements.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 15, 1998.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ross Arnold, 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.


In exchange of notes dated May 16, 1997 and February 19, 1998, the Governments of the United States and the Republic of Maldives agreed to amend the existing export visa arrangement to require that the quantity stated on the visa be listed in whole units. If the quantity exported exceeds one specific whole unit but is less than the next whole unit, visaed quantities will be rounded to the closest whole unit. Half units will be rounded up. Where the exported unit is less than one unit, the shipment will be rounded upwards to one unit.


Effective on April 15, 1998, apparel products, produced or manufactured in Maldives and exported on or after April 15, 1998 must be accompanied by a visa with the quantity stated in whole units, decimals and fractions will no longer be accepted. There will be a grace period from April 15, 1998 through May 14, 1998 during which products, produced or manufactured in Maldives, will not be denied entry if the quantity is stated in decimals and fractions. Shipments exported after May 14, 1998 will be denied entry unless the quantity is stated in whole numbers.


In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the Commissioner of Customs to amend the export visa requirements.See 47 FR 36879, published on August 24, 1982.

D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.



Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
March 20, 1998.


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 August 18, 1982, by the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. That directive directed you to prohibit entry of certain cotton, wool and man-made fiber apparel, produced or manufactured in the Republic of Maldives for which the Government of Maldives has not issued an appropriate export visa.


Effective on April 15, 1998 apparel, produced or manufactured in Maldives and exported on or after April 15, 1998 must be accompanied by a visa with the quantity stated in whole units, decimals and fractions will no longer be accepted. There will be a grace period from April 15, 1998 through May 14, 1998 during which apparel, produced or manufactured in Maldives and exported during that period, will not be denied entry if the quantity is stated in decimals and fractions. Shipments exported after May 14, 1998 will be denied entry unless the quantity is stated in whole numbers.

If the quantity exported exceeds one specific whole unit but is less than the next whole unit, visaed quantities will be rounded to the closest whole unit. Half units will be rounded up. Where the exported unit is less than one unit, the shipment will be rounded upwards to one unit.

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.98-0000 Filed 0-00-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F
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