COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Announcement of Public Comment Period on the Elimination of the Paper Visa Requirement with the Governments of Korea and Singapore

August 29, 1997.

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


ACTION: Seeking public comments on the elimination of the paper visa requirement with the Governments of Korea and Singapore.



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori Mennitt, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-3821.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Q02
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 Electronic Visa Information System (ELVIS) allows foreign governments to electronically transfer shipment information to the U.S. Customs Service on textile and apparel shipments subject to quantitative restrictions. On November 9, 1995, a notice was published in the Federal Register (61 FR 56576) seeking public comments on the implementation of ELVIS. Subsequently, documents published on December 31, 1996 (61 FR 69082) and December 13, 1996 (61 FR 65548) announced that, starting on January 1, 1997, the Governments of Korea and Singapore would begin a six-month ELVIS test implementation phase. This test phase does not eliminate the requirement for a valid paper visa to accompany each shipment for entry into the United States.

As a result of successful use of the dual visa system, preparations are under way to move beyond the current dual system to the paperless ELVIS system with Korea and Singapore. However, exempt goods will still require a proper and correct exempt certification.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements is requesting interested parties to submit comments on the elimination of the paper visa requirement for Korea and Singapore and utilization of the ELVIS system exclusively. Comments must be received on or before INSERT DATE 60 DAYS FROM PUBLICATION. Comments may be mailed to Troy H. Cribb,Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, room 3001, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.





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).

Troy H. Cribb,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc.97-0000 Filed 0-00-97; 8:45 am]
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