Amendment to Quota and Visa Requirements to Increase the Exemption for Properly Marked Commercial Sample Shipments From Various Countries

COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Amendment to Quota and Visa Requirements to Increase the

Exemption for Properly Marked Commercial Sample Shipments From Various

Countries

July 6, 1998.

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

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs increasing

the exemption for properly marked commercial sample shipments.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: September 1, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian F. Fennessy, International Trade

Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of

Commerce, (202) 482-3400.

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.

Currently, shipments of properly marked commercial samples valued

at U.S.$250 or less do not require a visa for entry into the United

States and are not charged to applicable quotas. The Committee for the

Implementation of Textile Agreements has reviewed the dollar limitation

and has decided to increase the exemption from U.S.$250 to U.S.$800 for

properly marked commercial sample shipments exported on or after

September 1, 1998.

In addition to other requirements, U.S. Customs guidelines require

that each imported sample must be indelibly marked ``SAMPLE'' in large

letters in specific locations depending on the imported article.

In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the

Commissioner of Customs to amend existing visa requirements.

Troy H. Cribb,

Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

July 6, 1998.

Commissioner of Customs,

Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC 20229.

Dear Commissioner: This directive amends, but does not cancel,

all directives issued to you which establish textile and apparel

export visa requirements.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has

decided to increase the dollar limitation for properly marked

commercial sample shipments from U.S.$250 to U.S.$800. Effective on

September 1, 1998, for products exported on or after September 1,

1998, shipments of properly marked commercial samples valued at

U.S.$800 or less do not require a visa for entry into the United

States and shall not be charged to applicable quotas.

Shipments entered or withdrawn from warehouse according to this

directive which are not properly marked shall be subject to

applicable quota and visa requirements.

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).

[[Page 37096]]

Sincerely,

Troy H. Cribb,

Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

[FR Doc. 98-18234 Filed 7-8-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F