New Export Visa Stamp for Certain Wool Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in Russia

COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

New Export Visa Stamp for Certain Wool Textile Products Produced

or Manufactured in Russia

February 16, 1999.

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 export visa stamp.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: March 1, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Naomi Freeman, 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.

Beginning on March 1, 1999, the Government of the Russian

Federation will start issuing a new export visa stamp for shipments of

wool textile products in Category 435, produced or manufactured in

Russia and exported from Russia on or after March 1, 1999. The new visa

stamp reflects a name change from ``MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN ECONOMIC

RELATIONS'' to ``MINISTRY OF TRADE'' but is otherwise unchanged. There

will be a one-month grace period from March 1, 1999 through March 31,

1999, during which products exported from Russia may be accompanied by

either the old or new export visa stamp. Products exported from Russia

on or after April 1, 1999 must be accompanied by the new export visa

stamp.

A facsimile of the new visa stamp is on file at the U.S. Department

of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., room 3104, Washington,

DC.

See 62 FR 4729, published on January 31, 1997.

Troy H. Cribb,

Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

February 16, 1999.

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 January 28, 1997, as amended, by the

Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

That directive directed you to prohibit entry of certain wool

textile products in Category 435, produced or manufactured in Russia

for which the Government of the Russian Federation has not issued an

appropriate export visa.

Beginning on March 1, 1999, you are directed to amend further

the directive dated January 28, 1997 to provide for the use of a new

export visa stamp issued by the Government of the Russian Federation

to accompany shipments of wool textile products in Category 435,

produced or manufactured in Russia and exported from Russia on or

after March 1, 1999. The new visa stamp reflects a name change from

``MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN ECONOMIC RELATIONS'' to ``MINISTRY OF TRADE''

but is otherwise unchanged.

Textile products exported from Russia during the period March 1,

1999 through March 31, 1999 may be accompanied by either the old or

new export visa stamp. Products exported from Russia on or after

April 1, 1999 must be accompanied by the new export visa stamp.

A facsimile of the new visa stamp is enclosed with this letter.

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,

Troy H. Cribb,

Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

[FR Doc. 99-4250 Filed 2-19-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F