China: Cancellation of Visa Requirements for Cat 222, 349/649 and 350/650 Safeguard Quotas
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a notice that will be published in the January 23, 2004 Federal Register announcing the cancellation of the export visa and ELVIS (Electronic Visa Information System) requirements for imports of Chinese origin cotton/man-made fiber (MMF) knit fabric (category 222), cotton/MMF brassieres and other body supporting garments (category 349/649), and cotton/MMF dressing gowns and robes (category 350/650) that were to have taken effect for exports on or after January 23, 2004.
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| China:Cancellation effective: 01/23/04QP: 12/24/03 - 12/23/04 |
(As the cancellation is effective January 23, 2004, the export visa and ELVIS requirements were never actually implemented.)
CITA notes that these requirements are being cancelled as the Government of China objected to their imposition during consultations which took place in China during the week of January 12, 2004.
CITA adds that the safeguard quotas on these categories remain in effect, and notes that it will revisit the visa requirement issue if the situation warrants.
(According to CITA sources, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been notified of this visa requirement cancellation, and is therefore not expected to require export visas or ELVIS transmissions as a condition of entry for Chinese origin products in categories 222, 349/649 or 350/650 that are subject to the safeguard quotas. In addition, the Chinese government is reported to have never issued any applicable export visas.)
CITA contact - Roy Unger (202) 482-4212
CITA notice (FR Pub 01/23/04) to be available at http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/publications/about_the_federal_register.html under 'Today's issue,' on January 23, 2004; alsoavailable by fax by emailing staff@brokerpower.com
BP Notes
On July 24, 2003, CITA received petitions from various domestic trade associations alleging that imports of cats 222, 350/650, 349/649, and 331/631 from China were, due to market disruption, threatening to impede the orderly development of trade in these products. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/25/03 news, 03072505, for BP summary on the filing of these petitions.)
On August 18, 2003, CITA published its determination that the domestic industry's petitions regarding cats 222, 350/650, and 349/649 provided the information necessary for CITA to consider whether to request consultations with China on textile and apparel products in these categories, which were, at that time, quota- and visa-free from China. (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/18/03 news, 03081805, for BP summary of CITA's determination.)
On November 17, 2003, CITA voted to impose safeguard quotas on China cats 222, 349/649, and 350/650, due to market disruption and the threat of impeding the orderly development of trade in these products. (See ITT's Online Archives or 11/19/03 news, 03111910, for BP summary on CITA's vote.)
In a December 29, 2003 Federal Register notice, CITA imposed quota requirements on categories 222, 349/649 and 350/650 for exports during the 12/24/03 - 12/23/04 period, and export/visa ELVIS requirements for exports on or after January 23, 2004. (See ITT's Online Archives or 12/29/03 news, 03122920 for BP summary.)
During the week beginning January 12, 2004, a U.S. delegation held consultations in China on these safeguard quotas. According to government sources, no agreement was reached to modify the safeguard quotas during this first round of consultations. The next round of consultations is expected to be held in February 2004. CITA has previously stated that every effort would be made to reach an agreement on a mutually satisfactory solution within 90 days of December 24, 2003.