| Title: | CANCEL NON-AGOA LESOTHO VISA |
|---|---|
| Date: | 2001-07-25 |
| To: | abi |
| Links: | previous, next |
TO : ALL ABI BROKERS.
FROM : SUSAN S THOMAS
SUBJECT : CANCEL NON-AGOA LESOTHO VISA
DATE : 07/24/2001
JULY 24, 2001
CMP-11 FO:TP:IA:TT SST
TO: DIRECTORS, FIELD OPERATIONS
FROM: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TRADE PROGRAMS
OFFICE OF FIELD OPERATIONS
PASS TO: PORT DIRECTORS, ASSISTANT PORT DIRECTORS, IMPORT
SPECIALISTS, INSPECTORS, ENTRY SPECIALISTS, BROKERS
AND IMPORTERS
SUBJECT: TBT-01-031 / QBT-2001-034 CANCELLATION OF THE
LESOTHO EXPORT TEXTILE VISA ARRANGEMENT FOR GOODS
THAT DO NOT QUALIFY UNDER THE AFRICAN GROWTH AND
OPPORTUNITY ACT (AGOA)
REFERENCE: TBT-01-008 AGOA IMPLEMENTATION INSTRUCTIONS
TBT-01-028 LESOTHO AGOA VISA ARRANGEMENT
VBT-93-012 LESOTHO VISA ARRANGEMENT
BACKGROUND:
IN A JULY 2, 2001, FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE (66 FR 34914), THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE
AGREEMENTS (CITA) ISSUED A DIRECTIVE TO U.S. CUSTOMS TO CANCEL
AND SUPERSEDE THE DIRECTIVE ISSUED ON APRIL 23, 1993 (58 FR
26121, PUBLISHED APRIL 30, 1993). THAT DIRECTIVE INSTRUCTED THE
CUSTOMS SERVICE TO PROHIBIT THE ENTRY OF CERTAIN COTTON, WOOL,
MAN-MADE FIBER, SILK BLEND AND OTHER VEGETABLE FIBER TEXTILES
AND TEXTILE PRODUCTS, PRODUCED OR MANUFACTURED IN LESOTHO WHICH
WERE NOT PROPERLY VISAED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF LESOTHO.
THE AGOA PROVIDES THAT ELIGIBLE TEXTILE AND APPAREL ARTICLES
ENTER FREE OF DUTY AND FREE OF QUANTITATIVE LIMITATION
(EXCLUDING ANY TARIFF PREFERENCE LEVELS IDENTIFIED IN THE ACT),
PROVIDED THAT THE COUNTRY HAS ADOPTED AN EFFECTIVE VISA SYSTEM
TO PREVENT UNLAWFUL TRANSSHIPMENT AND THE USE OF COUNTERFEIT
DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE IMPORTATION OF THE ARTICLES INTO THE
UNITED STATES. PURSUANT TO THIS REQUIREMENT, THE GOVERNMENTS OF
THE UNITED STATES AND LESOTHO AGREED TO A NEW AGOA VISA SYSTEM,
WHICH ENTERED INTO EFFECT ON APRIL 23, 2001 (66 FR 21192,
PUBLISHED ON APRIL 27, 2001).
AS A RESULT OF THE NEW AGOA VISA SYSTEM, THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE
UNITED STATES AND LESOTHO HAVE AGREED TO TERMINATE THE 1992 VISA
ARRANGEMENT, EFFECTIVE AUGUST 20, 2001. ON AND AFTER THIS DATE,
TEXTILES AND APPAREL PRODUCTS WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE
1REQUIREMENTS OF THE 1992 VISA ARRANGEMENT. HOWEVER, IMPORTERS
CLAIMING PREFERENTIAL TARIFF TREATMENT UNDER THE AGOA FOR
ENTRIES OF TEXTILE AND APPAREL ARTICLES SHOULD ENSURE THAT THOSE
ENTRIES MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE NEW AGOA VISA SYSTEM (66 FR
7837, PUBLISHED ON JANUARY 25, 2001).
ACTION:
EFFECTIVE AUGUST 20, 2001, TEXTILE GOODS ENTERED, OR WITHDRAWN
FROM WAREHOUSE, FOR CONSUMPTION THAT DO NOT QUALIFY FOR
PREFERENTIAL TARIFF TREATMENT UNDER THE AGOA WILL HAVE NO VISA
REQUIREMENTS.
A VALID AGOA VISA MUST BE PRESENTED FOR AN ENTRY, OR A
WITHDRAWAL FROM WAREHOUSE, FOR CONSUMPTION WHEN PREFERENTIAL
TARIFF TREATMENT IS BEING CLAIMED UNDER THE AGOA.
INFORMATION:
QUESTIONS FROM THE IMPORTING COMMUNITY REGARDING THIS ELECTRONIC
MESSAGE SHOULD BE REFERRED TO THE LOCAL CUSTOMS PORT. THE
CUSTOMS PORT OF ENTRY MAY CONTACT THE TEXTILES AND TRANSSHIPMENT
BRANCH, SUSAN THOMAS, AT (202) 927-3719 OR ROBERT ABELS, AT
(202) 927-1959.
/SIGNED/
ELIZABETH G. DURANT
CC: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FIELD OPERATIONS