CSMS Message: 94-000210

TO : ALL ABI BROKERS.

FROM : LEO WELLS

SUBJECT : RES-VIETNAM EMBARGO

DATE : 03/01/94

4350111
FEBRUARY 4, 1994
RES-1-CO:TO:T:T LW

CATEGORY: RES

TO: ALL REGIONAL DIRECTORS (COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS), DISTRICT,
AREA AND PORT DIRECTORS OF CUSTOMS

FROM: ACTING DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF TRADE OPERATIONS

RE: REMOVAL OF VIETNAMESE IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADE EMBARGO

PASS TO: ALL REGIONAL PROGRAM MANAGERS, NATIONAL IMPORT
SPECIALISTS, IMPORT SPECIALISTS, FP AND F OFFICERS,
OAS, NATIONAL COORDINATOR FOR ENTRY SUMMARY SELEC-
TIVITY, ENTRY OFFICERS, INSPECTORS AND OTHER INTERESTED
PARTIES SUCH AS IMPORTER TRADE ASSOCIATIONS AND BROKER
ASSOCIATIONS

THE OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL (OFAC) OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY HAS INFORMED CUSTOMS HEADQUARTERS THAT
THE PRESIDENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE TRADE EMBARGO IMPOSED WITH
RESPECT TO VIETNAM IN 1975 IS BEING REMOVED. THE TEXT OF THE
DIRECTIVE STATES THAT HE DIRECTS THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY TO
TAKE ALL APPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO AUTHORIZE PROSPECTIVELY ALL
COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL DEALINGS WITH VIETNAM. THE SECRETARY OF
COMMERCE IS SIMILARLY DIRECTED TO EXEMPT VIETNAM FROM EXISTING
FOREIGN POLICY CONTROLS IMPLEMENTING THE EMBARGO.

ACTIONS:

1. EFFECTIVE DATE OF REMOVAL OF EMBARGO

- EFFECTIVE AFTER 5:05 PM, EASTERN STANDARD TIME, ON
FEBRUARY 3, 1994, IMPORTS INTO THE UNITED STATES
OF GOODS OF VIETNAMESE ORIGIN ARE PERMITTED. IN
ADDITION, EXPORTS FROM THE UNITED STATES TO VIETNAM,
OTHER THAN THOSE ITEMS WHICH THE COMMERCE DEPT. MUST
STILL LICENSE FOR REASONS OTHER THAN THE VIETNAMESE
EMBARGO PURSUANT TO THE "TRADING WITH THE ENEMY ACT",
ARE PERMITTED.

2. VIETNAMESE BLOCKED ASSETS

- UNDER THE TRADE SANCTIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN IMPOSED ON
VIETNAM, VIETNAMESE ASSETS (GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE)
THAT ARE IN THE UNITED STATES OR IN THE POSSESSION OR
CONTROL OF U.S. PERSONS HAVE BEEN BLOCKED. THE ASSETS
BLOCKED AS OF 5:O5 PM, EASTERN STANDARD TIME, ON
FEBRUARY 3, 1994, WILL REMAIN BLOCKED UNTIL FURTHER
NOTICE, BUT NO ADDITIONAL ASSETS WILL BE BLOCKED.

3. DATE OF IMPORTATION

- DATE OF IMPORTATION WILL BE UTILIZED TO DETERMINE IF
A PARTICULAR IMPORTED SHIPMENT IS IN VIOLATION OF
THE VIETNAMESE EMBARGO, I.E., SUCH IMPORTATIONS PRIOR
TO FEBRUARY 3, 1994, ARE SUBJECT TO THESE TRADE
SANCTIONS AND WILL BE TREATED ACCORDINGLY.

4. DISPOSITION OF VIETNAMESE SHIPMENTS IMPORTED PRIOR TO
FEBRUARY 3, 1994

- FOR VIETNAMESE IMPORTATIONS PRIOR TO FEBRUARY 3,
1994, UPON THE PAYMENT OF SUCH MITIGATED AMOUNTS AS
CUSTOMS (AND THE OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, IN
APPROPRIATE CASES) MAY CHOOSE TO IMPOSE, PLUS STORAGE
AND OTHER CHARGES, GOODS OF VIETNAMESE ORIGIN MAY,
AFTER 5:05 PM, EASTERN STANDARD TIME, ON FEBRUARY 3,
1994, BE IMPORTED INTO THE UNITED STATES AND WILL NO
LONGER BE REQUIRED TO BE EXPORTED.

- LOCAL FP F OFFICERS SHOULD CONTINUE TO COORDINATE THE
DISPOSITION OF ALL VIETNAMESE SEIZURE CASES WITH THE
OFAC PENALTIES OFFICE AND FP F OPERATIONS BRANCH OF
OTO, AS IS CURRENTLY THE PROCEDURE, UNLESS FUTURE
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CONTRARY ARE ISSUED.

5. PUBLICAION OF FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ON VIETNAMESE
EMBARGO

- WHEN OFAC PUBLISHES A FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE
REGARDING THE REMOVAL OF THIS EMBARGO AND THE
CONTINUING OF CERTAIN VIETNAMESE BLOCKED ASSETS, WE
WILL PROVIDE YOU THE SPECIFIC CITATION OF SUCH
ISSUANCE.

6. INQUIRIES ABOUT VIETNAMESE TRADE EMBARGO

- QUESTIONS BY CUSTOMS OFFICERS CONCERNING VIETNAMESE
IMPORTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO CUSTOMS HEADQUARTERS,
OFFICE OF TRADE OPERATIONS, TRADE PROGRAMS BRANCH AT
(202) 927-0771 OR OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND CONTROL
AT (202) 927-1381.

INQUIRIES BY CUSTOMS OFFICERS CONCERNING EXPORTS TO
VIETNAM SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE EXODUS COMMAND
CENTER AT (202) 927-1550.

INQUIRIES ON FP F ISSUES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE
LOCAL FP F OFFICER.

IMPORTER/BROKER/PUBLIC INQUIRIES, WHERE APPROPRIATE,
SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO:

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20220

OR

BY TELEPHONE OR FAX TO:

JOHN T. ROTH
OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
(PHONE: (202) 622-2500; FAX: (202) 622-1657)

JANET L. LABUDA