CITA will enforce visa rules on imported apparel through 2004

CITA will enforce visa rules on imported apparel through 2004    The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has said textile goods exported to the United States in 2004 must comply with visa requirements in effect in 2004.
   Textile quotas on imports from countries that are members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) will fall away midnight Dec. 31. CITA's ruling means textile goods shipped ahead of that date to arrive afterwards, early in 2005, must still comply with visa and quota requirements that are in effect, and will remain so through Dec. 31.
   CITA noted textile goods that are products of WTO members which are exported to the United States on or after Jan. 1, will not require a visa, an ELVIS (electronic visa) transmission, a Guaranteed Access Level (GAL) certification, or a certification of exemption to be allowed entry.
   There had been speculation in the apparel trade community that some parties might export over-quota quantities in 2004 and offer them for entry in 2005, possibly causing market disruption.