./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TMB/N/333
27 July 1998
(98-2978)
Textiles Monitoring Body Original:  English
AGREEMENT ON TEXTILES AND CLOTHING
Communication from the United States
The Textiles Monitoring Body has receiv ed the following communication from the
United States and is circulating it to WTO Members for their information.G/TMB/N/333
Page 2
Executive Office of the President
Office of the United States Trade Representative
Washington D.C.
(This communication was faxed to the TMB on 10 July 1998)
The Honourable András Szepesi
Chairman
Textiles Monitoring Body
World Trade Organization
Geneva
Dear Ambassador Szepesi,
This letter is provided pursuant to my letter to you dated 25 June 19981, regarding the request
of India, Pakistan and Hong Kong, China for the Textiles Monitoring Body (TMB) to review the
United States' continuation of visa requirements for products included in the Stage 2 integrationprogramme.  In that letter, I promised you a definitive response of the United States to the issues
raised by that request.
The United States held consultations on this matter with the representatives of the
Government of India on Wednesday, 8 July 1998;  and with representatives of the Governments ofHong Kong and Pakistan on Thursday, 9 July 1998.  During these consultations, without conceding its
right to maintain such measures, the United States  informed the Parties that it would eliminate visa
requirements with respect to products integrated in Stage 2, without condition and as soon as
practicable, but in any event no later than 31 December 1998.  We also indicated our expectation that,
as a reflection of our withdrawal of this measure, the Parties would consider further measures ofcooperation to address outstanding and serious problems regarding circumvention of the Agreement
within their territories.
As a result of these discussions, it is the understanding of the United States that the matter of
visa requirements for integrated products is now resolved and that the TMB will not undertake a
review of this matter.
Sincerely,
(signed) Don Johnson
Chief Textile Negotiator
cc: Mr. Munir Akram
Ambassador, Permanent Representative
  of Pakistan to the WTO
Mr. Srinivasan Narayanan
Ambassador, Permanent Representative
  of India to the WTO
Mr. Stuart Harbinson
Permanent Representative of Hong Kong  SAR of China to the WTO
_______________
                                                     
1 See G/TMB/N/330.