[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2261 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2261

       To expand certain preferential trade treatment for Haiti.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 30, 2004

Mr. DeWine (for himself, Mr. Graham of Florida, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Baucus, 
  Mr. Chafee, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Voinovich, and Mr. 
    Sununu) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
                  referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
       To expand certain preferential trade treatment for Haiti.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Haiti Economic Recovery Opportunity 
Act of 2004''.

SEC. 2. TRADE BENEFITS TO HAITI.

    (a) In General.--The Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (19 
U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 213 the 
following new section:

``SEC. 213A. SPECIAL RULE FOR HAITI.

    ``(a) In General.--In addition to any other preferential treatment 
under this Act, beginning on October 1, 2003, and in each of the 7 
succeeding 1-year periods, apparel articles described in subsection (b) 
that are imported directly into the customs territory of the United 
States from Haiti shall enter the United States free of duty, subject 
to the limitations described in subsections (b) and (c), if Haiti has 
satisfied the requirements set forth in subsection (d).
    ``(b) Apparel Articles Described.--Apparel articles described in 
this subsection are apparel articles that are wholly assembled or knit-
to-shape in Haiti from any combination of fabrics, fabric components, 
components knit-to-shape, and yarns without regard to the country of 
origin of the fabrics, components, or yarns.
    ``(c) Preferential Treatment.--The preferential treatment described 
in subsection (a), shall be extended--
            ``(1) during the 12-month period beginning on October 1, 
        2003, to a quantity of apparel articles that is equal to 1.5 
        percent of the aggregate square meter equivalents of all 
        apparel articles imported into the United States during the 12-
        month period beginning October 1, 2002; and
            ``(2) during the 12-month period beginning on October 1 of 
        each succeeding year, to a quantity of apparel articles that is 
        equal to the product of--
                    ``(A) the percentage applicable during the previous 
                12-month period plus 0.5 percent (but not over 3.5 
                percent); and
                    ``(B) the aggregate square meter equivalents of all 
                apparel articles imported into the United States during 
                the 12-month period that ends on September 30 of that 
                year.
    ``(d) Eligibility Requirements.--Haiti shall be eligible for 
preferential treatment under this section if the President determines 
and certifies to Congress that Haiti--
            ``(1) has established, or is making continual progress 
        toward establishing--
                    ``(A) a market-based economy that protects private 
                property rights, incorporates an open rules-based 
                trading system, and minimizes government interference 
                in the economy through measures such as price controls, 
                subsidies, and government ownership of economic assets;
                    ``(B) the rule of law, political pluralism, and the 
                right to due process, a fair trial, and equal 
                protection under the law;
                    ``(C) the elimination of barriers to United States 
                trade and investment, including by--
                            ``(i) the provision of national treatment 
                        and measures to create an environment conducive 
                        to domestic and foreign investment;
                            ``(ii) the protection of intellectual 
                        property; and
                            ``(iii) the resolution of bilateral trade 
                        and investment disputes;
                    ``(D) economic policies to reduce poverty, increase 
                the availability of health care and educational 
                opportunities, expand physical infrastructure, promote 
                the development of private enterprise, and encourage 
                the formation of capital markets through microcredit or 
                other programs;
                    ``(E) a system to combat corruption and bribery, 
                such as signing and implementing the Convention on 
                Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in 
                International Business Transactions; and
                    ``(F) protection of internationally recognized 
                worker rights, including the right of association, the 
                right to organize and bargain collectively, a 
                prohibition on the use of any form of forced or 
                compulsory labor, a minimum age for the employment of 
                children, and acceptable conditions of work with 
                respect to minimum wages, hours of work, and 
                occupational safety and health;
            ``(2) does not engage in activities that undermine United 
        States national security or foreign policy interests; and
            ``(3) does not engage in gross violations of 
        internationally recognized human rights or provide support for 
        acts of international terrorism and cooperates in international 
        efforts to eliminate human rights violations and terrorist 
        activities.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
        applies with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from 
        warehouse for consumption, on or after October 1, 2003.
            (2) Retroactive application to certain entries.--
        Notwithstanding section 514 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 
        U.S.C. 1514) or any other provision of law, upon proper request 
        filed with the Customs Service before the 90th day after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, any entry or withdrawal from 
        warehouse for consumption, of any goods described in the 
        amendment made by subsection (a)--
                    (A) that was made on or after October 1, 2003, and 
                before the date of the enactment of this Act, and
                    (B) with respect to which there would have been no 
                duty if the amendment made by subsection (a) applied to 
                such entry or withdrawal,
        shall be liquidated or reliquidated as though such amendment 
        applied to such entry or withdrawal.
                                 <all>