II 110th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2964 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 1, 2008 Mr. Lautenberg (for himself, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Levin, Mr. Casey, and Mr. Sanders) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To require the United States Trade Representative to pursue a complaint of anticompetitive practices against certain oil exporting countries.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the OPEC Accountability Act.

2.

Findings

Congress makes the following findings: (1)Gasoline prices have more than quadrupled since January, 2002, with crude oil recently trading at more than $119 per barrel for the first time ever. (2)Rising gasoline prices have placed an inordinate burden on American families. (3)High gasoline prices have hindered and will continue to hinder economic recovery. (4)The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has formed a cartel and engaged in anticompetitive practices to manipulate the price of oil, keeping it artificially high. (5)Eight member nations of OPEC—Ecuador, Indonesia, Kuwait, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela—are also members of the World Trade Organization. Iran, Iraq and Libya are also Observer Governments of the World Trade Organization. (6)The agreement among OPEC member nations to limit oil exports is an illegal prohibition or restriction on the exportation or sale for export of a product under article XI of the GATT 1994. (7)The export quotas and resulting high prices harm American families, undermine the American economy, impede American and foreign commerce, and are contrary to the national interests of the United States.

3.

Actions to curb certain cartel anticompetitive practices

(a)

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

GATT 1994

The term GATT 1994 has the meaning given such term in section 2(1)(B) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3501(1)(B)). (2)

Understanding on rules and procedures governing the settlement of disputes

The term Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes means the agreement described in section 101(d)(16) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3511(d)(16)). (3)

World Trade Organization

(A)

In general

The term World Trade Organization means the organization established pursuant to the WTO Agreement. (B)

WTO Agreement

The term WTO Agreement means the Agreement Establishing The World Trade Organization entered into on April 15, 1994. (b)

Action by President

(1)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President shall, not later than 15 days after the date of enactment of this Act, initiate consultations with the countries described in paragraph (2) to seek the elimination by those countries of any action that— (A)limits the production or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any other petroleum product; (B)sets or maintains the price of oil, natural gas, or any petroleum product; or (C)otherwise is an action in restraint of trade with respect to oil, natural gas, or any petroleum product, when such action constitutes an act, policy, or practice that is unjustifiable and burdens and restricts United States commerce. (2)

Countries described

The countries described in this paragraph are the following: (A)Indonesia. (B)Kuwait. (C)Nigeria. (D)Qatar. (E)The United Arab Emirates. (F)Venezuela. (G)Ecuador. (H)Saudi Arabia. (c)

Initiation of WTO dispute proceedings

If the consultations described in subsection (b) are not successful with respect to any country described in subsection (b)(2), the United States Trade Representative shall, not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, institute proceedings pursuant to the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes with respect to that country and shall take appropriate action with respect to that country under the trade remedy laws of the United States.