[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 311 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 311

  Encouraging the United States Trade Representative to pursue a free 
   trade agreement between the United States and the Association of 
                        Southeast Asian Nations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 13, 2009

    Mr. Lugar (for himself, Mr. Inhofe, and Mr. Bond) submitted the 
  following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Encouraging the United States Trade Representative to pursue a free 
   trade agreement between the United States and the Association of 
                        Southeast Asian Nations.

Whereas the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established in 
        1967, with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand 
        being original members;
Whereas ASEAN membership has now expanded and includes 10 countries;
Whereas the United States supports the centrality of ASEAN within East Asia;
Whereas the United States was the first country to appoint an Ambassador to the 
        Association of Southeast Asian Nations;
Whereas ASEAN significantly contributes to regional stability in East Asia;
Whereas approximately 40,000 students from ASEAN are studying in the United 
        States and an increasing number of Americans are studying in ASEAN 
        countries;
Whereas ASEAN partners with the United States Government to combat global 
        terror;
Whereas the United States acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in 
        2009;
Whereas ASEAN constitutes the fourth largest market for United States exports;
Whereas ASEAN has a population of approximately 560,000,000 persons;
Whereas two-way, United States-ASEAN trade totals approximately $180,000,000,000 
        annually;
Whereas the nations of ASEAN are increasingly economically integrated;
Whereas ASEAN has entered into free trade agreements with India, China, Japan, 
        South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand; and
Whereas the United States and ASEAN signed a Trade and Investment Framework 
        Agreement over three years ago: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) the United States Trade Representative, in consultation 
        with other appropriate Federal agencies and interested 
        stakeholders, should establish a strategy for initiating 
        negotiations for a free trade agreement between the United 
        States and ASEAN; and
            (2) at the time of free trade agreement negotiations, any 
        pending bilateral issues between the United States and Burma, 
        including economic sanctions, investment prohibition, travel 
        restrictions or otherwise, should not deter the United States 
        from engaging with other ASEAN nations regarding a potential 
        free trade agreement, nor should the United States encourage 
        trade with Burma, absent significant reforms within that 
        country.
                                 <all>