Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Mongolia Third Neighbor Trade Act

Findings

Congress finds the following:(1)In 1992, Mongolia adopted a constitution establishing a parliamentary democracy, becoming the only country in Asia to transition from communism to democracy. Mongolia shares land borders with only the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China. With a large land area and a population of only 3,000,000, Mongolia is the world’s most sparsely populated country, and Mongolia’s sovereignty is thought to be at risk from the overwhelming influence of its much larger and more populous neighbors.(2)Mongolia has shown its commitment to a third neighbor relationship with the United States by sending troops to support United States combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and has a strong record of troop contributions to international peacekeeping missions. Mongolia’s success as a democracy, strategic location, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and ability to pursue an independent foreign policy are highly relevant to the national security of the United States.(3)Mongolia describes the United States as its most important third neighbor, but United States-Mongolia trade is substantially lower than many other bilateral trading relationships, and trade has declined in recent years. Total trade between the countries in 2012 measured $707,000,000, but in 2017 the United States exported only $82,200,000 in goods to Mongolia and imported only $9,400,000 in goods from Mongolia.(4)After mining, agriculture is the second most important sector contributing to the Mongolian economy. The livestock sector accounts for 87 percent of agricultural production in Mongolia and employs around one-third of the working population.(5)Since the 1940s, the annual mean air temperature in Mongolia has risen at three times the global rate. Average precipitation is declining and extreme weather disasters are more frequent, posing acute challenges for livestock herding in the country. In 2017, an estimated 700,000 of the country’s livestock population were killed due to the post-drought extreme winter phenomenon known as dzud. This phenomenon is unique to Mongolia and has increased in frequency and severity in recent years, causing a rise in livestock mortality and diminishing livelihoods for herders which has led to widespread rural poverty and a contraction in the national economy.(6)Mongolia would greatly benefit from preferential treatment for United States imports of certain Mongolian products to help address some of the economic impacts of the dzuds.(7)The cashmere trade is particularly important to Mongolia’s economy, but while Mongolia produces over one-third of the world’s raw cashmere, it produces few finished cashmere products. Most Mongolian raw cashmere is exported to China, and the United States buys nearly all of its cashmere products from China. Preferential treatment for United States imports of certain Mongolian products, including cashmere products, would benefit the United States by facilitating increased trade with Mongolia.(8)The development of Mongolia’s garment industry would also promote women’s employment and empowerment. Women have historically participated in Mongolia’s garment industry at high rates, and the garment industry has historically provided safe and stable employment for women in Mongolia.(9)In developing and expanding Mongolia’s cashmere industry, it is critical for Mongolia to take steps to ensure the protection of its grasslands and prevent overgrazing of cashmere goats.(10)Preferential treatment for United States imports of such Mongolian products would benefit Mongolia at this critical time.

Duty-free treatment for certain imports from Mongolia

(a)

In general

Subject to the eligibility requirements in subsection (c), the President is authorized to provide duty-free treatment for any article described in subsection (b) that is imported directly from Mongolia into the customs territory of the United States.(b)

Article described

(1)

In general

An article is described in this subsection if—(A)the article is the growth, product, or manufacture of Mongolia;(B)the article is classified under chapter 51, 57, 60, 61, 62, 63, or 94 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States;(C)(i)the article is an apparel or textile article made of fabrics or fibers containing not less than 23 percent by weight of cashmere; or(ii)the sum of the cost or value of cashmere components of the article is not less than 51 percent of the appraised value of the article at the time it is entered;(D)in the case of an article that is a textile or apparel article, the yarn and fabric used to manufacture the article—(i)are wholly produced in Mongolia; and(ii)are wholly formed and cut, or are components wholly knit-to-shape, in Mongolia;(E)the sum of the cost or value of the materials produced in, and the direct costs of processing operations performed in, Mongolia or the customs territory of the United States is not less than 50 percent of the appraised value of the article at the time it is entered; and(F)the President determines that the article is not import-sensitive, after receiving the advice of the United States International Trade Commission in accordance with section 503(e) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2463(e)).(2)

Exclusions

An article shall not be treated as the growth, product, or manufacture of Mongolia for purposes of paragraph (1)(A) by virtue of having merely undergone—(A)simple combining or packaging operations; or(B)mere dilution with water or mere dilution with another substance that does not materially alter the characteristics of the article.(c)

Eligibility requirements

Duty-free treatment may not be provided under this Act unless the President determines and certifies to Congress that—(1)Mongolia meets—(A)each of the requirements described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 104(a) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3703(a)); and(B)each of the criteria relating to the prevention of transshipment described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 113(a) of such Act (19 U.S.C. 3722(a));(2)Mongolia has effectively enforced environmental laws, regulations, or other measures and fulfilled its international environmental obligations, including as such obligations relate to public health; and(3)after taking into account the factors set forth in paragraphs (1) through (7) of subsection (c) of section 502 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2462), Mongolia meets the eligibility requirements of such section 502.(d)

Verification with respect to transshipment for textile and apparel articles

(1)

In general

Not later than January 1 of each year, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall verify that textile and apparel articles imported from Mongolia to which duty-free treatment is extended under this Act are not being unlawfully transshipped into the United States.(2)

Report to president and congress

If the Commissioner determines pursuant to paragraph (1) that textile and apparel articles imported from Mongolia to which duty-free treatment is extended under this Act are being unlawfully transshipped into the United States, the Commissioner shall report that determination to the President and the appropriate congressional committees.(e)

Withdrawal, suspension, or limitation of preferential treatment and mandatory graduation

The provisions of subsections (d) and (e) of section 502 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2462) shall apply with respect to Mongolia to the same extent and in the same manner as such provisions apply with respect to beneficiary developing countries under title V of that Act (19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.).(f)

Termination of duty-Free treatment

No duty-free treatment extended under this Act shall remain in effect after December 31, 2026.(g)

Definitions

In this section:(1)

Customs territory of the united states

The term customs territory of the United States has the meaning given the term in General Note 2 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.(2)

Cashmere

The term cashmere means fine hair obtained from a cashmere goat (capra hircus laniger).

Briefing requirement

(a)

In general

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the President shall monitor, review, and provide a briefing to the appropriate congressional committees on—(1)the implementation of this Act;(2)compliance of Mongolia with the eligibility requirements described in section 3(d); and(3)the trade and investment policy of the United States with respect to Mongolia.

Appropriate congressional committees defined

In this Act, the term appropriate congressional committees means—(1)the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and(2)the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.