[House Document 108-166]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
108th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 108-166
TO MODIFY DUTY-FREE TREATMENT UNDER THE GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF
PREFERENCES
__________
MESSAGE
from
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
transmitting
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DESIGNATE ALGERIA AS A BENEFICIARY DEVELOPING
COUNTRY AND TO TERMINATE THE DESIGNATION OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA,
BARBADOS, BAHRAIN, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, ESTONIA, HUNGARY, LATVIA,
LITHUANIA, POLAND, AND SLOVAKIA AS BENEFICIARY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES,
PURSUANT TO PUB. L. 104-188, SEC. 1952(a) (110 STAT. 1917)
March 2, 2004.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed
To the Congress of the United States:
Consistent with section 502(f) of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended (the ``Act''), I am writing to inform you of my intent
to designate Algeria as a beneficiary developing country and to
terminate the designation of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados,
Bahrain, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia as beneficiary developing
countries for purposes of the Generalized System of Preferences
(GSP).
I have considered the criteria set forth in sections 501
and 502 of the Act. In light of these criteria, I have
determined that it is appropriate to extend GSP benefits to
Algeria. I have also determined that Antigua and Barbuda,
Barbados, and Bahrain have become ``high income'' countries,
and I therefore terminate their designation as beneficiary
developing countries effective January 1, 2006. Furthermore,
consistent with the Act's prohibition on designation of
European Union member states as beneficiary developing
countries, I am terminating such designation for the Czech
Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and
Slovakia when they become European Union member states.
George W. Bush.
The White House, March 1, 2004.
To Modify Duty-Free Treatment Under the Generalized System of
Preferences
----------
By the President of the United States of America
A PROCLAMATION
1. Pursuant to sections 501 and 502(a)(1) of the Trade Act
of 1974, as amended (the ``Act'') (19 U.S.C. 2461, 2462(a)(1),
the President is authorized to designate countries as
beneficiary developing countries for purposes of the
Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).
2. Section 502(b)(1)(C) of the Act (19 U.S.C.
2462(b)(1)(C)) specifies that European Union member states may
not be designated as beneficiary developing countries for
purposes of the GSP.
3. Section 502(e) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 2462(e)) provides
that the President shall terminate the designation of a country
as a beneficiary developing country for purposes of the GSP if
the President determines that such country has become a ``high
income'' country as defined by the official statistics of the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Termination is effective on January 1 of the second year
following the year in which such determination is made.
4. Pursuant to sections 501 and 502(a)(1) of the Act, and
having due regard for the factors set forth in section 501 of
the Act and taking into account the factors set forth in
section 502(c) (19 U.S.C. 2462(c)), I have decided to designate
Algeria as a beneficiary developing country for purposes of the
GSP.
5. Consistent with section 502(b)(1)(C) of the Act, I have
decided to terminate the designation of the Czech Republic,
Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia as
beneficiary developing countries, with such termination to
become effective for each of these countries when it becomes a
European Union member state.
6. Pursuant to section 502(e) of the Act, I have determined
that Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, and Barbados have become
``high income'' countries, and I am terminating the designation
of those countries as beneficiary developing countries for
purposes of the GSP, effective January 1, 2006.
7. Section 604 of the Act (19 U.S.C. 2483), authorizes the
President to embody in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTS) the substance of the relevant provisions of
that Act, and of other acts affecting import treatment, and
actions thereunder, including the removal, modification,
continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import
restriction.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United
States of America, acting under the authority vested in me by
the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America,
including title V and section 604 of the Act (19 U.S.C. 2461-
2483), do proclaim that:
(1) Algeria is designated as a beneficiary developing
country for purposes of the GSP, effective 15 days after the
date of this proclamation.
(2) In order to reflect this designation in the HTS,
general note 4(a) to the HTS is modified by adding ``Algeria''
to the list entitled ``Independent Countries,'' effective with
respect to articles entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for
consumption, on or after the fifteenth day after the date of
this proclamation.
(3) The designation of the Czech Republic, Estonia,
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia as beneficiary
developing countries for purposes of the GSP is terminated for
each country on the date when it becomes a European Union
member state. The United States Trade Representative shall
announce each such date in a notice published in the Federal
Register.
(4) In order to reflect these terminations in the HTS,
general note 4(a) to the HTS is modified by deleting ``Czech
Republic,'' ``Estonia,'' ``Hungary,'' ``Latvia,''
``Lithuania,'' ``Poland,'' and ``Slovakia'' from the list of
independent countries, effective for each of these countries
with respect to articles entered, or withdrawn from warehouse
for consumption, on or after the day on which that country
becomes a European Union member state.
(5) The designation of Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, and
Barbados as beneficiary developing countries for purposes of
the GSP is terminated, effective on January 1, 2006.
(6) In order to reflect this termination in the HTS, and to
make other changes to update the list of Caribbean Common
Market (CARICOM) member countries, effective with respect to
articles entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption,
on or after January 1, 2006, general note 4(a) to the HTS is
modified by:
(a) deleting ``Antigua and Barbuda,'' ``Bahrain,''
and ``Barbados'' from the list of independent
countries,
(b) deleting ``Antigua and Barbuda'' and ``Barbados''
from the list of the ``Member Countries of the
Caribbean Common Market (CARICOM), except The Bahamas''
under the provision ``Associations of Countries
(treated as one country),'' and
(c) deleting ``Member Countries of the Caribbean
Common Market (CARICOM), except The Bahamas'' and
inserting ``Member Countries of the Caribbean Common
Market (CARICOM)'' in lieu thereof, and deleting
``Consisting of:'' before the list of countries and
inserting ``Currently qualifying:'' in lieu thereof.
(7) Any provisions of previous proclamations and Executive
Orders that are inconsistent with the actions taken in this
proclamation are superseded to the extent of such
inconsistency.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first
day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of
the Independence of the United States of America the two
hundred and twenty-eighth.
George W. Bush.