[House Document 113-107]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



113th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 113-107

 
                 WITHDRAWAL OF RUSSIA AS A BENEFICIARY 
     DEVELOPING COUNTRY UNDER THE GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES

                               __________

                                MESSAGE

                                  from

                     THEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES

                              transmitting

 NOTIFICATION OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF RUSSIA AS A BENEFICIARY DEVELOPING 
      COUNTRY UNDER THE GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES PROGRAM




May 7, 2014.--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)(2) of the Trade Act of 1974 
(the ``1974 Act'') (19 U.S.C. 2462(f)(2)), I am providing 
notice of my intent to withdraw the designation of Russia as a 
beneficiary developing country under the Generalized System of 
Preferences (GSP) program.
    Sections 501(1) and (4) of the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2461(1) 
and (4)), provide that, in affording duty-free treatment under 
the GSP, the President shall have due regard for, among other 
factors, the effect such action will have on furthering the 
economic development of a beneficiary developing country 
through the expansion of its exports and the extent of the 
beneficiary developing country's competitiveness with respect 
to eligible articles.
    Section 502(c) of the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2462(c)) provides 
that, in determining whether to designate any country as a 
beneficiary developing country for purposes of the GSP, the 
President shall take into account various factors, including 
the country's level of economic development, the country's per 
capita gross national product, the living standards of its 
inhabitants, and any other economic factors he deems 
appropriate.
    Having considered the factors set forth in sections 501 and 
502(c) of the 1974 Act, I have determined that it is 
appropriate to withdraw Russia's designation as a beneficiary 
developing country under the GSP program because Russia is 
sufficiently advanced in economic development and improved in 
trade competitiveness that continued preferential treatment 
under the GSP is not warranted. I intend to issue a 
proclamation withdrawing Russia's designation consistent with 
section 502(f)(2) of the 1974 Act.

                                                      Barack Obama.
    The White House, May 7, 2014.

                                  
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