[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 125 (Thursday, September 12, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H10344-H10345]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          EXTENDING MOST-FAVORED-NATION TREATMENT TO CAMBODIA

  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 1642) to extend nondiscriminatory 
treatment--most-favored-nation treatment--to the products of Cambodia, 
and for other purposes, with a Senate amendment thereto, and concur in 
the Senate amendment.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The Clerk read the Senate amendment, as follows:

       Senate amendment: Strike out all after the enacting clause 
     and insert:

     SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds that--
       (1) despite recent increases in acts of repression by the 
     Cambodian Government and growing government corruption that 
     has contributed to substantial environmental degradation, 
     Cambodia has made some progress towards democratic rule after 
     20 years of undemocratic regimes and civil war, and is 
     striving to rebuild its market economy;
       (2) extension of unconditional most-favored-nation 
     treatment would assist Cambodia in developing its economy 
     based on free market principles and becoming competitive in 
     the global marketplace;
       (3) establishing normal commercial relations on a 
     reciprocal basis with Cambodia will promote United States 
     exports to the rapidly growing Southeast Asian region and 
     expand opportunities for United States business and 
     investment in the Cambodian economy; and
       (4) expanding bilateral trade relations that includes a 
     commercial agreement may promote further progress by Cambodia 
     on human rights and democratic rule and assist Cambodia in 
     adopting regional and world trading rules and principles.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF NONDISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT TO THE 
                   PRODUCTS OF CAMBODIA.

       (a) Harmonized Tariff Schedule Amendment.--General note 
     3(b) of theHarmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is 
     amended by striking ``Kampuchea''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     applies with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from 
     warehouse for consumption, on or after the effective date of 
     a notice published in the Federal Register by the United 
     States Trade Representative that a trade agreement obligating 
     reciprocal most-favored-nation treatment between Cambodia and 
     the United States has entered into force.

     SEC. 3. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

       The President shall submit to the Congress, not later than 
     18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, a 
     report on the trade relations between the United States and 
     Cambodia pursuant to the trade agreement described in section 
     2(b).

  Mr. CRANE (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that the Senate amendment be considered as read and printed in the 
Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. (Mr. LaTourette). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the original request 
of the gentleman from Illinois?
  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I have 
discussed

[[Page H10345]]

this with the chairman of the Subcommittee on Trade, it is a 
noncontroversial addition that has been placed on it by the Senate, and 
I do not object.
  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. RANGEL. Further reserving the right to object, I yield to the 
gentleman from Illinois.
  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking minority member of our 
distinguished trade subcommittee for his comments and would remind 
colleagues that this already cleared theHouse on a bipartisan basis. 
The only thing that the Senate did was modify theHouse language in a 
specific way noting that Cambodia has made progress toward democratic 
rule and is striving to rebuild its economy. The amendment finds that 
expanding our bilateral trade relations may promote further progress by 
Cambodia on human rights and democracy and may assist that country in 
adopting regional and world trading principles. Given its progress 
already, I would urge my colleagues to support passage of this 
important legislation.
  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I support the gentleman from Illinois, and I 
withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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