[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 11 (Wednesday, February 9, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 106-21

  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following 
convention transmitted to the Senate on February 9, 2000, by the 
President of the United States: Rotterdam Convention concerning 
Hazardous Chemicals, and Pesticides in International Trade (Treaty 
Document No. 106-21).
  I further ask that the convention be considered as having been read 
the first time; that it be referred, with accompanying papers, to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed; and that the 
President's message be printed in the Record.
  THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The message of the President is as follows:

To the Senate of the United States:
  I transmit herewith, for the advice and consent of the Senate to 
ratification, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent 
Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in 
International Trade, with Annexes, done at Rotterdam, September 10, 
1998. The report of the Department of State is enclosed for the 
information of the Senate.
  The Convention, which was negotiated under the auspices of the United 
Nations Environment Program and the United Nations Food and Agriculture 
Organization, with the active participation of the United States, 
provides a significant and valuable international tool to promote sound 
risk-based decisionmaking in the trade of certain hazardous chemicals. 
Building on a successful voluntary procedure, the Convention requires 
Parties to exchange information about these chemicals, to communicate 
national decisions about their import, and to require that exports from 
their territories comply with the import decisions of other Parties.
  The United States, with the assistance and cooperation of industry 
and nongovernmental organization, plays an important international 
leadership role in the safe management of hazardous chemicals and 
pesticides. This Convention, which assists developing countries in 
evaluating risks and enforcing their regulatory decisions regarding 
trade in such chemicals, advances and promotes U.S. objectives in this 
regard. All relevant Federal agencies support early ratification of the 
Convention for this reason, and we understand that the affected 
industries and interest groups share this view.
  I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to 
the Convention and give its advice and consent to ratification, subject 
to the understanding described in the accompanying report of the 
Secretary of State.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House,  February 9, 2000.

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