[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 132 (Wednesday, October 9, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1810]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       MISCELLANEOUS TRADE AND TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT OF 2002

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 7, 2002

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, on October 7, 2002, the U.S. House of 
Representatives passed by a voice vote H.R. 5385, The Miscellaneous 
Trade and Technical Corrections Act. H.R. 5385 included provisions of 
H.R. 5002, which amends the United States-Israeli Free Trade Area 
Implementation Act of 1985 to allow for the designation of Israeli-
Turkish qualifying industrial zones.
  Designation of Turkish qualifying industrial zones will dramatically 
expand Turkish access to U.S. markets through duty-free exports to the 
United States.
  As someone who believes that free and fair trade provides great 
opportunities and benefits to the American people, I have supported a 
number of free trade agreements during the past two years. We live in 
an increasingly global economy and our future progress depends on our 
ability to take advantage of that fact. However, we must also make sure 
our trading partners adhere to the rules of fair play.
  Unfortunately, this legislation would reward Turkey, despite its 
nine-year illegal blockade of Armenia, which, according to World Bank 
estimates, has cost Armenia between $500 and $720 million annually. 
These figures, which represent one quarter to one third of Armenia's 
entire economic output, are staggering.
  Turkey's blockade has also taken a human toll on Armenia's three 
million population. As a result of the blockade, hundreds of thousands 
of Armenians have been forced to leave their country and many of those 
that have remained have been forced into poverty.
  Instead of rewarding one ally to the detriment of another, we should 
continue to press Turkey to end its blockade and establish formal 
diplomatic and trade relations with its neighbor to the east. We should 
also seriously consider a meaningful bilateral trade agreement with 
Armenia. Such a mutually-beneficial trade agreement would not only help 
strengthen Armenia's economy, but will increase the demand for American 
products. U.S. companies and joint ventures working in Armenia are 
primary sources of demand for U.S. goods and services in Armenia.
  In order to make sure that free trade is also fair trade, one trading 
partner should not be allowed to impede the economic well being of 
another trading partner. We cannot and should not adopt a trade policy 
that simply undermines our commitment to an ally, such as Armenia, 
which during the past decade has adopted a free market economy and has 
implemented critical reforms in trade and monetary policy. banking and 
property rights.
  We can take full advantage of trade opportunities without placing our 
nation and others in a race towards the lowest common denominators. 
H.R. 5385 falls far short of our resolve to help allies such as Armenia 
and the other former Soviet republics become full partners in the 
global economy.




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