[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 146 (Wednesday, November 13, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S10889]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. GRAMM:
  S. 3150. A bill to authorize negotiation of free trade agreements 
with Turkey, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
      By Mr. GRAMM:
  S. 3151. A bill to authorize negotiation of free trade agreements 
with Afghanistan, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to 
authorize the President to negotiate free trade agreements with the 
countries of Turkey and Afghanistan. Trade is a powerful engine in the 
promotion of prosperity and in the strengthening of freedom. The more 
we promote trade, the more we benefit and the more our trading partners 
benefit.
  The legislation builds upon the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority 
Act of 2002, enacted earlier in the year. Within the structure of that 
Act, each of these bills would give the sanction of the Congress to 
undertaking free trade negotiations with Turkey and with Afghanistan. 
That sanction would remain in place for five years, ample time to 
conclude these important agreements.
  Turkey has correctly been called the eastern anchor of NATO, an ally 
of the United States across some five decades in the effort to keep the 
world free. Turkey is a secular nation with a predominantly Muslim 
population and historic ties to the United States. For nearly one 
hundred years Turkey has served as an important force for modernization 
in the eastern Mediterranean and central Asian area.
  Turkey's successes have provided important examples to many of the 
new nations of the former Soviet union located on the southern border 
of Russia. As these nations map out their future, they do so with 
frequent reference to the experience of Turkey. A free trade agreement 
with Turkey would mean that we would be a lasting, positive part of 
that future, contributing to Turkey's continued growth and democratic 
development, and influence that would be sure to have a beneficial 
effect on Turkey's neighbors. Such an agreement would operate well in 
light of our existing free trade agreements with Israel and with 
Jordan.
  Afghanistan is at an historical turning point. What better way to 
rebuild the Afghan economy and set the Afghan people firmly on the road 
to prosperity than with a free trade agreement with the United States?
  In addition, history has shown the powerful effect of trade and other 
economic freedoms in creating a stable basis for the growth and 
maintenance of political freedom. In Germany, Italy, Japan, Taiwan, 
South Korea, Chile, and elsewhere, we have seen authoritarian regimes 
replaced by stable, free societies preceded by the growth of trade and 
economic freedom. A free trade agreement between the United States and 
Afghanistan can and should be a powerful tool in our efforts to bring 
peace and prosperity to a land that has known little of either.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the two bills be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the bills were ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 3150

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Turkey Free Trade Agreement 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The economic prosperity of the United States and Turkey 
     will increase by reducing trade barriers between the 2 
     countries.
       (2) Trade protection endangers economic prosperity in the 
     United States and Turkey and undermines civil liberty and 
     constitutionally limited government.
       (3) The successful establishment of a North American Free 
     Trade Area sets the pattern for the reduction of trade 
     barriers throughout the world, enhancing prosperity in place 
     of the cycle of increasing trade barriers and deepening 
     poverty that results from a resort to protectionism and trade 
     retaliation.
       (4) The reduction of government interference in the foreign 
     and domestic sectors of a nation's economy and the 
     concomitant promotion of economic opportunity and freedoms 
     promote civil liberty and constitutionally limited 
     government.
       (5) Countries that observe a consistent policy of free 
     trade, the promotion of free enterprise and other economic 
     freedoms (including effective protection of private property 
     rights), and the removal of barriers to foreign direct 
     investment, in the context of constitutionally limited 
     government and minimal interference in the economy, will 
     follow the surest and most effective prescription to 
     alleviate poverty and provide for economic, social, and 
     political development.

     SEC. 3. FREE TRADE AREA FOR TURKEY.

       (a) In General.--The President shall take action to 
     initiate negotiations to obtain trade agreements with Turkey, 
     the terms of which provide for the reduction and ultimate 
     elimination of tariffs and other nontariff barriers to trade.
       (b) Reciprocal Basis.--An agreement entered into under 
     subsection (a) shall be reciprocal and provide mutual 
     reductions in trade barriers to promote trade, economic 
     growth, and employment.

     SEC. 4. FAST-TRACK CONSIDERATION OF IMPLEMENTING BILLS.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding the prenegotiation 
     notification and consultation requirement described in 
     section 2104(a) of the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority 
     Act of 2002 (19 U.S.C. 3804(a)), subsection (b) shall apply 
     to any agreement negotiated under section 3(a), subject to 
     subsection (c).
       (b) Treatment of Agreements.--Subject to subsection (c), in 
     the case of any agreement to which subsection (a) applies--
       (1) the applicability of the trade authorities procedures 
     to implementing bills shall be determined without regard to 
     the requirements of section 2104(a) of the Bipartisan Trade 
     Promotion Authority Act of 2002 (19 U.S.C. 3804(a)) (relating 
     only to 90 days notice prior to initiating negotiations), and 
     any procedural disapproval resolution under section 
     2105(b)(1)(B) of such Act shall not be in order on the basis 
     of a failure or refusal to comply with the provisions of 
     section 2104(a) of such Act; and
       (2) the President shall, as soon as feasible after the 
     commencement of negotiations under section 3(a)--
       (A) notify the Congress of such negotiations, the specific 
     United States objectives in the negotiations, and whether the 
     President is seeking a new agreement or changes to an 
     existing agreement; and
       (B) before and after submission of the notice, consult 
     regarding the negotiations with the committees referred to in 
     section 2104(a)(2) of such Act and the Congressional 
     Oversight Group convened under section 2107 of such Act.
       (c) Termination of Authority.--The authority of this 
     section shall apply only to agreements entered into before 
     January 1, 2008.
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