[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 96 (Thursday, July 20, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S8071]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S8071]]
 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 111--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE 
THAT THE UNITED STATES SHOULD EXPAND TRADE OPPORTUNITIES WITH MONGOLIA 
  AND INITIATE NEGOTIATIONS TO ENTER INTO A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH 
                                MONGOLIA

  Mr. HAGEL (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Obama, Ms. Murkowski, and Mr. 
Gregg) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Finance:

                            S. Con. Res. 111

       Whereas Mongolia declared an end to a one-party Communist 
     state in 1990 and embarked on democratic and free-market 
     reforms;
       Whereas these reforms included adopting democratic 
     electoral processes, enacting further political reform 
     measures, privatizing state enterprises, lifting price 
     controls, and improving fiscal discipline;
       Whereas since 1990, Mongolia has made progress to 
     strengthen democratic governing institutions and protect 
     individual rights;
       Whereas the Department of State found in its 2005 Human 
     Rights Report that Mongolia generally respected the human 
     rights of its citizens although concerns remain, including 
     the treatment of prisoners, freedom of the press and 
     information, due process, and trafficking in persons;
       Whereas the Department of State found in its 2005 Religious 
     Freedom Report that Mongolia generally respects freedom of 
     religion, although some concerns remain;
       Whereas Mongolia has been a member of the World Trade 
     Organization since 1997, and a member of the International 
     Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank 
     since 1991;
       Whereas in 1999 the United States provided permanent normal 
     trade relations treatment to the products of Mongolia;
       Whereas the United States and Mongolia signed a bilateral 
     Trade and Investment Framework Agreement in 2004;
       Whereas Mongolia has expressed steadfast commitment to 
     greater economic reforms, including a commitment to encourage 
     and expand the role of the private sector, increase 
     transparency, strengthen the rule of law, combat corruption, 
     and comply with international standards for labor and 
     intellectual property rights protection;
       Whereas bilateral trade between the United States and 
     Mongolia in 2005 was valued at more than $165,000,000;
       Whereas Mongolia has provided strong and consistent support 
     to the United States in the global war on terror, including 
     support for United States military forces and, since May 
     2003, contributed peace keepers to Operation Iraqi Freedom, 
     artillery trainers to Operation Enduring Freedom, and 
     personnel to the United Nations peace-keeping operations in 
     Kosovo and Sierra Leone;
       Whereas on August 6, 2002, the President signed into law 
     H.R. 3009 (Public Law 107-210), the Trade Act of 2002, which 
     provides for an expedited procedure for congressional 
     consideration of international trade agreements;
       Whereas on July 15, 2004, President Bush and President 
     Bagabandi issued a joint statement that declared a new era of 
     cooperation and comprehensive partnership between the two 
     democratic countries based on shared values and common 
     strategic interests;
       Whereas in November 2005, President George W. Bush became 
     the first President of the United States to visit Mongolia, 
     and on November 21, 2005, President Bush and President 
     Enkhbayar issued a joint statement declaring that the two 
     countries are committed to defining guiding principles and 
     expanding the framework of the comprehensive partnership 
     between the United States and Mongolia; and
       Whereas the United States and Mongolia would benefit from 
     expanding and diversifying trade opportunities by reducing 
     tariff and nontariff barriers to trade: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the 
     United States should continue to work with Mongolia to expand 
     bilateral United States-Mongolia trade opportunities and 
     initiate negotiations to enter into a free trade agreement 
     with Mongolia.
  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, on behalf of my colleagues Senators Lugar, 
Obama, Murkowski and Gregg, I rise to submit a resolution that 
expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States should begin 
negotiations to establish a free trade agreement with Mongolia.
  The United States and Mongolia enjoy healthy and deepening relations 
since the end of one-party Communist rule in Mongolia in 1990. Today, 
Mongolia is a strong and consistent partner of America, and has 
demonstrated its commitment to peace, democracy and international 
stability, notably by its involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. 
America's relationship with Mongolia carries geostrategic importance.
  Mongolia has made significant progress to strengthen its democratic 
governing institutions, to protect individuals rights and achieve free-
market reforms. Its governments have adopted reforms that have enacted 
democratic electoral processes and the rule of law, privatized state 
enterprises, lifted price controls and improved fiscal discipline. 
Mongolia has achieved remarkable progress and continues to express its 
commitment to continued democratic and economic transition.
  Mongolia has worked over the past years to become re-integrated in 
the international economic framework. In 1991, Mongolia joined the 
International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Asian Development 
Bank. In 1997, Mongolia joined the World Trade Organization. In 1999, 
the United States provided permanent normal trade relations to 
Mongolia. And, in 2004, the United States and Mongolia signed a 
bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. In 2005, bilateral 
trade was valued at more than $165 million.
  This resolution recognizes the significance of the U.S.-Mongolia 
relationship and emphasizes that a deeper and more lasting bilateral 
economic and trading relationship is in the interest of both countries. 
I urge my colleagues to support the adoption of this resolution.

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