[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 71 (Monday, April 14, 1997)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 18017-18018]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-9700]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 71 / Monday, April 14, 1997 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 18017]]


                Executive Order 13042 of April 9, 1997

                
Implementing for the United States Article VIII 
                of the Agreement Establishing the World Trade 
                Organization Concerning Legal Capacity and Privileges 
                and Immunities

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, including section 101(b) of the Uruguay Round 
                Agreements Act (Public Law 103-465) and section 1 of 
                the International Organizations Immunities Act (22 
                U.S.C. 288), I hereby implement for the United States 
                the provisions of Article VIII of the Agreement 
                Establishing the World Trade Organization.

                Section 1. The provisions of the Convention on the 
                Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies 
                (U.N. General Assembly Resolution 179 (II) of November 
                21, 1947, 33 U.N.T.S. 261) shall apply to the World 
                Trade Organization, its officials, and the 
                representatives of its members, provided: (1) sections 
                19(b) and 15, regarding immunity from taxation, and 
                sections 13(d) and section 20, regarding immunity from 
                national service obligations, shall not apply to U.S. 
                nationals and aliens admitted for permanent residence; 
                (2) with respect to section 13(d) and section 19(c), 
                regarding exemption from immigration restrictions and 
                alien registration requirements, World Trade 
                Organization officials and representatives of its 
                members shall be entitled to the same, and no greater, 
                privileges, exemptions, and immunities as are accorded 
                under similar circumstances to officers and employees 
                of foreign governments, and members of their families; 
                (3) with respect to section 9(a) regarding exemption 
                from taxation, such exemption shall not extend to taxes 
                levied on real property, or that portion of real 
                property, which is not used for the purposes of the 
                World Trade Organization. The leasing or renting by the 
                World Trade Organization of its property to another 
                entity or person to generate revenue shall not be 
                considered a use for the purposes of the World Trade 
                Organization. Whether property or portions thereof are 
                used for the purposes of the World Trade Organization 
                shall be determined within the sole discretion of the 
                Secretary of State or the Secretary's designee; (4) 
                with respect to section 25(2)(II) regarding approval of 
                orders to leave the United States, ``Foreign Minister'' 
                shall mean the Secretary of State or the Secretary's 
                designee.

                Sec. 2. In addition and without impairment to the 
                protections extended above, having found that the World 
                Trade Organization is a public international 
                organization in which the United States participates 
                within the meaning of the International Organizations 
                Immunities Act, I hereby designate the World Trade 
                Organization as a public international organization 
                entitled to enjoy the privileges, exemptions, and 
                immunities conferred by that Act, except that section 6 
                of that Act, providing exemption from property tax 
                imposed by, or under the authority of, any Act of 
                Congress, shall not extend to taxes levied on property, 
                or that portion of property, that is not used for the 
                purposes of the World Trade Organization. The leasing 
                or renting by the World Trade Organization of its 
                property to another entity or person to generate 
                revenue shall not be considered a use for the purposes 
                of the World Trade Organization. Whether property or 
                portions thereof are used for the purposes of the World 
                Trade Organization shall be determined within the sole 
                discretion of the Secretary of State or the Secretary's 
                designee. This designation is not intended to abridge 
                in any respect privileges, exemp-

[[Page 18018]]

                 tions, or immunities that the World Trade Organization 
                otherwise enjoys or may acquire by international 
                agreements or by congressional action.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                     April 9, 1997.

[FR Doc. 97-9700
Filed 4-11-97; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P