[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[June 22, 1992]
[Pages 999-1000]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Letter to Congressional Leaders on Trade With Romania
June 22, 1992

Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
    In accordance with section 407 of the Trade Act of 1974 (Public Law 
93-618, January 3, 1975; 88 Stat. 1978), as amended (the ``Trade Act''), 
I am transmitting a copy of a proclamation that extends 
nondiscriminatory treatment to the products of Romania. I also enclose 
the text of the ``Agreement on Trade Relations Between the Government of 
the United States of America and the Government of Romania,'' including 
exchanges of letters that form an integral part of the Agreement, which 
was signed on April 3, 1992, and which is included as an annex to the 
proclamation.
    The Agreement will provide a nondis-

[[Page 1000]]

criminatory framework for our bilateral trade relations and thus 
strengthen both economic and political relations between the United 
States and Romania. Conclusion of this Agreement is an important step we 
can take to provide greater economic benefits to both countries. It will 
also give further impetus to the progress we have made in our overall 
diplomatic relations since last year and help to reinforce political and 
economic reform in Romania. In that context, the United States is 
encouraging Romania to continue to strive for a democratic, pluralistic 
society, particularly through the conduct of early, free, and fair 
national elections.
    I believe that the Agreement is consistent with both the letter and 
the spirit of the Trade Act. It provides for mutual extension of 
nondiscriminatory tariff treatment while seeking to ensure overall 
reciprocity of economic benefits. It includes safeguard arrangements to 
ensure that our trade with Romania will grow without causing disruption 
to the U.S. market and consequent injury to domestic firms or loss of 
jobs for American workers.
    The Agreement also confirms and expands for American businesses 
certain basic rights in conducting commercial transactions both within 
Romania and with Romanian nationals and business entities. Other 
provisions include those dealing with settlement of commercial disputes, 
financial transactions, and government commercial offices. Through this 
Agreement, Romania also undertakes obligations to modernize and upgrade 
very substantially its protection of intellectual property rights. Once 
fully implemented, the Romanian intellectual property regime will be on 
a par with that of our principal industrialized trading partners. This 
Agreement will not alter U.S. law or practice with respect to the 
protection of intellectual property.
    On August 17, 1991, I waived application of subsections (a) and (b) 
of section 402 of the Trade Act to Romania. I determined that this 
waiver will substantially promote the objectives of section 402, and, 
pursuant to section 402(c)(2) of the Trade Act, notified the Congress 
that I have received assurances that the emigration practices of Romania 
will henceforth lead substantially to achievement of those objectives.
    I urge that the Congress act as soon as possible to approve the 
``Agreement on Trade Relations Between the Government of the United 
States of America and the Government of Romania'' and the proclamation 
extending nondiscriminatory treatment to products of Romania by 
enactment of a joint resolution referred to in section 151 of the Trade 
Act.
    Sincerely,

                                                             George Bush

                    Note: Identical letters were sent to Thomas S. 
                        Foley, Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
                        and Dan Quayle, President of the Senate. The 
                        proclamation is listed in Appendix E at the end 
                        of this volume. The agreement was published in 
                        the Federal Register on June 24.