    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [November 14, 2005]
    [Page 1717]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress Giving Notification of Intent To Enter an
    Agreement on Tariff Treatment of Multi-Chip Integrated Circuits
    November 14, 2005

    To the Congress of the United States:
        Consistent with section 2103(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 2002, I am
    pleased to notify the Congress of my intention to enter into an
    agreement with the European Union, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and
    Taiwan on tariff treatment for multi-chip integrated circuits. Multi-
    chip integrated circuits are semiconductor devices used in computers,
    cell phones, and other high-technology products.
        United States-based companies are the principal suppliers to the
    world of multi-chip integrated circuits. In 2004, global sales of
    finished multi-chip integrated circuits were estimated to be $4.2
    billion, and U.S. semiconductor companies account for roughly half of
    those sales.
        The United States, the European Union, the Republic of Korea, and
    Taiwan will apply zero duties on these products as of an agreed date.
    The target date for entry into force of the Agreement is January 1,
    2006. Japan already applies zero duties on these products and expects to
    ratify the Agreement formally in 2006. Further, although all major
    producers of multi-chip integrated circuits will be parties to the
    Agreement, we will seek to build on this Agreement by joining together
    to work in the World Trade Organization to increase the number of
    countries granting duty-free treatment to these products.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     November 14, 2005.

    Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    November 16.