[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 15 (Monday, April 19, 1993)]
[Pages 583-586]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 6544--To Modify Duty-Free Treatment Under the Andean Trade 
Preference Act, To Modify the Generalized System of Preferences, and for 
Other Purposes

 April 13, 1993

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    1. Sections 202 and 204 of the Andean Trade Preference Act 
(``ATPA'') (19 U.S.C. 3201 and 3203) confer authority upon the President 
to proclaim duty-free treatment for all eligible articles, and duty 
reductions for certain other articles, that are the product of any 
country designated as a ``beneficiary country'' in accordance with the 
provisions of section 203 of the ATPA (19 U.S.C. 3202). Pursuant to 
section 203(b)(2) of the ATPA (19 U.S.C. 3202(b)(2)), I have notified 
the House of Representatives and the Senate of my intention to designate 
Ecuador as a beneficiary country for purposes of the ATPA, together with 
the considerations entering into such decision. I hereby designate 
Ecuador as a beneficiary country under the ATPA, and in order to effect 
this designation in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(``HTS''), I have decided that it is necessary to modify general note 
3(c)(ix) to the HTS.

    2. Section 204(b) of the ATPA (19 U.S.C. 3203(b)) provides that the 
President may not designate certain enumerated product categories as 
articles eligible for duty-free treatment under the ATPA, including 
``textile and apparel articles which are subject to textile 
agreements.'' In Proclamation 6455 of July 2, 1992, certain HTS 
provisions encompassing textile and apparel articles which are subject 
to textile agreements were inadvertently designated as covering goods 
eligible for duty-free treatment under the ATPA. Therefore, in 
accordance with section 204(b) of the ATPA, I have decided that it is 
necessary and appropriate to delete the ATPA designation for these 
provisions.

    3. Section 204(c) of the ATPA (19 U.S.C. 3203(c)) authorizes the 
President to proclaim reductions in the rates of duty on certain arti- 

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cles that are the product of any beneficiary country and that were not 
designated on August 5, 1983, as eligible articles for purposes of the 
Generalized System of Preferences (``GSP'') under title V of the Trade 
Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.) (the ``Trade Act''). In accordance 
with section 204(c) of the ATPA, I have decided that it is necessary and 
appropriate to provide for duty reductions under the ATPA for the goods 
of a certain subheading.

    4. Section 502 of the Trade Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2462), 
authorizes the President to designate the countries that will be 
beneficiary developing countries for purposes of the GSP. Such countries 
are entitled to duty-free entry of eligible articles imported directly 
therefrom into the customs territory of the United States (19 U.S.C. 
2461). Among the countries previously designated as a GSP beneficiary is 
Czechoslovakia, which was included in the enumeration in HTS general 
note 3(c)(ii)(A) of independent countries eligible for benefits of the 
GSP. Czechoslovakia, as of January 1, 1993, has separated into two 
independent republics, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In light of the 
separation of Czechoslovakia into two countries, and having due regard 
for the eligibility criteria set forth in section 502 of the Trade Act, 
I hereby designate each of the Czech Republic and Slovakia as 
beneficiary developing countries for purposes of the GSP.

    5. Proclamation 6517 of December 23, 1992, withdrew the duty-free 
treatment accorded under the GSP to imports of sulfanilic acid, provided 
for in HTS subheading 2921.42.24. Through typographical and clerical 
error, the HTS subheadings created in the annex to Proclamation 6517 to 
effect the aforementioned withdrawal were not properly structured and 
numbered. Therefore, I have decided that it is necessary and appropriate 
to modify the HTS to correct these errors.

    6. Proclamation 6179 of September 13, 1990, modified the HTS to 
provide for modification of tariffs and quotas on certain sugars, 
syrups, and molasses. Through an error, conforming changes to additional 
U.S. note 2 to chapter 17 of the HTS were omitted. Therefore, I have 
decided that it is necessary and appropriate to modify the HTS to 
provide for such conforming changes.
    7. Proclamation 6515 of December 16, 1992, among other actions, 
modified the HTS to conform with amendments made to the International 
Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System. A 
conforming change to the HTS was omitted. Therefore, I have decided that 
it is necessary and appropriate to modify the HTS to provide for such a 
conforming change.
    8. The President, acting through duly empowered representatives, 
entered into negotiations with representatives of the Governments of 
certain republics of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 
(``USSR'') to conclude agreements on trade relations, including 
nondiscriminatory treatment, between the United States and the 
individual republics. Such agreements, conducted in accordance with the 
requirements of section 405(b) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2435(b)), 
were signed by representatives of the United States and of certain 
republics and have taken effect upon dates previously announced by the 
United States Trade Representative (``USTR''). Other republics of the 
former USSR have not yet concluded such trade agreements with the United 
States. General note 3(b) to the HTS, setting forth an enumeration of 
those countries whose products are subject to the rates of duty set 
forth in column 2 of the HTS, includes in this enumeration ``Union of 
Soviet Socialist Republics'', causing confusion in the trading community 
and complicating the administration of the HTS. Accordingly, I have 
decided that it is appropriate to delete the name ``Union of Soviet 
Socialist Republics'' from the enumeration in HTS general note 3(b) and 
to insert in lieu thereof the names of the republics whose products have 
not yet been accorded nondiscriminatory treatment.
    9. Section 604 of the Trade Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), 
authorizes the President to embody in the HTS the substance of the 
relevant provisions of that Act, and of other acts affecting import 
treatment, and actions thereunder, including the removal, modifica- 

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tion, continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import 
restriction.
    Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President of the United 
States of America, acting under the authority vested in me by the 
Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including but 
not limited to the ATPA, and sections 405(b), 502, and 604 of the Trade 
Act, do proclaim that:
    (1) General note 3(c)(ix)(A) to the HTS is modified by inserting in 
alphabetical sequence ``Ecuador'', which is hereby designated as a 
beneficiary country under the ATPA.
    (2) In order to remove eligibility under the ATPA for certain 
textile and apparel provisions and to provide duty reductions for a 
certain subheading, the HTS is modified as provided for in Annex I.
    (3) General note 3(c)(ii)(A) to the HTS, enumerating those countries 
and areas eligible for benefits of the GSP, is amended by deleting 
``Czechoslovakia'' from the list of independent countries and inserting 
in lieu thereof, in alphabetical sequence, ``Czech Republic'' and 
``Slovakia''.
    (4) In order to correct certain technical errors, the HTS is 
modified as provided for in Annex II.
    (5) Additional U.S. note 2 to chapter 17 is modified by deleting 
``1701.91.20,'' and inserting ``1701.91.21, 1701.91.22,'' in lieu 
thereof and by deleting ``1702.90.30, 1806.10.40 and 2106.90.10,'' and 
inserting ``1702.90.31, 1702.90.32, 1806.10.41, 1806.10.42, 2106.90.11 
and 2106.90.12,'' in lieu thereof.
    (6) The article description for HTS subheading 9905.39.10 is 
modified by deleting ``3926.90.90'' and inserting ``3926.90.95'' in lieu 
thereof.
    (7) General note 3(b) to the HTS is modified by deleting ``Union of 
Soviet Socialist Republics'' and by inserting in alphabetical sequence 
in lieu thereof ``Azerbaijan'', ``Georgia'', ``Tajikistan'', 
``Turkmenistan'', and ``Uzbekistan''.
    (8) Upon notice by the USTR in the Federal Register that a trade 
agreement has been concluded between the United States and a republic 
listed in paragraph (7) of this proclamation and general note 3(b) to 
the HTS, such republic shall be deleted from general note 3(b) as of the 
date announced by the USTR as the effective date of such trade 
agreement.
    (9) Any provisions of previous proclamations inconsistent with the 
provisions of this proclamation are hereby superseded to the extent of 
such inconsistency.
    (10)(a) The modifications made by paragraph (1) of this proclamation 
shall be effective with respect to articles entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse for consumption, on or after 15 days after the date of 
publication of this proclamation in the Federal Register.
    (b) The modifications made by paragraph (2) of this proclamation 
shall be effective with respect to articles entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse for consumption, on or after the dates set forth in Annex I to 
this proclamation.
    (c) The modifications made by paragraph (3) of this proclamation 
shall be effective with respect to articles both: (i) imported on or 
after January 1, 1976, and (ii) entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for 
consumption, on or after January 1, 1993.
    (d) The modifications made by paragraph (4) of this proclamation 
shall be effective with respect to articles both: (i) imported on or 
after January 1, 1976, and (ii) entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for 
consumption, on or after January 12, 1993.
    (e) The modifications made by paragraph (5) of this proclamation 
shall be effective October 1, 1990.
    (f) The modifications made by paragraph (6) of this proclamation 
shall be effective with respect to goods originating in the territory of 
Canada which are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, 
on or after January 1, 1993.
    (g) The modifications made by paragraph (7) of this proclamation 
shall be effective on the date of signature of this proclamation.
    (h) The modifications made by paragraph (8) of this proclamation 
shall be effective with respect to articles entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse for consumption, on or after the date announced by the USTR as 
the effective date.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day 
of April, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-three, and 
of the Independence of the

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United States of America the two hundred and seventeenth.
                                            William J. Clinton

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 4:08 p.m., April 13, 
1993]

Note: This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on April 14. The proclamation and its attached annexes were 
published in the Federal Register on April 15.