[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 26 (Monday, July 5, 1993)]
[Pages 1224-1225]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting the Proclamation on the 
Trade Agreement With Romania

 July 2, 1993

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 nondiscriminatory 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, President Bush waived application of subsections 
(a) and (b) of section 402 of the Trade Act to Romania. He 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 he had 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,

                                            William J. Clinton

Note: Identical letters were sent to Thomas S. Foley, Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, and Albert Gore, Jr., President of the Senate.

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