[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 30 (Monday, August 2, 1999)]
[Pages 1471-1472]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7210--Imposition of Restraints on Imports of Certain Steel 
Products From the Russian Federation

July 22, 1999

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    1. Article XI of the June 1, 1990, Agreement between the United 
States of America and the Russian Federation on Trade Relations (``the 
1990 Agreement''), which was entered into pursuant to title IV of the 
Trade Act of 1974, as amended (``the Trade Act''), provides that the 
Parties will consult with a view toward finding means of preventing 
market disruption, and authorizes the Parties to take action, including 
the imposition of import restrictions, to achieve this goal.
    2. The Government of the United States and the Government of the 
Russian Federation (``Russia'') have mutually agreed that the conditions 
of Article XI of the 1990 Agreement have been met with respect to U.S. 
imports of certain steel products from Russia described in the Annex to 
this proclamation. Further, the Governments have concluded an Agreement 
Concerning Trade in Certain Steel Products from the Russian Federation 
(``the 1999 Agreement'') on remedial and

[[Page 1472]]

preventative measures to address market conditions with respect to such 
products.
    3. Section 125(c) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2135(c)) provides that 
whenever the United States, acting in pursuance of any of its rights or 
obligations under any trade agreement entered into pursuant to the Trade 
Act, withdraws, suspends, or modifies any obligation with respect to the 
trade of any foreign country or instrumentality, the President is 
authorized to proclaim increased duties or other import restrictions, to 
the extent, at such times, and for such periods as he deems necessary or 
appropriate, in order to exercise the rights or fulfill the obligations 
of the United States.
    4. In pursuance of its rights under the 1990 Agreement, the United 
States Government is withdrawing, suspending, or modifying its 
obligations under Article I of the 1990 Agreement with respect to the 
certain steel products described in the Annex to this proclamation by 
establishing import restrictions to address market conditions with 
respect to these products.
    5. I have determined that, effective immediately and continuing so 
long as the 1999 Agreement remains in effect, it is appropriate to 
proclaim import restrictions as set forth in the Annex to this 
proclamation in order to exercise the rights and fulfill the obligations 
of the United States under the 1990 Agreement.
    6. Section 125(f) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2135(f)) requires the 
President to provide an opportunity for interested parties to present 
views at a public hearing prior to taking action pursuant to section 125 
(b), (c), or (d) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2135 (b), (c), or (d)). 
Interested parties presented their views at a hearing held on March 2, 
1999.
    7. Section 301 of title 3, United States Code, authorizes the 
President to delegate his authority to the head of any department or 
agency in the executive branch to perform without approval, 
ratification, or other action by the President any function that is 
vested in the President by law.
    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, including but not 
limited to section 125(c) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2135(c)) and 
section 301 of title 3, United States Code, do proclaim that:
    (1) Pursuant to U.S. rights under the 1990 Agreement and to 
implement and enforce the 1999 Agreement, imports of certain steel 
products from Russia are restricted as provided in the Annex to this 
proclamation.
    (2) The Secretary of Commerce (``the Secretary'') is authorized to 
exercise my authority to administer the import restrictions on certain 
steel products consistent with the 1999 Agreement as proclaimed herein. 
The Secretary shall provide instructions and any necessary interpretive 
guidance to the Commissioner, U.S. Customs Service, concerning the 
import restrictions set forth in this proclamation.
    (3) Such restrictions shall be effective with respect to articles 
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the 
date set forth in the Annex and shall remain in effect during the period 
of the 1999 Agreement.
    (4) All provisions of previous proclamations and Executive orders 
that are inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation are 
superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second 
day of July, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-nine, 
and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred 
and twenty-fourth.
                                            William J. Clinton

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 12:20 p.m., July 26, 
1999]

Note: This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on July 23, and it was published in the Federal Register on 
July 27. This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.