[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 18 (Monday, May 5, 2003)]
[Page 510]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Senate Transmitting the Protocol of Amendment to the 
International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of 
Customs Procedures

April 30, 2003

To the Senate of the United States:

    I transmit herewith for Senate advice and consent to accession, the 
Protocol of Amendment to the International Convention on the 
Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures done at Brussels 
on June 26, 1999. The Protocol amends the International Convention on 
the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures done at Kyoto 
on May 18, 1973, and replaces the Annexes to the 1973 Convention with a 
General Annex and 10 Specific Annexes (together, the ``Amended 
Convention''). I am also transmitting, for the information of the 
Senate, the report of the Department of State on the Amended Convention.
    The Amended Convention seeks to meet the needs of international 
trade and customs services through the simplification and harmonization 
of customs procedures. It responds to modernization in business and 
administrative methods and techniques and to the growth of international 
trade, without compromising standards of customs control. Accession by 
the United States would further the U.S. interest in reducing non-tariff 
barriers to international trade.
    By acceding to the Protocol, a state consents to be bound by the 
amended 1973 Convention and the new General Annex. At the same time, or 
anytime thereafter, Parties have the option of accepting any of the 
Specific Annexes (or Chapters thereof), and may at that time enter 
reservations with respect to any Recommended Practices contained in the 
Specific Annexes. In accordance with these terms, I propose that the 
United States accept seven of the Specific Annexes in their entirety and 
all the Chapters, but one of each of two other Specific Annexes (A-E, G, 
and H, as well as Chapters 1, 2, and 3 of F, and Chapters 1, 3, 4, and 5 
of J), and enter the reservations proposed by the Bureau of Customs and 
Border Protection as set forth in the enclosure to the report of the 
Department of State. The provisions for which reservation is recommended 
conflict with current U.S. legislation or regulations. With these 
proposed reservations, no new implementing legislation is necessary in 
order to comply with the Amended Convention.
    Accession to the Protocol by the United States would contribute to 
important U.S. interests. First, accession by the United States would 
benefit the United States and U.S. businesses by facilitating greater 
economic growth, increasing foreign investment, and stimulating U.S. 
exports through more predictable, standard, and harmonized customs 
procedures governing cross-border trade transactions. Setting forth 
standardized and simplified methods for conducting customs business is 
important for U.S. trade interests in light of the demands of increased 
trade flows, as is the use of modernized technology and techniques for 
customs facilitation. These achievements can best be pursued by the 
United States as a Party to the Amended Convention. Second, through 
early accession, the United States can continue to take a leadership 
role in the areas of customs and international trade facilitation as the 
U.S. accession would encourage other nations, particularly developing 
nations, to accede as well.
    I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration 
to the Protocol and give its advice and consent to accession.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 April 30, 2003.