[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 46 (Monday, November 21, 2005)]
[Page 1719]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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.