[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 52 (Monday, January 1, 2007)]
[Pages 2220-2222]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 8098--To Take Certain Actions Under the African Growth and 
Opportunity Act and the Generalized System of Preferences

 December 29, 2006

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    1. Section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the 
``1974 Act'')(19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(1)), as added by section 111(a) of the 
African Growth and Opportunity Act (title I of Public Law 106-
200)(AGOA), authorizes the President to designate a country listed in 
section 107 of the AGOA (19 U.S.C. 3706) as a ``beneficiary sub-Saharan 
African country'' if the President determines that the country meets the 
eligibility requirements set forth in section 104 of the AGOA (19 U.S.C. 
3703), as well as the eligibility criteria set forth in section 502 of 
the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2462).
    2. Section 104 of the AGOA authorizes the President to designate a 
country listed in section 107 of the AGOA as an ``eligible sub-Saharan 
African country'' if the President determines that the country meets 
certain eligibility requirements.
    3. Section 112(b)(3)(B) of the AGOA (19 U.S.C. 3721(b)(3)(B)) 
provides special rules for certain apparel articles imported from 
``lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries.''
    4. Pursuant to section 104 of the AGOA and section 506A(a)(1) of the 
1974 Act, I have determined that the Republic of Liberia (Liberia) meets 
the eligibility requirements set forth or referenced therein, and I have 
decided to designate Liberia as an eligible sub-Saharan African country 
and as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country.
    5. I further determine that Liberia satisfies the criterion for 
treatment as a ``lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African 
country'' under section 112(b)(3)(B) of the AGOA.
    6. Pursuant to sections 501 and 502(a) of the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 
2461, 2462(a)), the President is authorized to designate countries as 
beneficiary developing countries and to designate any beneficiary 
developing country as a least-developed beneficiary developing country, 
for purposes of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program.
    7. Section 502(b)(1)(C) of the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2462(b)(1)(C)) 
specifies that European Union Member States may not be designated as 
beneficiary developing countries for purposes of the GSP.
    8. Section 507(2) of the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2467(2)) provides that 
in the case of an association of countries that is a free trade area or 
customs union, or that is contributing to a comprehensive regional 
economic integration among its members through appropriate means, the 
President may provide that members of such an association other than 
members that are barred from designation under section 502(b) of the 
1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2462(b)) shall be treated as one country for 
purposes of the GSP.
    9. Pursuant to section 502 of the 1974 Act, and taking into account 
the factors set forth in section 502(c)(19 U.S.C. 2462(c)), I have 
determined that East Timor should be designated as a beneficiary 
developing country under the GSP.
    10. Pursuant to section 502 of the 1974 Act, and having considered 
the factors set forth in sections 501 and 502(c), I have also determined 
that East Timor should be designated as a least-developed beneficiary 
developing country for purposes of the GSP.
    11. In accordance with section 502(b)(1)(C) of the 1974 Act, I have 
determined that Bulgaria and Romania may no longer be designated as 
beneficiary developing countries for purposes of the GSP, effective for 
each of these countries when it becomes a European Union Member State.

[[Page 2221]]

    12. On June 29, 2005, I determined that currently qualifying members 
of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) should 
be treated as one country for purposes of the GSP. In Proclamation 7912 
of that date, I added SAARC and the currently qualifying countries to 
general note 4(a) to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). Pursuant to 
section 507(2) of the 1974 Act, I have determined that Afghanistan 
should be designated as a member of SAARC for purposes of the GSP on the 
date that it becomes a SAARC member.
    13. Section 604 of the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2483), as amended, 
authorizes the President to embody in the HTS of the United States the 
substance of relevant provisions of that Act, or other acts affecting 
import treatment, and of actions taken thereunder.
     Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, 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 section 104 of the AGOA and title V and section 604 of the 1974 Act 
(19 U.S.C. 2461-67, 2483), do proclaim that:
    (1) Liberia is designated as an eligible sub-Saharan African country 
and as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country.
    (2) In order to reflect this designation in the HTS, general note 
16(a) to the HTS is modified by inserting in alphabetical sequence in 
the list of beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries ``Republic of 
Liberia,'' effective with respect to articles entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 2007.
    (3) For purposes of section 112(b)(3)(B) of the AGOA, Liberia is a 
lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African country.
    (4) East Timor is designated as a beneficiary developing country for 
purposes of the GSP.
    (5) In order to reflect this designation in the HTS, general note 
4(a) to the HTS is modified by adding in alphabetical order ``East 
Timor'' to the list entitled, ``Independent Countries,'' effective with 
respect to articles entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for 
consumption, on or after the twentieth day after the date of this 
proclamation.
    (6) East Timor is designated as a least-developed beneficiary 
developing country for purposes of the GSP.
    (7) In order to reflect this designation in the HTS, general note 
4(b)(i) is modified by adding in alphabetical order ``East Timor,'' 
effective with respect to articles entered, or withdrawn from warehouse 
for consumption, on or after the sixty-fifth day after the date of this 
proclamation.
    (8) Bulgaria and Romania shall no longer be designated as 
beneficiary developing countries for purposes of the GSP upon the date 
that each country becomes a European Union Member State. The United 
States Trade Representative shall announce each such date in a notice 
published in the Federal Register.
    (9) In order to reflect these changes in the HTS, general note 4(a) 
to the HTS is modified by deleting ``Bulgaria'' and ``Romania'' from the 
list entitled, ``Independent Countries,'' effective for each of these 
countries with respect to articles entered, or withdrawn from warehouse 
for consumption, on or after the day on which that country becomes a 
European Union Member State.
    (10) Afghanistan is designated as a member of the South Asian 
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for purposes of the GSP on 
the date that it becomes a SAARC member. The United States Trade 
Representative shall announce such date in a notice published in the 
Federal Register.
    (11) In order to reflect this determination in the HTS, general note 
4(a) to the HTS is modified by adding in alphabetical order 
``Afghanistan'' to the list entitled, ``Member Countries of the South 
Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC),'' effective with 
respect to articles entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for 
consumption, on or after the day on which Afghanistan becomes a SAARC 
member.
    (12) Any 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-ninth 
day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the 
Independence of the United

[[Page 2222]]

States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:03 a.m., January 3, 
2007]

Note: This proclamation will be published in the Federal Register on 
January 4, 2007.