Text 3870, 170 rader
Skriven 2006-12-29 23:31:02 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0612299) for Fri, 2006 Dec 29
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Proclamation to Take Certain Actions Under the African Growth and
Opportunity Act and the Generalized System of Preferences
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 29, 2006

Proclamation to Take Certain Actions Under the African Growth and
Opportunity Act and the Generalized System of Preferences
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America



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.

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 States of America the two hundred and
thirty-first.

GEORGE W. BUSH

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