Home > 106th Congressional Bills > H.R. 3497 (ih) To authorize a study on the feasibility of preserving certain Civil War battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail and of establishing a Civil Rights Trail in the State of Mississippi. [Introduced in House] ...H.R. 3497 (ih) To authorize a study on the feasibility of preserving certain Civil War battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail and of establishing a Civil Rights Trail in the State of Mississippi. [Introduced in House] ...
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3496
To extend trade benefits to certain tents imported into the United
States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 17, 2003
Mr. Blunt introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means
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A BILL
To extend trade benefits to certain tents imported into the United
States.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DUTY-FREE TREATMENT FOR TENTS FROM CERTAIN MIDDLE EASTERN
COUNTRIES.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President shall
provide duty-free treatment for any article classified under Harmonized
Tariff Schedule heading 6306.22.90 from the beneficiary countries
eligible for designation under section 2 of this Act.
SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES.
(a) In General.--The President shall designate any country listed
in subsection (c) as a beneficiary country. After one year of enactment
of this Act, the President shall conduct a review to determine if a
basis exists for the withdrawal of duty-free treatment, taking into
consideration whether or not each beneficiary country--
(1) has established, or is making continual progress toward
establishing--
(A) a market-based economy that protects private
property rights, incorporates an open rules-based
trading system, and minimizes government interference
in the economy through measures such as price controls,
subsidies, and government ownership of economic assets;
(B) the rule of law and the right to due process, a
fair trial, and equal protection under the law;
(C) political pluralism, a climate free of
political intimidation and restrictions on peaceful
political activity, and democratic elections that meet
international standards of fairness, transparency, and
participation;
(D) the elimination of barriers to United States
trade and investment, including by--
(i) providing national treatment and
measures to create an environment conducive to
domestic and foreign investment;
(ii) protecting intellectual property; and
(iii) resolving bilateral trade and
investment disputes;
(E) economic policies that reduce poverty, increase
the availability of health care and educational
opportunities, expand physical infrastructure, promote
the development of private enterprise, and encourage
the formation of capital markets through micro-credit
or other programs;
(F) a system to combat corruption and bribery, such
as signing and implementing the OECD Convention on
Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in
International Business Transactions;
(G) protection of internationally recognized worker
rights, including the right of association, the right
to organize and bargain collectively, a prohibition on
the use of any form of forced or compulsory labor, a
minimum age for the employment of children, and
acceptable conditions of work; and
(H) policies that provide a high level of
environmental protection;
(2) does not engage in activities that undermine United
States national security or foreign policy interests, and
supports a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict;
(3) is a signatory of the United Nations Declaration of
Human Rights, does not engage in gross violations of
internationally recognized human rights, and is making
continuing and verifiable progress on the protection of
internationally recognized human rights, including freedom of
speech and press, freedom of peaceful assembly and association,
and freedom of religion;
(4) is not listed by the United States Department of State
as a state sponsor of terrorism and cooperates fully in
international efforts to combat terrorism;
(5) does not participate in the primary, secondary, or
tertiary economic boycott of Israel; and
(6) otherwise meets the eligibility criteria set forth in
section 502(b)(2) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C.
2462(b)(2)), other than section 502(b)(2)(B).
(b) Continuing Compliance.--If the President determines that a
designated beneficiary country no longer meets the requirements
described in subsection (a), the President shall terminate the
designation of the country made pursuant to subsection (a) and inform
Congress of the President's determination and the reasons therefor.
(c) Countries Eligible for Designation.--In designating countries
as beneficiary countries under this Act, the President shall consider
only the following countries of the greater Middle East or their
successor political entities:
(1) Afghanistan.
(2) Algeria.
(3) Azerbaijan.
(4) Bahrain.
(5) Bangladesh.
(6) Egypt.
(7) Iraq.
(8) Kuwait.
(9) Lebanon.
(10) Morocco.
(11) Oman.
(12) Pakistan.
(13) Qatar.
(14) Saudi Arabia.
(15) Tunisia.
(16) Turkey.
(17) United Arab Emirates.
(18) Yemen.
(d) The Palestinian Authority.--The President is also authorized to
designate the Palestinian Authority or its successor political entity
as a beneficiary political entity which, if so designated, shall be
accorded benefits under this Act as if it were a beneficiary country,
if the President determines that the Palestinian Authority--
(1) satisfies the conditions of subsection (a) (1) and (2);
(2) does not participate in acts of terrorism, and takes
active measure to combat terrorism;
(3) cooperates fully in international efforts to combat
terrorism;
(4) does not engage in gross violations of internationally
recognized human rights, and is making continuing and
verifiable progress on the protection of internationally
recognized human rights, including freedom of speech and the
press, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and
freedom of religion; and
(5) accepts Israel's right to exist in peace within secure
borders.
SEC. 3. RULE OF ORIGIN.
(a) General Rule.--The duty-free treatment provided under this Act
shall apply to any article which is the growth, product, or manufacture
of 1 or more beneficiary countries if--
(1) that article is imported directly from a beneficiary
country into the customs territory of the United States; and
(2) the sum of--
(A) the cost or value of the materials produced in
1 or more beneficiary countries, plus
(B) the direct cost of processing operations
performed in such beneficiary country or countries,
is not less than 35 percent of the appraised value of such
article at the time it is entered.
For purposes of determining the percentage referred to in
subparagraph (2), if the cost or value of materials produced in the
customs territory of the United States is included with respect to an
article to which this paragraph applies, an amount not to exceed 15
percent of the appraised value of the article at the time it is entered
that is attributed to such U.S. cost or value may be applied toward
determining the percentage referred to in subparagraph (2).
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