II

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. 1093

To extend nondiscriminatory (most-favored-nation) treatment to the products

of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JULY 30, 1997

Mr. KERRY (for himself and Mr. MCCAIN) introduced the following bill; which

was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To extend nondiscriminatory (most-favored-nation) treatment

to the products of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic,

and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

4 The Congress finds that—

5 (1) the Lao People’s Democratic Republic is

6 striving to shed centralized government control of its

7 economy in favor of market-oriented reforms;

8 (2) extension of unconditional most-favored-na9 tion treatment would assist the Lao People’s Demo10 cratic Republic in developing its economy based on
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S 1093 IS

1 free market principles and becoming competitive in

2 the global marketplace;

3 (3) establishing normal commercial relations on

4 a reciprocal basis with the Lao People’s Democratic

5 Republic will promote United States exports to the

6 rapidly growing Southeast Asian region and expand

7 opportunities for United States business and invest8 ment in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic econ9 omy;

10 (4) United States and Laotian commercial in11 terests would benefit from a commercial agreement

12 between the United States and the Lao People’s

13 Democratic Republic providing for market access

14 and the protection of intellectual property rights;

15 (5) economic reform in the Lao People’s Demo16 cratic Republic is increasingly important as that

17 country integrates into the ASEAN Free Trade

18 Area and accedes to the World Trade Organization;

19 and

20 (6) expanding bilateral trade relations that in21 clude a commercial agreement may promote further

22 progress by the Lao People’s Democratic Republic

23 on human rights and democratic rule and assist that

24 country in adopting regional and world trading rules

25 and principles.
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S 1093 IS

1 SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF NONDISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT

2 TO THE PRODUCTS OF THE LAO PEOPLES

3 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC.

4 (a) HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE AMEND5 MENT.—General note 3(b) of the Harmonized Tariff

6 Schedule of the United States is amended by striking

7 ‘‘Laos’’.

8 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by

9 subsection (a) applies with respect to goods entered, or

10 withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after

11 the effective date of a notice published in the Federal Reg12 ister by the United States Trade Representative that a

13 trade agreement obligating reciprocal most-favored-nation

14 treatment between the Lao People’s Democratic Republic

15 and the United States has entered into force.

16 SEC. 3. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

17 The President shall submit to the Congress, not later

18 than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this

19 Act, a report on the trade relations between the United

20 States and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic pursu21 ant to the trade agreement described in section 2(b).

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