I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1626
To provide for the adjustment in the rate of duty for tomatoes imported
from Mexico to take into account changes in the value of Mexican
currency with respect to the United States dollar, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 12, 1995
Mr. FOLEY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
A BILL
To provide for the adjustment in the rate of duty for toma-
toes imported from Mexico to take into account changes
in the value of Mexican currency with respect to the
United States dollar, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ADJUSTMENT OF THE RATE OF DUTY ON CER-
TAIN TOMATO IMPORTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, in the case of agricultural products described
in subheadings 9906.07.01 through 9906.07.08 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States that are
products of Mexico, the rate of duty on such products en-
tered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption—
(1) during the 3-month period beginning 5 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, shall be
the rate equal to the column 1 rate of such duty
multiplied by the percentage determined by divid-
ing—
(A) the value of the currency of Mexico
(stated in United States dollars) on January 1,
1994, by
(B) the value of the currency of Mexico
(stated in United States dollars) on the date of
the enactment of this Act; and
(2) during each 3-month period thereafter, shall
be the rate equal to the column 1 rate of such duty
multiplied by the percentage determined by divid-
ing—
(A) the value of the currency of Mexico
(stated in United States dollars) on the first
day of the preceding 3-month period, by
(B) the value of the currency of Mexico
(stated in United States dollars) on the last day
of the preceding 3-month period.
(b) CALCULATION OF 3-MONTH PERIODS.—For pur-
poses of subsection (a), references to the ‘‘preceding 3-
month period’’ refer to the 3-month period ending 5 days
before the beginning of the 3-month period for which a
rate of duty is calculated under subsection (a).
SEC. 2. APPLICABILITY.
Section 1 applies with respect to goods entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after
the 5th day after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 3. ACTION BY SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.
(a) DETERMINATION
OF HARM; REMEDIES.—The
Secretary of Agriculture shall determine, not later than
3 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
nature and extent of the harm to the domestic winter to-
mato industry as a result of the devaluation in the Mexi-
can peso that began in December 1994, and the Secretary
shall, immediately upon making such determination, exer-
cise the authorities the Secretary has to remedy such
harm.
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture shall, not later than 6 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, report to the Congress on the
determination under subsection (a) and any action taken
pursuant to that determination.