I 
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 
A BILL 
To extend trade benefits to certain tents imported into the 
United States.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives 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 des-
ignation under section 2 of this Act.
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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 consid-
eration 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 gov-
ernment 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 peace-
ful 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—
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(i) providing national treatment and 
measures to create an environment condu-
cive to domestic and foreign investment; 
(ii) protecting intellectual property; 
and 
(iii) resolving bilateral trade and in-
vestment disputes; 
(E) economic policies that reduce poverty, 
increase the availability of health care and edu-
cational opportunities, expand physical infra-
structure, promote the development of private 
enterprise, and encourage the formation of cap-
ital markets through micro-credit or other pro-
grams;
(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 Busi-
ness 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 em-
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ployment of children, and acceptable conditions 
of work; and 
(H) policies that provide a high level of en-
vironmental protection; 
(2) does not engage in activities that undermine 
United States national security or foreign policy in-
terests, and supports a peaceful resolution of the 
Israeli-Palestinian conflict; 
(3) is a signatory of the United Nations Dec-
laration 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 recog-
nized 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 Depart-
ment of State as a state sponsor of terrorism and 
cooperates fully in international efforts to combat 
terrorism; 
(5) does not participate in the primary, sec-
ondary, 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
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toward determining the percentage referred to in subpara-
graph (2).
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