I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1181
To authorize the President to enter into a trade agreement concerning North-
ern Ireland and certain border counties of the Republic of Ireland,
and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 20, 1997
Mr. MEEHAN (for himself, Mr. MANTON, Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts, Mr.
GILMAN, Mr. WALSH, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mrs. KELLY, and Mr.
SHAYS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Commit-
tee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To authorize the President to enter into a trade agreement
concerning Northern Ireland and certain border counties
of the Republic of Ireland, 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. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) It is in the interest of the United States
that the precarious peace process now underway in
Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland suc-
ceed, both to ensure stability for important allies
and friends of the United States and to assure a
mutually beneficial flow of trade and commerce.
(2) Locally sustainable economic development
within Northern Ireland and the border counties of
the Republic of Ireland creates the basis for political
stability and enhances the likelihood of peace.
(3)(A) The granting of reasonable tariff conces-
sions for products and goods originating in Northern
Ireland and the border counties of the Republic of
Ireland will provide an incentive for such develop-
ment.
(B) Both the United Kingdom and the Republic
of Ireland are members of the European Union
(hereafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘EU’’), tar-
iff issues relating to Northern Ireland and the bor-
der counties of the Republic of Ireland are subject
to the common commercial policy provided for in Ar-
ticle 113 of the Treaty of Rome, and any negotia-
tions concerning them must conform to EU law and
Paragraphs 5, 6, 7, and 8 of Article XXIV of the
GATT 1994.
(C) While there is no precedent in EU practice
for the free trade agreement contemplated in this
Act, the effect of such an agreement will be to sup-
port important on-going efforts by the EU to achieve
greater social cohesion in a unique and disadvan-
taged region, to the long-term benefit of the EU, the
United States, and the larger international commu-
nity.
(4) The President should be authorized to nego-
tiate such concessions in accordance with the terms
and conditions set forth in the Act.
SEC. 2. FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH NORTHERN IRE-
LAND.
(a) NEGOTIATIONS.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The President may enter
into a trade agreement with respect to qualified
areas of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ire-
land which provides for—
(A) the harmonization, reduction, and
elimination of trade barriers;
(B) the prohibition of or limitations on the
imposition of trade barriers; and
(C) the elimination or reduction of any
duty imposed by the United States.
(2) AGREEMENT LIMITED TO QUALIFIED AREAS
OF
NORTHERN
IRELAND
AND
THE
REPUBLIC
OF
IRELAND.—Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, no trade benefit shall be extended to any coun-
try by reason of the extension of any trade benefit
to another country under a trade agreement entered
into under paragraph (1) with such other country.
(b) LIMITATIONS AND STAGING.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—No proclamation may be
made under subsection (a) that—
(A) reduces any rate of duty (other than a
rate of duty that does not exceed 5 percent ad
valorem on the date of enactment of this Act)
to a rate of duty which is less than 5 percent
of the rate of duty that applies on such a date
of enactment;
(B) reduces the rate of duty on an article
over a period greater than 10 years after the
first reduction that is proclaimed to carry out
a trade agreement with respect to such article;
or
(C) increase any rate of duty above the
rate that applies on the date of the enactment
of this Act.
(2) LIMITATION ON AGGREGATE REDUCTION.—
The aggregate reduction in the rate of duty on any
article which is in effect on any day pursuant to a
trade agreement entered into under subsection (a)
shall not exceed the aggregate reduction which
would have been in effect on such a day if a reduc-