(A) The suspension of any further reduc-
tion provided for under Annex 2–B of the
Agreement in the duty imposed on such article.
(B) An increase in the rate of duty im-
posed on such article to a level that does not
exceed the lesser of—
(i) the column 1 general rate of duty
imposed under the HTS on like articles at
the time the import relief is provided; or
(ii) the column 1 general rate of duty
imposed under the HTS on like articles on
the day before the date on which the
Agreement enters into force.
(C) In the case of a duty applied on a sea-
sonal basis to such article, an increase in the
rate of duty imposed on the article to a level
that does not exceed the lesser of—
(i) the column 1 general rate of duty
imposed under the HTS on like articles for
the immediately preceding corresponding
season; or
(ii) the column 1 general rate of duty
imposed under the HTS on like articles on
the day before the date on which the
Agreement enters into force.
(2) PROGRESSIVE LIBERALIZATION.—If the pe-
riod for which import relief is provided under this
section is greater than 1 year, the President shall
provide for the progressive liberalization (described
in article 9.2.7 of the Agreement) of such relief at
regular intervals during the period in which the re-
lief is in effect.
(d) PERIOD OF RELIEF.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2),
any import relief that the President provides under
this section may not be in effect for more than 2
years.
(2) EXTENSION.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (C), the President, after receiving an af-
firmative determination from the Commission
under subparagraph (B), may extend the effec-
tive period of any import relief provided under
this section if the President determines that—
(i) the import relief continues to be
necessary to remedy or prevent serious in-
jury and to facilitate adjustment by the do-
mestic industry to import competition; and
(ii) there is evidence that the industry
is making a positive adjustment to import
competition.
(B) ACTION BY COMMISSION.—(i) Upon a
petition on behalf of the industry concerned
that is filed with the Commission not earlier
than the date which is 9 months, and not later
than the date which is 6 months, before the
date any action taken under subsection (a) is to
terminate, the Commission shall conduct an in-
vestigation to determine whether action under
this section continues to be necessary to remedy
or prevent serious injury and whether there is
evidence that the industry is making a positive
adjustment to import competition.
(ii) The Commission shall publish notice of
the commencement of any proceeding under
this subparagraph in the Federal Register and
shall, within a reasonable time thereafter, hold
a public hearing at which the Commission shall
afford interested parties and consumers an op-
portunity to be present, to present evidence,
and to respond to the presentations of other
parties and consumers, and otherwise to be
heard.
(iii) The Commission shall transmit to the
President a report on its investigation and de-
termination under this subparagraph not later
than 60 days before the action under subsection
(a) is to terminate, unless the President speci-
fies a different date.
(C) PERIOD OF IMPORT RELIEF.—Any im-
port relief provided under this section, including
any extensions thereof, may not, in the aggre-
gate, be in effect for more than 4 years.
(e) RATE AFTER TERMINATION
OF IMPORT RE-
LIEF.—When import relief under this section is termi-
nated with respect to an article—
(1) the rate of duty on that article after such
termination and on or before December 31 of the
year in which such termination occurs shall be the
rate that, according to the Schedule of the United
States to Annex 2–B of the Agreement for the
staged elimination of the tariff, would have been in
effect 1 year after the provision of relief under sub-
section (a); and
(2) the rate of duty for that article after De-
cember 31 of the year in which termination occurs
shall be, at the discretion of the President, either—