FREE Vietnam Act

Bill: 113-hr-1682
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19]
Introduced: 2013-04-23
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Asia

Congressional oversight

Crime prevention

Human rights

Human trafficking

Normal trade relations, most-favored-nation treatment

Religion

Vietnam
Latest action: action_date: 2013-06-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-04-23
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Fostering Rights through Economic Engagement in Vietnam Act or FREE Vietnam Act - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to add Vietnam to the list of countries ineligible for designation as a beneficiary developing country for purposes of duty-free treatment of its products under the generalized system of preferences unless the President certifies to Congress that Vietnam: (1) is not on the special watch list of countries not in compliance with minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking; (2) does not engage in pervasive violations of internationally-recognized human rights, including freedom of speech and freedom of religion; and (3) otherwise meets the requirements of this Act.</p> <p>Authorizes the President to waive such requirements if it is in the U.S. national interest.</p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1682 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 23, 2013 Ms. Lofgren (for herself, Mr. Connolly , Mrs. Davis of California , Mr. Wolf , Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California , and Mr. Sherman ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To prohibit the designation of Vietnam under title V of the Trade Act of 1974.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fostering Rights through Economic Engagement in Vietnam Act or FREE Vietnam Act . 2. Prohibition on designation of Vietnam under title V of the Trade Act of 1974 (a) In general Section 502(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2462(b) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (3) Vietnam (A) In general In addition to the countries listed in paragraph (1), Vietnam may not be designated as a beneficiary developing country for purposes of this title unless the President submits to Congress a certification described in subparagraph (B). (B) Certification A certification referred to in subparagraph (A) is a certification that contains a determination of the President that— (i) Vietnam is not on the special watch list under section 110(b)(3)(A) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 ( 22 U.S.C. 7107(b)(3)(A) ); (ii) the Government of Vietnam does not engage in pervasive violations of internationally recognized human rights, including freedom of speech and freedom of religion; and (iii) Vietnam otherwise meets the requirements of this title. (C) Waiver The President may waive the application of subparagraph (A) if the President determines and certifies to Congress that it is in the national interest of the United States to do so. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section applies to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day after the date of enactment of this Act.