Proclamação Presidencial - de tomar certas medidas ao abrigo da Lei de Crescimento e Oportunidade Africano e para outros fins.
A Casa Branca
Gabinete do Secretário de Imprensa
Para Divulgação Imediata
23 de dezembro de 2014
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PELO PRESIDENTE DOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DA AMÉRICA
PROCLAMAÇÃO
1. Em Proclamação 8921 de 20 de dezembro de 2012, eu determinei que a República da Guiné-Bissau (Guiné-Bissau) não estava fazendo progresso contínuo em atender os requisitos descritos na secção 506A (a) (1) da Lei de Comércio de 1974 (1974 Act) (19 USC 2466a (a) (1)), aditado pelo artigo 111 (a) da Lei de Crescimento e Oportunidades Africano (Título I da Lei Pública 106-200) (AGOA). Assim, nos termos da seção 506A (a) (3) de 1974 Act (19 USC 2466a (a) (3)), eu terminado a designação de Guiné-Bissau como um país beneficiário Africano sub-saariana para fins do artigo 506A do o Act 1974.
2. Seção 506A (a) (1) da Lei de 1974 autoriza o Presidente a designar um país listado na seção 107 da AGOA (19 USC 3706) como um país Africano beneficiário subsaariana se o presidente determinar que o país se encontra com o requisitos de elegibilidade estabelecidos na secção 104 da AGOA (19 USC 3703), bem como os critérios de elegibilidade estabelecidos na secção 502 da Lei de 1974 (19 USC 2462).
3. Conforme a secção 506A (a) (1), da Lei de 1974, com base em acções que o Governo da Guiné-Bissau tem tomado em relação ao ano passado, eu determinei que Guiné-Bissau cumpre os requisitos de elegibilidade estabelecidos na secção 104 do AGOA e secção 502 da lei de 1974, e eu decidi designar Guiné-Bissau como um subsariana país Africano beneficiário.
4. Na Proclamação 8921, de 20 de dezembro de 2012, eu designada da República do Sudão do Sul (Sudão do Sul) como um país Africano beneficiário subsariana para fins do artigo 506A (a) (1) da Lei 1.974. Em 7657 Proclamação de 28 de março de 2003, o Presidente designou a República da Gâmbia (Gâmbia) como um país Africano beneficiário subsariana para fins do artigo 506A (a) (1) da Lei 1.974.
5. Seção 506A (a) (3) da Lei de 1974 (19 USC 2466a (a) (3)), autoriza o Presidente a terminar a designação de um país como um país beneficiário Africano sub-Sahara para fins do artigo 506A, se ele determina que o país não está fazendo progresso contínuo em atender aos requisitos descritos na secção 506A (a) (1) da Lei 1.974.
6. Nos termos da seção 506A (a) (3) da Lei 1.974, eu determinei que o Sudão do Sul e na Gâmbia não estão fazendo progresso contínuo em atender os requisitos descritos na seção 506A (a) (1) da Lei 1.974. Assim, tomei a decisão de encerrar a designação do Sudão do Sul e na Gâmbia como países da África subsariana beneficiários para fins do artigo 506A da Lei 1.974, em vigor em 01 de janeiro de 2015.
7. Em 22 de abril de 1985, os Estados Unidos e Israel entrou no Acordo sobre o Estabelecimento de uma Área de Livre Comércio entre o Governo dos Estados Unidos da América e do Governo de Israel (USIFTA), que o Congresso aprovou no United Unidos-Israel Área de Livre Comércio Implementação Act de 1985 ("Lei USIFTA") (19 USC 2112 nota).
8. Seção 4 (b) da Lei USIFTA prevê que, sempre que o presidente determina que é necessário para manter o nível geral de concessões recíprocas e mutuamente vantajosas com relação a Israel prevista pela USIFTA, o Presidente pode proclamar essa retirada, suspensão, modificação ou manutenção de qualquer direito, ou tal continuidade da isenção de direitos especiais de consumo ou tratamento, ou tais direitos adicionais existentes, como o presidente determina a ser necessário ou apropriado para realizar a USIFTA.
9. A fim de manter o nível geral de concessões recíprocas e mutuamente vantajosos em relação ao comércio de produtos agrícolas com Israel, em 27 de julho de 2004, os Estados Unidos entraram em um acordo com Israel, relativa a certos aspectos do comércio de produtos agrícolas durante o período de janeiro 1 de 2004, até 31 de dezembro de 2008 (o "Acordo de 2004").
10. Em 7826 Proclamação de 04 de outubro de 2004, em consonância com o Acordo de 2004, o presidente determinou, nos termos do ponto 4 (b) da Lei USIFTA, que, a fim de manter o nível geral de concessões recíprocas e mutuamente vantajosas com respeito para Israel prevista pela USIFTA, foi necessário para fornecer acesso isento de direitos para os Estados Unidos até 31 de dezembro de 2008, para determinadas quantidades de certos produtos agrícolas de Israel.
11. A cada ano, a partir de 2008 até 2013, os Estados Unidos e Israel entrou em acordos para estender o período que o acordo de 2004 estava em vigor para períodos de 1 ano para dar tempo adicional para os dois governos de concluir um acordo para substituir o acordo de 2004.
12. Para levar a cabo os acordos de extensão, o presidente em 8334 Proclamação de 31 de dezembro de 2008; Proclamação 8467, de 23 de dezembro de 2009; Proclamação 8618, de 21 de dezembro de 2010; Proclamação 8770, de 29 de dezembro de 2011; Proclamação 8921, de 20 de dezembro de 2012; e Proclamação 9072 de 23 de dezembro de 2013, modificou o Harmonizado Tariff Schedule dos Estados Unidos (HTS) para fornecer acesso com isenção de direitos para os Estados Unidos para determinadas quantidades de certos produtos agrícolas de Israel, cada vez por um período adicional de 1 ano.
13. Em 5 de dezembro de 2014, os Estados Unidos entraram em um acordo com Israel para estender o período que o Acordo de 2004 está em vigor a 31 de dezembro de 2015, para permitir a continuação das negociações sobre um acordo para substituir o Acordo de 2004.
14. Nos termos do ponto 4 (b) da Lei USIFTA, eu determinei que é necessário, a fim de manter o nível geral de concessões recíprocas e mutuamente vantajosas com relação a Israel prevista pela USIFTA, para fornecer duty-free acesso para os Estados Unidos através do próximo 31 de dezembro de 2015, para determinadas quantidades de certos produtos agrícolas de Israel.
15. Seção 1205 (a) do Trade Omnibus e Competitividade Act de 1988 (a "Lei de 1988") (19 USC 3005 (a)), dirige o United States International Trade Commission (a Comissão) para manter os HTS sob constante revisão e periodicamente para recomendar ao Presidente tais modificações nos HTS como a Comissão considera necessário ou apropriado para realizar os fins previstos nessa subsecção. Entre essas finalidades são promover a aplicação uniforme da Convenção Internacional sobre o Sistema Harmonizado de Codificação e (a "Convenção") e para aliviar os encargos administrativos desnecessários.
16. A Comissão realizou uma investigação nos termos da secção 1205 da lei de 1988 (Investigation No. 1205-10), a fim de fazer certas correcções técnicas para manter os HTS em conformidade com as normas internacionais e para fazer algumas reclassificações de produtos químicos que aliviariam encargos administrativos desnecessários.
17. Em abril de 2013, a Comissão publicou os resultados de Investigação No. 1205-10 acordo com a Secção 1205 da lei de 1988 (Recomendações para modificar Capítulos 29, 30, 37 e 85 do Harmonizado Tariff Schedule dos Estados Unidos, USITC publicação 4392 (corrigido agosto 2013)), recomendando alterações específicas aos HTS. Cada uma dessas modificações recomendadas teria pouco ou nenhum efeito económico em qualquer indústria nos Estados Unidos. Em 02 de agosto de 2013, este relatório foi enviado ao Congresso. Os requisitos de relatório e layover de secção 1206 (b) da lei de 1988 (19 USC 3006 (b)), foram satisfeitas a partir de 18 dezembro de 2013.
18. Seção 1206 (a) da Lei de 1988 (19 USC 3006 (a)), autoriza o Presidente a proclamar modificações para os HTS com base em recomendações feitas pela Comissão nos termos da secção 1205 da lei de 1988, se ele determina que o modificações estão em conformidade com as obrigações dos Estados Unidos sob a Convenção e não contrária ao interesse económico nacional dos Estados Unidos. Eu determinei que as alterações às HTS recomendadas no USITC Publication 4392, conforme estabelecido no Anexo II a esta proclamação, estão em conformidade com as obrigações dos Estados Unidos sob a Convenção e não contrária ao interesse económico nacional dos Estados Unidos.
19. Proclamação Presidencial 8039, de 27 de julho de 2006, implementou o Acordo de Livre Comércio Estados Unidos-Bahrain (USBFTA). A proclamação implementado, nos termos da secção 201 da United States-Bahrain Livre Comércio Act Acordo de Implementação (a "Lei USBFTA") (19 USC 3805 nota), as reduções encenado em taxas de imposto que o Presidente determinado a ser necessário ou apropriado para realizar ou aplicar algumas disposições do USBFTA, incluindo o artigo 3.2.8. Essa proclamação incorporadas por referência Publicação 3830 da Comissão de Comércio Internacional dos EUA, intitulado Modificações na Harmonizado Tariff Schedule dos Estados Unidos para implementar o Acordo de Livre Comércio Estados Unidos-Bahrain. Anexo I da Publicação 3830 incluiu um erro técnico que afectou o tratamento pautal das mercadorias na posição 9914.99.20 depois de 31 de dezembro de 2015. Eu determinei que modificações nos HTS acordo com a secção 201 (a) da Lei USBTFA são necessárias para corrigir este erro.
20. Seção 604 da Lei de 1974 (19 USC 2483), autorizar o presidente a encarnar nos HTS a substância das disposições pertinentes da referida lei, e de outros atos que afetam o tratamento de importação, e as ações dela decorrentes, incluindo a remoção, modificação, continuidade, ou imposição de qualquer tarifa ou outra restrição à importação.
PORTANTO, I, Barack Obama, Presidente dos Estados Unidos da América, em virtude da autoridade investida em mim pela Constituição e as leis dos Estados Unidos da América, incluindo, mas não limitado a secção 506A (a) (1 ) da Lei de 1974, a secção 506A (a) (3) da Lei de 1974, a secção 4 (b) da Lei USIFTA, secção 1206 (a) da Lei de 1988, a secção 201 (a) da Lei USBFTA, e secção 604 da lei de 1974, não proclamar que:
(1) Guiné-Bissau é designado como um subsariana país Africano beneficiário.
(2) Para reflectir esta designação nos HTS, nota geral 16 (a) às HTS é modificado através da inserção em ordem alfabética na lista de países da África subsariana beneficiários "República da Guiné-Bissau (Guiné-Bissau)."
(3) As designações do Sul do Sudão e Gâmbia como beneficiário da África Subsariana países africanos para fins da Secção 506A da Lei de 1974, a vigência do efectivo em 01 de janeiro de 2015.
(4) A fim de reflectir nas HTS que comecem em 01 de janeiro de 2015, o Sudão do Sul e da Gâmbia deve deixar de ser designado como países da África subsariana beneficiários, nota geral 16 (a) às HTS é modificado por exclusão "República do Sudão do Sul "e" República da Gâmbia "a partir da lista de países da África Subsaariana beneficiários. Nota 7 (a) a sub-capítulo II e da Nota 1 do sub-capítulo XIX do capítulo 98 da HTS são modificados para excluir "The Gambia" da lista de países beneficiários. Além disso, a nota 2 (d) Sub-capítulo XIX do capítulo 98 da HTS é modificado por exclusão "The Gambia" a partir da lista de países menos desenvolvidos da África subsariana beneficiários africanos.
(5) A fim de implementar US compromissos pautais no âmbito do Acordo de 2004 a 31 de dezembro, 2015, os HTS é modificado conforme previsto no Anexo I do presente anúncio.
(6) (a) As alterações às HTS estabelecido no Anexo I do presente anúncio será eficaz no que diz respeito aos produtos agrícolas elegíveis de Israel que são inseridos ou retirados do armazém para o consumo, em ou após 1 de janeiro de 2015.
(b) As disposições do sub-capítulo VIII do capítulo 99 da HTS, como alterada pelo Anexo I a esta proclamação, continuará em vigor a 31 de dezembro de 2015.
(7) A fim de modificar os HTS para promover a aplicação uniforme da Convenção e para aliviar os encargos administrativos desnecessários, os HTS é modificado conforme estabelecido no Anexo II do presente anúncio.
(8) As alterações aos HTS estabelecidas no Anexo II a esta proclamação deve ser eficaz no que diz respeito a bens que estão inseridos, ou retirado do armazém para o consumo, em ou depois de depois de 1 de janeiro de 2015, ou 30 dias após publicação do presente anúncio no Federal Register.
(9) A fim de fazer as correcções técnicas necessárias para fornecer o tratamento de funcionamento previstas nos termos do artigo 3.2.8 do USBFTA, os HTS é modificado conforme estabelecido no Anexo III a esta proclamação.
(10) As disposições de proclamações anteriores e ordens executivas que são inconsistentes com as medidas tomadas a este anúncio são substituídas à medida de tal inconsistência.
Em testemunho do que, eu assino o presente documento neste dia vinte e três de dezembro, no ano de nosso Senhor 2014, e da Independência dos Estados Unidos da América duzentos e trinta e nove.
BARACK OBAMA
TEXTO ORIGINAL:
Presidential Proclamation -- To Take Certain Actions Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act and for Other Purposes
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
December 23, 2014
TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS UNDER THE AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
1. In Proclamation 8921 of December 20, 2012, I determined that the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (Guinea-Bissau) was not making continual progress in meeting the requirements described in section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974 (the 1974 Act) (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(1)), as added by section 111(a) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (title I of Public Law 106-200) (AGOA). Thus, pursuant to section 506A(a)(3) of the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(3)), I terminated the designation of Guinea-Bissau as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for purposes of section 506A of the 1974 Act.
2. Section 506A(a)(1) of the 1974 Act authorizes the President to designate a country listed in section 107 of the AGOA (19 U.S.C. 3706) as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country if the President determines that the country meets the eligibility requirements set forth in section 104 of the AGOA (19 U.S.C. 3703), as well as the eligibility criteria set forth in section 502 of the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2462).
3. Pursuant to section 506A(a)(1) of the 1974 Act, based on actions that the Government of Guinea-Bissau has taken over the past year, I have determined that Guinea-Bissau meets the eligibility requirements set forth in section 104 of the AGOA and section 502 of the 1974 Act, and I have decided to designate Guinea-Bissau as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country.
4. In Proclamation 8921 of December 20, 2012, I designated the Republic of South Sudan (South Sudan) as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for purposes of section 506A(a)(1) of the 1974 Act. In Proclamation 7657 of March 28, 2003, the President designated the Republic of The Gambia (The Gambia) as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for purposes of section 506A(a)(1) of the 1974 Act.
5. Section 506A(a)(3) of the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(3)), authorizes the President to terminate the designation of a country as a beneficiary sub-Sahara African country for purposes of section 506A, if he determines that the country is not making continual progress in meeting the requirements described in section 506A(a)(1) of the 1974 Act.
6. Pursuant to section 506A(a)(3) of the 1974 Act, I have determined that South Sudan and The Gambia are not making continual progress in meeting the requirements described in section 506A(a)(1) of the 1974 Act. Accordingly, I have decided to terminate the designation of South Sudan and The Gambia as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries for purposes of section 506A of the 1974 Act, effective on January 1, 2015.
7. On April 22, 1985, the United States and Israel entered into the Agreement on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Israel (USIFTA), which the Congress approved in the United States-Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act of 1985 (the "USIFTA Act") (19 U.S.C. 2112 note).
8. Section 4(b) of the USIFTA Act provides that, whenever the President determines that it is necessary to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to Israel provided for by the USIFTA, the President may proclaim such withdrawal, suspension, modification, or continuance of any duty, or such continuance of existing duty-free or excise treatment, or such additional duties, as the President determines to be required or appropriate to carry out the USIFTA.
9. In order to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to agricultural trade with Israel, on July 27, 2004, the United States entered into an agreement with Israel concerning certain aspects of trade in agricultural products during the period January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2008 (the "2004 Agreement").
10. In Proclamation 7826 of October 4, 2004, consistent with the 2004 Agreement, the President determined, pursuant to section 4(b) of the USIFTA Act, that, in order to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to Israel provided for by the USIFTA, it was necessary to provide duty-free access into the United States through December 31, 2008, for specified quantities of certain agricultural products of Israel.
11. Each year from 2008 through 2013, the United States and Israel entered into agreements to extend the period that the 2004 Agreement was in force for 1-year periods to allow additional time for the two governments to conclude an agreement to replace the 2004 Agreement.
12. To carry out the extension agreements, the President in Proclamation 8334 of December 31, 2008; Proclamation 8467 of December 23, 2009; Proclamation 8618 of December 21, 2010; Proclamation 8770 of December 29, 2011; Proclamation 8921 of December 20, 2012; and Proclamation 9072 of December 23, 2013, modified the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) to provide duty-free access into the United States for specified quantities of certain agricultural products of Israel, each time for an additional 1-year period.
13. On December 5, 2014, the United States entered into an agreement with Israel to extend the period that the 2004 Agreement is in force through December 31, 2015, to allow for further negotiations on an agreement to replace the 2004 Agreement.
14. Pursuant to section 4(b) of the USIFTA Act, I have determined that it is necessary, in order to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to Israel provided for by the USIFTA, to provide duty-free access into the United States through the close of December 31, 2015, for specified quantities of certain agricultural products of Israel.
15. Section 1205(a) of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (the "1988 Act") (19 U.S.C. 3005(a)), directs the United States International Trade Commission (the Commission) to keep the HTS under continuous review and periodically to recommend to the President such modifications to the HTS as the Commission considers necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purposes set forth in that subsection. Among those purposes are to promote the uniform application of the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (the "Convention") and to alleviate unnecessary administrative burdens.
16. The Commission conducted an investigation pursuant to section 1205 of the 1988 Act (Investigation No. 1205-10) in order to make certain technical corrections to keep the HTS in conformity with international standards and to make certain reclassifications of chemical products that would alleviate unnecessary administrative burdens.
17. In April 2013, the Commission published the results of Investigation No. 1205-10 pursuant to section 1205 of the 1988 Act (Recommendations to Modify Chapters 29, 30, 37, and 85 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, USITC Publication 4392 (corrected August 2013)), recommending specific changes to the HTS. Each of these recommended modifications would have little or no economic effect on any industry in the United States. On August 2, 2013, this report was transmitted to the Congress. The report and layover requirements of section 1206(b) of the 1988 Act (19 U.S.C. 3006(b)), were satisfied as of December 18, 2013.
18. Section 1206(a) of the 1988 Act (19 U.S.C. 3006(a)), authorizes the President to proclaim modifications to the HTS based on recommendations made by the Commission pursuant to section 1205 of the 1988 Act, if he determines that the modifications are in conformity with United States obligations under the Convention and do not run counter to the national economic interest of the United States. I have determined that the modifications to the HTS recommended in USITC Publication 4392, as set forth in Annex II to this proclamation, are in conformity with United States obligations under the Convention and do not run counter to the national economic interest of the United States.
19. Presidential Proclamation 8039 of July 27, 2006, implemented the United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (USBFTA). The proclamation implemented, pursuant to section 201 of the United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (the "USBFTA Act") (19 U.S.C. 3805 note), the staged reductions in rates of duty that the President determined to be necessary or appropriate to carry out or apply certain provisions of the USBFTA, including Article 3.2.8. That proclamation incorporated by reference Publication 3830 of the U.S. International Trade Commission, entitled Modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to Implement the United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement. Annex I of Publication 3830 included a technical error that affected the tariff treatment of goods under heading 9914.99.20 after December 31, 2015. I have determined that modifications to the HTS pursuant to section 201(a) of the USBTFA Act are necessary to correct this error.
20. Section 604 of the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2483), authorizes the President to embody in the HTS the substance of the relevant provisions of that Act, and of other acts affecting import treatment, and actions thereunder, including the removal, modification, continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import restriction.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including but not limited to section 506A(a)(1) of the 1974 Act, section 506A(a)(3) of the 1974 Act, section 4(b) of the USIFTA Act, section 1206(a) of the 1988 Act, section 201(a) of the USBFTA Act, and section 604 of the 1974 Act, do proclaim that:
(1) Guinea-Bissau is designated as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country.
(2) In order to reflect this designation in the HTS, general note 16(a) to the HTS is modified by inserting in alphabetical sequence in the list of beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries "Republic of Guinea-Bissau (Guinea-Bissau)."
(3) The designations of South Sudan and The Gambia as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries for purposes of section 506A of the 1974 Act are terminated, effective on January 1, 2015.
(4) In order to reflect in the HTS that beginning on January 1, 2015, South Sudan and The Gambia shall no longer be designated as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries, general note 16(a) to the HTS is modified by deleting "Republic of South Sudan" and "Republic of The Gambia" from the list of beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries. Note 7(a) to subchapter II and note 1 to subchapter XIX of chapter 98 of the HTS are modified to delete "The Gambia" from the list of beneficiary countries. Further, note 2(d) to subchapter XIX of chapter 98 of the HTS is modified by deleting "The Gambia" from the list of lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries.
(5) In order to implement U.S. tariff commitments under the 2004 Agreement through December 31, 2015, the HTS is modified as provided in Annex I to this proclamation.
(6)(a) The modifications to the HTS set forth in Annex I to this proclamation shall be effective with respect to eligible agricultural products of Israel that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 2015.
(b) The provisions of subchapter VIII of chapter 99 of the HTS, as modified by Annex I to this proclamation, shall continue in effect through December 31, 2015.
(7) In order to modify the HTS to promote the uniform application of the Convention and to alleviate unnecessary administrative burdens, the HTS is modified as set forth in Annex II to this proclamation.
(8) The modifications to the HTS set forth in Annex II to this proclamation shall be effective with respect to goods that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the later of January 1, 2015, or the 30th day after publication of this proclamation in the Federal Register.
(9) In order to make technical corrections necessary to provide the intended duty treatment under Article 3.2.8 of the USBFTA, the HTS is modified as set forth in Annex III to this proclamation.
(10) Any provisions of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that are inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation are superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-ninth.
BARACK OBAMA
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
December 23, 2014
TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS UNDER THE AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
1. In Proclamation 8921 of December 20, 2012, I determined that the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (Guinea-Bissau) was not making continual progress in meeting the requirements described in section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974 (the 1974 Act) (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(1)), as added by section 111(a) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (title I of Public Law 106-200) (AGOA). Thus, pursuant to section 506A(a)(3) of the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(3)), I terminated the designation of Guinea-Bissau as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for purposes of section 506A of the 1974 Act.
2. Section 506A(a)(1) of the 1974 Act authorizes the President to designate a country listed in section 107 of the AGOA (19 U.S.C. 3706) as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country if the President determines that the country meets the eligibility requirements set forth in section 104 of the AGOA (19 U.S.C. 3703), as well as the eligibility criteria set forth in section 502 of the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2462).
3. Pursuant to section 506A(a)(1) of the 1974 Act, based on actions that the Government of Guinea-Bissau has taken over the past year, I have determined that Guinea-Bissau meets the eligibility requirements set forth in section 104 of the AGOA and section 502 of the 1974 Act, and I have decided to designate Guinea-Bissau as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country.
4. In Proclamation 8921 of December 20, 2012, I designated the Republic of South Sudan (South Sudan) as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for purposes of section 506A(a)(1) of the 1974 Act. In Proclamation 7657 of March 28, 2003, the President designated the Republic of The Gambia (The Gambia) as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for purposes of section 506A(a)(1) of the 1974 Act.
5. Section 506A(a)(3) of the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(3)), authorizes the President to terminate the designation of a country as a beneficiary sub-Sahara African country for purposes of section 506A, if he determines that the country is not making continual progress in meeting the requirements described in section 506A(a)(1) of the 1974 Act.
6. Pursuant to section 506A(a)(3) of the 1974 Act, I have determined that South Sudan and The Gambia are not making continual progress in meeting the requirements described in section 506A(a)(1) of the 1974 Act. Accordingly, I have decided to terminate the designation of South Sudan and The Gambia as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries for purposes of section 506A of the 1974 Act, effective on January 1, 2015.
7. On April 22, 1985, the United States and Israel entered into the Agreement on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Israel (USIFTA), which the Congress approved in the United States-Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act of 1985 (the "USIFTA Act") (19 U.S.C. 2112 note).
8. Section 4(b) of the USIFTA Act provides that, whenever the President determines that it is necessary to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to Israel provided for by the USIFTA, the President may proclaim such withdrawal, suspension, modification, or continuance of any duty, or such continuance of existing duty-free or excise treatment, or such additional duties, as the President determines to be required or appropriate to carry out the USIFTA.
9. In order to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to agricultural trade with Israel, on July 27, 2004, the United States entered into an agreement with Israel concerning certain aspects of trade in agricultural products during the period January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2008 (the "2004 Agreement").
10. In Proclamation 7826 of October 4, 2004, consistent with the 2004 Agreement, the President determined, pursuant to section 4(b) of the USIFTA Act, that, in order to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to Israel provided for by the USIFTA, it was necessary to provide duty-free access into the United States through December 31, 2008, for specified quantities of certain agricultural products of Israel.
11. Each year from 2008 through 2013, the United States and Israel entered into agreements to extend the period that the 2004 Agreement was in force for 1-year periods to allow additional time for the two governments to conclude an agreement to replace the 2004 Agreement.
12. To carry out the extension agreements, the President in Proclamation 8334 of December 31, 2008; Proclamation 8467 of December 23, 2009; Proclamation 8618 of December 21, 2010; Proclamation 8770 of December 29, 2011; Proclamation 8921 of December 20, 2012; and Proclamation 9072 of December 23, 2013, modified the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) to provide duty-free access into the United States for specified quantities of certain agricultural products of Israel, each time for an additional 1-year period.
13. On December 5, 2014, the United States entered into an agreement with Israel to extend the period that the 2004 Agreement is in force through December 31, 2015, to allow for further negotiations on an agreement to replace the 2004 Agreement.
14. Pursuant to section 4(b) of the USIFTA Act, I have determined that it is necessary, in order to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to Israel provided for by the USIFTA, to provide duty-free access into the United States through the close of December 31, 2015, for specified quantities of certain agricultural products of Israel.
15. Section 1205(a) of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (the "1988 Act") (19 U.S.C. 3005(a)), directs the United States International Trade Commission (the Commission) to keep the HTS under continuous review and periodically to recommend to the President such modifications to the HTS as the Commission considers necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purposes set forth in that subsection. Among those purposes are to promote the uniform application of the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (the "Convention") and to alleviate unnecessary administrative burdens.
16. The Commission conducted an investigation pursuant to section 1205 of the 1988 Act (Investigation No. 1205-10) in order to make certain technical corrections to keep the HTS in conformity with international standards and to make certain reclassifications of chemical products that would alleviate unnecessary administrative burdens.
17. In April 2013, the Commission published the results of Investigation No. 1205-10 pursuant to section 1205 of the 1988 Act (Recommendations to Modify Chapters 29, 30, 37, and 85 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, USITC Publication 4392 (corrected August 2013)), recommending specific changes to the HTS. Each of these recommended modifications would have little or no economic effect on any industry in the United States. On August 2, 2013, this report was transmitted to the Congress. The report and layover requirements of section 1206(b) of the 1988 Act (19 U.S.C. 3006(b)), were satisfied as of December 18, 2013.
18. Section 1206(a) of the 1988 Act (19 U.S.C. 3006(a)), authorizes the President to proclaim modifications to the HTS based on recommendations made by the Commission pursuant to section 1205 of the 1988 Act, if he determines that the modifications are in conformity with United States obligations under the Convention and do not run counter to the national economic interest of the United States. I have determined that the modifications to the HTS recommended in USITC Publication 4392, as set forth in Annex II to this proclamation, are in conformity with United States obligations under the Convention and do not run counter to the national economic interest of the United States.
19. Presidential Proclamation 8039 of July 27, 2006, implemented the United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (USBFTA). The proclamation implemented, pursuant to section 201 of the United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (the "USBFTA Act") (19 U.S.C. 3805 note), the staged reductions in rates of duty that the President determined to be necessary or appropriate to carry out or apply certain provisions of the USBFTA, including Article 3.2.8. That proclamation incorporated by reference Publication 3830 of the U.S. International Trade Commission, entitled Modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to Implement the United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement. Annex I of Publication 3830 included a technical error that affected the tariff treatment of goods under heading 9914.99.20 after December 31, 2015. I have determined that modifications to the HTS pursuant to section 201(a) of the USBTFA Act are necessary to correct this error.
20. Section 604 of the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2483), authorizes the President to embody in the HTS the substance of the relevant provisions of that Act, and of other acts affecting import treatment, and actions thereunder, including the removal, modification, continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import restriction.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including but not limited to section 506A(a)(1) of the 1974 Act, section 506A(a)(3) of the 1974 Act, section 4(b) of the USIFTA Act, section 1206(a) of the 1988 Act, section 201(a) of the USBFTA Act, and section 604 of the 1974 Act, do proclaim that:
(1) Guinea-Bissau is designated as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country.
(2) In order to reflect this designation in the HTS, general note 16(a) to the HTS is modified by inserting in alphabetical sequence in the list of beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries "Republic of Guinea-Bissau (Guinea-Bissau)."
(3) The designations of South Sudan and The Gambia as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries for purposes of section 506A of the 1974 Act are terminated, effective on January 1, 2015.
(4) In order to reflect in the HTS that beginning on January 1, 2015, South Sudan and The Gambia shall no longer be designated as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries, general note 16(a) to the HTS is modified by deleting "Republic of South Sudan" and "Republic of The Gambia" from the list of beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries. Note 7(a) to subchapter II and note 1 to subchapter XIX of chapter 98 of the HTS are modified to delete "The Gambia" from the list of beneficiary countries. Further, note 2(d) to subchapter XIX of chapter 98 of the HTS is modified by deleting "The Gambia" from the list of lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries.
(5) In order to implement U.S. tariff commitments under the 2004 Agreement through December 31, 2015, the HTS is modified as provided in Annex I to this proclamation.
(6)(a) The modifications to the HTS set forth in Annex I to this proclamation shall be effective with respect to eligible agricultural products of Israel that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 2015.
(b) The provisions of subchapter VIII of chapter 99 of the HTS, as modified by Annex I to this proclamation, shall continue in effect through December 31, 2015.
(7) In order to modify the HTS to promote the uniform application of the Convention and to alleviate unnecessary administrative burdens, the HTS is modified as set forth in Annex II to this proclamation.
(8) The modifications to the HTS set forth in Annex II to this proclamation shall be effective with respect to goods that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the later of January 1, 2015, or the 30th day after publication of this proclamation in the Federal Register.
(9) In order to make technical corrections necessary to provide the intended duty treatment under Article 3.2.8 of the USBFTA, the HTS is modified as set forth in Annex III to this proclamation.
(10) Any provisions of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that are inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation are superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-ninth.
BARACK OBAMA
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