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[DOCID: f:s401is.txt]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 401
To normalize trade relations with Cuba, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 27, 2001
Mr. Baucus (for himself, Mr. Roberts, and Mrs. Lincoln) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Finance
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To normalize trade relations with Cuba, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``United States-Cuba Trade Act of
2001''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING TRADE WITH CUBA.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
(1) with the end of the cold war and the collapse of the
Soviet Union, Cuba is no longer a threat to the United States
or the Western Hemisphere;
(2) the continuation of the embargo on trade between the
United States and Cuba that was declared in February 1962 is
counterproductive, adding to the hardships of the Cuban people
while making the United States the scapegoat for the failures
of the Communist system;
(3) in the former Soviet Union, the Eastern bloc countries,
China, and Vietnam, the United States is using economic,
cultural, academic, and scientific engagement to support its
policy of promoting democratic and human rights reforms;
(4) extension to Cuba of unconditional normal trade
relations treatment would assist Cuba in developing its economy
based on free market principles and becoming competitive in the
global marketplace;
(5) the United States can best support democratic change
and human rights in Cuba by promoting trade and commerce,
travel, communications, and cultural, academic, and scientific
exchanges;
(6) expanding bilateral trade relations is likely to
promote further progress in Cuba on human rights and democratic
rule and assist Cuba in adopting regional and world trading
rules and principles; and
(7) Cuba was one of the founding members of the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade in 1947 and is an original
member of the World Trade Organization, and extension of
unconditional normal trade relations treatment to Cuba would
enable the United States to avail itself of all rights under
the World Trade Organization with respect to Cuba;
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that--
(1) the United States should promote democratic change and
economic reform by normalizing trade relations with Cuba; and
(2) upon the enactment of this Act, it will no longer be
necessary for the United States to continue to use article XXI
of the GATT 1994 with respect to Cuba, understanding that the
President retains full authority to invoke article XXI of the
GATT 1994 and comparable provisions in other Uruguay Round
Agreements in the future in all appropriate circumstances.
(c) Definitions.--In this section, the term ``GATT 1994'' and
``Uruguay Round Agreements'' have the meanings given those terms in
section 2 of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF NONDISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT TO THE PRODUCTS OF
CUBA.
(a) Harmonized Tariff Schedule Amendments.--General note 3(b) of
the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended--
(1) by striking ``to section 401 of the Tariff
Classification Act of 1962,''; and
(2) by striking ``Cuba''.
(b) Repeal of Section 401 of the Tariff Classification Act of
1962.--Section 401 of the Tariff Classification Act of 1962 is
repealed.
(c) Termination of Application of Title IV of the Trade Act of 1974
to Cuba.--
(1) Extension of nondiscriminatory treatment.--
Nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment)
shall apply to the products of Cuba.
(2) Termination of application of title iv.--Title IV of
the Trade Act of 1974 shall cease to apply to Cuba.
(d) Effective Date.--This section, and the amendments and repeal
made by this section, shall apply with respect to goods entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
The President shall submit to the Congress, not later than 18
months after the date of the enactment of this Act, a report on trade
relations between the United States and Cuba.
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