HR 796 IH

To normalize trade relations with Cuba, and for other purposes.

February 28, 2001

Mr. RANGEL (for himself, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts, and Mr. RAMSTAD) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

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 terms `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.

END