THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release December 29, 2000
TO EXTEND NONDISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT
(NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS TREATMENT)
TO THE PRODUCTS OF
THE REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
1. The Republic of Georgia (Georgia) has made progress, since its
emergence from communism, toward democratic rule and the creation of a free
market economy. Georgia has also made considerable progress toward
respecting fundamental human rights consistent with the objectives of title
IV of the Trade Act of 1974 (the "Trade Act") (19 U.S.C. 2431, et seq.).
Further, I have found Georgia to be in full compliance with the freedom of
emigration requirements under the Trade Act. In 1993, Georgia concluded a
bilateral trade agreement with the United States and in 1994 concluded a
bilateral investment treaty with the United States. Georgia acceded to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) on June 14, 2000. The extension of
unconditional normal trade relations treatment to the products of Georgia
will permit the United States to avail itself of all rights under the WTO
with respect to Georgia.
2. Pursuant to section 3002 of Public Law 106-476, 114 Stat. 2101,
2175, and having due regard for the findings of the Congress in section
3001 of that law, I hereby determine that title IV of the Trade Act should
no longer apply to Georgia.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States
of America, acting under the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, including but not limited to section 3002 of
Public Law 106-476, do hereby proclaim that:
(1) Nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment)
shall be extended to the products of Georgia; and
(2) The extension of nondiscriminatory treatment to the products of
Georgia shall be effective as of the date of signature of this
proclamation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand, and of
the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
twenty-fifth.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
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