Georgia PNTR - 11.09.2000

 

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Public Law 106-476
106th Congress
Enacted November 9, 2000

TITLE III--EXTENSION OF NONDISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT TO GEORGIA

SEC. 3001. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that Georgia has--

(1) made considerable progress toward respecting fundamental human rights consistent with the objectives of title IV of the Trade Act of 1974;

(2) adopted administrative procedures that accord its citizens the right to emigrate, travel freely, and to return to their country without restriction;

(3) been found to be in full compliance with the freedom of emigration provisions in title IV of the Trade Act of 1974;

(4) made progress toward democratic rule and creating a free market economic system since its independence from the Soviet Union;

(5) demonstrated strong and effective enforcement of internationally recognized core labor standards and a commitment to continue to improve effective enforcement of its laws reflecting such standards;

(6) committed to developing a system of governance in accordance with the provisions of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (also known as the "Helsinki Final Act'') regarding human rights and humanitarian affairs;

(7) endeavored to address issues related to its national and religious minorities and, as a member state of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), committed to adopting special measures for ensuring that persons belonging to national minorities have full equality individually as well as in community with other members of their group;

(8) also committed to enacting legislation to provide protection against incitement to violence against persons or groups based on national, racial, ethnic, or religious discrimination, hostility, or hatred, including anti-Semitism;

(9) continued to return communal properties confiscated from national and religious minorities during the Soviet period, facilitating the reemergence of these communities in the national life of Georgia and establishing the legal framework for completion of this process in the future;

(10) concluded a bilateral trade agreement with the United States in 1993 and a bilateral investment treaty in 1994;

(11) demonstrated a strong desire to build a friendly and cooperative relationship with the United States; and

(12) acceded to the World Trade Organization on June 14, 2000, and the extension of unconditional normal trade relations treatment to the products of Georgia will enable the United States to avail itself of all rights under the World Trade Organization with respect to Georgia.

SEC. 3002.  TERMINATION OF APPLICATION OF TITLE IV OF THE TRADE ACT OF 1974 TO GEORGIA.

(a) Presidential Determinations and Extensions of Nondiscriminatory Treatment.--Notwithstanding any provision of title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2431 et seq.), the President may--

(1) determine that such title should no longer apply to Georgia; and

(2) after making a determination under paragraph (1) with respect to Georgia, proclaim the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the products of that country.

(b) Termination of Application of Title IV.--On and after the effective date of the extension under subsection (a)(2) of nondiscriminatory treatment to the products of Georgia, title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 shall cease to apply to that country.

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