Speech #930345654

President. the trade bill that is now before the Senate incorporates language in title IV that places a number of restrictions on the extension of mostfavorednation treatment to nonmarket economies. Moreover. title IV as passed by the House and reported out of the Senate Finance Committee restricts the participation of nonmarket economies in programsof the Government of the United States that extend credits. credit guarantees. or investment guarantees. In the case both of credit programs and the extension of mostfavorednation treatment. title IV sets a simple standard: a recipient nonmarket economy must not deny its citizens the right or the opportunity to emigrate. nor can it impose more than nominal taxes. fees. levies. or fines on persons who wish to emigrate. or as a condition for obtaining an exit visa. I describe the standard in title IV as simple. because there are no qualifying words or phrases that would authorize the President to extend MFN or credits to any nonmarket economy that denies a citizen the opportunity to emigrate or that imposes more than nominal charges in connection with emigration. I believe it is clearand clearly understood In both the Congress and the executive branchthat under the provisions of title IV as passed by the House and affirmed by the Senate Finance Committee. no nonmarket economy covered by title IV could at present qualify for MFN or credits. I believe. Mr. President. that it is important to understand the nature of the freedom of emigration language of title IV as passed by the House for two reasons: First. the restrictions in title IV have been incorporated in the trade bill now before us with respect to any country that does not qualify for a waiver of those restrictions under the conditions set forth in an amendment I propose to offer to title IV. amendment No. 2000. And. second. the freedom of emigration restrictions in title IV will continue to limit the authority of the President If the Congress. according to the procedures set forth in amendment No. 2000. should vote to discontinue any waiver authority it might choose initially to enact.