Speech #960093820

I rise in opposition to House Resolution 317. which would disapprove the continuation of MFN tariff treatment to the products of Romania. Mr. Chairman. the question before us is whether Romania has met the requirements of section 402 of the Trade Act of 1974. the JacksonVanik emigration amendment. Section 402(c) permits the President to waive the freedom of emigration requirements of section 402(a) if he determines that the waiver will promote the objectives of that section and if he receives assurances that the future emigration practices of the country will lead substantially to the achievement of those objectives. The waiver authority was granted for an 18month period subject to 1year extensions if the President determines that such extension will substantially promote the objectives of section 402 and recommends such an extension to the Congress. There can be no doubt that the extension of MFN status in 1975 and its annual renewal since that time has promoted the free emigration objectives of the JacksonVanik amendment. In the fiscal year prior to the granting of MFN. 312 individuals emigrated from Romania to the United States. In fiscal year 1979. tha.t number had grown to 1.686. an increase of more than 500 percent. Emigration to the Federal Republic of Germany has also been running at very high levels. with over 11.000 individuals departing for West Germany in 1978. Although emigration to Israel has declined. it is important to note that the Jewish community in the United States has given its unqualified endorsement of the continuation of MFN to Romania. Testimony was presented to the Subcommittee on Trade stating that the Romanian authorities had given concrete assurances which. it is hoped. will remove remaining impediments to the freedom of Romanian Jews to emigrate. In this connection. I am pleased to call the attention of my colleagues to a July 15 report in the Jewish Week publication that Romanian President Ceausescu has assured the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee that any Jew wishing to leave Romania for family reunion in Israel or any other country would be able to do so. Thus. Romanias emigration performance since the granting of MFN has demonstrated its compliance with the Trade Act requirements and the recent developments regarding Romanian Jewish emigration evidence its willingness to continue to work in a humanitarian manner toward the resolution of divided family cases. Mr. Chairman. it must be remembered that o ir primary purpose is to build a trade relationship with Romaniaone that will promote mutual economic advantages.