[19990326]RS20102_加勒比盆地加强立法.pdf

Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS20102Updated March 26, 1999Caribbean Basin Enhancement Legislation(name redacted)Specialist in Trade RelationsForeign Affairs, Defense, and Trade DivisionSummaryLegislation has been introduced to provide Caribbean Basin countries similar tariffbenefits afforded Mexico under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).On the House side, Title I of H.R. 984 (“Caribbean and Central American Relief andEconomic Stabilization Act) would provide Caribbean Basin countries with essentiallythe same tariff treatment that Mexico receives under NAFTA. On the Senate side, so-called Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) enhancement legislation has been included in S.371, a bill to provide relief to the hurricane-ravaged countries of Central America. TheSenate bill is more restrictive than the House bill in the scope of tariff benefits offered,particularly for textile and apparel products. The Clinton Administration, in testimonybefore the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade on March 23, announced itsopposition to H.R. 984. While supporting enhanced trade benefits for CBI cou