Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 111 Part 3.djvu/745

 PROCLAMATION 6962—DEC. 2, 1996 111 STAT. 2833 in 9«rMral not* 4(*) to the KTS •• that not* *xiat*d on Nov*a th* t*ru of 9*n*ral not* 12 t to th * tariff achadul* 9903.»6.19 I I 32.lt* Proclamation 6962 of December 2, 1996 To Implement the United States-Israel Agreement on Trade in Agricultural Products By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation 1. On April 22, 1985, the United States entered into the Agreement on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Israel ("the FTA Agreement"), approved by the Congress in the United States-Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act of 1985 ("the FTA Act") (19 U.S.C. 2112 note). 2. The United States and Israel acknowledge that they have differing interpretations as to the meaning of certain rights and obligations in the FTA Agreement, in particular with respect to market access for certain United States agricultural products. In order to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to agricultural trade with Israel, on November 4, 1996, the Government of the United States entered into an agreement with the Goverrmient of Israel concerning certain aspects of trade in agricultural products, effective December 4, 1996, through December 31, 2001 ("the 1996 Agreement"). 3. Section 4(b) of the FTA Act provides that, whenever the President determines that it is necessary to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to Israel provided for by the FTA Agreement, the President may proclaim such withdrawal, suspension, modification, or continuance of any duty, or such continuance of existing duty-free or excise treatment, or such additional duties as the President determines to be required or appropriate to carry out the FTA Agreement. 4. Pursuant to section 4(b) of the FTA Act, I have determined that it is necessary, in order to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to Israel, to provide through the close of December 31, 2001, access into the United States customs territory for specified quantities of certain agricultural products of Israel free of duty or certain fees or other import charges.

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