Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 1.djvu/815

 PUBLIC LAW 105-206—JULY 22, 1998 112 STAT. 789 as furnished for the convenience of the employer if, without regard to this paragraph, more than half of the employees to whom such meals are furnished on such premises are furnished such meals for the convenience of the employer.", (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by subsection (a) Applicability. shall apply to taxable years beginning before, on, or after the 26 USC 119 note. date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 5003. CLARIFICATION OF DESIGNATION OF NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS. (a) FINDINGS AND POLICY. — 19 USC 248i (1) FINDINGS. —The Congress makes the following findings: note. (A) Since the 18th century, the principle of nondiscrimination among countries with which the United States has trade relations, commonly referred to as "mostfavored-nation" treatment, has been a cornerstone of United States trade policy. (B) Although the principle remains fiirmly in place as a fundamental concept in United States trade relations, the term "most-favored-nation" is a misnomer which has led to public misunderstanding. (C) It is neither the purpose nor the effect of the most-favored-nation principle to treat any country as "most favored". To the contrary, the principle reflects the intention to confer on a country the same trade benefits that are conferred on any other country, that is, the intention not to discriminate among trading partners. (D) The term "normal trade relations" is a more accurate description of the principle of nondiscrimination as it applies to the tariffs applicable generally to imports from United States trading partners, that is, the general rates of duty set forth in column 1 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. (2) POLICY. —It is the sense of the Congress that— (A) the language used in United States laws, treaties, agreements, executive orders, directives, and regulations should more clearly and accurately reflect the underlying principles of United States trade policy; and (B) accordingly, the term "normal trade relations" should, where appropriate, be substituted for the term "most-favored-nation". (b) CHANGE IN TERMINOLOGY.— (1) TRADE EXPANSION ACT OF 1962.—The heading for section 251 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (19 U.S.C. 1881) is amended to read as follows: "NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS". (2) TRADE ACT OF 1974. —(A) Section 402 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2432) is amended by striking "(most-favorednation treatment)" each place it appears and inserting "(normal (B) Section 601(9) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2481(9)) is amended by striking "most-favored-nation treatment" and inserting "trade treatment based on normal trade relations (known under international law as most-favorednation treatment)". (3) CFTA.— Section 302(a)(3)(C) of the United States Canada Free-Trade Agreement Implementation Act of 1988 (19 U.S.C. 2112 note) is amended by striking "the most-favored-

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