Message to Congress
Transmitting the Free Trade Area Agreement
(April 29, 1985)
To the Congress of the United States:
I am pleased to transmit to you, pursuant to section 102 of the Trade
Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2112(e)(2)), the text of the Agreement on the
Establishment of a Free
Trade Area between the Government of the United
States of America and the Government of Israel entered into in Washington
on April 22, 1985.
This historic Agreement was negotiated under the terms of Title IV
of the Trade and Tariff Act of 1984 (P.L. 98 - 573) and provides for
the creation of a Free Trade Area between the United States and Israel
in order to strengthen and develop the two nations' economic relations
and to further the friendship between them.
With the Agreement I am transmitting the proposed United States-Israel
Free Trade Area Implementation Act to be considered by the Congress
in accordance with the procedures of section 151 of the Trade Act of
1974; and a statement of administrative action that is proposed to implement
the Agreement. Section 102 also requires a statement of reasons, first,
as to how the Agreement serves the interest of United States commerce,
and second, as to why the implementing bill and proposed administrative
action is required or appropriate to carry it out. The second of these
requirements is met by the statement of administrative action. This
letter shall meet the first.
The signing of this Agreement on April 22, 1985 marked the end of lengthy
negotiations with Israel. The passage of the proposed implementing legislation,
I believe, will mark the beginning of a strong new trading relationship
with our friends in Israel. This Agreement, the first of its kind for
the United States, provides for the elimination of substantially all
the trade barriers between the United States and Israel and will be
instrumental in the development of bilateral trade for our mutual benefit.
This Agreement serves the interests of United States commerce because
it will create significant expansion of our trade with Israel. For the
United States, the Agreement will provide duty free access to an $8
billion market in which we currently face relatively high duties and
certain non-tariff barriers and in which we face a tariff disparity
resulting from an Israeli agreement with the European Community. This
Agreement will ensure that American firms can compete fairly and competitively
in the Israeli market.
I would like, in closing, to express my appreciation for the close
cooperation between the Congress and the Administration that has been
the hallmark of our joint effort to make the U.S.-Israel Free Trade
Area a reality. Our success in this undertaking should be a matter of
pride for us all and a model for future trade initiatives.
Ronald Reagan
Sources: Public
Papers of the Presidents, Ronald Reagan, 1982 |