Statement on Israel and Generalized System of Preferences
(November 11, 1975)
I have received satisfactory assurances that Israel
will take action prior to January 1, 1976 to assure that, although Israel
affords preferential treatment to products of other developed countries
(those of the E.E.C.), there will be no significant adverse effect on
United States commerce resulting from such preferential treatment.
In particular, the Government of Israel has provided
satisfactory assurances that, for specified U.S. exports to Israel worth
some $92 million (1974 data), Israel will reduce the applicable most_favored-nation
(MFN) duty rates so as to eliminate, or in some cases virtually eliminate,
the margin between such MFN rates and the preferential tariff rates
being applied to the same products from E.E.C. countries. In addition,
Israel will eliminate, at least during the life of the U.S. GSP, margins
between the E.E.C. preferential tariff rates and the MFN rates whenever
specified conditions are met for certain products. These products have
been identified by the United States as important exports for which
the U.S. and the E.E.C. countries are serious commercial competitors
and for which tariff preferences, if applied, would be likely to affect
adversely U.S. commercial interests. Israel will eliminate preferential
tariff margins on these products whenever specific statistical criteria
are met. Israel also will consult with the United States, at our request,
concerning any other U.S. exports which may be affected adversely by
its tariff preferences for products of E.E.C. countries.
For these reasons, Israel qualifies for the GSP under
the terms of section 502(b) (3) of the Trade Act of 1974.
Sources: Public Papers of the President |