|
U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 2707. Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade
(a) Establishment
The Commissioner of Customs, after consultation with appropriate
officials in the State of Texas, is authorized and directed to make
grants to an institution (or a consortium of such institutions) to
assist such institution in planning, establishing, and operating a
Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade (hereafter in
this section referred to as the "Center"). The Commissioner of
Customs shall make the first grant not later than December 1, 1994,
and the Center shall be established not later than February 1,
1995.
(b) Scope of Center
The Center shall be a year-round program operated by an
institution located in the State of Texas (or a consortium of such
institutions), the purpose of which is to promote and study trade
between and among Western Hemisphere countries. The Center shall
conduct activities designed to examine -
(1) the impact of the NAFTA on the economies in, and trade
within, the Western Hemisphere;
(2) the negotiation of any future free trade agreements,
including possible accessions to the NAFTA; and
(3) adjusting tariffs, reducing nontariff barriers, improving
relations among customs officials, and promoting economic
relations among countries in the Western Hemisphere.
(c) Consultation; selection criteria
The Commissioner of Customs shall consult with appropriate
officials of the State of Texas and private sector authorities with
respect to selecting, planning, and establishing the Center. In
selecting the appropriate institution, the Commissioner of Customs
shall give consideration to -
(1) the institution's ability to carry out the programs and
activities described in this section; and
(2) any resources the institution can provide the Center in
addition to Federal funds provided under this program.
(d) Programs and activities
The Center shall conduct the following activities:
(1) Provide forums for international discussion and debate for
representatives from countries in the Western Hemisphere
regarding issues which affect trade and other economic relations
within the hemisphere, including the impact of the NAFTA on
individual economies and the desirability and feasibility of
possible accessions to the NAFTA by such countries.
(2) Conduct studies and research projects on subjects which
affect Western Hemisphere trade, including tariffs, customs,
regional and national economics, business development and
finance, production and personnel management, manufacturing,
agriculture, engineering, transportation, immigration,
telecommunications, medicine, science, urban studies, border
demographics, social anthropology, and population.
(3) Publish materials, disseminate information, and conduct
seminars and conferences to support and educate representatives
from countries in the Western Hemisphere who seek to do business
with or invest in other Western Hemisphere countries.
(4) Provide grants, fellowships, endowed chairs, and financial
assistance to outstanding scholars and authorities from Western
Hemisphere countries.
(5) Provide grants, fellowships, and other financial assistance
to qualified graduate students, from Western Hemisphere
countries, to study at the Center.
(6) Implement academic exchange programs and other cooperative
research and instructional agreements with the complementary
Dante B. Fascell North-South Center at the University of Miami at
Coral Gables.
(e) Definitions
For purposes of this section -
(1) NAFTA
The term "NAFTA" means the North American Free Trade Agreement.
(2) Western Hemisphere countries
The terms "Western Hemisphere countries", "countries in the
Western Hemisphere", and "Western Hemisphere" mean Canada, the
United States, Mexico, countries located in South America,
beneficiary countries (as defined by section 2702 of this title),
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin
Islands.
(f) Fees for seminars and publications
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a grant made under
this section may provide that the Center may charge a reasonable
fee for attendance at seminars and conferences and for copies of
publications, studies, reports, and other documents the Center
publishes. The Center may waive such fees in any case in which it
determines imposing a fee would impose a financial hardship and the
purposes of the Center would be served by granting such a waiver.
(g) Duration of grant
The Commissioner of Customs is directed to make grants to any
institution or institutions selected as the Center for fiscal years
1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997.
(h) Report
The Commissioner of Customs shall, no later than July 1, 1994,
and annually thereafter for years for which grants are made, submit
a written report to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the
Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives. The
first report shall include -
(1) a statement identifying the institution or institutions
selected as the Center;
(2) the reasons for selecting the institution or institutions
as the Center; and
(3) the plan of such institution or institutions for operating
the Center.
Each subsequent report shall include information with respect to
the operations of the Center, the collaboration of the Center with,
and dissemination of information to, Government policymakers and
the business community with respect to the study of Western
Hemispheric trade by the Center, and the plan and efforts of the
Center to continue operations after grants under this section have
expired.
|
|