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H.R. 5416 106th Congress House

Southeast Europe Trade Preference Act

Official title: To promote economic development and stability in Southeast Europe by providing countries in that region with additional trade benefits.

Introduced: October 6, 2000 See on congress.gov
Foreign Trade and International Finance Administrative procedureAgriculture and FoodAgriculture in foreign tradeAlbania
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American investmentsArmed Forces and National SecurityArts, Culture, ReligionBosnia and HerzegovinaBriberyChild laborCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCollective bargainingCommerceCommercial arbitrationCongressCongress and foreign policyCongressional reporting requirementsContractsCopyrightCopyright infringementCorporate corruptionCorporate profitsCrime and Law EnforcementCroatiaDemocracyDepartment of the TreasuryDrug abuseDrug law enforcementEconomic developmentEconomic impact statementsEconomics and Public FinanceEmployee rightsEnvironmental ProtectionEuropeEuropean UnionExport subsidiesExpropriationExtraditionExtradition agreementsFamiliesForced laborFree tradeFreedom of associationGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment ownershipGovernment procurementHealthHours of laborHuman rightsIndictmentsIntellectual propertyInternational AffairsInternational arbitrationKosovoLabor and EmploymentLabor unionsLawMacedoniaMinimum wagesMisconduct in officeMontenegroMotion picturesNational self-determinationNontariff trade barriersOccupational health and safetyOffice of the U.S. Trade RepresentativePatentsPeace treatiesPresident and foreign policyProfitPublic corruptionRomaniaScience, Technology, CommunicationsSerbiaSloveniaStandard of livingTariff preferencesTaxationTelevision broadcastingTelevision programsTourismTrade agreementsTrademarksTransportation and Public WorksWar crime trialsWar crimesWar reliefYugoslavia
This bill died when the 106th Congress ended
It never became law before the 106th Congress (1999–2000) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 16, 2000
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Oct 6, 2000
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Oct 6, 2000
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1711)
Oct 6, 2000
Introduced in House
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 Latest action October 16, 2000

Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Southeast Europe Trade Preference Act - Authorizes the President to proclaim duty-free treatment for all eligible articles from any beneficiary country designated, subject to specified conditions, from among the following: (1) Albania; (2) Bosnia and Herzegovina; (3) Bulgaria; (4) Croatia; (5) the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; (6) Romania; (7) Slovenia; (8) Kosovo; and (9) Montenegro.

(Sec. 5) Prohibits the President from designating any country a beneficiary country if it: (1) has nationalized, expropriated, or otherwise seized ownership or control of property owned by a U.S. citizen or by a corporation, partnership, or association 50 percent or more beneficially owned by U.S. citizens; or (2) has taken certain steps with respect to existing contracts or agreements with, or any patent, trademark, or other intellectual property of, such a person, or imposed or enforced taxes or other exactions, restrictive maintenance, or operational conditions, or other measures with respect to property so owned, the effect of which is to nationalize, expropriate, or otherwise seize ownership or control of such property. Waives such prohibition if the President determines to Congress that: (1) compensation has been or is being made to such owner; (2) good-faith negotiations to provide such compensation are in progress, or the country is otherwise taking steps to discharge its obligations under international law; or (3) a dispute over compensation for such a seizure has been submitted to arbitration under the Convention for the Settlement of Investment Disputes.

Specifies other grounds for disqualifying a country for beneficiary designation, including: (1) failure to recognize or enforce arbitral awards in favor of U.S. owners; (2) preferential treatment to the products of a developed country other than the United States, with significant adverse effect on U.S. commerce; (3) broadcast of copyrighted material belonging to U.S. copyright owners by a government-owned entity without the owners' express consent; (4) absence of a treaty or other agreement regarding the extradition of U.S. citizens; (5) failure to take steps to afford workers in the country certain internationally recognized worker rights; or (6) membership in the European Union.

Allows the President, in the U.S. national economic or security interest, to designate a beneficiary country even though one or more of such prohibitions apply (except in the case of membership in the European Union).

Specifies factors for the President to consider in designating a beneficiary country.

Permits beneficiary designation for Kosovo and Montenegro notwithstanding certain Federal law.

Sets conditions for the beneficiary designation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

(Sec. 6) Specifies conditions for the duty-free treatment of articles which are the growth, product, or manufacture of a beneficiary country. Provides for exceptions to and suspension of such treatment, as well as emergency relief with respect to perishable products.

(Sec. 7) Permits an increase in the duty-free tourist allowance with respect to beneficiary countries.

(Sec. 8) Requires the U.S. International Trade Commission to report to Congress and the President on the economic impact of this Act on U.S. industries and consumers.

(Sec. 9) Directs the Secretary of Labor to review, analyze, and report to Congress on this Act's impact on U.S. labor, as well as developments in labor conditions in the beneficiary countries.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5416: Southeast Europe Trade Preference Act. 106th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-5416/
MLA
"H.R. 5416: Southeast Europe Trade Preference Act." 106th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-5416/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5416, 106th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-5416/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5416: Southeast Europe Trade Preference Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-5416/)
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