objective is to obtain, in the interest of international trade, the best possible degree of uniformity among the customs systems of member nations. The United States became a member on November 5, 1970. The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the lead U.S. government agency which deals with the various activities of the Council, including the work of the Harmonized System Committee. The CBP heads the U.S. delegations to the sessions of the Committee. Generally, the Council studies questions relating to cooperation in customs matters, examines technical aspects of customs systems, and furnishes information and advice to member states. Additional information on the WCO can be found at www.wcoomd.org. European Union (EU) The European Union is a treaty-based, governmental framework that defines and manages economic and political cooperation among its 25 member countries. These Member states delegate to the European Union "competence" in a number of areas including foreign trade, agriculture, competition, transport, research, technology, energy, environment, development (foreign aid), and education. In January 1993, Member states signed the Maastricht Treaty creating a single market in which goods and services, people, and capital would move as freely within the Union. The Maastricht Treaty also included provisions for economic and monetary union with a single European currency, called the Euro, and the establishment of a European Central Bank fully launched on January 1, 2002. Four additional countries have applied to become new members: Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania hope to join by 2007; accession negotiations for Turkey are scheduled for October 2005. Additional information on the EU can be found at www.europa.eu.int. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) APEC was formed in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies. Initiated as an informal dialogue group with limited participation, APEC has since become the primary regional vehicle for promoting open trade and practical economic cooperation. In 1994, APEC members agreed to attain free and open trade and investment among APEC industrialized nations by the year 2010 and among the developing members by 2020. APEC's 21-member economies possess a combined gross domestic product of over $19 trillion, nearly half the world's total annual output. Additional information on APEC can be found at www.apecsec.org.sg. Mercosur, also known as the Southern Cone Common Market, is composed of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Mercosur began operating a customs union on January 1, 1995, which binds tariff preferences among the four Mercosur countries and establishes a common external trade policy with non-member countries and economic groups. The purpose of Mercosur is to create a common market in which goods and services can be freely traded among member countries and to permit the unrestricted movement of labor and capital, the coordination of macroeconomic and sector policies, and the harmonization of national legislation to enhance competitiveness. Chile and Bolivia are associate members of Mercosur. Under the terms of their membership, they apply and receive preferential tariffs with respect to countries within Mercosur but do not apply the common external tariff. Additional information on Mercosur can be found at www.mercosur.org.uy (Spanish and Portuguese only). Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ASEAN was established in August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration by the five original member countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined the ASEAN in January 1984, Vietnam in July 1995, Laos and Myanmar in July 1997, and Cambodia in April 1999. In January 1992, heads of state from the then six ASEAN nations (Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand) signed the Agreement on Common Effective Preferential Tariff Scheme (CEPT), a mechanism to lower tariffs ranging from 0% to 5%, and founded the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). Their goal is to lead the integration the ASEAN economies into a regional market of 500 million people. Vietnam is expected to realize AFTA in 2006, Laos and Myanmar in 2008, and Cambodia in 2010. Additional information on ASEAN and AFTA can be found at www.aseansec.org. Cairns Group The Cairns Group is a 17-country coalition, chaired by Australia, which was established in 1986 just before the Uruguay Round negotiations began. The purpose of the Cairns Group is to encourage reductions in trade-distorting farm subsidies and greater market access for agricultural products. Aside from Australia, the other members are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Paraguay, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, and Uruguay. These nations collectively account for one-third of the world's agricultural exports. Additional information on the Cairns Group can be found at www.cairnsgroup.org. SUBJECT INDEX ALPHABETICAL LISTING BY POPULAR REFERENCE PARTI - pgs. 1-333 / Part II - pgs. 334-1479 Advisory Committees.. African Elephant Conservation Act African Growth and Opportunity Act Afghanistan..... AGOA Acceleration Act.... Agriculture.. Agricultural Act of 1956, section 204 (Agriculture and textile import restrictions) Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933, as amended Section 8(e) (Marketing orders) 163,170, 199, 310, 1376 12, 1315 492 .194, 202, 901 .225, 248, 1035 1479 294, 1287 23, 381 29, 381 410 121, 720 .243, 919, 996 163, 169, 198, 300, 1328 279, 1183 141, 773 89, 533 12, 553 328, 1441 |