To Implement the Dominican Republic-Central America- United States Free Trade Agreement With Respect to Costa Rica and for Other Purposes

Proclamation 8331 of December 23, 2008 To Implement the Dominican Republic-Central America- United States Free Trade Agreement With Respect to Costa Rica and for Other Purposes A Proclamation 1. On August 5, 2004, the United States entered into the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (the “Agreement countries”). The Agreement was approved by the Congress in section 101(a) of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (the “Act”) ( 19 U.S.C. 4011 ). 2. The Parties to the Agreement entered into an amendment of the Agreement on July 27, August 6, and August 14, 2007 (the “Amendment”). The Amendment provides for temporary duty-free treatment for certain goods of Costa Rica. The terms of the Amendment with respect to Costa Rica are contained in letters of understanding described in section 1634(b)(2) of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 ( Public Law 109-280 , 120 Stat. 780). 3. Section 201(a)(1) of the Act ( 19 U.S.C. 4031(a)(1) ) authorizes the President to proclaim such modifications or continuation of any duty, such continuation of duty free or excise treatment, or such additional duties, as the President determines to be necessary or appropriate to carry out or apply Articles 3.3 and 3.27, and Annexes 3.3 (including the schedule of United States duty reductions with respect to originating goods) and 3.27 of the Agreement. 4. Consistent with section 201(a)(2) of the Act ( 19 U.S.C. 4031(a)(2) ), each Agreement country is to be removed from the enumeration of designated beneficiary developing countries eligible for the benefits of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) on the date the Agreement enters into force with respect to that country. 5. Consistent with section 201(a)(3) of the Act ( 19 U.S.C. 4031(a)(3) ), each Agreement…