FREE Vietnam Act

Fostering Rights through Economic Engagement in Vietnam Act or FREE Vietnam Act - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to add Vietnam to the list of countries ineligible for designation as a beneficiary developing country for purposes of duty-free treatment of its products under the generalized system of preferences unless the President certifies to Congress that Vietnam: (1) is not on the special watch list of countries not in compliance with minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking; (2) does not engage in pervasive violations of internationally-recognized human rights, including freedom of speech and freedom of religion; and (3) otherwise meets the requirements of this Act.

Authorizes the President to waive such requirements if it is in the U.S. national interest.

[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1682 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1682

 To prohibit the designation of Vietnam under title V of the Trade Act 
                                of 1974.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 23, 2013

 Ms. Lofgren (for herself, Mr. Connolly, Mrs. Davis of California, Mr. 
 Wolf, Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California, and Mr. Sherman) introduced 
  the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and 
                                 Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To prohibit the designation of Vietnam under title V of the Trade Act 
                                of 1974.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fostering Rights through Economic 
Engagement in Vietnam Act'' or ``FREE Vietnam Act''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON DESIGNATION OF VIETNAM UNDER TITLE V OF THE 
              TRADE ACT OF 1974.

    (a) In General.--Section 502(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 
2462(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Vietnam.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In addition to the countries 
                listed in paragraph (1), Vietnam may not be designated 
                as a beneficiary developing country for purposes of 
                this title unless the President submits to Congress a 
                certification described in subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Certification.--A certification referred to 
                in subparagraph (A) is a certification that contains a 
                determination of the President that--
                            ``(i) Vietnam is not on the special watch 
                        list under section 110(b)(3)(A) of the 
                        Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 
                        U.S.C. 7107(b)(3)(A));
                            ``(ii) the Government of Vietnam does not 
                        engage in pervasive violations of 
                        internationally recognized human rights, 
                        including freedom of speech and freedom of 
                        religion; and
                            ``(iii) Vietnam otherwise meets the 
                        requirements of this title.
                    ``(C) Waiver.--The President may waive the 
                application of subparagraph (A) if the President 
                determines and certifies to Congress that it is in the 
                national interest of the United States to do so.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section applies to 
goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 
the 15th day after the date of enactment of this Act.
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