Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–15, Part 2, Documents on Western Europe, 1973–1976

173. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for Economic Affairs (Seidman) to President Ford¹

Washington, August 13, 1976.

SUBJECT

• Designation of Portugal as a GSP Beneficiary

The Trade Policy Committee has considered designation of Portugal as a beneficiary developing country eligible to receive duty free treatment from the United States on selected articles pursuant to the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). A memorandum from Ambassador Dent on this issue, including the recommendation of the Trade Policy Committee is attached at Tab A.

The Trade Policy Committee unanimously recommends the designation of Portugal as a beneficiary of the Generalized System of Preferences.

Ambassador Dent’s memorandum has been staffed to the appropriate White House offices not included on the Trade Policy Committee. Their comments and recommendations are as follows:

Philip Buchen	No comment or recommendation
James Cannon	Concur with Trade Policy Committee
John O. Marsh	Approve
Brent Scowcroft	I agree with the unanimous recommendation of the Trade Policy Committee that Portugal be designated as eligible to receive GSP. This is consistent with the important foreign policy interests we have in Portugal, our desire to assist that country economically, and the status of Portugal as a relatively poor country.
Max Friedersdorf	Concur with Trade Policy Committee

Recommendation: I recommend that you approve the recommendation of the Trade Policy Committee that Portugal be designated as a beneficiary developing country eligible to receive duty free treatment from the United States on selected articles pursuant to the General System of Preferences (GSP).

If you approve this recommendation, the following documents are attached for your signature at Tab B:

1. A letter to the President of the Senate notifying him of your intention to designate Portugal as a beneficiary developing country for purposes of the General System of Preferences (GSP) provided for in Title V of the Trade Act of 1974.

2. A letter to the Speaker of the House notifying him of your intention to designate Portugal as a beneficiary developing country for purposes of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) provided for in Title V of the Trade Act of 1974.

1. Summary: Seidman sought Ford’s approval of the designation of Portugal as a GSP beneficiary.

   Source: Ford Library, President’s Handwriting File, Subject File, Box 7, Countries—Portugal. No classification marking. Sent for action. Attached but not published is Tab A, a July 14 memorandum from Dent to Ford on the designation of Portugal as a GSP beneficiary; and Tab B, two August 14 letters from Ford, one to the President of the Senate and the other to the Speaker of the House, both of which Ford signed. Ford initialed his approval of Seidman’s recommendation.