Hon. BOB PACKWOOD, Chairman, Committee on Finance. DEAR SIRS: Section 2202 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 requires the Department of State to provide to the appropriate Committees of Congress a detailed report regarding the economic policy and trade practices of each country with which the United States has an economic or trade relationship. In this regard, I am pleased to provide the enclosed report. Sincerely, WENDY R. SHERMAN, Assistant Secretary, INTRODUCTION COUNTRY REPORTS ON ECONOMIC POLICY AND TRADE PRACTICES The Department of State is submitting to the Congress its Country Reports on Economic Policy and Trade Practices in compliance with Section 2202 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. As the legislation requires, we have prepared a detailed report on the economic policy and trade practices of each country with which the United States has an economic or trade relationship. We also have included reports on other countries that have relatively small economic and trade relationships with the United States, which may nonetheless interest readers. This is the Department of State's seventh annual report. The document has grown in coverage and scope since the series began in January 1988. It now includes over 100 countries. Each report contains nine sections. Key Economic Indicators: Each report begins with a table showing data for key economic indicators in the national income, monetary, and trade accounts. General Policy Framework: This first narrative section gives an overview of macroeconomic trends. • Exchange Rate Policies: The second section describes exchange rate policies and their impact on the price competitiveness of US exports. Structural Policies: The third section examines structural policies, highlighting changes that may affect US exports to that country. • Debt Management Policies: The fourth section describes debt management policies and their implications for trade with the United States. • Significant Barriers to US Exports and Investment: The fifth section examines significant barriers, formal and informal, to US exports and investment. • Export Subsidies Policies: The sixth section focuses on government actions, policies, and practices that support exports from that country, including exports by small businesses. • Protection of US Intellectual Property: The seventh section discusses the country's laws and practices with respect to protection of intellectual property rights. • Worker Rights: The final section has three parts. -The first (subsections a through e) outlines the country's laws and practices with respect to internationally recognized worker rights. -The second (subsection f) highlights conditions of worker rights in goods-producing sectors where US capital is invested. -Finally, a table cites the extent of such investment by sector where information is available. The country reports are based on information supplied by U.S. Embassies, which is analyzed and reviewed by the Department of State in consultation with other U.S. Government agencies. The reports are intended to serve as general guides to economic conditions in specific countries. We have worked to standardize the reports, but there are unavoidable differences reflecting large variations in data availability. In some countries, the United States has no formal representation. In others, access to reliable data is limited, particularly in countries making transitions to market economies. Nonetheless, each report incorporates the best information currently available. DANIEL K. TARULLO, Assistant Secretary of State for |