U.S. Department of State

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 detailed reports on the economic policy and trade practices of countries with which the United States has significant economic or trade relationships. The Department of State's 12th annual report includes reports on 76 countries, customs territories and customs unions.

Each country report contains nine sections.

• Key Economic Indicators: economic indicators in the national income, monetary, and trade accounts.
• General Policy Framework: overview of macroeconomic trends.
• Exchange Rate Policies: their impact on the price competitiveness of U.S. exports.
• Structural Policies: changes that may affect U.S. exports to that country.
• Debt Management Policies: implications for trade with the U.S.
• Significant Barriers to U.S. Exports and Investment: formal and informal barriers to U.S. exports and investment.
• Export Subsidies Policies: measures to support exports, including those by small businesses.
• Protection of U.S. Intellectual Property: laws and practices safeguarding intellectual property rights.
• Worker Rights: The final section has three parts:
  -- laws and practices with respect to internationally recognized worker rights,
  -- conditions of worker rights in goods-producing sectors where U.S. capital is invested and
  -- the extent of such investment by sector where information is available.

U.S. Embassies supplied the country report data, 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 cases, access to reliable data is limited, particularly in countries making transitions to market economies. Nonetheless, each report incorporates the best information currently available.

 E. ANTHONY WAYNE

Assistant Secretary of State
for Economic and Business Affairs