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MOST-FAVORED-NATION TREATMENT

Specialty Definition: MOST-FAVORED-NATION TREATMENT

DomainDefinition

Agriculture

A commitment that a country will extend to another country the lowest tariff rates it applies to any third country. MFN is a basic principle of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) (1947). Almost all countries are effectively accorded permanent MFN status by the United States. However, Title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 established conditions on U.S. MFN tariff treatment to certain non-market economies, one of which is certain freedom-of-emigration requirements (better known as the Jackson-Vanik amendment). The Act authorizes the President to waive a country's full compliance with Jackson-Vanik under specified conditions, and this must be renewed by June 3 of each year. Once the President does so, the waiver is automatic unless Congress passes (and sustains a Presidential veto of) a disapproval resolution. MFN status for China, which had been originally suspended in 1951, was restored in 1980 and has been continued in effect through subsequent annual Presidential extensions. Since the Tiananmen Square incident in 1989, however, the annual renewal of China's MFN status has been a source of considerable debate in the Congress. Several Members have sought through legislation to terminate China's MFN status or to impose additional conditions relating to improvements in China's actions on various trade and nontrade issues. Agricultural interests generally have opposed attempts to block MFN renewal for China, contending that several billion dollars annually in current and future U.S. agricultural exports could be jeopardized if that country retaliated. (MFN). (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Non-Fiction Usage: MOST-FAVORED-NATION TREATMENT

SubjectTopicQuote

Economic History

Mexico

American and Canadian investors generally receive national and most-favored-nation treatment in setting up operations or acquiring firms. (references)

China

The provisions of these agreements cover such issues as expropriation, arbitration, most-favored-nation treatment, and transfer or repatriation of proceeds. (references)

Kazakhstan

The 1997, President Law on State Procurement provides foreign bidders with enhanced access to government tenders, assurances of national and most-favored-nation treatment, and international standards of transparency and public accountability. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

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Modern Translation: MOST-FAVORED-NATION TREATMENT

Language Translations for "MOST-FAVORED-NATION TREATMENT"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses.

German

  

meistbegünstigung. (various references)

   

Pig Latin

  

ost-favored-nationmay eatmenttray.(various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references.

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INDEX

1. Quotations: Non-fiction
2. Translations: Modern
3. Bibliography


  

Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.