STAGING REQUIREMENTS.

SEC. 253. STAGING REQUIREMENTS. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section and in section 254, the aggregate reduction in the rate of duty on any article which is in effect on any day pursuant to a trade agreement under this title shall not exceed the aggregate reduction which would have been in effect on such day if— (1) one-fifth of the total reduction under such agreement for such article had taken effect on the date of the first proclamation pursuant to section 201(a) to carry out such trade agreement, and (2) the remaining four-fifths of such total reduction had taken effect in four equal installments at 1-year intervals after the date referred to in paragraph (1). (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to any article with respect to which the President has made a determination under section 213(a). (c) In the case of an article the rate of duty on which has been or is to be reduced pursuant to a prior trade agreement, no reduction shall take effect pursuant to a trade agreement entered into under section 201(a) before the expiration of 1 year after the taking effect of the final reduction pursuant to such prior agreement. (d) If any part of a reduction takes effect, then any time thereafter during which such part of the reduction is not in effect by reason of legislation of the United States or action thereunder shall be excluded in determining— (1) the 1-year intervals referred to in subsection (a)(2), and (2) the expiration of the 1 year referred to in subsection (c).