REPORT ON DEMAND FOR TRADE FINANCE FOR THE BALTIC STATES, THE INDEPENDENT STATES OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION, AND CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE.

SEC. 120. REPORT ON DEMAND FOR TRADE FINANCE FOR THE BALTIC STATES, THE INDEPENDENT STATES OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION, AND CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE. (a) Findings.— The Congress finds that— (1) United States export participation in the emerging markets in the independent States of the former Soviet Union, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Baltic States holds defi-nite potential for preserving and creating jobs in the United States and strengthening the competitiveness of United States exports; 106 STAT. 2198 (2) export assistance for United States goods destined for emerging republics is an investment in the development and establishment of their market economies, a critical element in maintaining existing United States businesses which export to the regions in which such republics are located, and a significant factor in the economic future of the United States and such republics; (3) the Export-Import Bank of the United States (in this section referred to as the “Bank”) has a unique opportunity to play a leading role in assisting United States exporters to participate in the rapidly changing and highly competitive markets in the independent States of the former Soviet Union, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Baltic States; and (4) it is in the interest of the United States for the Bank to— (A) monitor carefully the export assistance programs and terms offered by foreign governments for competitive exports; and (B) make every effort to offer United States business export assistance for transactions in the independent States of the former Soviet Union, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Baltic States, that is comparable to the assistance being provided by other governments. (b) Report.— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Bank shall transmit to the Congress a report analyzing the present and future demand for loans, guarantees, and insurance for trade between the United States and the Baltic States, between the United States and the independent States of the former Soviet Union, and between the United States and Central and Eastern Europe, and shall make recommendations regarding the adequacy of financing for trade between the United States and such countries. As used in this section, the term “independent States of the former Soviet Union” includes all successor states (other than the Baltic States) to the Soviet Union.