THE WHITE HOUSE
  
                   Office of the Press Secretary
  
  _______________________________________________________________
  
  For Immediate Release	   	     	       	    June 19, 1996
  
  
  
  
  TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES:
  
  
       I transmit herewith, for the advice and consent of the 
  Senate to ratification, the International Natural Rubber 
  Agreement, 1995, done at Geneva on February 17, 1995.  The 
  Agreement was signed on behalf of the United States on April 23, 
  1996.  The report of the Department of State setting forth more 
  fully the Administration's position is also transmitted, for the 
  information of the Senate.
  
       As did its predecessors, the International Natural Rubber 
  Agreement, 1995 (INRA), seeks to stabilize natural rubber prices 
  without distorting long-term market trends and to assure 
  adequate natural rubber supplies at reasonable prices.  The 
  U.S. participation in INRA, 1995, will also respond to concerns 
  expressed by U.S. rubber companies that a transition period is 
  needed to allow industry time to prepare for a free market in 
  natural rubber and to allow for the further development of 
  alternative institutions to manage market risk.  The new 
  Agreement incorporates improvements sought by the United States 
  to help ensure that it fully reflects market trends and is 
  operated in an effective and financially sound manner.
  
       The Agreement is consistent with our broad foreign policy 
  objectives.  It demonstrates our willingness to engage in a 
  continuing dialogue with developing countries on issues of 
  mutual concern and embodies our belief that long-run market 
  forces are the appropriate determinants of prices and resource 
  allocations.  It will also strengthen our relations with the 
  ASEAN countries, since three of them -- Malaysia, Indonesia, and 
  Thailand -- account collectively for approximately 80 percent of 
  world production of natural rubber.
  
       Therefore, I urge the Senate to give this Agreement prompt 
  consideration and its advice and consent to ratification to 
  enable the United States to deposit its instrument of 
  ratification as soon as possible.
  
  
  
  
       	    	      	   	     WILLIAM J. CLINTON
  
  
  THE WHITE HOUSE,
      June 19, 1996.
  
  
  
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