Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 5, 1991                   TAG: 9102050144
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

BUSH EASES TRADE LIMITS ON 3 NATIONS

Namibia, which became an independent country last March 21, was awarded the trade benefits for the first time.

The benefits are provided under a program known as the Generalized System of Preferences, which grants duty-free access to the United States to certain goods from developing countries. The four countries now are eligible to export more than 4,230 products to the United States duty-free.

For the first 11 months of 1990, Chile exported $131 million in eligible products to the United States, Paraguay exported $21 million, Namibia exported $903,160 and the Central African Republic $70,519.

Chile, Paraguay and the Central African Republic had been suspended from the program for their failure to provide internationally recognized worker rights. A White House statement said the U.S. Trade Representative's office had reviewed recent changes in the three countries' laws and practices.