Romania Renounces Its Special Trade Benefits From U.S.

WASHINGTON — The Romanian government, apparently weary of White House and congressional demands for a better human rights performance, has renounced American trade benefits given to Communist countries with good emigration policies, U.S. officials said Friday.

As a result, Romania could lose up to $250 million in commerce with the United States, according to Romanian figures.

State Department spokeswoman Phyllis Oakley said Romania informed the United States through diplomatic channels that it had decided to “renounce” the trade concessions, therefore subjecting Romanian goods to higher tariffs as of July 2.

Romania also will lose eligibility for U.S. government-supported export credits through the Commodity Credit Corp. or the Export-Import Bank, Oakley said.

The announcement reflects a growing deterioration of relations between the United States and Romanian leader Nicolae Ceausescu, who has been wooed by U.S. administrations in the past because of his relatively independent line from Moscow.

Despite Friday’s announcement, Oakley said Romania “stated to us that it will continue to allow emigration for family reunification purposes, without relation to economic ties with the United States. We welcome this.”

In 1987, Romania exported goods worth $775 million to the United States.