The|DT White|NNP House|NNP said|VBD President|NNP Bush|NNP has|VBZ approved|VBN duty|NN -|- free|JJ treatment|NN for|IN imports|NNS of|IN certain|JJ types|NNS of|IN watches|NNS that|WDT are|VBP n't|RB produced|VBN in|IN "|'' significant|JJ quantities|NNS "|'' in|IN the|DT U.S.|NNP ,|, the|DT Virgin|NNP Islands|NNP and|CC other|JJ U.S.|NNP possessions|NNS .|. 

The|DT action|NN came|VBD in|IN response|NN to|TO a|DT petition|NN filed|VBN by|IN Timex|NNP Inc.|NN for|IN changes|NNS in|IN the|DT U.S.|NNP Generalized|NNP System|NNP of|IN Preferences|NNPS for|IN imports|NNS from|IN developing|VBG nations|NNS .|. 
Previously|RB ,|, watch|VB imports|NNS were|VBD denied|VBN such|JJ duty|NN -|- free|JJ treatment|NN .|. 

Timex|NNP had|VBD requested|VBN duty|NN -|- free|JJ treatment|NN for|IN many|JJ types|NNS of|IN watches|NNS ,|, covered|VBN by|IN 58|CD different|JJ U.S.|NNP tariff|NN classifications|NNS .|. 
The|DT White|NNP House|NNP said|VBD Mr.|NN Bush|NNP decided|VBD to|TO grant|VB duty|NN -|- free|JJ status|NN for|IN 18|CD categories|NNS ,|, but|CC turned|VBD down|RB such|JJ treatment|NN for|IN other|JJ types|NNS of|IN watches|NNS "|'' because|IN of|IN the|DT potential|NN for|IN material|NN injury|NN to|TO watch|VB producers|NNS located|VBN in|IN the|DT U.S.|NNP and|CC the|DT Virgin|NNP Islands|NNP .|. "|'' 

Timex|NNP is|VBZ a|DT major|JJ U.S.|NNP producer|NN and|CC seller|NN of|IN watches|NNS ,|, including|VBG low|JJ -|- priced|JJ battery|NN -|- operated|JJ watches|NNS assembled|VBN in|IN the|DT Philippines|NNPS and|CC other|JJ developing|NN nations|NNS covered|VBN by|IN the|DT U.S.|NNP tariff|NN preferences|NNS .|. 

U.S.|NNP trade|NN officials|NNS said|VBD the|DT Philippines|NNPS and|CC Thailand|NNP would|MD be|VB the|DT main|JJ beneficiaries|NNS of|IN the|DT president|NN 's|POS action|NN .|. 

Imports|NNS of|IN the|DT types|NNS of|IN watches|NNS that|WDT now|RB will|MD be|VB eligible|JJ for|IN duty|NN -|- free|JJ treatment|NN totaled|VBD about|IN $37.3|NN million|CD in|IN 1988|CD ,|, a|DT relatively|RB small|JJ share|NN of|IN the|DT $1.5|NN billion|CD in|IN U.S.|NNP watch|VB imports|NNS that|WDT year|NN ,|, according|VBG to|TO an|DT aide|NN to|TO U.S.|NNP Trade|NNP Representative|NNP Carla|NNP Hills|NNP .|. 

