Camara Ecuatoriano Americana de Comercio Guayaquil: Jul 2011 Archives

U.S. Chamber's International Policy Update (July 29, 2011)

By Webmaster on July 29, 2011 6:01 PM

U.S. Chamber's International Policy Update (July 29, 2011)

International Policy Update

In this Newsletter...

Congress, White House Seek "Pathway" for FTAs, TAA

By Webmaster on July 29, 2011 5:53 PM

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk publically stated on July 26 that "we believe we have the framework for an agreement that will allow us very quickly, when Congress reconvenes in September, to approve and have a vote" on Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and on the pending FTAs. "We're still working with the leadership to come up with the kind of specifics of how we'd sequence that," Kirk said, noting that the proposed framework "would allow us to get a vote on TAA," give Senate Republican Leader McConnell a chance to make his case for Trade Promotion Authority and "give us a chance to move" the FTAs.

The following morning, House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp told an audience at the U.S. Chamber that "victory is in sight" on the FTAs, but success is not yet assured. He described a proposed legislative pathway in which the Senate would vote first on TAA. Once TAA clears the Senate, the White House should feel it has the assurance it needs to send the FTAs to the House. The House would then move on both the FTAs and TAA separately, Camp said, adding, "I'm hopeful now that we have this path forward [the White House] will sign on to it."

The U.S. Chamber and its partners in the Latin America Trade Coalition and the U.S.-Korea FTA Business Coalition held a successful "Rally for Trade and Jobs" on the Hill on July 26. With over 80 business representatives taking part, teams were able to successfully reach out to more than 300 House offices, hitting every floor of the three House office buildings including meetings with both staff and Members.

Small Doha Package Unlikely at December WTO Ministerial

By Webmaster on July 29, 2011 5:48 PM

This week in Geneva, World Trade Organization (WTO) members formally called off efforts to craft a smaller, scaled back package that trade ministers could consider at the upcoming ministerial meeting in December. Efforts had focused on a deal that would focus on least-developed countries (LDCs). On July 26, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy told an informal meeting of the Trade Negotiations Committee that while member countries "have worked intensively" over the last few weeks, "the LDC-plus package as we framed it in May is not taking shape as we would have wished." The current situation reflects "the paralysis in the negotiating function of the WTO, whether it is on market access or on the rule-making," he said. U.S. Ambassador to the WTO Michael Punke told the same gathering: "In conclusion, let me say that I have listened carefully to my colleagues over the past few days and weeks and it is clear that none of us is happy with the position in which we find ourselves. And yet here we are. Today, we hope, begins a new process of facing up together to our situation as it exists, and planning a realistic path forward.

In September, after Geneva negotiators return from the August break, Lamy said he would intensify his talks on the path forward for the Doha Round after the December ministerial, which will likely focus on non-Doha related issues.

Locke Confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to China

By Webmaster on July 29, 2011 5:46 PM

On July 27, the Senate unanimously approved the nomination of outgoing Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to be the new U.S. ambassador to China. The U.S. Chamber is grateful for his commitment to the pending trade agreements with Korea, Colombia, and Panama, and to export control modernization. Secretary Locke has also been a leader in the areas of innovation and intellectual property. In his new role as U.S. ambassador to Beijing, the U.S. business community knows that they can trust in him to represent their interests in front of China's top leaders. Expanding trade with China will not only help achieve the President's goal of doubling U.S. exports, but also help create jobs here at home.

TPP Registration Open for Chicago Round

By Webmaster on July 29, 2011 5:45 PM

This week, USTR released the registration link to the 8th Round of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, set for September 10 in Chicago.

We strongly recommend stakeholders register before August 26. Registrations submitted after that date will be subject to space availability. Please contact Michelle Carrillo (mcarrillo@ustr.eop.gov) by August 15 if you are interested in making a presentation at the stakeholder forum taking place on Saturday, September 10.

ChamberPost: This Week in Trade, July 29 2011

By Webmaster on July 29, 2011 5:39 PM

Big Challenges Can Produce Big Successes by Sean Hackbarth

Hats Off to FTA Supporters by Sean Hackbarth

Washington's Other Debate - Trade by Tami Overby

Senators Ask President Obama to Submit FTAs to Congress by Sean Hackbarth

U.S. Chamber's International Policy Update (July 22, 2011)‏

By Webmaster on July 22, 2011 7:32 PM

U.S. Chamber's International Policy Update (July 22, 2011)

International Policy Update

In this Newsletter...

Talks on Trade Agenda Narrow Differences, Final Agreement Not Yet Reached

Blunt, Portman, and GOP Senators Weigh in on TAA

ChamberPost: This Week in Trade

Talks on Trade Agenda Narrow Differences, Final Agreement Not Yet Reached

By Webmaster on July 22, 2011 7:29 PM

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on July 21 urged President Obama to transmit the implementing bills for the FTAs with Korea, Colombia and Panama even though he said Congress would not have time to complete action on the agreements until after the August break. The administration responded by saying it first needed more assurance that Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) will be extended. The exchange reveals that intensifying negotiations this week have narrowed differences but that mistrust persists and an agreement on how to proceed has not been finalized. The U.S. Chamber continues to emphasize the urgent need for action and the business community's support for the compromise TAA bill negotiated by House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp, Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, and the White House.

Continue reading Talks on Trade Agenda Narrow Differences, Final Agreement Not Yet Reached.

Blunt, Portman, and GOP Senators Weigh in on TAA

By Webmaster on July 22, 2011 7:22 PM

Senators Roy Blunt, Rob Portman, and 10 other Republican senators released a letter to President Obama on July 22 as part of an effort to untangle the impasse on the pending trade agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama as well as TAA. The 12 senators wrote: "As Republican Senators, we urge you to submit the Korea, Colombia and Panama trade agreements as soon as possible, with the understanding that we will support a separate Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) bill that reflects the bipartisan reforms negotiated by Chairmen Baucus and Camp and the White House. In order to move this process forward, we commit to supporting cloture on the motion to proceed to such a TAA bill and cloture on the bill itself. We believe that the trade agreements and TAA should receive separate up or down votes on their merits. We therefore urge you to separate the pending trade agreements and TAA, and immediately submit the three trade agreements to Congress."

Continue reading Blunt, Portman, and GOP Senators Weigh in on TAA.