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U.S. Chamber's International Policy Update (June 24, 2011)

By Webmaster on June 28, 2011 3:20 PM
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U.S. Chamber's International Policy Update (June 24, 2011)

International Policy Update

In this Newsletter...


Trade Agenda Hits Impasse
Discussions Continue on Possible Doha December Package
U.S. Chamber Urges Reauthorization of Ex-Im Bank
Commerce Nominee John Bryson Testifies before Senate Commerce
Chamber Opposes Amendment to Bar IMF Support
ChamberPost: This Week in Trade

Trade Agenda Hits Impasse

By Webmaster on June 28, 2011 3:16 PM
While White House and Congressional negotiators have reportedly made some progress toward a bipartisan compromise on the lapsed Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program -- described by the White House as essential to moving the pending FTAs with Korea, Colombia, and Panama -- a deal continues to be elusive. Disagreements continue over the appropriate legislative vehicle to move TAA and the lapsed trade preference programs (ATPA and GSP). House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) had indicated that informal "mock mark ups" on the trade agreements could happen during the week of June 20, but they were never scheduled as discussions with the Administration continue. The House is in recess the week of June 27 and the Senate is in recess the week of July 4. The Chamber, which serves as the secretariat of the Latin America Trade Coalition and the U.S.-Korea FTA Business Coalition, continues to push lawmakers for prompt action on the entire trade agenda including the FTAs, TAA, ATPA and GSP.

Discussions Continue on Possible Doha December Package

By Webmaster on June 28, 2011 3:02 PM
At a Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) meeting in Geneva on June 22, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy stressed that members "need urgently to have clarity about what we can and cannot do by the Ministerial Conference in December so that we can get down to work without further delay," according to his prepared remarks . Lamy suggested focusing a Ministerial package on trade benefits for the poorest countries and perhaps such additional issues as "trade facilitation, export competition, S&D Monitoring Mechanism, a step forward on fisheries subsidies and a step forward on environmental goods and services." He said this would mean "loads of work and challenges ahead and no guarantee of success, but, in my view it is worth trying -- and it is our duty to do so."
Continue reading Discussions Continue on Possible Doha December Package.

U.S. Chamber Urges Reauthorization of Ex-Im Bank

By Webmaster on June 28, 2011 3:00 PM
On Wednesday, the House Financial Services Committee approved by a voice vote H.R. 2072, the Securing American Jobs Through Exports Act of 2011, which would reauthorize the charter of the U.S. Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) through September 30, 2015. Last Friday, the U.S. Chamber joined with 15 other associations to send a letter to House Financial Services Committee Chairman Spencer Bachus and his fellow committee members urging them to support H.R. 2072. It reads in part: "This bill is the result of a bipartisan effort by both the Committee and Subcommittee leadership of the House Financial Services Committee to craft a bill that will help grow and sustain U.S. exports and U.S. jobs, which is the mandate of the Ex-Im Bank. As the Bank's Charter expires on September 30th, it is imperative that this bill move forward swiftly."

Commerce Nominee John Bryson Testifies before Senate Commerce

By Webmaster on June 28, 2011 2:59 PM
On June 21, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing on the nomination of John Bryson to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Mr. Bryson stated : "The perspective I've gained in the private sector is a big reason President Obama asked me to serve and brings value to the voice I will have within the Cabinet. It will also help me reach out to America's business community. They're on the economic front lines every day and, if confirmed, the President expects me to be able to tell him about the challenges they're facing so that this Administration does everything it reasonably can to make it easier for them to create jobs and grow. If confirmed, it will be an honor to lead an agency that does so much to further that goal".

Chamber Opposes Amendment to Bar IMF Support

By Webmaster on June 28, 2011 2:57 PM
On June 23, the Chamber sent a letter to the Senate opposing an amendment offered to S.679, the "Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011," by Senator DeMint which would bar the United States from participating in the International Monetary Fund's New Arrangements to Borrow (NAB). The amendment was originally to be considered later that day but was deferred to June 28. The letter reads in part: "With leadership from the United States, the G20 committed during the global financial crisis to strengthen the IMF by creating the NAB, which is based on the principle that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. With other governments providing more than 80 percent of the new funding required, this U.S. commitment will ensure the IMF has adequate resources to mitigate international financial crises... Passage of this amendment would likely be viewed as a move by Washington to withdraw from the IMF itself... Without adequate IMF support, financial crises in foreign markets may negatively impact U.S. jobs and exports and undermine the U.S. economic recovery."

ChamberPost: This Week in Trade, June 24 2011

By Webmaster on June 28, 2011 2:52 PM

ChamberPost: This Week in Trade

Keeping America's Door Open for International Investment by Myron Brilliant

T-Minus Nine: UPS CEO Scott Davis Is Watching the Clock by Reuben Smith-Vaughan

Three Things Washington Can Do Now To Grow Jobs by Sean Hackbarth

U.S. Chamber Urges Reauthorization of Export-Import Bank by Stefanie Westerman

Stuck in the Past: The AFL-CIO on Colombia by John Murphy

U.S. Chamber's International Policy Update (June 17, 2011)

By Webmaster on June 20, 2011 6:20 PM
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U.S. Chamber's International Policy Update (June 17, 2011)

International Policy Update

In this Newsletter...

U.S. Chamber Intensifies Lobbying Effort for FTAs

By Webmaster on June 20, 2011 6:17 PM
On June 15, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce unveiled the website www.TradeSupportsJobs.com , offering unprecedented details on U.S. exports and the jobs they support for all 50 states and all 435 Congressional Districts, as the business community intensifies its advocacy for the trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. "With facts and arguments, we'll win this trade debate and get these deals done," said U.S. Chamber President Tom Donohue at the press event to launch the website and outline the Chamber's nationwide lobbying efforts in support of the trade agreements. "For the first time, this site makes available lists of thousands of companies that are exporting, in every state and every district. We need these facts and arguments more than ever because we need these trade agreements more than ever." Information on the site was widely circulated on Capitol Hill, with leadership offices calling it "outstanding." The House Ways and Means Committee staff circulated a press release calling attention to the site as well.

Colombia Meets June 15th Milestones Under Action Plan on Labor Rights

By Webmaster on June 20, 2011 6:16 PM
On June 13, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced that Colombia had met the specific "milestones" slated for completion by June 15 under the bilateral labor action plan on labor rights - removing the final barrier to submitting the long-pending U.S.-Colombia trade agreement to Congress. Under the action plan, which was announced by President Obama and President Santos on April 7, the Colombian government committed to take a series of measures to improve the protection of internationally recognized labor rights, the prevention of violence against labor leaders, and the prosecution of the perpetrators of such violence. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said: "The Action Plan is designed to significantly increase labor protections in Colombia, and we are pleased that Colombia is meeting its commitments. We are eager to see Congress move the Colombia trade agreement forward as soon as possible along with the Korea and Panama agreements and a renewal of Trade Adjustment Assistance. It's time to seize the market-opening, job-supporting opportunities of the pending trade agreements for American businesses, farmers, ranchers and workers."
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