June 2001 News

Third Annual Report to Congress on the OECD Antibribery Convention

On June 29, 2001, a report submitted to Congress by the Secretary of Commerce shows that meaningful progress has been made over the past year in the implementation of the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions. Nevertheless, bribery is still a widespread problem. The report notes that from May 2000 through April 2001 there is credible information that competition for 61 foreign government contracts worth $37 billion may have been affected by bribery of foreign officials. U.S. firms are believed to have lost at least nine of these, worth $4 billion. Read a transcript of the 2001 OECD Antibribery briefing (No longer available)

NIST Information Guides on the European Directives

The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued three new guides to European Union directives (machinery, low-voltage equipment, and electromagnetic compatibility). These guides are intended to help U.S. manufacturers comply with EU-wide requirements. The new publications will be available at NIST's conformity assessment website at http://ts.nist.gov/ca (no longer available). NIST's guides are the first in a series on selected EU new approach directives. To obtain paper copies, specify the directive of interest and send a self addressed envelope to Maureen Breitenberg, NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2100, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2100.

USTR Announces Continued Monitoring of Procurement by Japanese NTT Companies

USTR Zoellick announced June 21 that U.S. Government and industry will continue to monitor NTT procurement practices to ensure increased opportunities for U.S. telecom equipment companies. The U.S. Government will not renew the bilateral agreement with Japan covering NTT procurement, due to substantive progress on this issue. View USTR press release (no longer available)

Pakistan Enacts New Trademarks Law

Pakistan's trademarks ordinance, enacted April 13, 2001, provides for registration and better protection of trademarks and for the prevention of the use of fraudulent marks. The ordinance sets forth the details of requirements for registration of trademarks, reasons for refusal of registration, grounds for opposition of registration, rights conferred by registration, what constitutes infringement of registered trademarks, assignment and transmission of trademarks, procedures to bar imports of infringing goods, revocation of trademark registration, rights under the Paris Convention, and offenses and penalties. The new ordinance replaces the Trade Marks Act of 1940, which provided trademark protection but did not meet some of the provisions of the TRIPs agreement.

U.S. Wins WTO Case on Sea Turtle Conservation

A World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel released a report on June 15, finding that the United States' implementation of its sea turtle protection law is fully consistent with WTO rules and complies with earlier recommendations of the WTO Appellate Body. The U.S. law restricts imports of shrimp caught in a way that harms endangered sea turtles. (links no longer available) View USTR press release HTML View USTR press release PDF View Report of the United States in dispute settlement proceeding before the WTO PDF

Ghana Amends Special Tax

During the US-Ghana Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council on May 29, Ghana announced important changes in the application of its “Special Tax.” Ghana stated that the 20% tax (introduced in April 2000 on 32 selected imports for which it deemed local substitutes were available) is being reduced to 10%, retroactive to April 9. Furthermore, Ghana announced that the tax will no longer apply to several U.S. exports including plastics, paper products, clothing, and powdered milk. The introduction of this tax had adversely affected U.S. exports, particularly of poultry, wheat, cosmetics, and clothing, with estimated U.S. losses of $17 million. The Commerce Department has been an active opponent of this tax, and will continue to advocate for its complete removal.

USTR Releases Details of U.S.-China Consensus on China's WTO Accession

On June 14, USTR released information regarding the recent U.S.-China consensus on China's accession to the WTO. USTR stated that the parties reached agreement on major issues concerning China’s WTO accession, including domestic support for agriculture, services and trading rights. At the completion of the talks, USTR Zoellick said: "This understanding is a win-win result for China and the U.S. It should help us and the other members of the WTO to try to complete China's accession this year." (links no longer available) View USTR press release HTML - PDF

Mexico: Proposed Standards (June 4-15, 2001)

View recently proposed and enacted Mexican Government standards

Yugoslavia: New Tariff Rates in Effect

Both houses of the Yugoslav Federal Assembly have approved three laws -- foreign trade operations, customs law amendments, and tariffs -- which came into force June 1. The new legislation virtually eliminates import licenses and quotas. New customs tariffs range from 1 percent to 30 percent (vice 1 to 40), while the number of duty rates was reduced from 36 to six. The new system is considerably more trade- friendly than the previous one of complex tariffs, licenses, and quotas.

Commerce Secretary Evans Comments on Administration Trade Agenda

In June 12 remarks delivered at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars, Commerce Secretary Evans summarized the Bush Administration’s trade philosophy: “No one wins unless we all win.” The Administration, he said, “ is...promoting trade policies that will bring the most good to the most people...that will provide opportunities for everyone to win in a global marketplace free of barriers and roadblocks.” View the text of Secretary Evans’ remarks (no longer available)

U.S. and China Reach Consensus on China's WTO Accession

USTR announced June 9 that the United States and China reached consensus on remaining bilateral concerns related to China's WTO accession, and that both countries will work closely with other WTO members to build on the consensus reached by the United States and China. (links no longer available) View USTR press release HTML - PDF

President Bush Sends Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement to Congress

On June 8, President Bush sent the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement, which was signed on July 13, 2000, to Congress. At the same time, the President transmitted to Congress a copy of a proclamation which extends nondiscriminatory tariff treatment to Vietnamese products. View White House proclamation on U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement View President's Letter to Congress View fact sheet on U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement View Memorandum for Secretary of State

Interactive Tariff and Trade Data Website

The International Trade Commission (ITC) announced that its Tariff and Trade DataWeb service is now fully open to all users free of charge. The ITC DataWeb is a self-service, interactive, Internet-based system that provides access to extensive U.S. tariff and trade data. The system is designed to enable even novice users to find their way -- unassisted -- through the numerous options available in working with U.S. tariff and import or export data. The ITC DataWeb responds to user-defined queries rapidly, and it allows both expert and non-expert users to create and save customized country and product lists for future re-use from anywhere in the world.

President Bush’s Statement Regarding Multilateral Initiative on Steel

On June 5, President Bush stated that the Administration will pursue a multilateral initiative on steel in order to restore market forces to global steel markets and eliminate practices which harm the industry and its workers.

View White House press release

President Bush Renews Normal Trade Relations Status for China

On June 1, President Bush informed the Congress of his decision to extend Normal Trade Relations status for China. The President said, “This decision advances the economic and security interests of the American people and I urge Congress to support it.”

View White House press release

NIST Publishes Private Sector Product Certification Directory

The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published the 2001 edition of SP 903 (Directory of Private Sector Product Certification Programs). This directory summarizes the product certification activities of over 122 non-governmental organization based in the United States. It will be distributed to International Trade Administration District Offices, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service offices, industry and country desks, as well as be placed on NIST's Conformity Assessment website during the month of June. NIST is also in the process of publishing a series of EU guides on how to comply with various EU directives; NIST has been working with ITA’s OEURA in reviewing the various guides.

Mexico: Proposed Standards (May 21 to June1, 2001)

View recently proposed and enacted Mexican Government standards