October 2002 News

APEC Economic Leaders' Declarations in Los Cabos, Mexico

On 27 October, leaders of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum concluded their two-day meetings in Los Cabos, Mexico by affirming their commitment to promote regional economic growth through improved security, freer trade, structural reforms, and expanded use of new technologies. The following are declarations issued by the APEC leaders. Read the APEC Economic Leaders' Declaration in Los Cabos, Mexico

Read the APEC Leaders' Statement on Fighting Terror, Promoting Growth

Read the APEC Leaders' Statement on Transparency Standards

Read the APEC Leaders' Statement on Trade and the Digital Economy

Bush Announces Enterprise for ASEAN Initiative

On 26 October, President Bush announced the launch of the Enterprise for ASEAN Initiative (EAI) to enhance U.S. ties with the ASEAN countries of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Following is the text of a White House fact sheet on the EAI distributed in Los Cabos, Mexico, during the annual meetings of leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

Read the White House Fact Sheet

Zoellick Sees Strong APEC Support for Free Trade

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick says the 21 economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum have sent a strong signal of support for trade liberalization by agreeing that World Trade Organization (WTO) talks should aim to eliminate all agricultural export subsidies. Asked about progress on a possible U.S.-Australia free trade agreement (FTA), Zoellick said the United States was "very interested" in pursuing such a pact.

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U.S. Trade Official Outlines Objectives for FTAA Ministerial

Trade ministers from the Western Hemisphere's 34 democracies will pursue a number of objectives when they meet in Quito, Ecuador, on November 1 to continue their work in creating a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA),that will establish timetables for eliminating tariffs on agricultural and industrial goods, and intensify work on the draft text of the FTAA agreement.

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Mexico: Still Time to Comment on IMI Mandatory Standards up for Revision

USDOC and USTR are advising members of the Industry Sector and Industry Functional Advisory Committees (ISACs/IFACs) that there is still opportunity to submit comments on mandatory standards up for revisions under the jurisdiction of Mexico’s Secretaria de Economia although the 60-day comment period has expired. Compliance with applicable mandatory standards is a requirement to import products into Mexico, and interested parties are encouraged to submit comments on these standards. While comments should be submitted directly to DGN in Spanish, ISACs and IFACs are requested to send a courtesy copy to: Geri Word U.S. Department of Commerce Office of NAFTA and Inter-American Affairs Washington, DC 20230 Fax: (202) 482-1545 email: geri_word@ita.doc.gov

USTR Offers Regulatory Reform Proposals to Japan

On October 23rd, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) presented to the Japanese government a set of proposals designed "to facilitate a return to sustainable growth and open markets in Japan," according to a USTR news release.The USTR presents such proposals annually as part of the Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative, which was launched on June 30, 2001.

Read the USTR Press Release

USDOC Secretary Evans Witnesses Signing of Sino-U.S. Business Agreements

On Monday, October 21, Commerce Secretary Don Evans witnessed the signing of a number of U.S.-China business agreements in New York City. Joining Secretary Evans in the ceremony were Chinese State Development Planning Commission Minister Zeng Peiyan, Consul General Huang Hui Kang, and U.S. Department of Energy Under Secretary Robert Card. Read the Complete Release with List of Included Business Agreements (no longer available)

U.S. Presents Views to Help Guide WTO Negotiations on Global Trade Rules

On October 17, the U.S. submitted a paper to the WTO Negotiating Group on Rules highlighting the need to preserve and improve the effectiveness of global trade rules to deal with market-distorting trade practices still prevalent throughout the world. These discussions are occurring within the framework of the Doha Development Agenda, the current WTO trade negotiations. Commerce Secretary Don Evans stated, "We are committed to maintaining the strength and effectiveness of the trade remedy laws and to ensuring that all WTO Members have confidence in the WTO dispute settlement system. These negotiations also need to address subsidies and other market-distorting practices, which are the root causes of unfair trade." The U.S. also submitted a second document regarding the steel sector, which was previously submitted to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as part of the Administration's ongoing multilateral efforts to address global steel market distortions.

View Press Release

Costa Rica-U.S. Joint Statement on Commercial Cooperation

View the text of an October 16 press release regarding the signing by Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Grant Aldonas and Costa Rican Minister of Foreign Trade Alberto Trejos of a joint statement on bilateral commercial cooperation.

View text of Joint Statement on Commercial Cooperation

Commerce Assistant Secretary Lash's Message on Globalization

View the text of a Quad City Times article regarding Commerce Assistant Secretary for Market Access and Compliance William Lash's remarks to students at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa regarding the benefits of free trade, and Market Access and Compliance's efforts in enforcing international trade agreements and helping to negotiate new ones.

Macedonia Officially Accepted into WTO

After several years of preparation and tough negotiations, on October 15 outgoing Macedonian Economics Minister Besnik Fetai signed a protocol for Macedonia's admission to the WTO. The membership will go into effect 30 days after the new Macedonian parliament ratifies the agreements, which will probably occur in December 2002 at the latest. In the wake of September elections, a new government is still being negotiated and the official response to the signing has been slight. Macedonia's admission into the WTO is being lauded, however, by local media and business leaders, who recognize that it will create new markets for Macedonian products, annul import tariffs for raw materials, and lower tariffs on most consumption goods. A recent letter from USTR Zoellick to outgoing Prime Minister Georgievski also confirmed that WTO membership will mean Macedonia may now qualify for exemption from USG steel tariffs.

U.S. To Pursue Number of Objectives at November FTAA Meeting in Quito

The United States will pursue a number of objectives when the trade ministers from the Western Hemisphere's 34 democracies meet November 1 in Quito, Ecuador, to continue work on the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), says U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick. In an address October 14 to the sixth annual Americas Conference in Miami, sponsored by the Miami Herald newspaper, Zoellick said the trade ministers at Quito need to launch what he called a "Hemispheric Cooperative Program" so that smaller developing nations, especially in the Caribbean and Central America, can benefit from an FTAA that encompasses 800 million people.

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Commerce Under Secretary Grant Aldonas to Visit Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Oct 13-17

Grant Aldonas, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade today announced he will travel to Nicaragua and Costa Rica on Oct. 13-17 with the goal of expanding U.S. commercial trade and investment in the Central American region. "In April 2001, the President outlined his vision for making this the 'Century of the Americas' and launched a new era of cooperation between our regions," said Aldonas. "Deepening and expanding our commercial relationship with the countries of Central America is fundamental to realizing that vision."

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China: Guangdong Complaint Center for Foreign Investors Open for Business

Guangdong, consistent with its greater openness towards foreign trade and investment, recently established a complaints center to handle and resolve complaints from foreign-invested firms. Operated by seven staff, the provincial center handles both complaints against other firms as well as against the government. The province is extending this initiative to all provincial municipalities, which will set up their own individual complaints centers soon.

Officials Vow to Pursue Hemisphere-Wide Free Trade Area

The United States and Brazil are committed to the creation of a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) by January 2005, according to officials from both countries. Deputy U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Peter Allgeier, U.S. Congressmen Cal Dooley (Democrat of California) and Brazil's Ambassador to the United States Rubens Barbosa all voiced the commitment of their respective nations to launching the FTAA during the October 7 discussion "Outlook for a Free Trade Area of the Americas," co-hosted by "The Economist" magazine and the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

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Commerce Secretary Evans'Remarks on U.S.-Russia Trade Relationship and Energy Trade Mission to Russia

On September 30, U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans applauded U.S. businesses that have entered into the Russian market and said that the commercial partnership between the two nations is being achieved “one business deal at a time.” In addition, Evans announced on October 2 that he will lead a trade mission of major U.S. energy companies to Russia next year and focus exclusively on deleloping new partnerships between U.S. and Russian energy companies. Read the DOC Press Release "Evans Sees Houston Energy Summit as Symbol of Strategic Partnership" (no longer available) Read the DOC Press Release "Evans Announces Mission to Russia to Explore Opportunities in Energy Sector" (no longer available)

Zoellick Tells Congress It's Crucial We Move Forward on FTAA

On October 3rd, United States Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick formally notified Congressional leaders of U.S. objectives and goals for the ongoing negotiations in the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), saying it was "crucial that we move forward on hemispheric trade negotiations." Read the USTR Press Release(No longer avaiable)

U.S., Tunisia Sign Agreement Fostering Trade and Investment

U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick and Tunisian Minister of Development and International Cooperation Mohamed Nouri Jouini signed a trade agreement on October 2 in Washington to foster economic ties between the two countries, said a USTR press release.

Read the USTR Press Release

Mexico: Proposed Standards (for September 16 to September 27, 2002)

View recently proposed and enacted Mexican Government standards