October 2005 News

WTO: Lamy Welcomes Conclusion of Saudi Arabia's Accession Negotiations

On October 28, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy welcomed the conclusion of the Working Party negotiations on the accession of Saudi Arabia to the WTO. He commented, “We look forward to confirmation by the General Council in the days to come.” The Working Party on the accession of Saudi Arabia was established in July 1993.

View WTO news item

USTR Statement Regarding EU’s Doha Agriculture Proposal

In an October 28 statement, USTR Spokesperson Christin Baker said that the United States is disappointed with the EU’s new Doha agriculture proposal. While acknowledging that it is a “step in the right direction,” she added that “much more needs to be done,“ noting that the proposed tariff reductions are lower than those from the G-20 developing countries and far lower than the U.S. proposal. She concluded, “If the final Doha agreement on agriculture were to go no further than this, other areas would also be weak and the Doha Round would not approach its potential for promoting development, opportunity and global economic growth.”

View USTR press release

View EU press release detailing new Doha agriculture proposal

U.S. Seeks Data on Chinese Protection of Intellectual Property

On October 26, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman announced in Geneva that the United States has initiated a special process under WTO rules to obtain information on China's intellectual property enforcement efforts. "The United States is deeply concerned by the violations of intellectual property rights in China," Portman said. "Based on all available information, piracy and counterfeiting remain rampant in China despite years of engagement on this issue." Japan and Switzerland have joined the United States in submitting similar requests, according to the USTR press release. The new U.S. initiative takes advantage of a process established under Article 63.3 of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (“TRIPS Agreement”), which allows WTO members to request information pertaining to judicial decisions or administrative rulings on IPR-related matters when their rights under the TRIPS Agreement are affected.

View USTR press release

View text of U.S. letter to China on TRIPs Article 63.3

WTO: Trade Growth in 2005 to Slow from Record 2004 Pace

Lower economic output, brought on in part by the sharp rise in oil prices, will slow world trade growth in 2005, according to the WTO report “International Trade Statistics: World Trade Developments in 2004 and Prospects for 2005.� World merchandise exports are expected to grow by 6.5 per cent in 2005, markedly less than the 9 per cent growth recorded in 2004. WTO Director General Pascal Lamy said that, while the growth in trade for 2005 will remain satisfactory, the way to create more opportunities for trade and adjust global trade rules “…is through the successful conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda round of global trade negotiations.�

View WTO press release

Portman Addresses American Business Coalition for Doha

View the text of U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman’s October 25 remarks to the American Business Coalition for Doha. Portman underscored why the Doha Round of WTO negotiations is important for the U.S. economy and why it is critical to global economic growth and helping to lift literally hundreds of millions of poor around the world out of poverty.

Gutierrez Urges China To Institute Additional Market Reforms

In a keynote speech at the Update 2005 Conference on Export Controls and Policy of the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security on October 24, Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez called on China to institute additional economic reforms, warning: "Without improvement, there is a risk of restrictions on commerce between our countries." Gutierrez said the Bush administration continues to be concerned with a number of issues, including: China's subsidies for production costs of some goods; restrictions in the Chinese market against highly competitive U.S. businesses in industries like banking, insurance, agriculture and direct sales; rampant counterfeiting and piracy, and China's currency valuation, which does not yet respond adequately to market forces. Gutierrez stressed that it would be unfortunate if disagreement over economic policies led to restrictions of commerce between the two nations. Despite "serious deficiencies," he acknowledged, "[W]e see real progress in the fairness of our trading relationship."

View USIS Washington File report

Commerce Secretary Gutierrez Offers Program to Help Eliminate Corruption and Bribery in Central America

On October 21, Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez announced that the U.S. will help El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras in their existing efforts to stamp out bribery and fight corruption by extending the Good Governance Program to the three countries. Gutierrez said the Program complements the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Gutierrez called corruption, lack of transparency, and a weak rule of law “invisible taxes” that raises the cost of doing business. The Commerce Secretary also said he will deploy a U.S. team in coming weeks to work with the private and public sector in each country to gather recommendations to seek the best way to get the governance programs up and running over the next year. Gutierrez was in El Salvador on the final leg of a 19-U.S. member business delegation that he led to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador--the first since the passage of CAFTA in August.

View Commerce press release

U.S.-Andean Trade Talks Proceed at Accelerated Pace

A U.S. trade official said that the previous round of negotiations toward a proposed U.S.-Andean Free Trade Agreement produced a broad consensus that trade talks should proceed at an accelerated pace, and negotiators should intensify their efforts to resolve impediments to the trade pact. At a background briefing October 21, the official explained that negotiators hope to "take advantage of a November window of opportunity" -- a reference to the next negotiating round of talks scheduled to take place in Washington during the week of November 14. Although he stopped short of predicting that the November talks would be the final round, the official suggested that negotiators were aware of the need to make rapid progress on several fronts. As agriculture is often a delicate matter in trade talks, the United States is negotiating separately with each of its Andean trading partners to craft a workable arrangement, the official explained. In response to a query about intellectual property rights, he noted that Andean proposals are under consideration, and labor issues are also at the forefront of negotiations.

View USIS Washington File report

U.S. Insists on Farm Tariff Cuts Proposal from European Union

At an October 20 press conference in Geneva, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman warned that time is running out for success at the December WTO Hong Kong ministerial meeting and insisted that the EU put forward an ambitious proposal for cutting agricultural tariffs. Portman said, "There was not only a lack of a proposal but a seeming lack of urgency despite the fact that we are facing this deadline in Hong Kong." Portman and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns had been meeting over two days with their counterparts from the EU, Australia, Brazil and India in a group called the Five Interested Parties, or FIPS, to make progress in the negotiations. Portman said, "I believe that unless we see progress soon, it will be very difficult to envision a successful Hong Kong meeting and a successful completion of the round at the end of 2006." He said he expected the EU would present a market access proposal within a week. He praised proposals from Australia and the G-20 group of developing countries for minimizing the number of politically sensitive agricultural products that would have exceptions from tariff cuts.

View transcript of Portman’s and Johans’ remarks

African Growth and Opportunity Act Enhancing Trade, Says Liser

In testimony before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations of the House Committee on International Relations on October 20, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Florizelle B. Liser stated that the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is having a “tremendously positive impact” on U.S.-Africa trade. She said that AGOA “has ignited an expansion of U.S.-African trade” and “provided a platform … for a high-level dialogue on ways to improve U.S.-African trade and economic cooperation.” Liser stated that AGOA has been a “measurable success” in achieving increased trade between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa. AUSTR Liser acknowledged that AGOA's impact has not been shared equally by all eligible sub-Saharan African countries. She said that African countries have an “important stake” in the successful outcome of the Doha WTO negotiations, noting that a new global trade accord could open up new markets for African goods and spark new investment flows into the region.

View transcript of Liser's testimony

Bush, European Commission President Seek Successful Trade Talks

During an October 18 meeting with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, President Bush said that the United States and the European Union (EU) want to enhance global prosperity through trade and move the Doha round of trade negotiations forward. Barroso said the EU hopes for “ambition and balanced results” at the WTO ministerial in Hong Kong not only on agriculture but other issues such as services “so that our citizens can really see the benefits of globalization.”

View transcript of remarks

President Signals Intent To Sign U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement

On October 17, President Bush notified Congress of his intention to sign the recently concluded free-trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and Oman. Oman is the fifth country in the Middle East and North Africa to conclude an FTA with the United States. In his notice to Congress, the President said, “Entering into an FTA with Oman will build on the FTAs that we already have [in the Middle East]… and will be an important step on the path to fulfilling my vision of developing economic growth and democracy in the Middle East and creating a U.S.-Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA) by 2013.”

View text of White House statement

Commerce Secretary Gutierrez Embarks on First Business Development Mission to Central America Since Passage of CAFTA

On October 16, Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez and 18 U.S. business executives departed for a five-day business development mission to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. The mission will highlight new U.S. business opportunities and stronger trade ties with Central America. Gutierrez will meet with Central American officials and the CAFTA Presidents to begin fully implementing the trade agreement and opening the Central American market for U.S. businesses. He will also lead the business delegation at each stop in meetings with key government and business representatives, Chambers of Commerce and industry, trade associations and potential business partners. This is the first business development mission to Central America since the Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) was signed by President Bush in August.

View Commerce Department press release

U.S. Signs Agreement With Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein to Facilitate Trade

On October 17, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman, Norwegian Ambassador Knut Vollebæk, Icelandic Ambassador Helgi Agustsson, and Liechtenstein Ambassador Claudia Fritsche signed two mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) covering the sectors of telecommunications equipment, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), recreational craft, and marine equipment. These new agreements parallel the existing U.S. MRAs with the European Community. As members of the European Economic Area (EEA), the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein (known collectively as the EEA EFTA States) are fully integrated into the European Community’s single market and apply the same regulations as the EU. These agreements will permit approved U.S. laboratories to conduct required conformity assessment procedures (e.g., product tests) for designated products according to EEA EFTA requirements (U.S. requirements in the case of marine equipment), and vice versa. This saves manufacturers the time and expense of additional product testing, lowers prices for consumers, and conserves regulators’ resources.

View USTR press release

Commerce Secretary Gutierrez Says U.S. Committed to Trade Agenda

During an October 14 roundtable with reporters, Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez said that the United States remains committed to advancing WTO talks and helping establish the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). However, he noted that should these efforts falter, the Bush administration will continue to advance the U.S. trade agenda multilaterally and bilaterally. Gutierrez explained that progress at the upcoming WTO ministerial meeting in Hong Kong, scheduled for December 13-18, is of paramount importance to the U.S. trade agenda. Gutierrez stated that success at WTO talks in Hong Kong should translate into additional progress on the overall U.S. trade agenda, including the FTAA, where the United States hopes to work with FTAA co-chair, Brazil, to make progress. As part of the United States' efforts to expand economic ties in the Western Hemisphere, Gutierrez will lead a trade delegation of 19 U.S. companies to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. The passage of CAFTA marked only the beginning of U.S. efforts to expand trade in Central America, Gutierrez observed.

View USIS Washington File report

Israel Hernandez Sworn in as Senior Commerce Department Official

On October 12, Israel Hernandez was sworn in as Assistant Secretary for Trade Promotion and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service at the U.S. Department of Commerce by Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez. "I will be a staunch advocate for small and medium-size U.S. businesses that operate in the global market," Hernandez said. "I will promote an agenda to help companies succeed in exporting, create jobs, and strengthen our economy at home." The Commercial Service is the federal government's key export promotion agency. Its mission is to help small and medium-sized American businesses export and to advocate for U.S. business interests abroad.

View Commerce Department press release

Portman Calls EU Offer on Reduced Agriculture Tariffs Inadequate

At an October 12 briefing in Geneva, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman expressed deep disappointment with an EU offer to reduce agricultural tariffs after the United States made what he viewed as a bold offer to cut domestic support to its farmers. He calculated that the most recent EU offer in WTO agriculture negotiations amounted to only a 24.5 percent cut in tariffs -- less even than the "pathetic" 36 percent cut required of developed countries in the 1994 Uruguay Round trade agreement that created the WTO. "By any objective standard the EU proposal ... doesn’t come close to meeting the expectations that all of us have on market access," Portman said. "Time is running out," Portman commented. "So we await a proposal that can be supported by the EU and others that by objective standards provides, as the framework agreement said, substantial improvement in market access in all products.”

View transcript of Portman's remarks

WTO: Lamy Comments on U.S. Agriculture Proposal for Doha Round

In a statement at the October 13 Trade Negotiations Committee meeting, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy said that the trade talks have gained “a new momentum” with the agriculture proposal by the United States. He added that “it is essential that the development aspect of agriculture negotiations be kept at the centre stage, as it is for the Round as a whole.”

View text of Lamy statement

Commerce Secretary Gutierrez Announces Hurricane Contracting Information Center

On October 11, Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez announced the Department of Commerce Hurricane Contracting Information Center (HCIC) that will help U.S. businesses, especially minority and small businesses, participate in the Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts. The HCIC is being staffed by representatives from various federal agencies, including the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security and Labor, General Service Administration and Small Business Administration. The HCIC includes a website (www.rebuildingthegulfcoast.gov) that allows companies to register with government agencies that are providing contracts to rebuild the Gulf Coast. The HCIC also includes a call center (1-888-4USADOC) with representatives from different government agencies onsite to provide information on rebuilding opportunities. The HCIC will provide information and add transparency to the contracting process, but will not award contracts. Those responsibilities will remain with the specific government agencies.

View Commerce Department press release

USTR Statement on Fourth Round of U.S.-China Textile Talks

In an October 12 statement, USTR Special Textile Negotiator David Spooner said that the U.S. and China were unable to reach an agreement that meets the needs of U.S. domestic manufacturers and retailers in their fourth round of negotiations. He reiterated the U.S. goal of reaching a longer-term solution that will permit greater stability in textile and apparel trade.

View USTR press release

USTR Statement Regarding Nicaragua’s Passage of CAFTA-DR

In an October 11 statement, USTR spokesperson Neena Moorjani congratulated Nicaragua for passing the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). She noted that the United States has met with CAFTA-DR governments recently, and that the parties are working towards a target date of January 1, 2006, for implementing this agreement.

View USTR press release

United States and Malaysia Hold Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Meeting

On October 10, U.S. and Malaysian Government officials held the third meeting under the United States-Malaysia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. During these meetings, led by Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Southeast Asia and Pacific Affairs Barbara Weisel and Secretary General of Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry Dato Sidek Hassan, the two sides continued their detailed discussion on progress in addressing outstanding bilateral trade issues as well as coordination on regional and multilateral issues. Issues discussed included improving market access in the automotive, financial services, and agriculture sectors; strengthening the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights; upgrading customs procedures; and addressing investment concerns. The United States and Malaysia also discussed coordination on APEC and WTO issues. The two sides agreed to meet again early next year to continue their TIFA discussions.

View USTR press release

U.S. Awaits Substantial Agricultural Offers From Other WTO Members

During an October 11 briefing at WTO headquarters in Geneva, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman said that the U.S. proposal on WTO agricultural negotiations would require the United States to make substantial real cuts in subsidies to its farmers and other countries to make substantial real improvements in market access for U.S. exports. Portman said agriculture proposals to be made over the next few days by U.S. trading partners would determine whether the Hong Kong WTO ministerial meeting in December can advance the Doha Development Agenda. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, who was with Portman in Geneva, rebutted accusations that the proposal would not affect actual U.S. spending much because its countercyclical program for paying farmers when commodity prices fall was to be shifted from the amber box category to the blue box.

View transcript of media availability

U.S. Offers Plan on Agriculture for WTO Doha Trade Talks

On October 10, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman outlined a plan on agricultural subsidies designed to end a stalemate on multilateral trade negotiations. “Our ambitious initiative demonstrates a seriousness of purpose,” Portman said in statement released in Zurich, Switzerland. “The United States is committed to breaking the deadlock in multilateral talks on agriculture, and unleashing the full potential of the Doha Round.” The U.S proposal is a two-stage plan. The first stage would involve substantial reductions of trade-distorting agricultural support measures and tariffs, along with the elimination of export subsidies, to be phased in over a five-year period. In stage two, which would take effect five years after implementation of stage one, an additional five-year phase-in period would deliver the elimination of remaining trade-distorting policies in agriculture. “Our time is short,” Portman said in the Zurich statement. “I urge all of us to redouble our efforts and maximize the nine weeks left before the WTO Ministerial in Hong Kong,” which will be held December 13-18.

View USTR press release

U.S. Wins Mexico Beverage Tax Dispute in WTO

U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman applauded a WTO panel decision issued October 7 siding with the United States in its case against Mexico’s beverage tax. Under the tax, soft drinks made with imported sweeteners, such as high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and beet sugar, were subject to a 20 percent tax on their sale and distribution, while beverages made with Mexican cane sugar were tax-exempt. The beverage tax resulted in an immediate drop in U.S. exports of HFCS to Mexico. As of 2004, U.S. exports of HFCS to Mexico remained at less than six percent of their pre-tax levels. The WTO panel report sided with the United States on all major issues in the dispute. Specifically, the panel agreed that the beverage tax discriminates against U.S. products because it taxes the distribution and sale of beverages that use HFCS and beet sugar but does not tax beverages that use Mexican cane sugar. The panel’s findings cover both beverages and the sweeteners HFCS and beet sugar.

View USTR press release

U.S. Sticks With WTO Case Against EU Subsidies to Airbus

In an October 6 press release, USTR stated that the United States rejects as inadequate the offer by the European companies that produce Airbus airplanes to accept no launch aid from governments through 2006. USTR spokesperson Christin Baker said that USTR would continue its case in the WTO against European Union (EU) subsidies. Baker said, “We take no comfort from any offer to postpone the actual payment of the launch aid these countries have already promised to provide." USTR's statement followed the announcement earlier that day by EADS, the aerospace group that owns 80 percent of Airbus, that shareholders have approved start of work on the A350, the fuel-efficient jet designed to compete with the Boeing 787. Baker called the four EU countries' (France, Germany, Spain and the UK) commitment to provide launch aid "yet another step in the wrong direction," making negotiations to resolve the dispute that much more difficult.

View USTR press release

U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Pact Offers Benefits to Both Countries

During his testimony to the Senate Finance Committee's Subcommittee on Trade on October 6, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Mediterranean Shaun Donnelly said that the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (FTA), if enacted by Congress, would remove trade barriers and expand opportunities for people in both countries. He said that provisions in the FTA "will help to improve the business and investment environment in Bahrain by providing more certainty and predictability for firms and individuals operating and investing there and promoting the rule of law.” Benefits will accrue on the U.S. side as well, he said, noting that on the day the agreement takes effect, "100 percent of consumer and industrial products and 81 percent of U.S. agricultural exports will enter Bahrain duty-free."

View transcript of Donnelly's testimony

WTO: Lamy Calls Trade “Fundamental Tool” in Fight Against Poverty

In a speech to the UN Conference on Trade and Development in Geneva on October 6, 2005, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy said that “the bottom line will have to be that trade must act, and deliver, as an engine of GDP growth and development.” He added that “the economic interests and development needs of developing countries lie at the heart of the Doha Agenda.”

View transcript of Lamy's remarks

USTR to Examine Operation of GSP Program

On October 6, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman announced that USTR will begin an examination of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program to determine if there are changes that could be made in the program’s operation. Specifically, Portman will seek to increase the program’s effectiveness in helping more countries benefit from the program and use trade in support of their development. The GSP program allows products from beneficiary countries to enter the United States duty free. Legislation authorizing the GSP program expires on December 31, 2006. In advance of Congressional consideration of re-authorization of the GSP program, there will be a public hearing on November 3, 2005, and public comments will be accepted through November 14, 2005. Comments are being sought on three issues, including whether some beneficiary countries are sufficiently competitive with respect to trade in eligible products and have expanded exports to the extent that they should no longer be designated as GSP beneficiaries.

View USTR press release

USITC Finds Impact Of ATPA Imports Negligible, Despite Enhancements

According to a U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) report, the overall impact of imports under the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) on the U.S. economy and consumers continued to be negligible in 2004. This is the eleventh report in a series monitoring imports under ATPA. The ATPA program affords preferential tariff treatment to most products of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The ATPA's goal is to promote the development of sustainable economic alternatives to drug crop production by offering alternative, legal Andean products broader access to the U.S. market. With the strong growth of U.S. imports under ATPA in 2004, ATPA remained an important source of employment creation for workers who might otherwise have grown illicit coca or entered the drug trade.

View USITC press release

View USITC report

Commerce Secretary Gutierrez Discusses Economy and Intellectual Property Rights

On October 4, Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez discussed the Bush Administration's efforts in keeping U.S. businesses the most competitive and innovative in the world in remarks to the Association of Manufacturing Technology and the American Machine Tool Distributors Association. He stated, "We face greatly intensified global competition because many of our competitors have begun embracing market-oriented policies that are unlocking their own competitive potential." The Secretary added, "I am confident that our innate and entrepreneurial spirit will ensure that America remains the most competitive country in the world."

U.S., Oman Complete Talks on Bilateral Free-Trade Agreement

On October 3, the United States and Oman successfully completed negotiations on a free-trade agreement (FTA) designed to eliminate tariffs and other trade barriers and to expand trade between the two countries. U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman commented, "This is a high-quality, comprehensive free trade agreement that will contribute to economic growth and trade between both countries." The agreement will now undergo “fast track” review by both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Oman is the fifth Middle Eastern country to have negotiated an FTA with the United States. The U.S.-Bahrain pact awaits congressional action, possibly later in 2005. The FTA with Oman is part of a broader Bush administration goal to expand trade and investment for Middle Eastern nations, Portman said.

View USTR press release

U.S. Sees Progress in Fifth Round of U.S.-Thai Free Trade Talks

According to an October 3 USTR press release, the United States and Thailand have concluded a fifth round of negotiations in pursuit of a bilateral free-trade agreement. Negotiating teams meeting in Honolulu made significant progress on a range of issues, including trade in services and foreign investment, a USTR spokesman said. The talks, which ended September 30, followed a September 19 meeting between President Bush and Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. According to USTR, the two leaders pledged "vigorous efforts" to conclude a free-trade agreement (FTA) that will build upon an existing bilateral trade and investment framework agreement. Negotiators will meet again in November, USTR said. The United States hopes to complete an agreement with Thailand in early 2006.

View USTR press release

Yemen Underlines Commitment to WTO Entry

At the second meeting of Yemen’s Working Party on October 3, Yemen Industry and Trade Minister Khaled Rajeh Sheikh said that WTO membership is “a necessary step and an important component in our efforts to integrate into the world economy.” Yemen, an LDC that negotiates following the guidelines approved by the General Council in December 2002 enabling the world’s poorest countries to join more quickly and easily, circulated its initial offer on services in August this year and the initial offer on goods in early September. The minister said that the government has taken a comprehensive program of reform of the economy in order to conform with WTO agreements. Yemen already has had the first bilateral negotiation with Australia, and the chairman of the Working Party, former German representative to the WTO, Hartmut Röben, encouraged the authorities to intensify the bilateral market access negotiations.

View WTO news item

Commerce Secretary Gutierrez Announces CAFTA Trade Mission Delegation

On September 30, Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez announced that executives from 18 U.S. businesses will join him on a trade mission to Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador October-15-22, 2005. This is the first trade mission to the region since the Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) was signed by President Bush in August. Secretary Gutierrez commented, “These companies all have one thing in common: They recognize opportunity in Central America, and they are eager to begin doing business in those markets.” The business executives participating in the mission are from large corporations as well as small businesses. They employ as many as several thousand people and as few as 20 and represent industries as diverse as energy, automotive, textiles and medical devices. The CAFTA-DR Trade Mission Delegation list is included in this press release.

View Commerce press release

View additional information on trade mission