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August 2006 News 8/30/06 China Has Major Stake in Global Trade Talks, U.S. Official Says USTR Schwab urges Beijing to play more active role in Doha Round talks U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab speaks in Beijing, China, August 29. Washington -- China stands to benefit greatly from the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Doha Round of negotiations and should play a more active role in securing an agreement, says U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Susan Schwab. Schwab, in her first official visit to China as USTR, addressed a gathering of the American Chamber of Commerce and the U.S.-China Business Council in Beijing August 29. "[I]t is my firm belief … that China has an unprecedented stake in the successful conclusion of a robust agreement, and that a successful Doha Round will only be possible with vigorous and positive Chinese participation," she said. View USIS Washington File report View remarks by USTR Susan C. Schwab before AmCham China – US China Business Council Event 8/28/06 Secretary Gutierrez Statement on the President’s Intention to Enter into a Free Trade Agreement with the Republic of Colombia “I am very pleased that President Bush has notified Congress of his intent to sign the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA). The CTPA is a comprehensive trade agreement that will enhance economic growth and prosperity for the people of the United States and Colombia, and I look forward to consulting with Congress as the process moves forward. “Here at home, the agreement will generate new export opportunities for U.S. agriculture, industry, service providers and workers. In Colombia, the CTPA will attract new investment, create jobs and raise living standards in a region that is making commendable strides toward peace and economic prosperity. “Earlier this month, I traveled to Colombia for the inauguration of President Alvaro Uribe and had the opportunity to speak with him at length about his vision for the future. I look forward to working with President Uribe and his economic team to expand our already strong relationship.” 8/28/06 U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab Meets with ASEAN Economic Ministers and Signs TIFA Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab today met with the ten economic ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and signed a Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA). The U.S.-ASEAN TIFA will provide a platform for strengthening the already deep trade and investment ties between the United States and ASEAN countries. The U.S.–ASEAN consultations were co-chaired by U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab and Malaysian Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz. In addition to concluding the TIFA, Ambassador Schwab and her ASEAN counterparts discussed the growth in bilateral trade, regional economic developments, and the Doha Development Agenda. View Joint Statement of the ASEAN Economic Ministers and the U.S. Trade Representative 8/21/06 U.S. Still Seeks Market-Opening Pact, Trade Representative Says Despite recent setbacks in World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations on the Doha Development Agenda, the United States continues to pursue an agreement that will open markets significantly, cut domestic agricultural subsidies and substantially increase trade flows, according to U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab. The development agenda, also known as the Doha Round, was initiated at the WTO's fourth ministerial conference in Doha, Qatar, in 2001 and has sought to liberalize trade and enhance market access for agricultural products, manufactured goods and services. Negotiations fell into stalemate early on, largely over agricultural trade disputes. View USIS Washington File report 8/18/06 USTR Schwab to Attend ASEAN Meeting, Discuss FTAs and IPR, During Asian Visit
8/16/06 Singapore: USTR Seeks Comments on Probable Effects of Accelerating Tariff Reductions under U.S.-Singapore FTA USTR is requesting public input regarding the probable effect of certain modifications to tariff treatment of imports (specifically, nutritionals, peanuts and polycarbonates, and to modify the rule of origin for photocopiers) under the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA). USTR is also soliciting proposals regarding what sort of concessions Singapore (which does not impose duties on imports from the U.S.) could make to maintain the balance of concessions if these tariff-acceleration requests are approved. Statements must be submitted by September 15, 2006. For more information, including how to submit comments, please consult the Federal Register notice. 8/16/06 U.S. Seeks Public Comment Regarding National Trade Estimate Report As part of the process for publishing the annual National Trade Estimate on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE), the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is seeking assistance from interested parties in identifying significant barriers to U.S. exports of goods, services and overseas direct investment for inclusion in the NTE. The TPSC invites written comments that provide views relevant to the issues to be examined in preparing the NTE. Public comments are due by November 8, 2006. For more information, including how to transmit comments, please refer to the Federal Register notice. 8/16/06 U.S.-Chile FTA: 2005 Annual Product Review and Tariff Determinations This Federal Register notice announces the results of the 2005 annual product review and tariff determinations regarding Chilean imports of certain fruits, vegetables and juices as set forth in the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement. This review determines whether these tariff-free products, imported during CY 2005, have exceeded conditions elaborated in the FTA, thus requiring the U.S. to impose duties predetermined by its tariff phase-out schedule. The effective date for the resulting change in tariff treatment is October 1, 2006. Because Chilean imports of apple, quince and pear pastes and purees [HTS 2007.99.4800] accounted for 54 percent of the total of $2.2 million, exceeding conditions allowed for immediate duty-free imports under U.S.-Chile FTA provisions, the tariff treatment set forth in subheading 9911.77.11 for goods of Chile, under the terms of general note 26 to the HTS, is deleted. 8/15/06 Business Leaders Address North American Economic Competitiveness During an August 15 session of the North American Competitiveness Council (NACC), senior U.S., Canadian and Mexican business representatives met in Washington to define priorities and discuss specific recommendations for enhancing North American competitiveness. The U.S. section of the NACC, for which the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Council of the Americas serve as the secretariat, developed a set of recommendations in areas including standards and regulatory cooperation, border security and infrastructure, trade facilitation and customs reform, innovation, external dimension and energy integration. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Frank Lavin said that the NACC can play an important role in the region, stating, “The more competitive North America is in the world economy, the better off U.S. businesses will be.” View USIS Washington File report 8/11/06 U.S. Initiative Seeks To Boost Fight Against Grand Corruption On August 10, President Bush announced a U.S. initiative to shut out corrupt high-level officials from the global financial system, deny them safe havens and recover and return proceeds from their crimes. The initiative, which is called the National Strategy to Internationalize Efforts Against Kleptocracy, is aimed at mobilizing the international community against large-scale corruption by high-level foreign public officials and coordinate global efforts to end it. Briefing reporters in Washington, Under Secretary of State Josette Shiner said that ultimately, kleptocracy is a development issue because high-level corruption undermines economic development and renders the fight against poverty ineffective. View text of President Bush’s statement 8/11/06 Commerce Secretary Gutierrez to Lead Business Development Mission to China On August 9, Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez announced he will lead a business development mission to Beijing and Shanghai, China from November 13 to 17. The mission, his fourth visit to China, will highlight export opportunities for U.S. businesses there. The purpose of the mission is to help U.S companies develop business and government contacts, solidify business strategies and obtain market access information. The delegation will be comprised of U.S. firms representing a broad cross-section of U.S. industries with commercial interests in China. The U.S. and China have made progress in the bilateral trade relationship by expanding market access for U.S. goods and services, increasing transparency, and improving enforcement of intellectual property rights. As this progress continues, China represents an excellent opportunity for innovative American businesses to offer their products to more than a billion consumers. Businesses interested in participating in the China Business Development Mission can apply on-line at www.export.gov/chinamission or contact the Department of Commerce's Office of Business Liaison at 202-482-1360.
8/10/06 Administration Review of Trade Benefits Under GSP Program On August 7, U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab announced that the Bush Administration will begin the second phase of its review of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, which provides duty-free treatment for goods from 133 beneficiary developing countries. Based on information obtained since the review began in October 2005, the Administration is seeking public input to determine whether the eligibility of certain beneficiaries should be changed consistent with the statutory criteria. The relevant statutory criteria include: 1) certain beneficiaries’ level of economic development; 2) the extent to which they have expanded exports under the program; and 3) their competitiveness both globally and relative to GSP-eligible imports. The Administration is also conducting a review of the current waivers to the GSP program’s competitive need limitations. These waivers allow certain products from specific countries to enter duty-free into the United States, without being subject to GSP statutory market share and annual import caps. Comments are due to USTR by Tuesday, September 5, 2006. For more information on the review, including how to submit comments, please consult the Federal Register notice. 8/7/06 U.S., Other Nations Concerned by European Chemical Rules According to a USIS Washington File report, the United States and a dozen other trading nations around the globe want the EU to modify a sweeping new chemicals regulation that could affect the import and export of 30,000 manmade compounds, many of which are used in common products worldwide. The new EU-proposed system of Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) could come into force in 2007 under the current legislative schedule. Trading partners and other concerned parties outside the EU have until August 31 to provide formal comments on draft guidance documents for implementation of the REACH legislation. Some Europeans have tried to portray opposition to REACH as primarily a U.S. concern, but the trading partners opposed to the new legislation represent an “almost unparalleled group of countries,” said an unidentified American official in Brussels. REACH would be the most far-reaching business legislation the EU has ever passed. “The EU expects the rest of the world will follow these rules,” the U.S. official said. View USIS Washington File report 8/3/06 Secretary Gutierrez Welcomes Senate Panel Action on Peru, Vietnam Trade Measures In an August 1 statement, Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez commended the Senate Finance Committee for approving the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) and legislation to authorize the granting of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with Vietnam. Noting that he was in Peru recently for the inauguration of President Garcia, the Secretary called the U.S.-Peru TPA “a tremendous opportunity for U.S. exporters.” Regarding the Vietnam PNTR legislation, Secretary Gutierrez said that its passage "… will ensure that U.S. companies are able to take advantage of benefits that will be granted to all WTO members once Vietnam accedes to the WTO.” 8/3/06 Request for Comments, Notice of Public Hearing on China's Compliance With WTO Commitments View the text of a Federal Register notice issued by USTR requesting public comments and providing notice of a public hearing concerning China’s compliance with its WTO commitments. The hearing will be held September 28, 2006. For information on attending the hearing and submitting written comments, please consult the Federal Register notice. 8/3/06 Commerce Secretary Gutierrez Reviews Latin American Trade Agenda, Discusses Cuba When he met with reporters at the State Department's Foreign Press Center August 1, Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez stated that, because Latin America is primarily democratic, the region tends to be "pro-market, pro-trade, pro-investment," and enjoys strong trade relations with the United States. Gutierrez told reporters that the region recognizes the need to reinforce the rule of law, and increasingly is committed to transparency in regulations and government actions. The U.S. remains actively engaged with its neighbors in pursuit of trade agreements, both bilateral and multilateral, that will benefit the region as a whole, stated Gutierrez. He said U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab recently returned from Brazil, after consulting with Brazilian trade experts about reviving WTO talks. U.S. officials also are holding ongoing discussions with their counterparts in Panama to achieve a bilateral free-trade agreement, he said. The Secretary reiterated President Bush's promise to extend generous aid to Cuba if the Cuban people request U.S. help in achieving political and economic freedom. View transcript of Secretary Gutierrez’s remarks |
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