August 2007 News

Senior Commerce Department Official to Lead Carpet Trade Mission to Afghanistan

Secretary of Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez announced that Assistant Secretary for Market Access and Compliance David Bohigian will lead the Department’s first-ever Carpet Trade Mission to Afghanistan August 26-28. The delegation will participate in the Afghanistan International Carpet Fair, a handmade carpet exhibition, hosted by the Export Promotion Agency of Afghanistan among others, at the Serena Hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Secretary called the Fair “a truly historic moment in the re-emergence of Afghanistan in the global carpet market.” The Afghanistan International Carpet Fair provides a unique opportunity for Afghanistan to take a leap forward in its efforts to rehabilitate its carpet sector and promote its unique and exquisitely designed carpets to the rest of the world. This is also an opportunity for U.S. carpet professionals to network with Afghan carpet producers, visit their facilities and create long-lasting relationships. To obtain more information, including a copy of the Trade Mission Statement and application, please visit http://export.gov/Afghanistan. Contact: Noor Alam at (202) 482–1812, or by email at afghaninfo@mail.doc.gov, or you can fax requests for information to (202) 482–0980.

View Commerce press release

Joint Statement on 2007 NAFTA Commission Meeting

View the text of the joint statement issued by U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab, Canadian Minister of International Trade David Emerson, and Mexican Secretary of Economy Eduardo Sojo outlining the results of the August 14th, 2007, meeting of the NAFTA Free Trade Commission (FTC), in Vancouver, Canada. The three Ministers noted that the work accomplished at this meeting would help lay the foundation for the upcoming North American Leaders Summit in Montebello from August 20-21, 2007. While they recognized that NAFTA “has been a remarkable success story for all three partners,” the ministers noted their “…collective commitment to increasing market efficiencies, economic growth, prosperity and innovation in all three countries…” To that end, the ministers will: 1) develop a work plan to address pressures on North American competitiveness; 2) facilitate trade in specific sectors (swine/hogs, steel, consumer electronics, and chemicals) in order to foster stronger more competitive North American value chains; and 3) conduct an analysis of the free trade agreements that each country has negotiated subsequent to the NAFTA, beginning with those in the Western Hemisphere.

United States Requests WTO Panel in Case Challenging Deficiencies in China’s IPR Laws

On August 13, USTR announced that the United States has asked the WTO to establish a dispute settlement panel, the next step in its WTO case challenging deficiencies in China’s legal regime for protecting and enforcing copyrights and trademarks on a wide range of products. While USTR spokesman Sean Spicer acknowledged that China has taken tangible steps to improve IPR protection and enforcement, he noted, “…we still see important gaps that need to be addressed.  We will pursue this legal dispute in the WTO and will continue to work with China bilaterally on other important IPR issues.” The U.S. panel request will be considered by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body at its next meeting, which is scheduled for August 31. This is one of five WTO cases the United States has brought against China and the third case against China where the United States has requested a WTO dispute settlement panel. 

View USTR press release

USTR Decision Regarding USITC Investigation of Certain Processor Chips

View the text of U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab’s August 6 press release regarding her decision on the results of the Administration’s review of the remedial orders issued in the U.S. International Trade Commission’s (USITC) investigation of Certain Baseband Processor Chips. Schwab announced that she has decided to permit the limited exclusion order and cease and desist order that the USITC issued in this investigation to become final.  Schwab stated, “In declining to disapprove these orders, I am continuing the practice of successive Administrations of exercising section 337 review authority with restraint, reserving for extraordinary cases the power to disapprove the findings and orders of the USITC.” She added, “While we recognize legitimate concerns that certain market participants and others have expressed regarding the potential effects of these orders, we believe that steps are being taken to address those concerns.” 

USITC Releases The Year In Trade 2006

On August 6, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) released The Year in Trade 2006, its annual overview of the previous year's trade-related activities. This report provides a practical review of U.S. international trade laws, a survey of actions under U.S. trade laws, a summary of the operation of the WTO, an overview of U.S. free trade agreements and negotiations, and a review of U.S. bilateral trade relations with major trading partners. USITC's The Year in Trade is one of the government's most comprehensive reports of U.S. trade-related activities, covering major multilateral, regional, and bilateral developments.

View USITC press release

Commerce Secretary Gutierrez Urges Passage of Free Trade Agreements to Sustain Economic Growth

In an August 3 statement issued to hail 47 consecutive months of steady job creation, Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez praised the Bush Administration’s economic policies. The Secretary stated, “By encouraging the right conditions for businesses to flourish and create jobs, we’ve seen wages rise, inflation remain low, and economic growth remain strong.” The Secretary added, “Passage of pending FTAs (free trade agreements) will increase our rising exports and extend the benefits of open markets to other American businesses… When we break down barriers to trade and investment, we create opportunities for American workers and increase the competitiveness of our economy, which benefits Americans.”

Commerce Secretary Gutierrez and USTR Schwab Announce December Meeting of U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade

On August 1, Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez and U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab announced that the 18th U.S. – China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) will be held the week of December 10 in Beijing, China. The JCCT, a high-level government-to-government dialogue, identifies and works to resolve bilateral trade issues to expand trade opportunities.  Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns will also participate in the JCCT. Secretary Gutierrez commented, “We will be working with our counterparts in China to continue delivering results for American workers, businesses, farmers and ranchers, and expanding access to the Chinese market.” Ambassador Schwab called the JCCT “… a vital forum that deals with the nuts-and-bolts of trade… It has helped the U.S. and China address and resolve challenging trade issues in the past, and we are looking for it to do so this year as well.” Recent accomplishments of the JCCT include: China’s agreement to preload legal operating system software on all computers produced or imported into China, thereby addressing one aspect of business software piracy and helping U.S. software manufacturers; a commitment by China to submit an offer to the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) Internet Treaties; and, development of guidelines to promote bilateral technology trade that help U.S. exporters while maintaining U.S. security.

Gutierrez Highlights Commerce Department’s Role in Keeping America Competitive

In his August 1 testimony before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez discussed Commerce’s role in promoting commerce and economic growth, and exercising stewardship over the United States’ oceans and waterways. The Secretary stated, “Keeping our environment healthy helps keep America competitive.” He said the Department is helping to cultivate innovation (another U.S. competitive advantage) through the American Competitiveness Initiative, the basic research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the protection of intellectual property at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The Secretary stated, “In fact, every bureau at our Department is focused on competitiveness.”

DUSTR Bhatia’s Perspectives on the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement

View the text of Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Karan Bhatia’s remarks to the Global Business Dialogue/Korea Economic Institute regarding the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on July 26. Bhatia welcomed the changing of the debate over the agreement, stating that it is no longer defined by only beef and autos. He noted that the agreement “has strong support among a wide array of business sectors who increasingly recognize (its) importance…” and that it is gaining support from the editorial boards of newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Washington Post. Bhatia pointed out that the significance of the FTA extends past its bilateral economic benefits, quoting former U.S. Ambassador to Korea Christopher Hill, who called it “a powerful symbol of the U.S.-South Korea partnership…(that) will create a new dynamic, reflecting both the growing sophistication of our relationship, and the Republic of Korea’s increasingly positive global role.”