January 2008 News

President Calls on Congress to Pass Stimulus Package and Free Trade Agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea

In his final State of the Union address on January 28, President Bush highlighted the need to quickly pass an economic stimulus plan that “is a good agreement that will keep our economy growing and our people working.” He also noted the importance of passing pending free trade agreements saying, “They will support good jobs for the finest workers in the world: those whose products say ‘Made in the USA’.” Mr. Bush added that the United States continues to work for a WTO Doha Round agreement, and underscored the need to “complete a good agreement this year.”

Acceptance of Competitive Need Limitation Waiver Petitions for 2007 GSP Annual Review

USTR has received petitions in connection with the 2007 Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Annual Review to waive the competitive need limitations (CNL’s) on imports of certain products that are eligible for duty-free treatment under the GSP program. This notice announces those petitions that are accepted for further review. It also sets forth the schedule for comment and public hearings on these petitions, for requesting participation in the hearings, and submitting pre- and post-hearing briefs, and for commenting on the USITC report on probable economic effects. For more information, including the dates for submitting pre-hearing briefs and where to email submissions, please refer to the Federal Register notice.

View List Of Accepted Petitions For Waivers Of CNLs in 2007 GSP Annual Review

View other documents relating to 2007 GSP Annual Review

Gutierrez Highlights Trade and Exports in Atlanta

On January 24, Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez addressed the poultry and egg industry in Atlanta, highlighting pending free-trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, and emphasizing the potential benefits to America’s agriculture industry. He also announced that for the first time in nearly a decade the Commerce Department has begun providing annual export data for major metropolitan areas which “show that cities across the country are thriving in the global economy.” While he took note of the economic stimulus package which is being worked out by the President and Congress, the Secretary called it a “one-time, short-term economic action not to be confused with policies that will keep our economy growing in the long-term including: keeping taxes low by making tax cuts permanent; encouraging innovation; keeping the American people secure; and opening international markets.”

View Metropolitan Export Data Series Fact Sheet

View data on exports from U.S. Metropolitan Areas

U.S. Key to Building Prosperity and Opportunity in Latin America

On January 24, the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA) released new data demonstrating the United States’ contribution to prosperity in the Western Hemisphere. In conjunction with the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America (AACCLA), ITA issued fact sheets which highlight the trade, investment and social development provided by the U.S. to countries in the hemisphere from Mexico to Argentina.

USTR Announces Results of Out-of-Cycle Review for the Czech Republic

On January 22, U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab announced the results of USTR's Out-of-Cycle Review of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and enforcement in the Czech Republic under the “Special 301” provisions of U.S. trade law.  As a result of the review, the Czech Republic will be placed on the Special 301 Watch List. Schwab commented, "We remain concerned at the continuing lack of effective enforcement measures against traders openly selling pirated and counterfeit goods in the notorious border markets." She added,  “We are encouraged that the Czech Republic has started developing legal and enforcement measures to address long-standing concerns over piracy and counterfeiting, and look forward to continuing to work with the Czech Republic to achieve concrete results in IPR enforcement, both bilaterally and globally."

View USTR press release

Secretary Gutierrez to Address Trade and Investment Conference in Jordan

On January 17, the Commerce Department announced that Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez will deliver keynote remarks at a Middle East business conference to stress the importance of continued economic reform and expanding our economic ties and mutual commercial relationship. The U.S.-Middle East and North Africa Trade and Investment Conference will be held at the Dead Sea in Jordan, February 10-11. During the conference, Secretary Gutierrez will also meet with his economic and trade counterparts from the region to discuss trade and investment.

Request for Comments: WTO Dispute Settlement Proceedings on EC Measures Affecting Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products

On January 17, 2008, USTR announced that the United States submitted to the WTO a request for authorization to suspend WTO concessions and other obligations with respect to the EC in an amount equal to the level of nullification and impairment resulting from EC non-compliance with the WTO recommendations and rulings. Under a sequencing agreement with the EC, that request will be referred to arbitration and the arbitration will be suspended while the U.S. and EC continue to try to resolve this dispute and related matters. To prepare for the possibility that the arbitration is resumed and the WTO Dispute Settlement Body authorizes the U.S. to suspend WTO concessions with respect to the EC, USTR is inviting written comments on action that it should take to exercise such an authorization. In particular, USTR seeks written comments with respect to the specific products of the EC or EC member states, and/or with respect to the specific member states of the EC, that should be subject to a suspension of WTO concessions, such as through increases of rates of duty above current rates. For information about submitting comments, which are requested to be submitted on or before March 21, 2008, please refer to the Federal Register notice.

United States and Ghana Chart Course for Cooperation on Trade and Investment

U.S. and Ghanaian trade and development officials met January 15 to review progress in deepening their partnership on trade and investment issues.  This was the fifth meeting of the United States-Ghana Trade and Investment Council since this forum for senior-level discussions was created in 1999.  Deputy United States Trade Representative John K. Veroneau, who led the U.S. delegation, stated “Ghana is one of our most important trading partners in Africa and is also among the leading economic reformers in the region… The meeting provided an opportunity for us to discuss a broad range of issues, including steps to further expand and diversify the U.S.-Ghana trade and economic relationship.” During the meeting, the officials explored several common objectives, including cooperation in the WTO, implementation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, export diversification, and intellectual property protection and enforcement.

View USTR press release

USTR Statement on EC Biotech Dispute

In a January 14 statement commenting on the January 11 expiration of the reasonable period of time for EU compliance with the WTO’s rulings in the EC-Biotech dispute, USTR Spokesperson Gretchen Hamel said, “The United States remains very concerned with EU treatment of agricultural biotech products.” She added, “We are taking steps necessary under WTO rules to preserve our right in the WTO to suspend trade concessions.”  Hamel went on to say, however, “…our goal is to normalize trade in biotech products, not to impose trade sanctions on EU goods…  [Because] The EU has committed to making biotech approval decisions based on science… we have agreed with the EU to suspend for a limited period the proceedings on our WTO request for authority to suspend concessions in order to provide the EU an opportunity to demonstrate meaningful progress on the approval of biotech products.”  Hamel also expressed Washington’s disappointment with the French Government’s decision to impose a ban on the planting of the only biotech corn variety currently cultivated in the EU. The United States “expect(s) the European Commission to move promptly to lift this unjustified ban, and would hope that the Government of France would reconsider this unwarranted action.” 

Commerce Secretary Gutierrez Says Korea FTA “Too Important to be Allowed to Fail”

In his keynote remarks to the Korea Economic Institute on the occasion of Korean-American Day on January 10, Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez highlighted the contributions of Korean-Americans, and focused on the need to pass the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement to strengthen ties between our two countries and level the playing field for American business, workers, farmers and ranchers. While Gutierrez said he believed the “U.S.-Korea FTA is simply too important to be allowed to fail,” warning that U.S. credibility in Asia “could be seriously compromised” if it is not enacted, he also noted that to advance the FTA, “Korea needs to fully reopen its market to U.S. beef.”

U.S. Department of Commerce Announces Second Annual Americas Competitiveness Forum

On January 9, Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez announced the Department will convene the second annual Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF) on August 17-19, 2008, in Atlanta. The forum will provide an opportunity for governments, the business community, and representatives from academia and non-governmental organizations to discuss actions that can be taken to improve competitiveness and economic prosperity in the Americas. The 2008 ACF will be held in partnership with the City of Atlanta and International Training Center for Government Authorities (CIFAL Atlanta), a not-for profit organization created by the United Nations. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin is the Chair of CIFAL Atlanta’s Board of Trustees, and she will co-host the ACF with Secretary Gutierrez. The Secretary convened the inaugural ACF in June 2007 in Atlanta.

Senate Confirms Christopher A. Padilla as Under Secretary for International Trade

On December 20, the Senate confirmed Christopher A. Padilla as Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez stated, “I am grateful that the U.S. Senate has confirmed Chris Padilla as Under Secretary for International Trade during this critical time for American competitiveness. ... During his service in government and the private sector, Chris has been intricately involved in nearly every major aspect of international trade, from opening new markets for U.S. exporters to vigorously enforcing our trade laws.” As Under Secretary for International Trade, Padilla leads the International Trade Administration, which participates in the development of U.S. trade policy; identifies and resolves market access and compliance issues; administers U.S. trade laws; and undertakes a range of trade promotion and trade advocacy efforts.

View Commerce press release

Commerce Department to Lead Clean-Energy Trade Mission to China and India

On December 21, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Market Access and Compliance David Bohigian announced that 18 U.S. companies will join the second U.S. Clean-Energy Trade Mission. The mission will make stops in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong, China as well as Kolkata and Bangalore, India, from Jan. 8-18. These companies will be exposed to business opportunities in these fast-growing markets, where American clean-energy technology goods and services can help improve the environment. The clean-energy companies specialize in the renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean coal, and distributed generation sectors. They offer innovative solutions to China’s and India’s energy and environmental challenges and are potential partners to the countries’ business and government leaders. For additional information regarding the Clean-Energy Trade Mission, including a full list of participants, visit www.export.gov/cleanenergymission.