Below please find daily updates and press releases from United States Customs and Border Protection and the Office of the United States Trade Representative:
USTR - Press ReleaseSeattle, WA -- The second meeting of the Asia-Pacific Regional Dialogue to Promote Trade in Legally Harvested Forest Products, a regional meeting co-convened by the United States and Indonesia, concluded here after two days of talks. In addition to the United States and Indonesia, countries participating in the dialogue included Australia, Cambodia, China, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand and Vietnam. Mark Linscott, Assistant U.S.
Press Week Ahead, July 26 - July 30, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010Ambassador Kirk will participate in a Ford Motor exporting eventWashington, D.C.Open PressPlease contact Matthew Lawrence at mlawrence@ustr.eop.gov for more informationAmbassador Marantis will travel to Jakarta, IndonesiaJakarta, Indonesia
Ambassador Kirk Highlights Trade During Trip to Canada
Today Ambassador Ron Kirk concluded his first visit to Canada as the United States Trade Representative.Ambassador Kirk traveled to Toronto, where he held a roundtable with American Chamber of Commerce and Canadian business leaders on Friday. He also delivered the keynote speech and answered questions at an event hosted by the Toronto Board of Trade business leaders. Ambassador Kirk?s remarks can be found here.
Readout of the Meeting Between Ambassador Kirk and Minister Van Loan
United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk met today in Ottawa with Canadian Minister of International Trade Peter Van Loan. The two discussed a number of topics including progress on the Doha round, the Softwood Lumber Agreement, regulatory cooperation that will aid small businesses, and the operation of the U.S.-Canada Government Procurement Agreement. Ambassador Kirk emphasized the importance of protecting creativity, and the importance of protecting creativity and innovation to spur economic growth between and within the two countries.
Washington, D.C. ? On Friday, July 30 at 10:00 a.m., United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk will speak to Pennsylvania manufacturing workers about how the Obama Administration has stepped up enforcement of U.S. trade agreements in support of American workers? rights to compete on a level playing field in the global market. The address will take place at Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI)?s plant in Washington, Pennsylvania.
Press Week Ahead, July 18-July 24, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010Ambassador Kirk will travel to Denver, Colorado to discuss job creation through global trade and to attend the U.S.-Brazil CEO ForumDenver, ColoradoPlease contact Matthew Lawrence for available press opportunities at mlawrence@ustr.eop.govAmbassador Sapiro will meet with European Parliament Internal Market Committee Chair Mr. Malcolm HarbourWashington, D.C.Closed Press
United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk Highlights Trade During Trip to North Carolina
Charlotte, N.C. - Today United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk concluded his two-day visit to North Carolina where he highlighted the importance of global trade in creating and supporting jobs across the state. On Thursday, Ambassador Kirk toured the Porter Family Farm, an award-winning 500-acre broiler and sow operation in Cabarrus County.
United States, Turkey Hold Seventh Meeting of U.S.-Turkey Trade and Investment Council
Washington, D.C. ? Today Deputy United States Trade Representative Ambassador Miriam Sapiro opened the seventh meeting of the U.S.-Turkey Trade and Investment Council in Washington, D.C. The two-day meeting between Turkish and U.S. officials will discuss the importance of the U.S.-Turkey trade and investment relationship. It is also a key step in preparations for the first formal meeting, envisioned for later this year, of the U.S.-Turkey Strategic Economic and Commercial Cooperation dialogue, inaugurated in December 2009 by U.S.
Washington, D.C. ? United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk said today that the new report from the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) identifies top export barriers reported by U.S. small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and highlights the benefits of U.S. trade agreements to American small businesses. The report found that U.S. SMEs account for a smaller share of U.S. manufactured goods exports than SMEs in the European Union (EU), reflecting the relatively larger economic role of SMEs in the EU.
Statement by U.S. Ambassador Michael Punke at the Negotiating Group on Rules in Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland - The United States would like to congratulate [Dennis Francis, the Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago] on your election as Chair of the Rules Group. We welcome you to this Group and very much look forward to working with you. We are grateful to you for accepting this responsibility, which will require you to help us to find solutions to issues that are technical, multifaceted, and controversial.
USTR - Fact Sheet
FIGHTING UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES, WINNING AT THE WTO: KEY FINDINGS AGAINST EUROPEAN SUBSIDIES TO AIRBUSIn findings announced on June 30, 2010, a dispute settlement panel at the World Trade Organization ruled in favor of the United States on a case claiming that launch aid and other subsidies provided by European countries to the Airbus aircraft company over the last four decades caused adverse effects to the interests of U.S. businesses and workers. Here are key findings of the WTO panel:
Keeping Markets Open: Successes In Reducing Technical Barriers To American Exports
KEEPING MARKETS OPEN: SUCCESSES IN REDUCING TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO AMERICAN EXPORTS A new USTR report on key technical barriers that American exporters face includes information about USTR's 2009 successes in breaking down these barriers around the world. Key USTR progress in breaking down technical barriers to trade includes: CHINA: INTERNET FILTERING SOFTWARE AND MEDICAL DEVICES
The 2010 National Trade Estimate Report: Key Elements
THE 2010 NATIONAL TRADE ESTIMATE REPORT: KEY ELEMENTS On March 31, 2010, United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk delivered to Congress the National Trade Estimate Report, required by statute to describe significant barriers to U.S. trade and investment faced in the last year as well as the actions being taken by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to address those barriers. Key barriers noted in this year's report include the following:
Keeping Markets Open: Successes In Reducing Sanitary And Phytosanitary Barriers To American Exports
KEEPING MARKETS OPEN: SUCCESSES IN REDUCING SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY BARRIERS TO AMERICAN EXPORTS A new USTR report on key sanitary and phytosanitary barriers that American agricultural and food exporters face includes information about USTR's 2009 successes in breaking down these barriers around the world. Key progress in breaking down sanitary and phytosanitary barriers includes: INCREASED MARKET ACCESS FOR U.S. BEEF AND BEEF PRODUCTS
Key Technical Barriers to American Exports
KEY TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO AMERICAN EXPORTS
Key Sanitary And Phytosanitary Barriers To American Exports
KEY SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY BARRIERS TO AMERICAN EXPORTS
ACTA participants are committed to improving transparency in the negotiating process, while still preserving negotiators' ability to candidly discuss the various proposals under consideration.This fact sheet provides additional background on the ACTA negotiations and addresses some of the common concerns raised by stakeholders in a number of countries. For more background on the ACTA initiative and specific elements under discussion in the ACTA negotiations, please refer to the Summary of Elements Under Discussion.
GSP: Critical to the United States and Developing Countries
The U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) is a program designed to promote economic growth in the developing world by providing preferential duty-free entry for about 4,800 products from 131 designated beneficiary countries and territories. GSP was instituted on January 1, 1976 by the Trade Act of 1974. Unless extended by Congress, GSP will expire on December 31, 2009.GSP Creates American Jobs and Keeps U.S. Companies Competitive
TPP Statements and Actions to Date
U.S. ENGAGEMENT WITH THE TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP: ACTION TO DATE
Economic Opportunities and the TPP
INCREASING U.S. EXPORTS, CREATING AMERICAN JOBS: NEGOTIATIONS FOR A TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
CBP.gov: News Releases
News Media Inquiries Only Please Dial 1-800-826-1471.
News Media Inquiries Only Please Dial 1-800-826-1471.
