November

Environmental Goods and Services Information Exchange Website Goes Live

Earlier today a new APEC website for the Environmental Goods and Services Information Exchange (EGSIE) went live. The EGSIE is an innovative new website that will promote information-sharing and collaboration related to cutting edge environmental technologies in the Asia-Pacific region and will also promote the dissemination of such technologies globally.

The new website is a joint project sponsored by the United States, Canada and New Zealand. Today, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers endorsed the website and encouraged all economies to contribute to it. APEC Ministers also endorsed a multi-year work program on environmental goods and services that will focus on promoting greater dissemination and utilization of environmental goods and services in the region, in particular through identifying and addressing market access barriers to this important sector.

Reaction On U.S. Engagement In The Trans-Pacific Partnership

On Saturday in Tokyo, Japan, President Obama announced that the United States will engage with the Trans-Pacific Partnership on trade. Here's what some people have been saying about this news:

Business Roundtable

Coalition of Service Industries

Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx)

For more general information on American trade with the Asia-Pacific and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, please visit here.

For comments by United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, please visit here.

USTR General Counsel Tim Reif Testifies before House Ways and Means Committee

Yesterday, USTR General Counsel Tim Reif testified before the House Ways and Means Committee about the importance of U.S. trade preference programs. At the end of the year two programs, the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and the Andean Trade Preference Act, are coming up for renewal and Reif stressed how all U.S. preference programs can promote development, economic growth and poverty reduction in countries benefiting from the programs, and in turn provide a stronger global trading system by expanding opportunities for American workers, farmers, ranchers and businesses - including small and medium sized companies.

To review Reif's testimony, please click here.

Ambassador Kirk Joins President Obama in Beijing

Today USTR Ron Kirk continued his visit to Beijing, China as part of the US delegation to accompany President Barack Obama on his state visit to China. Cabinet officials participated in a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People with President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao. American and Chinese officials also held an expanded bilateral meeting.

Concluding the official welcoming ceremony with President Hu, Ambassador Kirk, Secretary Locke and Secretary Chu held a joint meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Li KeQiang. Among the issues discussed were importance of close cooperation between the United States and China on trade and economic issues, as well as climate change. During the meeting Ambassador Kirk also emphasized the importance of balanced growth in a way that benefits both countries.

The United States and China have a large and dynamic trading relationship. Bilateral trade in goods totaled $408 billion in 2008, and China is now the United States' second largest trading partner.

Over the past month, Ambassador Kirk has spent significant time in Asia, engaging his counterparts to help further open Asia markets to sustain and create new jobs at home. He served as co-chair of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade in Hangzhou, China and participated in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Singapore.

Ambassador Kirk Speaks to the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing

United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk met with leaders of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Beijing, China for a roundtable discussion about how trade can create and sustain high-paying jobs here at home. Secretary Locke joined Ambassador Kirk to talk with leaders of AmCham-China. Secretary Locke focused on an agenda that seeks to create jobs at home by making U.S. businesses more competitive in some of the fastest growing economies in the world. Concluding the roundtable, Ambassador Kirk and Secretary Locke held a town hall meeting with membership of AmCham-China.

Ambassador Kirk and Secretary Locke are part of the U.S. delegation visiting China with President Obama. The trip gives Ambassador Kirk the opportunity to further engage their Chinese counterparts on reducing trade barriers to provide more jobs and greater economic opportunities for America's workers, farmers, ranchers and service providers. Kirk and Locke discussed their recent session of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) in Hangzhou, China, where creating American jobs and opening China's market were also on the agenda. During the October JCCT, China announced its intent to re-open the Chinese market to U.S. pork products and live swine. China also agreed to remove local content requirements on wind turbines, AmCham-China is a Beijing-based, non-profit organization representing the interests of some 2,500 companies and individuals doing business throughout China.

Weekly Trade Focus: Jordan

This week's weekly trade focus is on the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Last month Assistant United States Trade Representative Lewis Karesh traveled to Jordan as part of an interagency delegation to promote dialogue regarding relevant issues surrounding the United States Jordan Free Trade Agreement.

The United States and Jordan share a longstanding history of cooperation that stretches back forty years. America's relationship with Jordan is one that has proven to be mutually beneficial and is built upon America's strong interests in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East.

On October 24, 2000, the United States signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Jordan that went into force on December 17, 2001. The FTA has gradually phased out tariffs on nearly all goods and services traded between the United States and Jordan and seeks the complete elimination of tariffs by 2010. Jordan is the fourth country in the world and first Arab state to have signed an FTA with the United States and is the first to include labor and environmental provisions as part of its core text. For Jordan, this free trade agreement represents a commitment towards a revolutionary economic reform program with the purpose of economic liberalization and deeper engagement with the world community as a whole. In addition to implementing a FTA with the United States, Jordan has acceded into the World Trade Organization.

The economic transformation of Jordan has proven to be strikingly successful for both Jordan and the United States. In 1998, total exports from Jordan to the United States totaled $16 million. Today America imports $1.1 billion of goods from Jordan as well as exports $940 million worth of goods. In the future, the United States looks forward to continuing to further our relationship with Jordan, knowing that it will bring tangible benefits to everyday Jordanians and Americans.

Reaction On U.S. Engagement In The Trans-Pacific Partnership

On Saturday in Tokyo, Japan, President Obama announced that the United States will engage with the Trans-Pacific Partnership on trade. Here's what some people have been saying about this news:

AmCham Singapore

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Sandy Levin (D-Mich.)

House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-Mich.) and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-Tex.)

National Foreign Trade Council

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.)

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)

For more general information on American trade with the Asia-Pacific and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, please visit here.

For comments by United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, please visit here.

USTR Staff Meet with Trans-Pacific Partnership Counterparts, Prepare for Congressional Consultations on TPP

In the wake of President Obama's announcement that the United States will engage with the Trans-Pacific Partnership to shape a trade agreement that includes the high standards and broad geographic scope necessary to successfully integrate Asia-Pacific economies, staff from the Office of the United States Trade Representative remained in Singapore on Sunday and Monday to meet with counterparts in Trans-Pacific Partnership countries. The United States intends to consult closely with Congress and with all stakeholders at home, and to engage with the TPP participants to shape an agreement that includes the high standards and broad geographic scope necessary to successfully integrate Asia-Pacific economies.

USTR staff and their TPP country counterparts met to discuss work that would need to be done to develop proposals to fill gaps in previous trade agreements and to shape a 21st century trade agreement. These discussions will inform consultations with Congress and with stakeholders about how best to move forward on TPP.

Increasing U.S. Exports, Creating American Jobs: Engagement with the Trans-Pacific Partnership

President Obama announced today in Tokyo that the U.S. will engage with the Trans-Pacific Partnership on trade. Read the fact sheet below to find out more.

Ambassador Kirk Comments on Trans-Pacific Partnership

In a speech to the APEC CEO Summit today, Ambassador Kirk commented on U.S. engagement with the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Visit here to find out more.

Ambassador Kirk Delivers Address on Asia-Pacific Trade at APEC CEO Summit

In Singapore today, Ambassador Kirk spoke to the APEC CEO Summit on "The United States and APEC Partners in Global Trade Today."

Click here to read the text.

Ambassador Kirk is greeted onstage at the APEC CEO Summit by Peter Loescher, President and CEO of Siemens AG.

VIDEO: AUSTR Wendy Cutler Talks About APEC

Earlier this week, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for APEC Affairs Wendy Cutler sat down to talk about this week's APEC meeting in Singapore. Watch the video below.

You can read her remarks here.

Smart Steps at APEC Forum Can Help to Grow American Exports, Create American Jobs

In Singapore on Thursday, trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum member economies took steps to make it easier to trade across the region - which can help to increase U.S. exports to the Asia-Pacific and create well-paid jobs at home. In a closing plenary session, Ambassador Kirk and other trade ministers endorsed principles to govern the trade of cross-border services, and agreed to simplify the documentation for certifying the origin of goods under trade agreements.

At the close of the Singapore gathering, ministers also welcomed a statement by Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama welcoming the delegates to Japan when that country hosts APEC in 2010. The United States will host APEC in 2011.

Ambassador Kirk met on Thursday with Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Tex.), Ranking Member on the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, who traveled to Singapore for the APEC gathering. Assistant United States Trade Representative for Congressional Affairs Luis Jimenez has accompanied Ambassador Kirk on this week's APEC visit.

Ambassador Kirk also on Thursday briefed members of the U.S. business community who are in Singapore for the APEC CEO Summit. Ambassador Kirk will formally address the CEO Summit on behalf of President Obama this weekend.

This week's APEC action will also feature the launch of the Environmental Goods and Services Information Exchange (EGSIE), an innovative new website that will promote information-sharing and collaboration related to cutting edge environmental technologies in the Asia-Pacific region. It will also promote the dissemination of such technologies globally and is a practical step towards addressing climate change and other environmental concerns. Keep watching ustr.gov for an alert when the site goes live.

Weekly Trade Focus: Trade and Endangered Species

On October 14, the United States Government submitted proposals to the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to list six shark species and over 30 species of red and pink corals in Appendix II of the Convention and to uplist the polar bear to CITES Appendix I. Additionally the United States submitted a proposal to remove the bobcat from the CITES Appendices and several other documents relating to technical implementation issues. The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP15) to CITES will be held in Doha, Qatar, during March 13- 25, 2010, where the Parties to the Convention will discuss relevant issues concerning the trade in animal and plant species, including the aforemented U.S. proposals.

CITES is an international agreement with 175 Parties. The purpose of the Convention is to ensure that international trade in plants and animals does not threaten their survival. Current data indicate that International trade in wildlife is worth billions of dollars annually.

CITES lists species in three appendices, depending on the level of protection needed. Appendix I includes species that are threatened with extinction and bans all commercial trade. Appendix II lists species that are not immediately threatened with extinction, but might be without strict trade controls. Trade in Appendix-II species is allowed if the exporting country can find that the wildlife was legally acquired and the trade is not detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild. Listing in Appendix I or II requires a two-thirds majority of the voting Parties. Countries that ask for a species to be placed in Appendix III are requesting international cooperation regarding the regulation of trade in that species. Appendix-III listings can be done unilaterally. Currently, more than 30,000 animal and plant species are listed in one of the appendices to CITES, including sea turtles, American ginseng, and the giant panda.

Ambassador Kirk Seeks Job-Creating Trade Opportunities at APEC Ministerial Meetings in Singapore

After arriving in Singapore overnight for this week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering, Ambassador Kirk on Tuesday began his schedule of bilateral meetings with APEC trading partners and with congressional leaders in Singapore for APEC as well. Ambassador Kirk is working to reduce both long-standing and new trade barriers among APEC members and to make it cheaper and easier for Americans to do business in the region - facilitating economic growth and job creation at home in the United States.

Ambassador Kirk and USTR officials sat down for a bilateral luncheon meeting with Singaporean Trade Minister Lim Hng Kiang and Singaporean trade officials. Singapore is the host for this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings; after Japan hosts in 2010, the United States will host APEC in 2011. Topics at Tuesday's U.S.-Singapore luncheon included work among host countries to make these APEC years a success, as well as key market-opening, job-creating initiatives on which APEC members can begin and build over the next few years. Areas of particular interest include trade in environmental goods and services.

Ambassador Kirk hosted House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Sander Levin (D-Mich.) for a meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Singapore. As USTR works to craft trade policy that is responsible and more responsive to the needs of America's working families, Ambassador Kirk has committed to working closely with congressional leaders and stakeholders to strike the right balance on trade policy.

Ambassador Kirk Meets with Ethiopian Trade Minister Girma Birru

Ambassador Kirk and Ethiopian Trade Minister Girma Birru met to discuss the growing U.S.-Ethiopian trade and investment relationship, including the vital role that the African Growth and Opportunity Act is playing in strengthening the relationship. The Ministers also discussed Ethiopia's efforts to accede to the World Trade Organization. Ambassador Kirk encouraged Ethiopia to continue making progress on reforms to increase investment, trade, and economic growth, as well as make Ethiopia more competitive in the global economy.

Ambassador Kirk Meets Korea's Ambassador to the US Han Duk-soo

Ambassador Kirk met yesterday with Korea's Ambassador to the United States Han Duk-soo.

Ambassador Kirk and Ambassador Han discussed the Administration's review of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA), as well as the upcoming meetings between Ambassador Kirk and his counterpart, Trade Minister Kim, on the margins of next week's APEC meetings in Singapore and the summit meeting between President Obama and President Lee in Seoul on November 19.

Later today, Ambassador Kirk will be giving a speech at the U.S.-Korea Business Council Dinner. Check back for more information.

Ask the Ambassador: U.S.-Georgia Trade

We frequently receive questions about pending and prospective Free Trade Agreements with our trading partners.  This one comes from Josh in Virginia.  He writes:

"Dear USTR Kirk, In May John Kerry sponsored a Senate Resolution (S.RES.136) "expressing the sense that the U.S. should initiate negotiations to enter into a Free Trade Agreement with the Republic of Georgia." Has the USTR investigated the possibility of such an agreement? What is the USTR's stance on the issue?"

Ambassador Kirk responds:

"Thank you for your inquiry, Josh.

In 2007, we concluded a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with Georgia aimed at strengthening and expanding bilateral trade and investment.  The agreement establishes a United States-Georgia Council on Trade and Investment, which I chair along with the Georgian Minister of Economic Development.  The United States and Georgia work through this forum to accomplish our mutual goals of augmenting and diversifying the products and services we trade and minimizing policies of protection and distortion.

I appreciate Senator Kerry's interest in negotiating a free trade agreement with Georgia.  We work closely with members of the Senate and the House to assess appropriate ways to grow our trading relationships around the world.  We are currently working to resolve outstanding issues with regard to our pending free trade agreements with Panama, Colombia, and Korea.  We are also considering whether it would be advisable to launch additional free trade negotiations.  At the same time, we continue to work with nations such as Georgia to maintain robust trade relations.

U.S. exports to Georgia have increased from just $16.5 million in 1992 to over $586 million in 2008.  Similarly, imports from Georgia have grown from $7.3 million in 1992 to over $207 million in 2008.  I am encouraged by this positive trend.  I also appreciate the importance of promoting increased trade and investment with Georgia - particularly in the wake of last year's conflict, as foreign trade and investment can help to improve stability and aid in Georgia's recovery from both the conflict and the global economic downturn. 

You will find a link to our TIFA with Georgia, along with other similar agreements, here on the USTR website."

Thank you for continuing our dialogue on trade.  Please keep submitting your questions and comments for the Ambassador.

USTR Kirk Delivers Health Care Message to District Export Council Members

On Wednesday, USTR Ron Kirk highlighted the connection between health care reform and international competitiveness in an address to District Export Council members. DEC members have dedicated themselves to supporting exports from their local communities; health care reform could be a critical boost to many of the small businesses that come to Council members for advice.

An excerpt of Ambassador Kirk's remarks on health care:

"In almost every community in America, big or small, rural or urban, a homegrown company is supporting jobs and families by engaging in international commerce.

You know that because you work with many of those companies in your own communities. You also know that economic worries at home can impede their ability to do business around the world. And right now, many Americans have no bigger economic worry than health care. That's why, to ensure that America's companies and workers can truly take advantage of all of trade opportunities, we must reform America's health insurance system. That is a trade priority. American businesses and workers can't take full advantage of job-creating trade opportunities as long as our health care system drains their resources.

The bottom line is: no family should lose their home and no business should go broke because someone gets sick in America. As President Obama has said, this isn't a Democratic issue or a Republican issue - it's a moral issue. The time for bickering is over. Now it's time to act.

President Obama's health insurance reform plan addresses three simple goals: If you have health insurance, it will give you more security and stability. If you don't have insurance it will give you quality, affordable options. And it will lower the cost of health care for our families, our businesses, and our government. To find out more about President Obama's plan for health care reform, I encourage you to visit healthreform.gov."

Ambassador Kirk Hosts Meeting of Joint Committee for the US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement

The second meeting of the Joint Committee responsible for supervising the operation of the United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA) took place today in Washington. United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk headed the U.S. delegation and Minister of External Commerce Abdellatif Maazouz led the Moroccan delegation.

Ambassador Kirk, Minister Maazouz and their delegations discussed bilateral trade, investment and economic issues of mutual interest, as well as the administration of the FTA. Both governments acknowledged the progress and collaborative work that has taken place since the last meeting of the Joint Committee in Rabat in March 2008. The delegations stressed that the Joint Committee meetings are an important aspect of the continued development of cooperation and partnership between the United States and Morocco. The FTA contributes significantly to the strong bilateral relations between the United States and Morocco and both delegations acknowledged the importance of engaging their respective private sectors to take advantage of the FTA.

The two sides agreed to continue their work to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment and other economic issues.

Ambassador Marantis Addresses the U.S.-Japan Business Council Annual Business Conference

Earlier today, Ambassador Demetrios Marantis spoke at the U.S.-Japan Business Council Annual Business Conference.

Japan is the United States' fourth largest trading partner, with $270 million goods and services being traded on a daily basis. The Obama Administration believes, however, that we can strengthen our trade and economic ties with Japan further, including expanding our focus on pursuing common agendas.

Ambassador Marantis shared his ideas on how to increase bilateral trade this morning. Read excerpts of his speech below.

"Bilaterally, we need to maintain a focus on resolving issues of concern that are raised by our respective business communities and other stakeholders. Much of this work has taken place to date under our bilateral Regulatory Reform Initiative. It is important to keep this work going - but also update and strengthen it in new ways.

One way is to begin to use this forum as a venue to pursue new building blocks in our relationship - projects that require joint action to address practical or emerging regulatory and business environment issues of common interest.

...

It is also important for us to step-up our bilateral cooperation to address issues in third countries where we have common concerns. We are already working together to address information technology policy issues in third countries like China, including bringing a joint dispute settlement case in the WTO against the EU relating to the WTO Information Technology Agreement. We believe there is more that can be done jointly to tackle common concerns around the world.

On the multilateral front, the United States and Japan share a common goal of advancing the Doha Round of WTO trade negotiations as the primary mechanism to reduce trade barriers and further accelerate global trade liberalization.

The United States is committed to the successful completion of the Round as soon as possible. This goal can be met - but substance will drive progress. Success depends on everyone's efforts and contributions. For our part, the U.S. negotiating team is ready to go into the endgame, and we are looking for concrete signs that others, including Japan, are ready to do the same.
...

As the two largest economies in the Asia-Pacific region, our work in APEC is also of great importance. And we have before us a particularly valuable opportunity to advance our mutual goals in APEC while strengthening our own relationship.

After the APEC economy leaders meet in Singapore a few days from now, attention will quickly turn to Japan's 2010 host year for APEC. We have already been working with Japan very closely to make both Japan's 2010 APEC host year and the United States' 2011 APEC host year as successful as possible. Our cooperation will only intensify in the coming months. These two years present a major opportunity for our governments to strengthen and update APEC. This will ensure APEC remains relevant and meaningful, and allows us to use APEC to pursue new initiatives of common interest."

For more from Ambassador Marantis's speech, click here.

Ambassador Kirk Discusses the JCCT with Chinese Central Television

During last week's meeting of the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade, Ambassador Kirk, Secretary Gary Locke and Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke with Rui Chenggang of Chinese Central Television (CCTV) about the 2009 U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) meeting held in Hangzhou, China. The three Obama cabinet officials discussed the importance of the U.S.-China relationship and how the JCCT helps to address bilateral trade matters and promote commercial opportunities between the two countries. The following videos begin in Mandarin, but the interview segments with Ambassador Kirk, Secretary Locke and Secretary Vilsack are in English.

Economic News Segment

Global Connection Segment

Ambassador Kirk Meets with the Washington State Congressional Delegation

Today Ambassador Kirk joined Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire, the Washington state Congressional delegation and businesses from the state to discuss the importance of trade.

The discussion began with the fact that one-in-three jobs in Washington depend on trade and the state leads the country in exports. All of the participants agreed that a robust trade agenda was critical to the U.S. economy and to the state of Washington.

Ambassador Kirk and his team were applauded for their efforts in China and encouraged to do more to strengthen IP rights, advance export opportunities and promote fair competition in the global marketplace.

One of the big issues for the members of the Washington delegation was Innovation and the export of clean technology to emerging markets.

The Washington delegation emphasized that their state was at the forefront of innovation and was ready to lead in the exporting of energy efficiency.

Ambassador Kirk thanked the members of the delegation for their continued support and promised to continue working to open markets for American businesses in order to create jobs and prosperity.

Ambassador Kirk Meets Moroccan Minister of External Commerce Abdellatif Maazouz

Ambassador Ron Kirk and Moroccan Minister of External Commerce Abdellatif Maazouz met this afternoon to discuss bilateral trade relations. Today's meeting was in preparation for tomorrow's session of the Joint Committee of the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

You can read this week's USTR.gov trade topic on Morocco for more information on U.S.-Morocco trade relations, and check back tomorrow for more information on the FTA meeting.

Weekly Trade Focus: Morocco

Every week, the USTR website explores a new trade topic with background information and current trade data. On November 3rd United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk will meet with Moroccan Minister of Foreign Trade Abdellatif Maazouz under the auspices of the Joint Committee established under the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement.

Morocco and the United States have a long history of friendship and cooperation. Morocco became the first country to publicly recognize the United States in 1777 and has remained an important ally of the United States in the Middle East. In 1787 Thomas Jefferson and John Adams formalized America's relationship with Morocco in the form of a Treaty of Friendship. The United States and Morocco signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2004 in an effort to stimulate commercial ties between the two countries.

Over the past 222 years, bilateral trade benefiting both nations has been a hallmark of America's relationship with Morocco. In 2008, bilateral trade in goods between the United States and Morocco totaled $2.4 billion, which is an increase of 148% since 2005. This increasing volume in trade is due in large part to the FTA, which entered into force in January 2006. While bilateral trade has declined during 2009 due to global economic conditions, the United States is hopeful that the multi-year positive trend will soon return.

The Joint Committee is chaired by the United States Trade Representative and the Moroccan Ministry on Foreign Trade. Its purpose is to oversee the implementation of the FTA and resolve any issues that arise. The Joint Committee has been successful in finding cooperative measures to expand trade and improve the business climate between the United States and Morocco by focusing on concrete problem-solving. Ambassador Kirk looks forward to discussions on a variety of important bilateral trade topics, primarily focusing trade and investment.