Round 8: Chicago

Friday, September 9 at the Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations in Chicago, IL
09/09/2011 5:06 PM

This afternoon, United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk is visiting Chicago to attend a reception with delegates and stakeholders at the eighth round of negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. Ambassador Kirk and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel will make very brief welcoming remarks to reception attendees; USTR will release Ambassador Kirk’s short remarks as prepared.

Negotiators from the nine TPP partner countries – Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and the United States – are reporting good progress early in the eighth round of talks, expected to last through September 15. Negotiating groups that have already begun meetings include services, financial services, investment, customs, telecommunications, intellectual property rights (IPR), government procurement, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and environment. Numerous negotiating teams are also holding bilateral meetings.

On Saturday, September 10, USTR will provide venues for nearly 60 stakeholder groups to make individual presentations directly to TPP delegates on issues of interest and concern. As at every U.S.-hosted TPP round, USTR invited stakeholders representing business, labor, academic groups and the public to be on-site at the TPP talks in Chicago to interact with negotiators and delegates from TPP partner countries. More than 250 are registered to attend.

In the Trans-Pacific Partnership, President Obama has directed U.S. negotiators to seek a 21st-century agreement that tackles old trade concerns in new ways, that deals with cross-cutting issues previously unaddressed in trade agreements, and that benefits from an unprecedented level of stakeholder input.

In 2009, the East-West Center estimated that Asia already accounted for 27 percent of total U.S. jobs from exports. International Monetary Fund forecasts that the Asia-Pacific economies will grow faster than the world average through at least 2014. Expanding U.S. exports to the Asia-Pacific region can contribute significantly to further job growth and economic recovery for America’s working families.

Saturday, September 10 at the Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations in Chicago, IL
09/10/2011 5:08 PM

Today at the eighth round of Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations in Chicago, IL, nearly 60 stakeholder groups are making individual presentations directly to delegates from the nine TPP countries and to other stakeholders attending the forum. Many TPP negotiators, including chief negotiators from the nine partner countries, have spent much of today listening to presentations by stakeholders representing a wide range of views on issues relevant to the negotiations. Stakeholders are scheduled to speak in sessions between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the Hilton Chicago in three presentation rooms to ensure each stakeholder has sufficient time to present their views. More than 250 stakeholders have accepted USTR’s invitation to be on-site at the TPP talks in Chicago to interact with negotiators and delegates. A full list of the stakeholder presentation schedule, with names of presenters and their organizations, can be found below.

As stakeholder presentations took place, a smaller number of negotiating groups held talks today. Issues discussed included goods market access, temporary entry, rules of origin, technical barriers to trade, and capacity building. Negotiators from the nine TPP partner countries – Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and the United States – are reporting good progress early in the eighth round of talks, which will last through September 15. Negotiating groups that have already begun meetings this week include services, financial services, investment, customs, telecommunications, intellectual property rights (IPR), government procurement, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and environment.

Topic	Presenter and Organization
From Chicago to Honolulu and Beyond – A New Zealand Business Vision for TPP	Stephen Jacobi, Executive Director for NZ US Council
The Appropriate Role of IP Protection in Trade Agreements	Tom Giovanetti, President of Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI)
U.S. Generic Industry’s View on IP in Free Trade Agreements	Shawn Brown, Vice President of State Affairs, Generic Pharmaceutical Association
Pharmaceuticals: Innovation, Access and the TPPA Intellectual Property Chapter	Dr. Burcu Kilic, Consultant for the Global Access to Medicines Program at Public Citizen
IPR, Only Source Medicines and Access	Roberto Lopez, Executive Director of Acción Internacional para la Salud. Peru
Inconsistencies Between the US Intellectual Property Proposal for the TPPA and Current US Law	Krista Cox, Staff Attorney, Knowledge Ecology International
Copyright, the U.S. Proposal for the TPPA and the Need for Evidence Based Review	James Boyle Professor of Law, Duke University
Promoting the Internet Economy	Jonathan Band Policybandwidth
The Public’s Stake in a Balanced IP Chapter in the TPP	Rashmi Rangnath, Staff Attorney Public Knowledge
Fighting Movie Theft: An International Problem	Gary Kissinger, Regional Director of Investigations for Motion Pictures Association of America (MPAA)
Impacts of the TPP on Public Interest and Software Development	Brett Smith Free Software Foundation
Freedom of Expression, Innovation, and Internet Intermediary Liability	Abigail Phillips, Senior Staff Attorney, Electronic Frontier Foundation
“Temporary Entry” As A Critical Provision of the TPPA	Peter Ehrenhaft, Senior Counsel Harkins Cunningham, LLP
A Proposal for Decent Work in the Trans-Pacific Region: Trade Unions' Model Labor Chapter	Jeffrey Vogt, Deputy Director and Legal Advisor, Department of Human and Trade Union Rights, International Trade Union Confederation
The Case for a Human Rights Impact Assessment of the Proposed TPPA	Prof. Jane Kelsey School of Law, University of Auckland
TPP: ICT and Internet Growth Via Trade in Products with Cryptographic Capabilities	Ian Steff, Director of Government Affairs and International Trade, Semiconductor Industry Association
Towards Preserving an Open Internet Under the Trans-Pacific Partnership	Susan Chalmers, Policy Lead InternetNZ
The Trans-Pacific Partnership: Opportunity for Health-Sector Trade Policy	Ed Gresser, Alliance for Healthcare Competitiveness
The Promise of Biotechnology	Jeff Kushan, Sidley Austin for Biotechnology Industry Organization
Trade, the Oceans and TPP: A 21st Century Plan for the Environment	Courtney Sakai, Senior Campaign Director for Oceania, and Peter Allgeier, President of C&M International
A Commercial Sector View on Fisheries in the TPP, with Particular Reference to the Environment Chapter	Alastair Macfarlane, General Manager – Trade and Information for NZ Seafood Industry Council
The Potential of Regulatory Coherence – A View from New Zealand Food and Agricultural Exporters	Ken Geard, Fonterra Cooperative Group Tracey Paterson, Beef and Lamb New Zealand
The Global Cosmetic and Personal Care Industry: An Important Sector for Growth	Francine Lamoriello, Executive Vice President for Global Strategies Personal Care Products Council
Proposals for Medical Devices	Ralph Ives, Executive Vice President for Global Strategy and Analysis, AdvaMed
Benefits of the IAF & ILAC Multilateral Mutual Recognition Arrangements	Randy Dougherty, Vice President of ANAB; Chair and President IAF
TPP Supply Chains – Seizing the Opportunity	Ralph Carter, Managing Director Legal, Trade and International Affairs Federal Express
Pharmaceutical Reimbursement Restrictions and Public Health: Analysis of U.S. and other TPP Country Practices	Sean Flynn, Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property (PIJIP), American University; Sharon Treat, State Representative of Maine
Seeking Transparency and Enhanced Regulatory Coherence for Pharmaceuticals in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement	Neil Pratt, Assistant General Counsel, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
Capital Controls and the Trans-Pacific Partnership	Sarah Andersen, Institute for Policy Studies, and Professor Martin Wolfson from University of Notre Dame
Strong, Enforceable Investment Provisions Are Critical for TPP's (and America's) Success in a Competitive Global Economy	Shaun Donnelly, VP for Investment and Financial Services, US Council for International Business
Investor-State Disputes: The Philip Morris Case in Australia	Dr. Patricia Ranald Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network
TPP Goals, Principles, Priorities, and Challenges	Calman Cohen TPP Business Coalition
FTA Investment Rules: The Case for Reform	Celeste Drake, AFL-CIO; and Alejandra Alayza, Peruvian Network for Globalization with Equity
Investment and Financial Services: Lessons from Past FTAs and BITs	Lori Wallach, Director of Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch Division; and Todd Tucker, Research Director, Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch
How a High-Standard and Enforceable TPP Investment Chapter Can Promote Exports and Growth	Linda Menghetti, Vice President of Emergency Committee for American Trade (ECAT)
Addressing State-Owned Enterprises in the TPP Negotiations	Linda Andros, United Steelworkers
Addressing Export Restrictions and Investment and Competition Rules in the TPP Negotiations	Timothy Brightbill, On behalf of Nucor Corporation
Footwear: Enhancing Trade and Investment for TPP Members	Matt Priest, President of Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America
The Importance of Preserving A Small Amount of Footwear Manufacturing in the United States	Marc L. Fleischaker and Matt LeBretton On behalf of the Rubber and Plastic Footwear Manufacturers Association
Travel Goods and Fashion Accessories – The Potential Impact of TPP on the Industry	Nate Herman, Vice President of International Trade American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA)
The Importance of the Yarn Forward Rule of Origin for Textiles and Apparel	Auggie Tantillo, Executive Director of American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC)
The U.S. Textile Industry Review of Textile Negotiating Rules and their Impact	Cass Johnson, President of the National Council of Textile Organizations
Yarn Forward and Its Impact on Textiles in the U.S.	Anderson Warlick Parkdale Mills
With the Importance of Export Promotion of US Products in US FTAs…Why is the TPP an exception?	Jerry Cook, VP Government and Trade Relations, Hanesbrands, Inc.
The Benefits of Yarn Forward Rules to the Local Textile Industry	Bill Jasper Unifi Manufacturting Inc
TPP Must Not Undermine AGOA	Paul Ryberg , On behalf of the African Cotton and Textile Industries Federation
Field to Fashion: Vertical Integration in the Western Hemisphere	Carlo Arias, President of American Denimatrix
The Potential Impact of TPP Negotiations on the Legwear Industry	Sally Kay, President & CEO The Hosiery Association
Vietnam Textile and Apparel Industry: A Closer Look and Expectations from TPP Negotiation	Mr. Le Tien Truong, Vice President of Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association
Apparel Value Chains and Opportunities to Create Jobs in the TPP.	Toni Dembski-Brandl, On behalf of the TPP Apparel Coalition
The Mulesing Mutilation in Australian Wool: A PETA Presentation at the Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations	Kristin Tornicasa, Corporate Liaison People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
Marlboro Man as Investor: Will the TPPA Enable Private Investors to Enforce Trade Rules?	Robert Stumberg Harrison Institute for Public Law at Georgetown University
TPPA and Tobacco Products: The Threat to Public Health and The Case for Excluding Tobacco Products	Susan Liss, Executive Director, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Tobacco and Trade: Who will the TPPA Serve and Protect?	Heidi Heitkamp, Forum on Democracy and Trade
TPP: A High Performance Trade Agreement to Advance Public Health	Ellen Shaffer, Co-Director Center for Policy Analysis on Trade and Health; and Donald Zeigler, Director Prevention and Healthy Lifestyle American Medical Association
Trans-Pacific Partnership – Getting it Right	Alan Bergman, North Dakota Farmers Union

Sunday, September 11 at the Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations in Chicago, IL
09/11/2011 2:44 PM

Today at the eighth round of Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations in Chicago, IL, chief negotiators from the nine TPP partner countries – Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and the United States – offered a mid-round briefing to many of the 250-plus stakeholders who have accepted USTR’s invitation to be on-site in Chicago for the talks, including many of the 57 stakeholder groups who made presentations directly to TPP negotiators and delegates at a USTR-sponsored stakeholder event on Saturday. Today, chief U.S. negotiator Barbara Weisel said that partners have continued to make progress on legal texts of the agreements as they seek to reach agreement on specific provisions, and have advanced market access discussions in a number of sectors. Weisel noted that “hard work” remains to be done as the effort continues to reach the broad outlines of an agreement in the coming months.

TPP Chief Negotiators brief stakeholders in Chicago, IL

A number of negotiating groups are holding talks today on issues including goods market access, temporary entry, intellectual property rights, legal issues, technical barriers to trade, and capacity building. Negotiating groups that have already met and concluded their work for this week include financial services, investment, customs, telecommunications, textiles, government procurement, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and environment. Additional groups will begin or continue meetings before the Chicago round of talks concludes on September 15.

Early this morning, a number of U.S. trade officials and staff, along with members of delegations from trading partner countries, gathered to mark the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. While viewing official ceremonies together, U.S. officials and their foreign counterparts observed moments of silence along with millions of Americans and others around the globe.

Trade Enhancing Access to Medicines
09/12/2011 1:23 PM

Today at Round 8 of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations in Chicago, IL, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued a white paper outlining a new USTR strategic initiative entitled “Trade Enhancing Access to Medicines (TEAM).” TEAM is designed to deploy the tools of trade policy to promote trade and reduce obstacles to access to both innovative and generic medicines, while supporting the innovation that is vital to developing new medicines and achieving other medical breakthroughs.

The white paper describes how, under the TEAM approach, the United States proposes to work with partners Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam to achieve the following goals in a TPP agreement:

Expedite access to innovative and generic medicines through a “TPP access window”
Enhance legal certainty for manufacturers of generic medicines
Eliminate tariffs on medicines
Reduce customs obstacles to medicines
Curb trade in counterfeit medicines
Reduce internal barriers to distribution of medicines
Promote transparency and procedural fairness
Minimize unnecessary regulatory barriers
Reaffirm TPP Parties’ commitment to the Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health

“The truth is, trade policy by itself can’t address all the challenges of access to medicines, but we believe trade policy can be a meaningful component of the Obama Administration’s broad effort to promote that access,” said U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk. “These Trans-Pacific Partnership proposals will help to drive access to innovative and generic medicines, through tariff cuts, intellectual property provisions, and a host of other measures that will help to boost the availability of life-saving innovative and generic medicines to people throughout the Asia-Pacific region.”

Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations are expected to continue in Chicago through September 15.

TPP Access to Medicines: USAID
09/12/2011 5:20 PM

You can find USAID’s blog for comment on USTR’s “TEAM” approach white paper on access to medicines in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, released today on www.ustr.gov, here.

Monday, September 12 at the Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations in Chicago, IL
09/12/2011 7:09 PM

Today at the eighth round of Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations in Chicago, IL, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued a white paper outlining a new USTR strategic initiative entitled “Trade Enhancing Access to Medicines (TEAM).” TEAM is designed to deploy the tools of trade policy to promote trade and reduce obstacles to access to both innovative and generic medicines, while supporting the innovation that is vital to developing new medicines and achieving other medical breakthroughs. The paper can be found here. Comments from USAID can be found here.

A number of negotiating groups held talks today on issues including horizontal issues, labor, rules of origin, competition, non-conforming measures, intellectual property rights, and capacity building. The Chicago round of TPP talks is expected to conclude on September 15.

Tuesday, September 13 at the Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations in Chicago, IL
09/13/2011 5:37 PM

Today at the eighth round of Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations in Chicago, IL, a number of negotiating groups held talks on issues including horizontal issues, labor, rules of origin, competition, non-conforming measures, intellectual property rights, and capacity building. The Chicago round of TPP talks is expected to conclude on September 15.

Wednesday, September 14 at the Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations in Chicago, IL
09/14/2011 5:37 PM

Today at the eighth round of Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations in Chicago, IL, a number of negotiating groups held talks on issues including horizontal issues, competition, non-conforming measures, and trade remedies.

The Chicago round of TPP talks is expected to conclude tomorrow, when chief negotiators expect to receive reports from the remaining negotiating groups.

Final readout of Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations in Chicago, IL
09/15/2011 4:35 PM

Today at the eighth round of Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations in Chicago, IL, two remaining negotiating groups held talks on non-conforming measures and trade remedies.

The round concludes today after 10 days of intensive and fruitful talks. This has been a productive round with progress made toward the goal of concluding an ambitious, 21st-century agreement that will enhance trade and investment among the TPP partner countries and support economic growth and development and support the creation and retention of jobs.

Negotiators sought to make progress on the legal texts of the more than 20 chapters of the agreement this week. With additional text put forward this round, there are now consolidated texts in most areas. Many chapters, including Customs, Technical Barriers to Trade, Telecommunications, Government Procurement, and the horizontal or 21st-century issues of small- and medium-sized enterprises, regulatory coherence, competitiveness, and development, are moving toward closure. Progress was also made on texts for somewhat longer and more complex chapters such as Intellectual Property and Investment.

Negotiators also sought to make progress on the packages for access to industrial, agricultural, and textile and apparel products as well as to government procurement markets. These detailed negotiations require agreement by each country on trade on some 11,000 tariff lines, as well as the rules of origin associated with them; trade and investment in all service sectors, from telecommunications and financial services to energy, professional and distribution services; and reciprocal access to each others’ government procurement markets. Progress was made, but the TPP teams are still looking for improvements in the packages to achieve the high level of ambition envisioned.

In some areas, further text will be tabled in the coming weeks, including text the United States is preparing on labor and state-owned enterprises. In the meantime, the labor and competition groups’ robust discussions in Chicago will ease the path forward when text is tabled.

More than 250 stakeholders accepted the U.S. Government’s invitation to be on-site at the talks this week. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel addressed stakeholders on Friday evening; on Saturday, 57 stakeholder groups made presentations to TPP negotiators.

Negotiators have been directed to reach the broad outlines of an agreement by the APEC leaders’ meeting in Honolulu. The United States’ team is eager to synthesize the good work done to date and to shape it into a strong submission to the APEC Leaders in November

Breadcrumb

Round 8: Chicago