Category: Press Releases and Statements
National Foreign Trade Council Announces Annual World Trade Award
New York, NY – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today honored Raymond Gilmartin with its 2004 World Trade Award. Mr. Gilmartin is Chairman, President and CEO of Merck & Co. He will receive the award on December 10 at NFTC’s World Trade Dinner in New York.
“Ray Gilmartin has led Merck with distinction for a decade. During his tenure, Merck has tackled major global health problems by increasing access to life saving medicines and vaccines in countries throughout the world. His dedication to philanthropic outreach is truly remarkable, and has directly enhanced the health and well-being of millions of people around the world. Ray Gilmartin exemplifies the spirit of the NFTC World Trade Award,” said Michael Jordan, Chairman of the NFTC and Chairman & CEO of EDS.
This year’s NFTC World Trade Award Committee chose Mr. Gilmartin for the award based on his leadership in improving global health and access to medicines. In 2004, The Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked Merck the number one corporate donor in the United States for the second year in a row. In September 2002 Merck earned one of only two Triple-A ratings for ethics by the Management & Excellence group. The Economist stated that Merck has “won the admiration of advocates of corporate responsibility,” and is considered the “acceptable face of capitalism.”
Mr. Gilmartin is active in issues that involve the pharmaceutical industry, both globally and domestically. In 2003, he was sworn in as a member of President Bush’s Export Council. He was asked to chair the Subcommittee on Stewardship to emphasize that America’s companies not only bring their capital, but also their values to world markets.
Mr. Gilmartin joined Merck as President and Chief Executive Officer in June 1994. He was named Chairman of the Board in November 1994. Merck has been an active member of the NFTC for over 30 years.
Dating from 1937, NFTC’s World Trade Award was established by the Dollar Family of San Francisco in memory of Captain Robert Dollar, pioneer in American shipping and world trade and a charter member of the National Foreign Trade ouncil.
The Award has been given to 48 Americans, including Government officials, industrialists, bankers, and shipping, publishing and association leaders. Last year, ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO Lee Raymond accepted the award. Other past winners include Cordell Hull, Secretary of State, awarded in 1938; George Schultz (Bechtel), awarded in 1974; David Rockefeller (Chase Manhattan Bank), awarded in 1964; and William E. Brock (United States Trade Representative), awarded in 1982.
The National Foreign Trade Council is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves 300 member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.
NFTC Sees Mostly Success in “Lame Duck” Session – Congressional Support for Mission of Export-Import Bank Evident
Majority Support for Liberalized Cuba Travel Rules Thwarted Again
Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council logged several legislative victories in the close-of-session Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005, approved by Congress on November 20, 2004. Among the provisions supported by NFTC:
Libya Assistance Waiver – Congress granted the President a waiver to Section 507 of the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill (H.R. 4818), which bans the Export-Import Bank from providing assistance to Libya. The ban remains on assistance to Cuba, North Korea, Iran or Syria. The action offers the President flexibility as U.S.-Libya relations continue on a path towards normalization. The United States lifted its nearly 20-year-old embargo on trade and investment in Libya earlier this year in response to that country’s positive steps to dismantle weapons of mass destruction and to make reparations for past terrorist actions. While a positive development, the Congressional action does not immediately allow the Export-Import Bank to conduct business in Libya, but removes a significant legal obstacle to doing so.
NFTC also scored a success in the final Foreign Operations Appropriations bill with the rejection of the Sanders Amendment, which would have placed restrictions on Export-Import Bank financing for certain offshore facilities, without regard to their importance to overall U.S. economic interests. Revisions were also made to a provision that would have required the Export-Import Bank to undertake an economic analysis of a Bank-supported ethanol production plant in Trinidad and Tobago and report on its findings to Congress within 30 days, which would have overridden Ex-Im’s current procedures for determining whether a full-blown economic impact analysis was warranted. Finally, Congress approved adequate funding levels in line with the Administration’s requests for the Export-Import Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the U.S. Trade Development Agency.
“Congress clearly demonstrated its support for U.S. trade and investment through its strong support of critical institutions such as the Ex-Im Bank, OPIC and USTDA. Expanding U.S. business opportunities abroad, including in countries such as Libya, provides the path to economic growth for America. These institutions play a pivotal roll in making that growth possible,” said Bill Reinsch, NFTC President.
In addition to the items included in the omnibus appropriations measure, NFTC also lauded the Senate’s recent approval of the Dutch-U.S. Tax Treaty. This approval adds to the completion of six other important tax agreements in this session of Congress. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, under the leadership of Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), as well as the U.S. Treasury Department have shown a significant commitment to the competitiveness of U.S. business in the international marketplace through their dogged pursuit of these important treaties.
While support for international trade and investment was evident in the lame duck, Appropriations Conferees once again stripped language passed by both the House and Senate that would ease onerous travel restrictions on Cuban-Americans seeking to visit family members in Cuba. The original FY05 Treasury-Transportation Appropriations bill denied funding to implement these travel restrictions.
“Congress delivered a lump of coal to Cuban-Americans, many of whom now will not be able to visit elderly relatives in Cuba for Christmas,” concluded Reinsch.
The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) www.nftc.org is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC serves its several hundred member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.
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U.S.-Middle East Free Trade Coalition Endorses Launch of Free Trade Agreement Negotiations with Oman and UAE
Business Groups Launch Push for U.S.-Middle East Free Trade Area
NFTC Urges Rejection of NDAA Export Control Provisions
Industry Groups Line Up Against Return to “Cold War” Policies
“If the House provisions are adopted, it will be a step backward for
The letter stated:
Taken together, these provisions are counterproductive to
The attempt to turn back the clock to Cold War-era export controls will only damage
The letter is available at http://www.nftc.org/default/usa%20engage/Conferee%20Ltr%20Final%20NDAA%209-29-4.pdf . It was signed by the following organizations.
AeA
Aerospace Industries Association
Coalition For Employment Through Exports
Computer Coalition For Responsible Exports
Industry Coalition on Technology Transfer
Information Technology Industry Council
National Defense Industrial Association
National Foreign Trade Council
Satellite Industry Association
Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International
Semiconductor Industry Association
The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) www.nftc.org is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC serves its several hundred member companies through its offices in
NFTC Urges Rejection of NDAA Export Control Provisions
Industry Groups Line Up Against Return to “Cold War” Policies
“If the House provisions are adopted, it will be a step backward for
The letter stated:
Taken together, these provisions are counterproductive to
The attempt to turn back the clock to Cold War-era export controls will only damage
The letter is available at http://www.nftc.org/default/usa%20engage/Conferee%20Ltr%20Final%20NDAA%209-29-4.pdf . It was signed by the following organizations:
AeA
Aerospace Industries Association
Coalition For Employment Through Exports
Computer Coalition For Responsible Exports
Industry Coalition on Technology Transfer
Information Technology Industry Council
National Defense Industrial Association
National Foreign Trade Council
Satellite Industry Association
Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International
Semiconductor Industry Association
The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) www.nftc.org is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC serves its several hundred member companies through its offices in
U.S.-Bahrain FTA Coalition Applauds Signing of U.S.-Bahrain FTA
NFTC Applauds Concrete Progress on Doha Round Talks
Urges WTO Members to Adopt the Revised Framework Package
Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) issued the following statement on the revised WTO framework package on the Doha Development Agenda:
“The National Foreign Trade Council and its members urge WTO members to agree to the revised framework package released this morning in Geneva. Moving forward with the text is vital to achieving concrete progress on the Doha Round. It will allow the negotiations to evolve to the next level of detail and build momentum for a successful and timely conclusion to the trade talks. It is clear from the ambiguity of some elements of the text that important and difficult decisions have been deferred, but agreement on the text will nonetheless demonstrate the commitment of WTO members to advancing multilateral trade liberalization and a rules-based trading regime that generates growth and opportunity for all its members.
The NFTC attaches great importance to the emerging agreement on a framework for the agriculture negotiations that will allow the negotiation of a final outcome in the Round that is both comprehensive and ambitious. On non-agricultural market access, the NFTC recognizes that difficult negotiations lie ahead but is nevertheless pleased that the text keeps the prospect of a substantial result in view. We are also pleased that the core issue of services is given its due recognition in the text. On trade facilitation, the NFTC welcomes the decision to initiate negotiations in an area so important to economic growth.
Since the launch of the Doha Round, the NFTC has urged WTO member governments to seize hold of the enormous economic promise of this latest round of multilateral trade negotiations by aiming for ambitious results across-the-board. We firmly believe this objective is ultimately the best win-win outcome for developing and developed countries and for ensuring the WTO remains a solid institution in tune with the realities of today’s global marketplace. We look forward to supporting that objective in the coming weeks and months as the negotiations move to the next stage.”
The National Foreign Trade Council (
www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves 300 member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.
