Press Releases and Statements Archives - Page 19 of 109

Jamaica Gayle Appointed Global Innovation Forum Executive Director

Posted on October 31, 2021October 13, 2022 by dcadmin

Washington D.C. – National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President Jake Colvin today announced the appointment of Jamaica Gayle as Executive Director of the NFTC Foundation’s Global Innovation Forum (GIF) as of November 1, 2021.

“I am thrilled that Jamaica will serve as GIF’s Executive Director.

“In her time as Deputy Director, she played a pivotal role in elevating the opportunities and challenges small businesses face in the global economy.

“I am confident that as Executive Director she will continue to be an outstanding champion for the needs of globally-minded small businesses and an advocate for the importance of technology and trade policies in fostering resilience and inclusive growth in communities around the world.”

Jamaica previously served as Deputy Director of GIF. She succeeds Jake Colvin, who stepped down when he became President of NFTC on October 1, 2021.

To read her full bio, click here.

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About the NFTC
Serving America’s Global Businesses Since 1914 – 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 100 member companies through its office in Washington D.C.

About the Global Innovation Forum
The Global Innovation Forum is a nonprofit effort to connect startup, small business, development, and university communities with policymakers and select corporations to explore the opportunities and challenges of engaging in the global marketplace. GIF serves as a hub for business, university and development communities around the world to communicate with officials and corporations, discover public and private resources to help them succeed, and improve the public policy landscape to enable global innovation. GIF is a project of the 501(c)(3) National Foreign Trade Council Foundation. For more information about GIF, visit the website at www.globalinnovationforum.com.

TRC Statement on U.S.-EU Tariff Agreement

Posted on October 30, 2021January 4, 2023 by dcadmin

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Tariff Reform Coalition (TRC) today issued the following statement following the joint statement from the U.S. and EU regarding a resolution to Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum:

“The announcement by the United States and EU finally addresses the Section 232 tariffs – and the corresponding retaliatory actions – which have been in place since March 2018” said Jake Colvin, President of the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC). “The deal should serve to ratchet down trade tensions between the United States and Europe and clear the decks for more productive and forward-looking transatlantic conversations.

“While the announcement is a step in the right direction, it’s not an optimal outcome. The reliance on TRQs is an unwelcome form of managed trade that will continue to bring about uncertainty for workers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic,” added Colvin. “Mechanisms such as these that manage international trade undermine competitiveness, create winners and losers, add significant supply chain costs and disproportionately affect small and medium sized companies.

Colvin also added that members of the coalition “remain hopeful that the U.S. will work with all of America’s allies to reach a durable solution to these tariffs that supports the export competitiveness of American manufacturers, farmers and ranchers.”

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About the NFTC
Serving America’s Global Businesses Since 1914– 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 its member companies through its office in Washington D.C.

NFTC Statement on DST Agreement

Posted on October 22, 2021June 21, 2022 by dcadmin

WASHINGTON D.C. – National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President Jake Colvin released the following statement in response to the compromise by the United States, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom regarding the removal of digital services taxes (DSTs):

“This compromise is a welcome step towards removing discriminatory unilateral services taxes from the global tax landscape and ratcheting down global trade tensions.

“NFTC appreciates the efforts of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and the ongoing attention of the U.S. Government to removing this patchwork of measures.

“It’s critical for the Biden Administration to continue to prioritize the complete removal of these unilateral measures, including those implemented or under consideration by other jurisdictions not subject to the announcement, to avoid further fracturing of the global tax system and trade frictions.”

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NFTC, USA*Engage Welcome Treasury 2021 Sanctions Review

Posted on October 19, 2021June 21, 2022 by dcadmin

WASHINGTON D.C. – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) and USA*Engage today released the following statement in response to the Department of the Treasury review of U.S. sanctions and recommendations to maximize their effectiveness and minimize unintended consequences:

“Too often, the United States has used sanctions as a blunt instrument,” said Jake Colvin, President of the NFTC. “NFTC commends the Treasury Department for a thoughtful analysis of the benefits, limits and best practices that ought to govern U.S. sanctions.”

“Sanctions ought to be multilateral when possible, targeted towards a specific and achievable goal and reversible,” added Richard Sawaya, Vice President for USA*Engage, a longstanding coalition founded under NFTC to seek alternatives to the proliferation of unilateral U.S. foreign policy sanctions and to promote the benefits of U.S. engagement abroad. “If implemented, Treasury’s recommendations would substantially de-politicize sanctions and clarify their place in the conduct of U.S. foreign policy,” Sawaya added.

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TRC Welcomes Legislation to Reassert Congressional Authority Over Tariffs

Posted on October 5, 2021January 4, 2023 by dcadmin

Washington D.C. – The Tariff Reform Coalition (TRC) today welcomed Senators Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Mark Warner’s (D-VA) continued efforts to reassert Congressional authority over Section 232 tariffs with the re-introduction of the Bicameral Congressional Trade Authority (BCTA) Act. TRC supports greater Congressional oversight over national security trade actions and urges Congress to move swiftly on this legislation.

“The TRC, and its predecessor ACSAT (the Alliance for Competitive Steel and Aluminum Trade), have long supported legislation that reasserts Congressional authority over trade,” said NFTC President Jake Colvin. “Over the past few years we have seen how harmful tariffs can be for industries all across the U.S. economy, and it is past time that Congress moves to ensure that such actions are taken only when necessary to protect our national security and after having consulted with the industries that would be most affected.”

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NFTC Statement on U.S.- China Policy

Posted on October 4, 2021June 21, 2022 by dcadmin

WASHINGTON D.C. – National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President Jake Colvin today issued the following statement following United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai’s speech at CSIS outlining the Biden Administration’s China policy: “What’s clear is that the Biden Administration recognizes that decoupling is not an option for the world’s two largest economies.

“It’s encouraging to see Ambassador Tai articulate the outlines of a comprehensive strategy to engage China firmly and directly while giving American businesses and workers the tools they need to compete effectively in the global marketplace.

“The Biden Administration has a real opportunity to work with key allies on a strategy to address shared concerns around national security, industrial subsidies, state owned enterprises and overcapacity while pulling back from ineffective unilateral tariffs that never provided the intended leverage.

“In the short term, it is important for USTR to press ahead with a robust tariff exclusion mechanism that provides some relief to industries buffeted by the effects of the pandemic and supply chain shortages.”

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NFTC Welcomes Inaugural Meeting of U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council

Posted on September 29, 2021June 21, 2022 by dcadmin

Jake Colvin, Incoming President of the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC), released the following statement as the first meeting of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) began in Pittsburgh on September 29:

“The NFTC welcomes the first meeting of the TTC, which offers a unique opportunity to boost EU-U.S. economic competitiveness while setting global standards based upon shared values and principles of fair treatment and non-discrimination.

“The United States and the EU should utilize the TTC to seek concrete deliverables on shared priorities that reflect lessons learned from COVID-19 and benefit businesses, workers and consumers across the Atlantic.

“It is particularly critical for the two sides to ensure that digital regulations are rooted in core transatlantic principles of non-discrimination; protection of privacy, security, and intellectual property; and due process; and benefit from meaningful regulatory dialogues and input.

“The TTC is also a chance for the United States and the EU to recommit to uphold and promote shared principles and values globally. The two sides should utilize the TTC to shape global norms on priorities including data flows, industrial subsidies, secure and resilient global supply chains and export controls, and to jointly address growing digital protectionism.

“The business community is looking for tangible outcomes from this initiative and stands ready to engage with public and private sector stakeholders to make the TTC a success.”

This statement follows on the release last week of recommendations to promote small business access to digital technologies through the TTC by the NFTC Foundation’s Global Innovation Forum and Allied For Startups, which can be found here.

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NFTC Welcomes Sarah Bianchi’s Confirmation as Deputy USTR

Posted on September 24, 2021June 21, 2022 by dcadmin

Washington D.C. – National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President Rufus Yerxa today issued a statement following the confirmation of Sarah Bianchi as Deputy USTR:

“I’m happy to see the Senate responding to the calls for speedy confirmation of Sarah Bianchi as USTR’s second Deputy in Washington. We hope they’ll also act quickly in confirming the remaining nominees, including Maria Pagan for the critical role of Geneva Deputy.”

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NFTC Welcomes Jayme White’s Confirmation as Deputy USTR

Posted on September 23, 2021June 21, 2022 by dcadmin

Washington D.C. – National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President Rufus Yerxa today issued a statement following the confirmation of Jayme White as Deputy USTR:

“It’s great news that Jayme White has been confirmed. There is far too much work to do on the trade front to have empty seats at USTR. The Senate should act quickly and confirm the remaining USTR nominees so the Biden Administration can successfully confront the trade challenges we face.”

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Jake Colvin Appointed New NFTC President

Posted on September 2, 2021October 7, 2022 by dcadmin

Washington D.C. – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) Board of Directors today announced that NFTC Vice President Jake Colvin will serve as the organization’s new President effective October 1st. Mr. Colvin will replace Rufus Yerxa, who has served as President since 2016.

Following the appointment, Katie Hays, Director, International and Federal Government Affairs, Caterpillar Inc., and Penny Naas, President, International Public Affairs and Sustainability for UPS, who co-chaired the search committee, issued the following statement on behalf of the Board:

“The NFTC Board of Directors is extremely pleased that Jake Colvin will be serving as our next President. His appointment follows an exhaustive search process, during which the Board concluded that Jake, who has played a pivotal role as Vice President over many years, is the right choice to continue NFTC’s mission to advance international trade and tax policies. We want to express our deep gratitude to Rufus for his outstanding record of leadership and his invaluable service to our members and to the Washington trade community during his tenure.”

“I am thrilled that the NFTC Board has selected Jake Colvin as the next President,” said Rufus Yerxa. “Jake has been a huge asset to the organization for many years and nobody else knows its mission better. During my Presidency I relied heavily on his leadership role in areas ranging from China issues and WTO reform to e-commerce and global innovation. I have no doubt that NFTC’s leadership and influence in these and other areas will continue growing through Jake’s efforts.”

As Vice President, Jake has led the Council’s work to modernize trade rules for the digital age and its engagement with multilateral organizations. As Executive Director of the Global Innovation Forum (GIF), he has worked to create a global hub connecting startup, business, education and nonprofit leaders to discuss international trade.

Jake’s full bio can be found here.

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