Category: Press Releases and Statements
Further Comments Concerning African Growth and Opportunity Act: Out-of-Cycle Review of South Africa Eligibility for Benefits
Countering Trade Opponents’ Issues with TPP: Point and Counterpoint
Comments Concerning African Growth and Opportunity Act: Out-of-Cycle Review of South Africa Eligibility for Benefits
NFTC Supports Stong TPP Without Product and Industry Carve-outs
NFTC Welcomes Progress Made in TPP Talks, Urges Negotiators to Maintain High Level of Ambition
Washington DC – Today, the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) welcomed progress made in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations between the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.
“We commend Ambassador Froman and his team of negotiators for continuing to make progress on this historic agreement. For the United States, the prospective long-term benefits of the TPP are numerous, from supporting jobs and economic growth to increasing investment,” said Bill Reinsch, President of NFTC. “With the potential to significantly expand U.S. trade and investment ties with the Asia-Pacific region, each step toward completing this agreement is a step in the right direction.”
The TPP aims to strengthen the U.S. trade relationship with six current free trade agreement (FTA) partners while opening new markets to five non-FTA partners. These 11 countries represent 15 percent of global trade.
“The TPP negotiations set out to build and strengthen trade relationships between the United States and the other 11 participating countries, while creating a new 21st century trade framework,” said Chuck Dittrich, Vice President of Regional Trade Initiatives for NFTC. “This is no easy task, but we are encouraged by the efforts of all the negotiators and trade ministers throughout this process. We urge negotiators to build on the momentum created by this latest ministerial meeting and maintain a high level of ambition to conclude the most comprehensive deal possible.”
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 hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.
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Reinsch Comments on Proposed Senate COOL Amendments
Washington DC – Today, National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President Bill Reinsch applauded Senator Pat Roberts for proposing an amendment to the highway bill that would result in the complete repeal of mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) in the United States.
“We applaud Senator Roberts for leading the way on COOL reform by proposing an amendment that would repeal the current U.S. rules and ensure the United States remains in compliance with its World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations,” said Reinsch. “The United States has a long history of compliance with WTO rulings and should continue to pursue this standard in order to set an example for other countries.”
Reinsch also voiced his concern for the proposed Stabenow-Hoeven amendment, which would implement a voluntary COOL regime.
“The voluntary COOL regime Senators Stabenow and Hoeven have proposed ultimately falls short in bringing the U.S. COOL requirements into compliance with our WTO obligations. And Mexico and Canada have already stated they will pursue retaliation if the United States were to pass the Stabenow-Hoeven amendment into law,” he said. “With Canada able to implement retaliation as early as August 16, it is of the utmost urgency for the United States to act swiftly to repeal COOL.”
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 hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.
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NFTC & USA*Engage Welcome Senate Appropriations Committee Approval of Cuba Amendments
Washington DC–Today, the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) and USA*Engage welcomed Senate Appropriations Committee approval of a series of positive Cuba amendments.
“We applaud Senators Jerry Moran, Jon Tester and John Boozman for their leadership in sponsoring amendments that build on actions taken by the Administration to improve and strengthen U.S.-Cuba relations,” said Jake Colvin, NFTC Vice President for Global Trade Issues. “We also commend those senators who supported these amendments, which enable increased travel, trade and commerce between the two countries and the American and Cuban people – a priority we have long advocated.”
“Putting the relic of the unilateral U.S. embargo against Cuba behind us is in the strategic interests of both hemispheres, and today, we are pleased to see the Senate Appropriations Committee taking steps toward that ultimate goal,” said Richard Sawaya, Vice President of USA*Engage. “We will continue to work with members of Congress and the Administration to fully reestablish commercial and diplomatic relations with Cuba.”
The three amendments would 1) lift the travel ban to Cuba for one year; 2) end the requirement that ships having docked in Cuba wait 180 days before unloading in the United States; and 3) allow private financing of agricultural exports to Cuba.
About USA*Engage
USA*Engage (www.usaengage.org) is a coalition of small and large businesses, agriculture groups and trade associations working to seek alternatives to the proliferation of unilateral U.S. foreign policy sanctions and to promote the benefits of U.S. engagement abroad. Established in 1997 and organized under the National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org), USA*Engage leads a campaign to inform policymakers, opinion leaders, and the public about the counterproductive nature of unilateral sanctions, the importance of exports and overseas investment for American competitiveness and jobs, and the role of American companies in promoting human rights and democracy worldwide.
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 hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.
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New Survey Reveals Business Visa Challenges for Global Employers
Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC), in coordination with the Global Immigration Benchmarking Association (IBA) and Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (BAL), has released the results of its 2015 Global Short-Term Business Travel Survey.
“As the international marketplace and economy continue to grow, more and more American companies are engaging in business abroad, which has led to an increase in global short-term business travel,” said William Sheridan, NFTC Vice President for International Human Resources Services. “However, businesses face a series of complex visa rules and processes that make business travel more challenging. This survey aims to provide insight into industry practice when it comes to managing business travel that will help companies set their own policies.”
The survey included responses from 150 companies across a variety of sectors, 60 percent of which reported their employees take over 500 international business trips annually.
One-third of the companies said that an employee had been denied entry into a country, yet over half of the respondents do not have a formal business visa travel policy.
The survey consisted of 17 questions and was distributed to NFTC, IBA and BAL members with employees who travel internationally for business purposes.
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 hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.
Organizations Express Concern Proposed Cyber Export Regulations Could Harm, Not Improve, U.S. Cybersecurity
Washington DC – In a letter to Kevin Wolf, Assistant Secretary for Export Administration in the Department of Commerce’s Regulatory Policy Division of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the National Foreign Trade Council joined with nine other organizations to comment on the BIS proposed rule, Wassenaar Arrangement 2013 Plenary Agreements Implementation: Intrusion and Surveillance Items, released in the Federal Register on May 20, 2015.
In a letter sent yesterday, the organizations wrote:
“The goals of the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) are constructive, and our organizations appreciate BIS’ attention to combating the proliferation of malicious and weaponized software. However, we have genuine concerns that if the proposed rule were to go into effect without substantial changes, it could harm rather than improve U.S. cybersecurity.
“We do not attempt to answer each question in the May 20 notice seeking comment. However, we try to explain why our organizations believe that BIS’ proposed rule is too expansive and the license requirements are overly strict. Our associations recommend that BIS narrows the breadth of cyber items that would be controlled and builds more flexibility into the rule’s conditions. We believe that the United States can meet the terms of the WA without sacrificing the prudence needed to make the proposal.
“… Our associations are committed to working with BIS officials and other policymakers to strengthen U.S. cybersecurity by advancing smart, effective, and efficient policies at home and globally. We appreciate the opportunity to comment on the bureau’s proposed rule. … We urge the BIS not to rush to finalize this proposed rule, which is unworkable in its current form. The proposed regime would tie the hands of businesses’ legitimate cybersecurity activities while malicious actors simply disregard compliance.”
Read the full letter, including specific concerns the organizations have with the proposed rule, here.
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 hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.
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