Category: Press Releases and Statements

USA*Engage Statement on U.S. Russia Economic Sanctions

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Washington, DC – In a communiqué today to congressional offices, USA*Engage stated:

 “The crisis in Ukraine demands a concerted response from the European Union and the United States. 

“The Obama Administration has worked with the EU, and particularly Germany, to implement targeted economic sanctions to change the calculations of persons identified as responsible for the violence in Ukraine. The President and Germany’s Chancellor Merkel have made clear that further, coordinated sanctions will be implemented, depending on events in Ukraine, critically the Presidential elections scheduled for May 25. 

“Recently, some Members of Congress have called for legislation of draconian, unilateral U.S. sanctions on key sectors of the Russian economy and exclusion of Russia from the global financial system. 

“The historical record is clear; unilateral U.S. sanctions are a lose-lose tactic. The U.S. sanctions fail because companies in other countries fill the void left by U.S. companies, U.S. companies lose markets to their global competitors, and U.S. company assets may have to be abandoned with inevitable loss for the U.S. economy. Only multilateral sanctions, actually adhered to, have any chance of tactical success.” 

Click here to read the full communiqué.

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.


USA*Engage Statement on U.S. Venezuela Sanctions

Posted on by dcadmin
Washington, DC – In a communiqué today to congressional offices, USA*Engage stated:
 
“Undoubtedly, the ongoing violence and socio-political division in Venezuela, as well as the difficult bilateral relations between the U.S. and Venezuela cause great concern, not least for long standing commercial activities in Venezuela by U.S. companies.

“Given the history of U.S. involvement in Latin America, imposing unilateral economic sanctions on individuals in the current Venezuelan government will inevitably prove counterproductive. U.S. government policy of some years has been not to provide any pretext to raise the specter of violations of sovereignty. Targeting individuals in the current Venezuelan government with sanctions will only elicit such a response and result in no improvement of the status quo in country.”
 
Click here to read the full communiqué.
 

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.

NFTC Letter of Intent to Provide Testimony at USTR Hearing on WTO Environmental Goods Agreement

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Washington DC – On May 5, National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) Vice President for Global Trade Issues Jake Colvin submitted a letter to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) indicating his intention to provide testimony at the hearing to be held on June 5, 2014, in connection with the World Trade Organization (WTO) Environmental Goods Agreement.

Click here to read a summary of the testimony.

About the NFTC

 
NFTC is Celebrating our New Century in 2014! Details at www.nftc.org – 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.Follow us on:

 

 

 

NFTC Statement on Senate Finance Committee Hearing on 2014 Trade Agenda

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Washington DC – National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President Bill Reinsch released the following statement on today’s Senate Finance Committee hearing on the Administration’s 2014 trade agenda.
 
 
“As Ambassador Froman noted in his testimony, the United States is currently negotiating a very ambitious trade agenda – the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, Trade in Services Agreement and a deal at the World Trade Organization on environmental goods. To ensure further economic growth and that these 21st century agreements expand market access for U.S. goods and services in key markets around the world, Congress must enact modernized Trade Promotion Authority (TPA).
 
 
“TPA is a critical tool to advance trade agreements that boost the U.S. economy and benefit American businesses and workers. We urge Congress to pass TPA legislation as soon as possible this year.”

About the NFTC

 
NFTC is Celebrating our New Century in 2014! Details at www.nftc.org – 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.Follow us on:

 

 

 

NFTC Receives 2014 World Trade Week NYC Global Trade Award

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Washington DC – The 2014 Global Trade Award will be presented to the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC), World Trade Week NYC (WTW NYC) announced today. The NFTC is being honored for its 100 years of significant contributions to the growth of international trade in the New York metropolitan region, particularly in the areas of export growth, market access and advanced training for international human resources professionals. The award will be presented at an awards ceremony at Baruch College in New York, NY, on May 12, 2014, as part of the kick-off breakfast for WTW NYC 2014, which continues through May 23. The NFTC is a partner for WTW NYC 2014, along with dozens of other international organizations from the tri-state area.

“We are honored to receive this year’s Global Trade Award from World Trade Week NYC,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “International trade is essential to growing the U.S. economy, increasing exports and creating American jobs, and for 100 years now, the NFTC’s mission has been advocating for an open and rules-based global trading system. We greatly appreciate the recognition for our efforts.”

“As we celebrate our centennial year, the NFTC is flattered and humbled by this prestigious recognition from our peers in similar international organizations. The NFTC has long been dedicated to advancing international trade opportunities for U.S. companies, especially in the tri-state area. We’ve had a strong presence in New York since our inception in 1914, and our midtown offices provide critical services to our many members in New York,” said NFTC Vice President for Strategy and Growth James Wilkinson. “We are proud of our long heritage in aiding U.S. exporters – in New York, regionally and nationally – by bolstering their international human resources capabilities and at the policy level by pressing for greater market access and lowering non-tariff barriers. We will continue to do our part to advocate for the negotiation and implementation of trade and investment initiatives that will boost U.S. economic growth and create American jobs.”

The WTW NYC Global Trade Award is the second major honor for the NFTC in its centennial year. On April 2, the NFTC was presented the 2014 Advancing International Trade Award by the National Association of Small Business International Trade Educators International (NASBITE International) – the leading professional society of international trade educators – in honor of its 100-year legacy of advancing international trade. The award was presented at the NASBITE International annual conference in Memphis, TN.

In commemoration of its centennial, the NFTC is convening a nationwide series of activities and programs to examine the future of trade in the context of key industries, regions and issues.

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About the NFTC
NFTC is Celebrating our New Century in 2014! Details at www.nftc.org -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.Follow us on:

 

 

 

NFTC’s Colvin Named Executive Director of Global Innovation Forum

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Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council Foundation (NFTC Foundation) today announced that Vice President for Global Trade Issues Jake Colvin will now also serve as Executive Director of its Global Innovation Forum (GIF).

GIF connects startup, development and university leaders with innovative corporations and policymakers to promote understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with engaging in the global marketplace in the digital age.

Since its founding, the GIF has leveraged relationships with respected innovation centers across the United States to host a series of discussions aimed at developing solutions to complex challenges facing innovators who either directly participate in the global marketplace or are partners with multinational companies.

Colvin will focus on expanding the participation of corporate, startup, development and university communities globally, and uniting innovation centers on issues that impact the ability of a broad set of stakeholders to participate effectively in the global marketplace.

In addition to heading up the GIF, Colvin leads NFTC’s trade and environmental policy work, and represents the Council before international organizations including the World Trade Organization, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and UN Framework Convention for Climate Change.

To learn more about the GIF, visit www.globalinnovationforum.com/. Join the conversation: @GlobaliForum.

About the NFTC

 
NFTC is Celebrating our New Century in 2014! Details at www.nftc.org – 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.Follow us on: