Category: Press Releases and Statements

NFTC: Record Export Growth Over Four Consecutive Years Underscores Importance of Advancing U.S. Trade Agenda

Posted on by dcadmin

Washington, D.C. – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today welcomed the announcement by the Department of Commerce that U.S. exports set a new record, reaching $2.3 trillion in 2013 and marking the fourth consecutive year of export growth. The NFTC also welcomed the news that the U.S. trade deficit decreased by more than $63 billion.

NFTC President Bill Reinsch released the following statement.

“We are encouraged that for the fourth year in a row the United States has achieved record growth in U.S. goods and services exports. More exports mean more American jobs and economic growth nationwide, all of which are critical to driving sustained economic recovery.

“To continue maximizing U.S. export growth, we must further expand market access through trade agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, Trade in Services Agreement and negotiations to eliminate tariffs on environmental goods. These initiatives will give the United States greater access to some of the largest economies in the world, benefiting the U.S. economy and American businesses and workers.

“Modernized Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation is essential to ensuring that our negotiators can deliver the most economically beneficial results in these and future trade deals. We urge Congress and the Administration to work together to take action on TPA as soon possible this year.”

About the NFTC
Serving America’s International 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.

Follow us on:

 

 

 

NASBITE International Honors NFTC with 2014 Advancing International Trade Award

Posted on by dcadmin

Washington DC – On Thursday, January 30, 2014, the National Association of Small Business International Trade Educators International (NASBITE International) announced that the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) will receive the 2014 Advancing International Trade Award on April 4, 2014, during the NASBITE International annual conference in Memphis, TN. The Advancing International Trade Award is given to organizations or individuals who have contributed to the advancement of international trade for four or more years. For the NFTC, the legacy of advancing international trade goes back 100 years. It is the oldest and largest American organization dedicated solely to international business issues.

“The NFTC is honored to receive this award,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “Now in our centennial year, the NFTC has long been an advocate for an open, rules-based global trading system, and has worked to advance critical trade agreements that have boosted U.S. economic growth and increased American jobs. We greatly appreciate NASBITE International’s recognition of our work, and we will continue to push on in our efforts to expand U.S. trade.”

“We want to thank NASBITE International, an organization run for and by fellow global business professionals, for this prestigious honor,” said NFTC Vice President James Wilkinson. “Since our inception, the NFTC’s mission has been to advance and expand U.S. trade by helping America’s international businesses gain new markets. The NFTC is grateful for NASBITE International’s acknowledgment of our century of efforts through this award.”

This year the NFTC will celebrate its 100th year. 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.


About the NFTC
Serving America’s International 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.

Follow us on:

NFTC Agrees: Expanded Trade and Immigration Reform Critical to U.S. Economic Growth and Competitiveness NFTC President Bill Reinsch Welcomes President’s SOTU Remarks on International Trade, Immigration Reform

Posted on by dcadmin
Washington DC – National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President Bill Reinsch today released the following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address:
 
“Tonight, during his fifth State of the Union address, we were encouraged to hear President Obama highlight the importance of expanding trade and reforming our immigration system to U.S. economic growth and competitiveness.
 
“The Administration, Congress and the U.S. business community have a common goal – to grow the U.S. economy. With the United States currently negotiating some of the most ambitious trade agreements in our history – the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, Trade in Services Agreement and multilateral trade initiatives at the World Trade Organization – we have a real opportunity to do just that by expanding market access for U.S. goods and services exports across the globe.
 
“But, in order to maximize the benefits of these and future trade deals, we need updated Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). We urge the Administration and Congress to work together to ensure passage of TPA legislation ASAP this year.
 
“In addition to furthering our trade relations, we also need new immigration policies that position the United States to attract and retain the world’s best and brightest, ensuring long-term competitiveness. It is critical that Congress act quickly on immigration reform.”
 


About the NFTC
Serving America’s International 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.

Follow us on:

 

 

 

NFTC Welcomes Launch of Environmental Goods Trade Negotiations

Posted on by dcadmin
Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) welcomed today’s announcement that the United States and other World Trade Organization (WTO) members will launch negotiations for a plurilateral agreement to eliminate tariffs on environmental goods. NFTC Vice President for Global Trade Issues Jake Colvin released the following statement.
“We congratulate U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and his team and the other negotiating countries for embarking on this initiative to eliminate tariffs on environmental goods. The launch of these negotiations is not only a significant step toward addressing climate change, but is also important for building on the momentum generated by the recent Bali agreement to advance future trade negotiations under the umbrella of the WTO.
“With this agreement, we have a great opportunity to set a standard for ways trade policy can address pressing global challenges, including the environment.
“The NFTC has long been a supporter of trade liberalization for environmental goods at the WTO and APEC, and we look forward to working with negotiators to achieve an expeditious and ambitious outcome that includes a critical mass of trade of key environmental goods.”


About the NFTC
Serving America’s International 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.

Follow us on:

NFTC Welcomes Introduction of TPA Legislation

Posted on by dcadmin
Washington DC – National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President Bill Reinsch today released the following statement on the introduction of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus and Ranking Member Orrin Hatch and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp.

“Trade Promotion Authority is a necessary tool to negotiate and implement trade agreements that support U.S. economic and export growth and job creation. We commend Sens. Baucus and Hatch and Rep. Camp for remaining steadfast in their commitment to advancing TPA legislation.

“Congress hasn’t had a substantive debate on trade in more than a decade, and TPA allows Congress to execute its constitutional authority to shape the U.S. trade agenda and set negotiating objectives.

“With a series of U.S. trade negotiations currently in progress – the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and the Trade in Services Agreement – we urge Congress to pass TPA as soon as possible to maximize the benefits of these and future trade deals.

“The NFTC will comment in greater detail on the bill that has been introduced once it has had an opportunity to review the text.”

.

 
 
###

About the NFTC
Advancing Global Commerce for A Century- 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:

 

 

 

USA*Engage and NFTC Statement on Introduction of New Iran Sanctions Legislation

Posted on by dcadmin
Washington, DC – USA*Engage and the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today released the following statement on the introduction of new Iran sanctions legislation.

“USA*Engage and the National Foreign Trade Council urge senators to oppose legislation introduced today by Senators Robert Menendez and Mark Kirk, and instead support the Administration’s effort to negotiate a comprehensive agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran to limit Iran’s nuclear development to peaceful uses under the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty.

“The interim agreement, in fact, gives the P5+1 and their Iranian counterparts diplomatic space and time for the effort. It also retains intact the unprecedented multilateral sanctions regime directed at Iran’s economy. The indubitably modest sanctions relief will be implemented only upon verification that Iran stops the activities enumerated in the interim agreement.

“Given the minimal risk and the possibility of real success, we dispute the argument that Congressional passage of further prospective sanctions now will add leverage against Iran in the negotiations. On the contrary, such an action would violate the stipulation that no new sanctions be enacted during the course of the negotiations. It strains credulity to assert that passing prospective sanctions now will increase the prospects for a successful negotiation, still less legislating any sine qua non standard for an agreement.

“The Senate will retain the ability to pass further sanctions expeditiously down the road if the current diplomatic effort fails. Exercising appropriate restraint in the present will insure that the United States, the members of the European Union and the other countries that have allied to limit Iran’s nuclear program to verifiable peaceful uses remain united in the effort.”

###

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 world wide.

About the NFTC
Advancing Global Commerce for A Century- 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 Releases Cheat Sheet to the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement

Posted on by dcadmin

 

Washington DC – Today, the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) released a cheat sheet on the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement reached in Bali, Indonesia, on December 7, 2013. The guide outlines the agreement’s scope, implementation, potential impact, business community support and history.

Click here to read the cheat sheet.

Click here to read the NFTC’s statement on the outcome of the WTO’s Ninth Ministerial Conference.


About the NFTC
Advancing Global Commerce for A Century- 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 Singapore Round of TPP Negotiations

Posted on by dcadmin
Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today released the following comments on the statement released by the Ministers and Heads of Delegation for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries.
 
 
“With the conclusion of negotiations in sight, the NFTC calls on negotiators from the 12 countries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership to redouble their efforts to conclude a comprehensive high-standard agreement. This agreement – a historic undertaking – has the potential to stimulate jobs and economic progress in a vast free trade area comprising of almost half a billion people and close to 15 percent of global trade.
 
 
“At this critical juncture, NFTC and its members ask all parties to demonstrate leadership in opening markets, refrain from taking defensive positions and to increase ambition rather than seek to limit the scope of commitment.
 
 
“We commend Ambassador Froman and the U.S. negotiators for their tireless efforts in advancing this ambitious agreement and for recognizing its importance to the U.S. economy and American businesses and workers.”
 


About the NFTC
Advancing Global Commerce for A Century- 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 Welcomes Introduction of Digital Trade Act of 2013

Posted on by dcadmin
Washington, DC – Bill Reinsch, President of the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC), issued the following statement in response to the introduction of the Digital Trade Act of 2013 by Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Ron Wyden (D-OR):

“NFTC applauds Senators Thune and Wyden for their leadership in emphasizing the importance of global access to Internet-enabled services and digital information. The kinds of provisions detailed in this bill would serve as an important complement to the recently concluded WTO trade facilitation agreement, giving a boost to the ability of entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes and across industries to participate in the global marketplace.

“Global flows of information and Internet-powered services promote more inclusive growth around the world, increasingly enabling anyone with an Internet connection to tap into trade; yet barriers are beginning to surface that would inhibit this gateway to the global economy. It is important to examine how best to address emerging cases of digital protectionism as this bill seeks to do.

“It is also important to recognize that the kinds of provisions contemplated in this legislation would build upon a series of international obligations relevant to the digital economy to which countries are already bound.

“We look forward to working with the Senate Finance Committee and others to advance these provisions in appropriate bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral forums – noting that not all of these provisions will be pursued through traditional trade channels. We also look forward to emphasizing the importance of a number of these principles – most urgently, preventing barriers to the movement of electronic information across borders and prohibiting measures that condition market access or other commercial benefits on localization of data, infrastructure, or investment – in legislation to grant the President Trade Promotion Authority.”

NFTC included suggestions for provisions on the global digital economy in its draft “Trade Negotiating Authority” legislation, which the Council released earlier this year and joined other business associations and companies in supporting a similarly-aligned set of “principles to promote cross-border data flows” in 2011.


About the NFTC
Advancing Global Commerce for A Century- 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: