Category: Press Releases and Statements

NFTC, MEFTA Coalition Welcome Announcement of Three U.S.-Morocco Trade and Investment Initiatives

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Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) and the U.S.-Middle East Free Trade (MEFTA) Coalition today welcomed the announcement of three new U.S.-Morocco initiatives aimed at advancing bilateral trade and investment ties. The initiatives, announced yesterday by Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Miriam Sapiro at the U.S.-Morocco Business Development Conference, include a trade facilitation agreement, joint investment principles and joint principles for information and communication technology (ICT) services.

NFTC Vice President for Regional Trade Initiatives and Director of the MEFTA Coalition Chuck Dittrich released the following statement:

“We welcome these new initiatives, as they represent a bilateral commitment to raising standards reflective of the ever-changing global economic environment and ensuring that the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement – implemented in 2006 – is a living agreement.

“With these initiatives, both countries are also reaffirming their commitment to transparency in international trade and investment policies, as well as ensuring support for the global development of ICT services to further spur innovation and e-commerce.

“This announcement represents tangible action to increase Morocco’s competitiveness in the global economy and provide state-of-the art rules and processes. The initiatives will also help to forge deep and sustained mutually beneficial commercial partnerships between U.S. and Moroccan companies, workers and agricultural producers.

“Given recent transitions in the region, the United States has a significant opportunity to expand trade and investment, and today’s announcement is an important step in furthering U.S. engagement in the Middle East and North Africa. We look forward to similar sustained efforts by the U.S. toward other Arab Spring countries such as Egypt, Libya and Tunisia, as well as for the region as a whole.”

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About the U.S.-Middle East Free Trade Coalition
Since 2002, the U.S.-Middle East Free Trade Coalition, with more than 100 U.S. member companies, trade associations and other organizations, has supported the expansion of trade, investment and commercial ties to foster economic development with countries of the Middle East. Managed by the National Foreign Trade Council, the coalition supports the negotiation and conclusion of commercially meaningful free trade agreements between the United States and nations in the Middle East; accession to the World Trade Organization by Middle Eastern nations; and other efforts to build trade capacity and economic liberalization to facilitate more robust trade within the region. The coalition also supports renewed U.S. government efforts to build on existing agreements to promote greater integration with U.S. and European markets, and open the door for those countries who adopt high standards of reform and trade liberalization to construct a regional trade framework.

About NFTC
Advancing Global Commerce for Nearly 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.
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USA*Engage Expresses Disappointment Over Senate Approval of Unilateral Iran Sanctions Amendment

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Washington, DC – USA*Engage today expressed disappointment with the Senate’s vote in favor of an amendment to S. 3254, the National Defense Authorization Act, which would impose additional U.S. unilateral sanctions on Iran. USA*Engage Director Richard Sawaya released the following statement:

“The Senate’s vote today to approve additional unilateral Iran sanctions is at odds with the U.S. government’s official position of pursuing a dual track of multilateral sanctions and diplomatic engagement. The vote was unfortunate, and we are deeply disappointed.

“At a time when thoughtful diplomacy and working in concert with U.S. allies is critical, the Senate’s action today flies in the face of pursuing common purpose.

“If there is but one provision in the entire amendment that makes sense, it is the explicit protection of humanitarian trade in agricultural products, food, medicine and medical devices. We hope that the administration will clarify the financing of this type of trade moving forward.”

On Wednesday, as the Senate began its consideration of the defense authorization bill, Sawaya sent a letter to all Senators, urging them to oppose any amendments to the bill that would impose additional U.S. unilateral sanctions.
 

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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 Nearly 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.
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NFTC Welcomes House Passage of STEM Jobs Act of 2012

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Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives’ approval of the STEM Jobs Act of 2012, legislation granting U.S.-educated, highly skilled immigrants with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) access to employment-based visas.

“Today’s House passage of the STEM Jobs Act of 2012 is an important step forward in reforming the high skilled immigration system to ensure the United States has the workforce it needs to stimulate and grow the U.S. economy,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “In the face of an unemployment rate hovering at eight percent, some may wonder why the United States should seek to keep foreign workers in the country. The answer is clear: With a U.S. shortage of workers with STEM skills, the United States must retain highly skilled talent educated in the United States to stimulate economic growth and ensure that the United States maintains its competitive advantage.”

According to the American Association of Engineering Societies, foreign students hold 42 percent of U.S. engineering master’s degrees and 53 percent of U.S. engineering Ph.D.s. The STEM Jobs Act of 2012 will ensure that the United States can retain this top talent, who would otherwise go back to their home countries, where they would compete with American businesses and workers.

“We urge Congress and the administration to work together in a bipartisan manner to pass and sign into law legislation to reform our high-skilled immigration system. Reform is necessary for the economic advancement of our country, as future jobs depend on the innovation power of a highly skilled workforce – the backbone of our country’s economic success,” concluded Reinsch.
 

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About the NFTC
Advancing Global Commerce for Nearly 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.
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USA*Engage Urges Senators to Oppose Sanctions Amendments to Defense Authorization Bill

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Washington DC – As the Senate begins its consideration of S. 3254, the National Defense Authorization Act, USA*Engage today urged all Senators to oppose any amendments to the bill that would impose additional U.S. unilateral sanctions.

In a letter sent to every Senate office this morning, USA*Engage Director Richard Sawaya wrote:

“USA*Engage has long argued that any economic sanctions adopted by Congress preserve the ability of the Executive branch to conduct foreign policy. We have also maintained that such sanctions be considered carefully under the discipline of regular order. Finally, we have advocated that every attempt be made when legislating economic sanctions to minimize collateral harm to the commerce of the United States, its trading partners and allies.

“We therefore urge you to oppose any effort to add sanctions-related measures to S. 3254, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 13. Regarding Iran, events in the Middle East continue to underscore the necessity for thoughtful diplomacy and continued common purpose with U.S. allies. A Congressional legislative ultimatum to pursue the economic collapse of Iran will hardly contribute to diplomatic success, continued allied common cause, or stated U.S. common cause with ordinary Iranians.”

To read the full text of the letter, click here

 
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 Nearly 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.
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NFTC Applauds House Approval of Russia PNTR Legislation

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Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for approving legislation establishing permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Russia.

“We applaud the House for taking bipartisan action to create new opportunities for American exporters and workers through approval of Russia PNTR,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “Russia is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies, and today’s vote is an important step toward ensuring U.S. businesses, farmers and workers can maximize the benefits of expanded access to the Russian market and Russia’s membership in the WTO.”

“The bill approved today by the House will help ensure that U.S. exporters can compete on a level playing field in Russia,” said NFTC Vice President Dan O’Flaherty. “We urge the Senate to take up the legislation as soon as possible and pass PNTR before the end of the ‘lame-duck’ session.”

 


About the NFTC
Advancing Global Commerce for Nearly 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.
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