Category: Press Releases and Statements

NFTC and USA*Engage Express Disappointment Over House Approval of Unilateral Iran Sanctions Bill Say Enough Sanctions, Already

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Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) and USA*Engage today released the following statement in response to the House of Representatives’ approval of a bill to impose additional U.S. unilateral sanctions against Iran.

“Congress, impelled by election year politics, has voted overwhelmingly to impose additional economic sanctions on Iran. This is unfortunate, but not surprising,” said USA*Engage Director Richard Sawaya. “Today’s action ignores Iran’s experience of three embargos since the 1950s and, in effect, attempts to cut Iran off from the global financial system and restrict the country’s exports of crude oil through the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Right Act of 2012.”

“The House has taken this action in the name of diplomacy, but it would severely constrain the Administration’s space for negotiations. In a moment of frankness, its foremost supporters candidly admit sanctions will not alter Iranian nuclear decision-making, but instead offer the justification that sanctions will so harm ordinary Iranians that they will overthrow the ruling regime – a hypothesis that does not stand up to the record of history,” said Sawaya.

“At least, the commitment to continuing duly licensed humanitarian trade in agricultural products, food, medicine and medical products with Iran is cited in the legislation – though its viability is threatened by the financial sanctions,” Sawaya concluded.

“Apparently, the old saw – if one’s only tool is a hammer, everything becomes a nail – trumps Einstein’s definition of insanity when it comes to U.S. relations with Iran,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “To the degree that U.S. sanctions on Iran ‘work,’ they will effectively expand the control of the Revolutionary Guards over Iran’s economy, provide the regime with fodder to fuel anti-Americanism in a population until now distinguished in the region by pro-American sentiments, and a firm floor over global oil prices, nullifying the production ‘good news’ from North America and elsewhere.”

“Moreover, the hidden effects on U.S. multinationals – none of whom operate in Iran – makes the business of doing business in a global economy that much more difficult in terms of avoiding contractual obligations with entities that may be caught in the sanctions net. Ever-expanding economic sanctions enshrined as U.S. law hardly seem calculated to promote world economic activity,” said Reinsch.
 
 

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About the NFTC
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
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 Ways and Means Approval of Russia PNTR Bill

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Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today welcomed House Ways and Means Committee approval of H.R. 6156, a bill to establish permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Russia. The NFTC released the following statement.

 

“We applaud the Ways and Means Committee for approving legislation granting Russia PNTR, an important step in boosting the U.S. economy and job creation. With Russia’s accession to the WTO only weeks away, granting PNTR is necessary to ensure the United States greater access to one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and U.S. companies a level playing field,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch.

“We strongly urge House and Senate leaders to take immediate action to bring the Russia PNTR bill to the floor as soon as possible before August recess. The clock is ticking and American exporters and workers simply cannot afford further delay,” said Reinsch.
 

On Tuesday, Reinsch sent a letter to all members of the Ways and Means Committee, urging them to support the PNTR bill. He also reiterated the NFTC’s reservations about legislation that could jeopardize the benefits of Russia’s WTO accession and PNTR, or complicate U.S.-Russia relations, writing “We have elsewhere expressed our strong reservations about both the House and Senate versions of the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law bill, although the bill reported by House Foreign Affairs Committee is preferable to S. 1039 since its scope is limited to Russian persons and it contains a sunset provision.”
 

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 Convenes High-Level Pittsburgh Forum on the Role of the Global Marketplace in Expanding U.S. Economic Growth Keynote Address Delivered by U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk

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Pittsburgh, PA – Today, the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) Foundation hosted a high-level business discussion in Pittsburgh, PA, on “Winning in the Global Economy,” featuring over 50 business and community leaders, with keynote remarks from U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk. The forum examined the role of the global marketplace in the success of American companies and workers and how U.S. public policies can help businesses compete for the global demand, investment and talent to ensure that America remains the world’s innovation leader in the 21st century.

In a luncheon keynote address, Ambassador Kirk discussed the role of U.S. trade policy in opening export markets and helping small companies in America create jobs and tap into growing demand in high-growth markets abroad. He noted, “There is no more treasured brand in the world than Made in America. We need to make sure we take advantage of this tremendous international business opportunity by opening new markets, creating a level playing field for American businesses and workers, and providing the tools and resources to small businesses who want to export.”

Earlier in the day, representatives from companies, including Daedalus, General Electric, Google, and HP, and experts from iCarnegie Global Learning, Guyasuta Investment Advisors, and the U.S. International Trade Commission led a conversation about the role of global trade, investment flows and innovation in the American economy.

Pittsburgh-area businesses and educators described the challenge and opportunity of developing new areas of business in the modern innovation economy. As Gil Taran, Chief Executive Officer of iCarnegie, a Carnegie Mellon educational subsidiary, framed the discussion, “You think about what the global economy is demanding right now: Mobility, using robotics, entertainment technology, design, the interaction between healthcare and information systems, managing large scale data. People are looking to Pittsburgh for all of these things. Pittsburgh has been able to transform itself over the past 20 years to open itself up to these opportunities.”

Other participants discussed the role of America in creating high-value jobs in research, design, brand management and customer support as part of increasingly complex international supply chains. Companies emphasized several public policy challenges for the United States as companies and workers look to compete in the global marketplace.

Participants discussed the challenge of promoting respect for trade rules, protecting intellectual property rights globally, challenges to U.S. regulatory approval processes from overtaxed agencies, and attracting, educating and retaining an educated, globally-minded workforce. The conversation also led to suggestions for how to improve public policy, from providing tax incentives for R&D to encouraging strong legal and intellectual property protection worldwide to promoting a new trade framework to encourage the movement of information and e-commerce internationally to updating visa and immigration policies.

This discussion is part of a national series of discussions hosted by the NFTC Foundation at innovation and manufacturing centers around the nation thanks to a grant from the General Electric Foundation. The event was held in partnership with Reed Smith, Catalyst Connection, Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, Pittsburgh Technology Council and World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh.


About the NFTC Foundation
Incorporated in 1979, the National Foreign Trade Council Foundation is the educational arm of the NFTC. It is a 501(c) (3) organization incorporated under the laws of the state of New York. Its office is in New York City. The Foundation does not lobby; its activities are confined to educational events. The NFTC Foundation provides an opportunity to educate policy makers and the public about trade and globalization issues in ways that support the broader mission of the NFTC.

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 Senate Finance Committee Approval of Russia PNTR Bill

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Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today welcomed Senate Finance Committee approval of a bill to establish permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Russia. The NFTC released the following statement.
 
“We applaud the Senate Finance Committee for its unanimous approval of legislation to grant Russia PNTR today, and commend the leadership of Chairman Baucus and Ranking Member Hatch,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “Today’s vote is an important step toward ensuring that U.S. companies, service providers, farmers and workers reap all of the market-opening benefits of Russia’s accession to the WTO. We urge the House Ways and Means Committee to take similar action in the coming days to allow for House and Senate floor approval of Russia PNTR legislation in the last remaining legislative days before the August recess.”

“While we are pleased with the Senate Finance Committee’s approval of Russia PNTR, we are disappointed that the bill passed today includes the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act. The Act, which addresses legitimate human rights concerns, contains a number of problematic provisions that will unnecessarily complicate U.S.-Russia relations and create a new global unilateral sanction regime for the U.S. government to use against virtually any foreign person for vaguely defined reasons,” said Reinsch.
 

Yesterday, Reinsch, who serves as Co-Chair of NFTC’s sister organization, USA*Engage, sent a letter including these arguments to all members of the Senate Finance Committee. The letter also urged members to revise several provisions of the Act.
 

 
 
 


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, SIIA Express Concern Over Proposed Changes to China’s Internet Information Service Management Rules

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Say Amendments Would Limit Innovation, Serve as Barrier to Electronic Commerce

Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) and the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) yesterday sent a letter to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), expressing concern over the Chinese government’s draft amendments to the “Internet Information Service Management Rules.” Citing the draft regulations’ potential impact on the hundreds of companies the NFTC and SIIA represent, the two associations urged the Chinese government to reconsider the proposals.

The letter was sent in response to a request for public comments on the draft amendments from the Chinese State Council Information Office and the MIIT. NFTC Vice President for Global Trade Issues Jake Colvin and SIIA Vice President for Public Policy Mark MacCarthy wrote:

 

“… As drafted, we believe the proposed regulations would limit innovation, impair the ability of business and individuals to engage productively over the internet and could serve as a barrier to electronic commerce and trade in physical goods.

“This proposal would impose an enhanced regulatory regime without adequate safeguards to ensure the fair application and administration of rules. … Transparent procedures and appeals processes are essential to ensure that internet policies are applied evenly to domestic and foreign entities and do not unfairly limit online channels for trade or marketing or otherwise discriminate against commercial activities by global providers.

“… A recent survey from the Boston Consulting Group found that Chinese small and medium sized businesses that used the internet intensively grew their sales by an average of 25 percent, compared to 9 percent growth for firms that used the internet less intensively or not at all. The effect of these regulations would be to limit the growth and use of the internet in China, thereby discouraging local innovation, business productivity, and economic development.

“…[W]e urge the reconsideration of the proposed revisions to the Internet Information Service Management Rules. Future internet policies should be predicated on transparent, fair, and predictable treatment of individuals and entities, and should encourage local innovation and
creativity while ensuring the equitable treatment of global businesses.”
 

To read the full text of the letter, click here.
 
 
 


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, Other Leading Business Associations Issue Statement on Promoting Cross-Border Information & Data Flows in the TPP Negotiations

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Washington DC – In advance of the upcoming round of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations in San Diego, Calif., the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) and 12 other leading business groups today released a statement on promoting cross-border information and data flows in the agreement.

To follow is an excerpt:

 

“… The growth in the development and use of information and communications technologies (ICT) has been a major driver of economic growth, dynamism, job creation, productivity, and competitiveness for industries across all sectors of the global economy. With this rapid growth, businesses are increasingly using digital platforms to reach and sell to new customers in the TPP countries and around the world.

“… To compete effectively in international markets, enterprises and individuals need to be assured that they can move and maintain information and data across borders in a reliable and secure manner. It is therefore critical that the TPP negotiations ensure that trade and investment rules promote, rather than inhibit, the growth of the digital economy.

“Given the economic importance of international flows of data and information to the region, the TPP negotiations should produce legally binding commitments to:

  • “Permit cross-border information and data flows, while ensuring that privacy and intellectual property rights are protected.
     
  • “Allow business enterprises from the TPP parties to transact business through e-commerce platforms without establishing a commercial presence in each country.
  • “Prohibit requirements to use local computing infrastructure, such as servers, as a condition for doing business or investment in a TPP country or engaging in e-commerce or cross-border trade. …”
To read the full statement, click here.
 
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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, NFTC Express Disappointment Over Senate Foreign Relations Committee Passage of Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act

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Washington DC – USA*Engage and the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today expressed disappointment with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s passage of S. 1039, the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act. The organizations released the following statement.

“We are extremely disappointed in today’s passage of S. 1039,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “This bill, if passed, will not only unnecessarily complicate U.S.-Russia relations, it has the potential to damage U.S. diplomatic relations worldwide.”

“What began as a protest against a horrifying human rights violation has unfortunately led to the creation of yet another unilateral U.S. sanctions regime,” said USA*Engage Director Richard Sawaya. “The legislation approved today goes far beyond holding those who harmed Magnitsky accountable, with its call to address human rights violations ‘anywhere in the world.’ Passing such legislation will have serious political and diplomatic implications.”

“The scope of this legislation should stay true to its original purpose and be limited to measures against Russian persons involved directly in the death of Sergei Magnitsky. As the Administration has already taken steps to enact appropriate measures regarding this human rights violation, we strongly urge Congress to refrain from taking any further steps that would put U.S.-Russia relations in unnecessary peril,” concluded Reinsch.

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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 worldwide.

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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Ambassador Alan Wm. Wolff Joins McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP as a Senior Counsel in the Washington, DC office

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We are pleased to announce that Ambassador Alan Wm. Wolff has joined McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP (MLA) as a Senior Counsel in the Washington, DC office. The Former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador is a member of the firm’s international practice and will focus his practice in the area of international trade. The practice specializes in all aspects of seeking to improve the international competitive position of major clients. Wolff has been principal litigation counsel in many of the largest trade cases on record.

Ambassador Wolff, who is chairman of the National Foreign Trade Council and also a former U.S. Trade Representative General Counsel, is a well-known trade policy figure, with particular experience in dealing with markets in Asia. He was part of a team that pioneered the concept of conducting and authoring exhaustive economic studies of industries plagued by unfair trade practices, then employing those studies to convince appropriate government officials to take action under the rules of trade. He served as U.S. Deputy Special Representative for Trade Negotiations in the administration of President Carter with the rank of ambassador. As Deputy, he played a key role in the formulation of American trade policy and its implementation, including leading international trade negotiations for the U.S.
He received his received his J.D. from Columbia Law School and B.A. from Harvard University.

NFTC Commends Ways and Means Committee for Holding Russia PNTR Hearing

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Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today commended the House Ways and Means Committee for holding a hearing on Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and establishing permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Russia. The NFTC released the following statement:

“With Russia’s accession to the WTO quickly approaching this summer, the NFTC applauds the Ways and Means Committee for holding today’s hearing to discuss Russia PNTR. Granting Russia PNTR would expand U.S. access in one of the largest marketplaces in the world, benefitting the U.S. economy and exporters and the millions of Americans they employ.

“The United States cannot afford to delay in granting Russia PNTR. This is the most pressing issue on the U.S. trade agenda. We strongly urge Congress to take immediate action and pass PNTR legislation before the August recess to ensure that U.S. companies can compete on a level playing field in Russia.

“We share the view held by U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp that PNTR should be granted in a clean bill.”
 

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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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NFTC Welcomes EU-U.S. High Level Working Group Report, Urges Meaningful Transatlantic Negotiations ASAP

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Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today welcomed the release of the EU-U.S. High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth’s “Interim Report to Leaders from the Co-Chairs,” detailing the group’s progress in discussions aimed at expanding transatlantic trade and investment.

“The U.S.-EU relationship is an important one, and we are pleased that steps are being taken to find ways to strengthen economic relations further by expanding transatlantic trade and investment,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “While this report highlights the framework for a potential comprehensive agreement, it also outlines substantive issues still to be worked out. Rather than waiting to have every detail ironed out or creating more unnecessary bureaucracy before beginning actual negotiations, the NFTC urges the U.S. and EU to accelerate the process and move forward immediately with meaningful, results-oriented negotiations.”

“Because of the importance of expanding transatlantic economic relations, there are an abundance of transatlantic dialogues and fora – the EU-U.S. High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth being one of them,” said NFTC Vice President for Regional Trade Initiatives Chuck Dittrich. “It is critical that the United States and EU hold negotiations that lead to tangible results, the opening of markets and an increase in regulatory compatibility, which will spur increased transatlantic economic activity and job creation.”