Press Releases and Statements Archives - Page 59 of 106

NFTC Says Implementation of Colombia-Canada FTA Underscores Sense of Urgency for Congress to Act on Trade Agenda ASAP in September

Posted on August 15, 2011 by dcadmin

Washington DC – With the official implementation of the Colombia-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) today, the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) urged the Administration and Members of Congress to immediately take action on the pending FTA with Colombia, the FTAs with Korea and Panama, Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), the Andean Trade Preference Act and the Generalized System of Preferences, when Congress returns to Washington in September. The NFTC released the following statement:

“The Colombia-Canada agreement was signed in 2008, almost two years to the day after the U.S. signed its agreement with Colombia. As a result of our delay, the United States has put itself at risk of losing even more market share in a growing, dynamic economy, ultimately stunting U.S. economic growth and job creation at a time when we desperately need both,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “To increase our exports and get Americans back to work, politics must be put aside in September and bipartisanship and reason must prevail. Passing the Colombia agreement, as well as the Panama and Korea FTAs, should be the top legislative priority following recess. They are all ready to go, as are the preference programs and TAA, so we urge lawmakers to make them all a reality ASAP.”

“Canada is one of our biggest competitors, particularly with respect to agricultural and machinery, chemical and paper product exports. Canada’s new trade partnership with Colombia will give Canadian exporters an economic advantage in Colombia, putting at risk the gains U.S. companies, farmers and ranchers could be making if the U.S.-Colombia FTA was approved and implemented,” said NFTC Vice President for Regional Trade Initiatives Chuck Dittrich. “The Colombian, Panamanian and Korean markets are all central to the growth of U.S. goods and services exports. As the recent trade balance shows, we are falling behind in exporting to the 95 percent of world consumers who live outside of the United States, so we urge Congress and the Administration to work together to take action on trade immediately after the recess ends.”

###

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.
Follow us on:

This free script provided by
JavaScript Kit

NFTC Statement on Senate FTA/TAA Deal

Posted on August 4, 2011 by dcadmin

Washington DC – National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) Vice President for Regional Trade Issues Chuck Dittrich today welcomed news that Senate leaders reached an agreement on moving forward the pending free trade agreements (FTAs) and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) legislation following the August recess:

“We thank Senators Reid and McConnell and their staffs for working together over what has been an intense few weeks to come to an agreement on how to sequence votes on TAA and the FTAs with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. All are integral components of the U.S. trade agenda and action is long overdue.

“As the president and some Congressional leaders stated this week, the legislative agenda in September must focus on getting Americans back to work, increasing the volume of exports that leave our ports every day and generating economic growth. While there will be many legislative priorities when Congress returns, the Administration and Congress must now move to a vote and finally take yes for an answer on trade.

“International trade creates jobs, and the FTAs – all inked more than four years ago – are part of the job creation equation. It’s time to approve them so that U.S. companies, farmers and ranchers can compete and regain market share in all three growing, dynamic economies. TAA is by design a job-creating program, as it focuses on providing U.S. workers impacted by trade with the tools, skills and economic foothold they need to re-enter the workforce.

“The FTAs, TAA, the Generalized System of Preferences and Andean Trade Preferences all have one thing in common – they will help to boost the U.S. economy and support and create American jobs. We urge Congress and the Administration to work together immediately in September to see that all are approved as soon as possible.”

###

NFTC Rolls Out U.S. Business Community Principles for Clean Energy Export Promotion

Posted on July 27, 2011 by dcadmin

Washington DC – On Capitol Hill, the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today held a lunch to release a set of U.S. business community principles encouraging more coordinated and aggressive U.S. clean energy export promotion. The principles, titled “Encouraging U.S. Clean Energy Exports: A Set of Private-Sector Principles,” highlight how demand for U.S. clean energy products and services is critical to creating U.S. jobs and maintaining U.S. leadership in the 21st century global economy. During the event, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Representative David Dreier (R-CA) delivered keynote remarks, and senior business, U.S. government and environmental organization representatives participated in a panel discussion on ways to enhance U.S. clean energy export promotion.

“More active and aggressive promotion by the U.S. government of clean energy exports will drive U.S. leadership of the global clean energy economy,” said NFTC Vice President for Global Trade Issues Jake Colvin. “These principles outline for the Administration and Congress specific policies that will create American jobs and improve the environment and economy.”

In addition to the NFTC, other signatories on the principles include the Business Coalition for Sustainable Energy, Business Roundtable, Coalition of Service Industries, Emergency Committee for American Trade, Information Technology Industry Council, National Association of Manufacturers, National Electrical Manufacturers Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Council for International Business.

The groups urge the U.S. government to pursue more aggressively U.S. commercial diplomacy; better monitor and report on clean technology export promotion programs; further develop flexible clean technology funding mechanisms; protect American ideas and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) globally; modernize trade rules to reduce green trade barriers; and ensure technology neutrality in their efforts.

Click here to read the full text of the principles.

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.
Follow us on:

NFTC Statement on Status of Doha Round Negotiations

Posted on July 27, 2011 by dcadmin

Washington DC – National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President Bill Reinsch released the following statement today on the status of the Doha Round of trade negotiations under the World Trade Organization (WTO):

“Meetings in Geneva this week have diminished substantially any hope for a workable package in time for the upcoming December meeting of trade ministers. It’s unfortunate, as there were a number of items under discussion that would have been a win-win for jobs, growth and development.

“We hope that the failure to agree on a December package will spur key stakeholders to return their focus to the larger package of issues in the Doha Round and come to terms with what can only be described as a long-term impasse. While tremendous potential remains to improve the global economy through an ambitious conclusion to the Round, it is clear that key countries are not prepared to show the kind of flexibility that would permit negotiators to wrap up such a package in the short term.

“As economic ministers prepare for the upcoming conference in December to address the future of the Doha Round and the World Trade Organization more generally, we also believe it is time to start also pursuing fresh thinking in Geneva. Member countries should encourage the WTO to re-energize the regular machinery of the organization to modernize rules and improve understanding about new critical issues that affect competitiveness and economic growth.

“Modernizing the rules governing cross-border data flows is already under discussion in forums such as the OECD and APEC and in bilateral and regional free trade agreements. The current discussion about improving trade rules to deliver environmentally-friendly technologies more effectively has been mired in political wrangling over other issues in the Doha Round. Empowering committees in Geneva to deal with these issues apart from Doha would be useful for the WTO and its member countries.

“The NFTC has been and continues to be a leading supporter of the WTO and of modernizing trade rules under the Doha Round. We do not want to see an absence of flexibility in the current negotiations and a lack of creative thinking about ways to move critical new trade issues forward drain credibility from the organization.”

NFTC Applauds Committee Approval of Free Trade Agreements, Urges Compromise to Move TAA and Preference Programs in Tandem

Posted on July 7, 2011 by dcadmin

Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) praised the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Ways and Means for favorably reporting out the pending free trade agreements (FTA) with Colombia, Panama and Korea during mock mark-ups held today. The NFTC welcomed the Senate Finance Committee’s advancement of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program as part of its approval of the implementing legislation for the Korea agreement. As implementing legislation considered today by the Ways and Means Committee did not include TAA, the NFTC urged both sides to find a way to move both the FTAs and TAA in tandem.

The NFTC released the following statement:

“We applaud the chairmen of both committees for their leadership in bringing the FTAs up for a vote so that we can finally realize the benefits of the agreements in the near future.

“We are encouraged that the Senate Finance Committee favorably reported the Korea bill with TAA included, and we urge House and Senate leaders to come together to ensure that in the end the FTAs and TAA, along with the other preference programs, are considered and approved together.

“All of these agreements and programs are critical pieces of the trade agenda and should move in tandem as a package before the August recess.”

###

NFTC Welcomes Agreement to End U.S.-Mexico Cross-Border Trucking Dispute

Posted on July 6, 2011 by dcadmin

Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today welcomed news that the United States and Mexico have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at finally resolving the longstanding bilateral dispute on cross-border trucking. The NFTC expressed support for the agreement, which will reinstate the cross-border pilot program, a key milestone in U.S. adherence to its NAFTA services commitments. This reinstatement will trigger the phase out of some of Mexico’s retaliatory tariffs. The trade association also cautioned that any possible attempts by the U.S. Congress to derail the pilot program would put a strain on U.S.-Mexico relations and invite additional economic retaliation.

“We are pleased by today’s announcement, as it marks a necessary step to resolve this issue once and for all, and removes a nagging thorn in the side of U.S.-Mexico trade relations,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “We are encouraged that there is finally a positive end in sight, and we urge Congress to refrain from any action that would derail the pilot program or fall short of our commitments under NAFTA. Those kinds of unproductive maneuvers would bring us back to square one, perhaps with even more severe economic consequences.”

“Mexico is one of our most important trading partners, and our failure to abide by our commitments has cost United States’ workers, farmers and companies billions of dollars. Restoring good faith and putting our commercial relationship with Mexico back on track is critical to U.S. economic growth, increased exports and job creation,” said NFTC Vice President for Regional Trade Initiatives Chuck Dittrich. “This dispute has dragged on long enough and we commend the U.S. and Mexican governments’ commitment to staying on course to resolve this issue.”

This free script provided by
JavaScriptKit

NFTC Welcomes Removal of Panama from OECD Grey List

Posted on July 6, 2011 by dcadmin

Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today welcomed news that Panama has been removed from the Organization for Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) grey list. The NFTC released the following statement:

“We applaud Panama for taking action to increase transparency and cooperation on tax-related issues with the United States and other nations around the world.

“The removal of Panama from the OECD’s grey list is a major accomplishment, which symbolizes the international community’s recognition of recent steps the Panamanian government has taken.

“Today’s news is also a reminder of the fact that Panama and our other pending FTA partners – Colombia and South Korea – have enacted reforms and made legislative changes and other adjustments to address every challenge or concern the United States has raised during the lead up to the FTA ratification process. Facing a wide range of domestic pressures, each government’s efforts were not easy, but they all rose to the occasion.

“Now is the time for Congress to do its job by approving the pending FTAs and an extension of TAA and the trade preference programs without further delay.”

NFTC Applauds Administration, Congress for Reaching Agreement on TAA

Posted on June 28, 2011 by dcadmin

Says Compromise Deal Will Help U.S. Workers, Opens Door for FTA Action

Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today commended the Administration and Congressional leaders for working together to come to an agreement on the extension of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. NFTC says the deal announced today will help thousands of workers and pave the way for passage of the pending free trade agreements (FTAs) with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

The NFTC released the following statement:

“We welcome the news that political differences have been put aside and that an agreement has been reached on TAA,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “TAA is critical to ensuring that U.S. workers adversely affected by trade receive benefits and acquire new skills, allowing them to re-enter the workforce. Before the 2009 version of the program expired, thousands of workers benefitted from this program, and the NFTC commends the Administration and Congress for working together to ensure this essential element of our trade policy is renewed. The agreement reached also opens the door for Congressional consideration and approval of the pending FTAs, and now it’s time to get down to business without further delay.”

“We are pleased that a renewal of TAA is in sight,” said NFTC Vice President for Regional Trade Initiatives Chuck Dittrich. “The program has always enjoyed bipartisan support and today’s announcement makes clear that both the Administration and Congress are serious about enhancing U.S. economic growth and competitiveness through the advancement of the entire U.S. trade agenda.”

“We look forward to working with Congress to ensure that all three pending trade agreements are approved before the August recess,” Reinsch concluded.

###

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.
Follow us on:

NFTC Joins Other Leading Business Groups in Urging for Progress on China’s Currency and Exchange Rate Process

Posted on June 22, 2011 by dcadmin

The NFTC yesterday joined other leading business groups in sending a letter to Congressional leaders, urging progress on China’s currency and exchange rate process through multilateral pressure and coordination.

The groups wrote:

“Like Congress and the Administration, we agree that China needs a yuan exchange rate that responds to trade flows and that China should move steadily towards a market-determined exchange rate. In addition to continuing U.S.
government efforts, our organizations support strong, coordinated and enhanced multilateral pressure through multiple international organizations such as the G-20 and APEC to achieve concrete progress on China’s currency and exchange rate policies.

“Unilateral legislation on this issue would be counterproductive not only to the goals related to China’s exchange rate that we all share, but also to our nation’s broader goals of addressing the many and growing challenges that we face
in China, including inadequate protection of intellectual property, restrictions on market access, the need for financial services liberalization, restrictions on the export of commodities such as rare earths, discriminatory indigenous innovation and other industrial policies. Above all, such legislation would do more harm than good to job creation and economic growth at a time when the United States dearly needs both.”

Click here to read the full letter.

NFTC Welcomes Colombia’s Achievement of Action Plan Milestone, Urges Action on FTAs and TAA

Posted on June 13, 2011 by dcadmin

Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today welcomed news from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) that Colombia has met all milestones required for completion by the June 15, 2011 deadline under the “Action Plan Related to Labor Rights,” an important step in moving forward with the U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement (FTA).

“We commend the Colombian government for upholding its commitment to the Action Plan by meeting all milestones required by the June 15 deadline,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “Colombia has made great strides in the past decade in improving labor rights, and today’s announcement makes it clear that the Santos Administration is dedicated to further improving the lives of Colombian workers. We are pleased that the Administration has recognized this as a significant step, and urge them to submit the implementing legislation for the Colombia, Panama and Korea FTAs to Congress as soon as possible.”

“We also recognize that the difference of opinion over TAA is at this point the only substantive roadblock preventing consideration of the FTAs, and we ask Congress and the Administration to redouble their efforts to devise a solution as soon as possible,” said Reinsch.

“Today’s announcement is encouraging, as it brings us closer to implementing an agreement with Colombia, which is necessary in ensuring that U.S. goods and services maintain a prominent presence there,” said NFTC Vice President for Regional Trade Initiatives Chuck Dittrich. “With other countries working to implement trade agreements with Colombia, now is the time to move forward. All remaining issues on the Korea and Panama FTAs have also been resolved, and the NFTC encourages the Administration to submit to Congress implementing legislation for all three pending trade agreements immediately.”