Category: Press Releases and Statements

NFTC Welcomes Senate Foreign Relations Committee Report on Consequences of Failing to Ratify Colombia and Panama FTAs

Posted on by dcadmin

Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today welcomed the release of a Senate Foreign Relations Committee report, titled Losing Jobs and Alienating Friends: The Consequences of Falling Behind on Free Trade With Colombia and Panama. The report, which was submitted to committee members by Ranking Member Richard Lugar, examines the potential consequences for the United States if it fails to pass free trade agreements with Colombia and Panama. The report specifically argues that three key U.S. policy priorities will be negatively affected by failure to pass the FTAs: 1) Job creation; 2) Gains achieved through Plan Colombia on issues of human rights and labor in Colombia; and 3) U.S. credibility and influence in Latin America.

“We applaud Senator Lugar for his leadership in pointing out what is at stake if the Administration and Congress fail to make approval of both of these agreements a priority. The report signals that there is support in Congress for moving these agreements forward and points out the implications of not doing so,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “Advancing these FTAs is something that the President has indicated that he would like to do, most recently in his State of the Union address and in remarks yesterday to business leaders at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. We believe he is committed to pursuing approval of the Colombia and Panama agreements, but urge the Administration to take action with a sense of urgency.”

“If we continue to kick the can down the road, we stand to continue losing market share in both Colombia and Panama, to the detriment of key U.S. industries – from agriculture to equipment manufacturing,” said NFTC Vice President for Regional Trade Issues Chuck Dittrich. “Saving and creating American jobs and increasing U.S. economic growth are not the only things at stake if the Administration and Congress continue to delay ratification of both agreements, so is the United States’ influence in Latin America. Approval of these FTAs will create goodwill and demonstrate that the U.S. is serious about being a committed economic and diplomatic partner in the Western Hemisphere.”

“We encourage the Administration to continue doing what it takes to build support in Congress for both FTAs, and work to address any outstanding concerns with the Colombian and Panamanian governments so the agreements can be submitted and passed as soon as possible,” Reinsch concluded.

To read the Senate Foreign Relations Committee report, please click here.

About NFTC
Advancing Global Commerce for Over 95 Years – 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 Urges Congress to Take Immediate Action to Extend Critical Trade Preference Programs Facing Expiration on February 12th

Posted on by dcadmin

Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today urged Congress to pass legislation extending funding for the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program and the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) before the current expiration date of February 12, 2011. In a letter to all Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, NFTC President Bill Reinsch wrote:

“In early 2009, Republicans and Democrats in both the House and the Senate found common ground to come together to authorize TAA through 2010 and redesign benefits to be more flexible and accessible. Since the new TAA program went into effect on May 18, 2009, over 360,000 workers affected by more than 3,500 layoffs have been certified to receive TAA benefits….

“ATPA has enjoyed bipartisan support since 1992 and currently benefits hundreds of thousands of workers in the U.S. and the Andean countries which it serves, particularly in Colombia. It lowers the cost of needed inputs into U.S. manufacturing, and as a centerpiece of U.S. anti-narcotics policy in the region, provides needed jobs in the legitimate economy as an alternative to illegal production of narcotics. In the next four months alone, access under ATPA to the U.S. market for Colombian cut flowers for Valentine Day and Mother’s Day can make the difference between destabilizing hunger and unemployment and Colombia’s economic recovery from the recent devastating floods.”

 

To read the NFTC letter, please click here.

About NFTC
Advancing Global Commerce for Over 95 Years – 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 Secretary Clinton’s Remarks on Submitting Colombia FTA to Congress This Year

Posted on by dcadmin

Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today welcomed remarks made by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regarding the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA). During a joint press conference with Colombian Vice President Angelino Garzón today, Secretary Clinton announced the Administration’s intention to send the agreement to Congress this year once negotiations have concluded and both governments have agreed upon text clarifying and addressing outstanding concerns.

“Secretary Clinton’s remarks represent the clearest signal the Administration has sent with respect to its intentions to move the Colombia agreement forward in a specific time frame,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “On the heels of President Obama’s State of the Union address during which he restated his commitment to this agreement, we view today’s announcement as a signal that the Administration is serious about continuing to boost economic growth and support American jobs by advancing the U.S. trade agenda.”

“The Colombian economy is dynamic and ever-growing, and is an important market for U.S. goods and services. Without a trade agreement in place, the U.S. has already seen its market share decline in key sectors, specifically agriculture – an industry in which we compete head on with Latin American, Canadian and European exporters,” said NFTC Vice President for Regional Trade Issues Chuck Dittrich. “Beyond being an important market in Latin America, Colombia has long been an vital ally in the region, and approval of the agreement within a clearly defined time frame will strengthen our diplomatic partnership.”

“The NFTC has advocated for the agreement before and since it was signed in November 2006, and we are very pleased that the Administration is prepared to move forward this year,” Reinsch concluded.

Video of today’s press conference can be found on the State Department’s website at http://www.state.gov/video/. The Secretary’s remarks regarding timing for submitting the Colombia FTA to Congress begin at the 21:54 minute mark.


About the NFTC
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 President’s Commitment to Advancing the U.S. Trade Agenda, Innovation Policies and Tax Reform

Posted on by dcadmin

Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today welcomed the President’s State of the Union remarks on the importance of expanding trade relations with key nations, enhancing American innovation and enacting tax reform. The NFTC released the following statement:

“We commend the President for restating his continued commitment to boosting U.S. export growth through the National Export Initiative, and expanding global market access for U.S. goods and services through trade. We also welcome the President’s call for Congress to approve the KORUS FTA as soon as possible, and we were encouraged by the his remarks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations and the Colombia and Panama free trade agreements,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch.

“Regarding the Colombia and Panama agreements, we urge the President to turn his words of commitment into action by instructing his Administration to work vigorously and hand in hand with the Colombian and Panamanian governments to make those trade pacts a reality in the short term,” said NFTC Vice President for Regional Trade Issues Chuck Dittrich.

“We welcome President Obama’s focus on innovation, and he put his finger on some of the most important problems facing U.S. entrepreneurs and innovators. In order for America to remain an innovation leader, the Administration and Congress must reform immigration and visa policies to facilitate global mobility, ensure effective protection of American ideas in foreign markets, improve incentives for American students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math and drive innovative U.S. exports,” said NFTC Vice President for Global Trade Issues Jake Colvin. “We look forward to working to help address them through smart public policy.”

“We are pleased that the President pointed out that American worldwide companies face one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world. That is far from a level playing field when we look at our competitors across the globe,” said NFTC Vice President for Tax Policy Cathy Schultz. “With the economy still in recovery, it is important that we stimulate U.S. competitiveness and job creation by enacting policies that will ensure U.S. multinational companies are able to compete globally. In that spirit, we urge the Administration and Congress and refrain from pursuing policies that unfairly saddle companies with what amount to tax hikes. Such policies will only hamper the ability of companies to create jobs and compete worldwide.”

“Overall, we were encouraged by the sense of bipartisanship in the President’s remarks and in the chamber itself. We hope that sentiment permeates what are likely to be contentious debates on all of these key issues affecting the American economy,” Reinsch concluded.


About NFTC
Advancing Global Commerce for Over 95 Years – 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 President Says Two Senate Bills Introduced Today Signal Room for Bipartisan Cooperation on Trade-Related Issues

Posted on by dcadmin

Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) welcomed two trade-related pieces of legislation introduced today – the Creating American Jobs Through Exports Act of 2011 and the SUGAR (Stop Unfair Giveaway and Restrictions) Act. The NFTC noted that both bills were introduced by a bipartisan set of co-sponsors – the first by Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT), and the second by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Mark Kirk (R-IL).

“The NFTC welcomes the introduction of these bills, both on their merits and because they are an early signal in the 112th Congress that Members are genuinely committed to working together on a bipartisan basis to increase U.S. economic growth through trade,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch.

“We applaud Sens. Portman and Lieberman for introducing a bill that calls on Congress to approve the three pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, and makes the case for restoring presidential Trade Promotion Authority,” said Reinsch. “All three FTAs are critical to maximizing U.S. economic growth and job creation, and helping our exporters – from small- and medium sized businesses to large companies with worldwide operations – maintain and expand their foothold in these three dynamic markets.”

“We also believe that to continue exploring avenues to boost the U.S. economy through trade, the President needs Trade Promotion Authority. This is an issue on which the NFTC has been actively involved for many years, and we look forward to continuing to share with Members of Congress our ideas for reforming and renewing negotiating authority,” said Reinsch.

 

In 2009, the NFTC released a draft “Trade Negotiating Authority Act of 2009,” which the Council developed to initiate debate over the appropriate objectives for negotiating trade agreements and an efficient “fast track” process for congressional consideration of implementing legislation. The NFTC’s draft bill, which builds on existing Trade Promotion Authority, includes new provisions that update negotiating objectives and reform the Congressional-Executive consultation process.
 

With respect to the SUGAR Act, the NFTC has long advocated reform of the current U.S. sugar program, which sets artificially low import quotas and applies high tariffs on imports exceeding those limits – raising prices for American industry and consumers.

“As the debate over the 2012 farm bill is soon to begin, we applaud Sens. Shaheen and Kirk for taking an early stand and calling into question current U.S. sugar policy,” said Reinsch. “Sugar prices are at an all-time high, and this issue not only affects consumers but U.S. sugar-using industries and the thousands of workers they employ.”

For more information, please contact Jennifer Cummings at jcummings@fratelli.com.

About NFTC
Advancing Global Commerce for Over 95 Years – 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 Commends President Obama for Taking Long-Awaited Steps to Expand U.S. Travel to Cuba

Posted on by dcadmin

Washington, DC – In response to the announcement by the White House of new regulations governing travel and remittances to Cuba, NFTC Vice President Jake Colvin released the following statement:

“Today’s announcement is a welcome and long-overdue step in the right direction for U.S. Cuba policy. The changes to U.S. regulations will permit more contact between Americans and Cubans, which is good for both. Americans will be able to travel to Cuba for a greater variety of academic, religious and cultural reasons to act ambassadors in a country where official contacts have yet to be normalized.

“NFTC has long maintained that the President has the ability to make significant changes to the rules governing U.S. Cuba policy. Today’s announcement is an example of both the ability and willingness of the Obama Administration to realign Cuba policy with the interests of American citizens and the Cuban people. We hope the Administration and Congress will take additional steps over the coming months to further restore the ability of Americans to travel and trade with Cuba.”

To coincide with the announcement, NFTC and USA*Engage released a timeline of recent activity on Cuba highlighting increasing momentum to change policy.

###

About NFTC
Advancing Global Commerce for Over 95 Years – 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.

NFTC Welcomes Administration’s Engagement with Mexican Government on Cross-Border Trucking

Posted on by dcadmin
Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today welcomed news that the Obama Administration is working with the Mexican Government to map out a resolution to the cross-border trucking dispute. The NFTC noted that the release of a U.S. Department of Transportation concept paper on the trucking issue is a sign that concrete steps are being taken to settle this dispute in the near term.

“We welcome the Administration’s announcement and hope that this issue can be resolved once and for all very soon,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “The United States cannot afford inaction or slow movement, given the real dollars and cents impact of the tariffs Mexico put in place because we failed to abide by our trade commitments.”

“The President has repeatedly stated his interest in settling the trucking dispute, and today’s announcement signals that his team is moving forward by taking necessary steps to reach a resolution,” said NFTC Vice President for Regional Trade Initiatives Chuck Dittrich. “It is both in the United States’ and Mexico’s interests to resolve this issue quickly, and we are encouraged that the Administration will now engage the Mexican Government to devise a solution that will benefit workers and consumers in both countries. This is a promising start to a pro-active 2011 U.S. trade agenda.”

To read the U.S. Department of Transportation concept paper on the issue, please click here.

About the NFTC

Advancing Global Commerce for Over 95 Years – 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, US-Colombia Business Partnership Press for Renewal of Andean Trade Preferences

Posted on by dcadmin

Washington, DC – In a letter sent today to House and Senate leaders, the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) and the US-Colombia Business Partnership wrote:

“On behalf of the member companies of the US-Colombia Business Partnership and the National Foreign Trade Council, we urge you to renew the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) for Colombia prior to the adjournment of the 110th [sic] Congress. We collectively represent a broad coalition of companies in the energy, pharmaceutical, consumer products, mining, financial investments in Colombia provide economic development to thousands of Colombians seeking employment in the legitimate economy, while simultaneously benefiting American workers across the United States….

“Failure to renew ATPA would not only directly impact American jobs, but would be a devastating blow to Colombia. As one of America’s closest allies in Latin America, and a country that has fully lived up to its obligations under the ATPA, it deserves to have these benefits extended. Simply put, our exports both in products and services to Colombia provide for good paying jobs in the U.S. and we support a rules-based preference program where trade benefits are earned by those countries that live up to defined criteria. We urge you to renew the ATPA by the close of this Congress and before the December 31, 2010 expiration.”

To read the full text of the letters, please click here.

The NFTC also joined a number of other leading business community associations in sending to Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader Boehner and the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Committee, a letter urging House passage of the Omnibus Trade Act of 2010 (H.R. 6517).

To read that letter, please click here.


About NFTC
Advancing Global Commerce for Over 95 Years – 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 Urges Congress to Extend TAA, Trade Preferences Before Adjournment

Posted on by dcadmin

Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today urged Congress to extend the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA), the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) before adjourning for the year. The NFTC noted that the bill introduced by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander Levin (H.R. 6517) is a useful legislative vehicle to extend all four programs, although there are other approaches that could achieve the same result. NFTC President Bill Reinsch and NFTC Vice President for Regional Trade Initiatives Chuck Dittrich released the following statement.

“TAA, GSP, ATPA and MTB are central to U.S. competitiveness, export growth and job creation. We strongly urge the House and Senate to put political differences aside and work together in the time remaining in this session to extend all four,” said Reinsch. “Allowing these programs to expire would put at risk U.S. export growth and jobs both here in the United States and in many of the countries with which we trade. In addition, any lapse in the preference programs could jeopardize critical trading relationships we maintain around the globe, opening the door to our competitors. A lapse in the expanded TAA provisions would remove these important benefits from service workers and others who are committed to developing the skills needed to re-enter the global workforce. We simply cannot afford to let these programs expire at the end of the year.”

“TAA provides an economic lifeline to U.S. workers who have been adversely affected by trade, and helps them acquire new skills needed for re-entry into the workforce. The preference programs aid complementary sectors of many of our trading partners’ economies. All of the programs play a critical role in our international trade policy, and are of vital importance to the thousands they serve,” said Dittrich. “The NFTC has consistently advocated for extensions of these programs, and it is with a sense of urgency, that we ask Congress to move forward with their renewal as soon as possible before adjournment.”

About NFTC
Advancing Global Commerce for Over 95 Years – 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:

WEF Working Group Releases White Paper on Intersection of Climate Change and Trade Policies

Posted on by dcadmin

Washington, DC – The World Economic Forum (WEF) Trade and Climate Change working group, of which National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President Bill Reinsch is a member, today released a discussion paper at the climate talks in Cancun on the linkages between international trade law and national and international action on climate change. The paper, titled From Collision to Vision: Climate Change and World Trade, includes recommendations for how countries can work together to develop a comprehensive climate change treaty that achieves key environmental goals, and is in line with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. As a member of the working group, the NFTC provided input on the collaborative paper to reflect the views of its member companies. NFTC Vice President for Global Trade Issues Jake Colvin participated in today’s press conference rollout of the paper.

“As the international conversation on addressing climate change continues to evolve, it is critical for world leaders to recognize the intersection between policies to mitigate the impacts of climate change and the rules-based world trading system,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “What this paper aims to point out is that reaching an international agreement on climate change that is both ambitious in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the environment, while at the same time recognizing the rules-based international framework, is achievable.”

The paper includes the following recommendations:

1. As with other aspects of climate change, the ideal solution for preventing a collision between trade and climate change is the early conclusion of an effective and comprehensive global climate change treaty.

2. If there is no early conclusion of an effective and comprehensive global climate treaty on climate change, national efforts to confront climate change are likely to proliferate. These efforts must not include protectionist provisions, as resort to protectionism would lead to mutually destructive conflicts over trade.

3. In the working group’s strong view, the members of the WTO should begin immediately to negotiate agreements to resolve the issues likely to arise from the enactment of national measures on climate change rather than leave those issues to eventual resolution in WTO dispute settlement.

4. WTO rules should not be viewed solely as constraints on efforts to address climate change. WTO rules can and should be used affirmatively to help fight climate change.

5. The WTO can be a model for how the world structures the international effort to address climate change and move towards the needed conclusion of global agreement on a comprehensive climate treaty.”

 

To read the full discussion paper, please click here.
 

The NFTC is participating in a number of different events at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP16) in Cancun. Tomorrow Jake Colvin will moderate a discussion on “Encouraging Clean Technology: The Role of the Global Trading System in Facilitating Cross-Border Innovation, Collaboration and Technology Adoption.” Colvin was also a panelist during a discussion held yesterday on carbon-based border tax adjustments.

For more information, please contact Jennifer Cummings at jcummings@fratelli.com.

About NFTC
Advancing Global Commerce for Over 95 Years – 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: