Washington DC – USA*Engage and the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today hosted a luncheon to honor Representative Jim Moran (D-VA) for his leadership on international trade, diplomacy and U.S. global engagement for nearly two decades. During the 12th annual USA*Engage lunch, Rep. Moran discussed the important role trade plays in fueling the U.S. economy, and the need for increased engagement with other nations, as opposed to additional unilateral sanctions.

“USA*Engage has recognized for many years policy leaders, Republican and Democrat, who are leading lights on trade, foreign policy and national security. These kinds of leaders know in their gut that it is in America’s national security and economic security interests to work with our friends and allies and not to sanction them,” said USA*Engage Co-Chair Del Renigar. “It is my pleasure today to add Jim Moran to this pantheon of wise leaders. Congressman Moran has a long history of commitment to our country. Notable among his many accomplishments is his strong consistent support for free trade and global engagement.”

In particular, USA*Engage recognized Rep. Moran for his recent vote opposing an amendment to the FY2010 State, Foreign Appropriations bill, which would have prohibited the Export-Import Bank from supporting U.S. exports to companies worldwide that may have business ties with Iran’s energy sector. The NFTC and USA*Engage believe that the amendment amounted to a unilateral U.S. sanction on worldwide companies and would have severely harmed America’s companies and workers and more importantly, companies operating in the same countries whose governments are playing leading roles in multilateral efforts to influence the Iranian regime.

During his remarks regarding additional sanctions against Iran being proposed by members of Congress, Rep. Moran stated, “The reality is that if we impose sanctions, they [other nations] won’t, and simply, they will have a stronger foothold. Our response isn’t effective and nor will it be. We need to empower those young people [of Iran], the majority of whom are under 25. Sanctions just give more fuel to the propaganda of the regime.”

Since its inception, USA*Engage has maintained a commitment to advocating for diplomacy and dialogue as means of addressing important political, social and economic concerns facing the global community. USA*Engage also remains a strong proponent of trade and citizen diplomacy, and consistently opposes U.S. unilateral sanctions.

In addition to being honored for his stance against unilateral sanctions, the congressman was also applauded for his efforts to reform U.S. policy toward Cuba and for his support of the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) and other trade-liberalizing legislation.

With regard to trade, Rep. Moran highlighted the economic impact, noting, “Some 550,000 jobs in California are due to trade, 340,000 in Texas, millions more jobs in our economy. Seventy percent of our small and medium-sized businesses are directly or indirectly related to exports.”

“Congressman Moran is one of the true champions of trade and diplomacy in Congress. He has stood up time and time again in support of what he believes is right and has cast votes that are based on his belief in the value of economic and diplomatic engagement, even when it was not politically convenient to do so,” said Director of USA*Engage Richard Sawaya. “We deeply value his leadership and are pleased to honor him today.”

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 policy-makers, 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

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.
 

Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) and USA*Engage today welcomed the release of new Cuba regulations by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security. The regulations, which implement President Obama’s April 13 directive on Cuba policy, loosen restrictions on the ability of Cuban Americans and businesspersons to travel to Cuba, expand the amount of remittances and other items that may be sent or brought to Cuba, and allow for increased participation by U.S. businesses in Cuba’s telecommunication industry.

“We welcome the new regulations, which represent a shift in U.S policy and will help to advance diplomacy through increased travel to and communication with Cuba,” said NFTC President and USA*Engage Co-Chair Bill Reinsch. “In particular, we applaud changes in rules regulating the provision of telecommunications services and the loosening of travel restrictions related to the sale of agriculture, medical and communications equipment, allowing for increased contact between Cuba and the U.S. private sector.”

“While these changes are encouraging, Congress and the Administration can’t lose sight of the fact that there is much more work left to be done to reform U.S. Cuba policy,” said NFTC Vice President for Global Trade Issues Jake Colvin. “We encourage Congress to pass legislation lifting restrictions on the right of U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba, and hope that the Administration will further loosen restrictions on the ability of students, artists, researchers and others to travel to Cuba as permitted under current law. The Administration can do more here.”

Additional information is available here.

Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council, joined by the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Council for International Business, the Organization for International Investment and USA*Engage, today filed an amicus brief with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in support of defendants who are appealing a lower court ruling in the alien tort lawsuit charging multinational corporations with aiding and abetting human rights violations during apartheid in South Africa.

The lawsuit, now known as Balintulo v. Daimler, AG, et al., was originally filed in 2002 against 85 U.S. and European companies that had done business in South Africa prior to 1994. The case was dismissed in Federal District Court in 2005, but was sent back to that Court by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in 2007. Since then the District Court has ruled that the case may go forward and the defendants have appealed to the Second Circuit to dismiss the case. This amicus brief is in support of that appeal.

This is one of several lawsuits brought under the alien tort statute that allege the conduct of lawful business in a country with a poor human rights record constitutes aiding and abetting violations of international law. The NFTC has urged the federal courts to dismiss these cases.

The amicus brief filed today cites the fact that both the U.S. and the South African governments have asked that the case be dismissed and concludes that where the executive branch determines that trade will promote the interests of the United States (and improve the lot of foreign citizens as well) courts must respect that determination by shutting down inconsistent litigation at the earliest opportunity.

For a full copy of the brief, please click here.

 

Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) and USA*Engage today released a statement applauding Senator Jim Webb for his two-day diplomatic visit to Burma this past weekend.

“Senator Webb’s success in negotiating with the Burmese government to secure the release of American prisoner John Yettaw and to meet with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is tangible evidence of the crucial role diplomacy and engagement play in advancing relations with nations that do not necessarily subscribe to U.S. values and ideals,” said NFTC President and USA*Engage Co-Chair Bill Reinsch.

“Instead of pursuing U.S. national interests through diplomacy, members of Congress embrace economic sanctions, despite all their unintended consequences,” said USA*Engage Director Richard Sawaya. “We welcome Senator Webb’s recognition that sanctions do not change the behavior of regimes at odds with the United States. In the case of Burma, they have in fact stiffened the resolve of its military and hurt U.S. commerce to the benefit of China. We commend the senator’s support for diplomacy that may include commercial engagement.”

Since its inception in 1997, USA*Engage has advocated for increased engagement and dialogue between the United States and the international community, as opposed to unilateral sanctions. Through various initiatives, USA*Engage helps to inform policymakers’ perspectives on the diplomatic and economic costs of a U.S. foreign policy too reliant on sanctions.
 

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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 policy-makers, 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

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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Washington, DC – The Coalition for Security and Competitiveness (CSC) today welcomed the White House’s announcement that the Administration will conduct a comprehensive review of U.S. export controls. The CSC, which was initially formed in 2007 by eight leading trade and industry organizations to provide recommendations for enhancing both security and competitiveness through modernization of U.S. export controls, issued the following statement in response to the White House’s announcement:

“The CSC welcomes the President’s announcement and applauds his leadership on this important issue. The Coalition strongly supports practical measures aimed at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the export control regime. The need for new policies and processes to advance our national security, foreign policy and economic interests has never been more compelling than it is right now. The Coalition looks forward to working with the Administration on this issue as the review gets underway.”

CSC members include the Aerospace Industries Association, the Association of American Exporters and Importers, the AMT – Association for Manufacturing Technology, Business Roundtable, the Coalition for Employment Through Exports, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the Industrial Fastener Institute, the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Defense Industrial Association, the National Foreign Trade Council, the Satellite Industry Association, The Space Foundation, TechAmerica and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
 

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Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) and USA*Engage today welcomed a decision issued by the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, dismissing Sinaltrainal, et al. v. the Coca-Cola Company, et al., a case in which plaintiffs, who were trade union organizers, brought suit against two bottling companies in Colombia under the Alien Tort Statute. The plaintiffs alleged that the defendants, which included the Coca-Cola Company, aided and abetted Colombian paramilitary forces’ crimes against humanity.

“We applaud the 11th Circuit Court’s unanimous decision to uphold the District Court for the Southern District of Florida’s dismissal of the case,” said NFTC President and USA*Engage Co-Chair Bill Reinsch. “Numerous cases have been brought by plaintiffs against U.S. and foreign multinational companies under the Alien Tort Statute, when companies have in fact acted lawfully. This decision has added the Circuit Court’s voice to the growing body of jurisprudence that limits the liability of private companies for the actions of governments in whose territory they have operations.”

The NFTC and USA*Engage have long been active in opposing expansive use of aiding and abetting in alien tort cases and have filed amicus briefs in several such cases including this one.

For a full copy of the 11th Circuit Court’s decision, 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 policy-makers, 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

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.