Category: Press Releases and Statements

Peterson Institute’s Gary Hufbauer Delivers Testimony During House Energy & Commerce Hearing, References NFTC Climate Change Paper & Written Statement from Bill Reinsch

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Washington, DC – Today Gary Clyde Hufbauer, Reginald Jones Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, delivered testimony during a hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy & Commerce  Subcommittee on Energy & Air Quality.

In his testimony during the hearing, themed “Climate Change: Competitiveness Concerns and Prospects for Engaging Developing Countries,” Hufbauer referenced the National Foreign Trade Council’s (NFTC) recent paper on climate change, titled “WTO – Compatibility of Four Categories of U.S. Climate Change Policy.” Hufbauer also noted that attached to his written testimony was a statement from NFTC President Bill Reinsch, who was originally scheduled to testify.

For a full copy of Gary Hufbauer’s testimony, which includes the NFTC statement from Bill Reinsch, please see the URL:  www.nftc.org/default/Press Release/2008/ClimateTestimony.pdf

To read the NFTC climate change paper, please visit the following URL: http://www.nftc.org/default/trade/WTO/Climate%20Change%20Paper.pdf

The U.S.-Middle East Free Trade Coalition, managed by the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC), and is made up of over 110 U.S. companies and associations supporting trade expansion and economic development in the Middle East.

The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based world economy. Founded in 1914 by a group of American companies that supported an open world trading system, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.

NFTC Applauds ATPA Extension, Urges Approval of Colombia FTA

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Council Says Colombia Already Benefits from ATPA, FTA Levels Playing Field for United States

Washington, DC ­ The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today released a statement, applauding Members of Congress for voting to extend the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA), which was set to expire tomorrow. The NFTC also urged the House and Senate to begin moving forward on the U.S.-Colombia FTA.

“We commend Congress for extending the Andean preferences, but Members should go a step further and begin considering the U.S.-Colombia FTA in the coming weeks,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “Many goods from Colombia already enter the United States duty-free under the ATPA, but the United States does not currently enjoy those same benefits in the Colombian market. The U.S.-Colombia FTA is a mutually beneficial agreement that will eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade in both the United States and Colombia.”

“In December, Congress approved the U.S.-Peru FTA, and with today’s extension of the ATPA, it is clear that Members understand the importance of the Andean nations and enhancing economic relations with our allies in the Western Hemisphere,” said Chuck Dittrich, NFTC Vice President for Regional Trade Initiatives. “Colombia is a growing market for U.S. exports, from agriculture to IT equipment. Congressional approval of the FTA would send a strong signal to Colombia and the rest of Latin America that the United States is committed to fortifying our trade partnership with the region.”

Advancing Global Commerce for Over 90 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.

USA*Engage, Genocide Intervention Network Host Briefing on Trade and Investment in Southern Sudan

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Washington DC – USA*Engage, the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) and the Genocide Intervention Network hosted a briefing this afternoon with representatives from the Government of Southern Sudan Mission to the United States of America and the U.S. Department of Treasury to discuss U.S. regulations on trade and investment in Southern Sudan. The briefing also highlighted the importance of, and opportunities for, trade and investment in Southern Sudan as part of a multi-pronged international effort to stabilize the country and the region.

“While sanctions are in place restricting trade and investment in the North, it is not widely known that companies acting within OFAC regulations can conduct business in Southern Sudan,” said USA*Engage Director Jake Colvin. “U.S. government sanctions are fairly nuanced in this regard, and there is an important distinction that allows trade and investment by international businesses and donors.  The hope is that this sort of engagement can help boost economic growth in the South and have a broader effect to stabilize the country.”

“As an organization committed to ending genocide wherever it exists around the world, we will continue to press forward with efforts to shed light on the genocide in Darfur and ensure that it continues to receive international attention.  Part of that effort is to raise awareness about how engagement in Southern Sudan can help lift the region’s people and its economy out of the turmoil, and have positive effects to stabilize the entire country,” said Adam Sterling, Director of the Sudan Divestment Task Force.

During today’s briefing, the three sponsoring associations were joined by an official from the U.S. Treasury Department and Deng Nhial of the Government of Southern Sudan Mission to the United States of America.

Nhial noted that industries ripe for growth in Southern Sudan include agriculture, fisheries, construction, transportation, hospitality and eco-tourism, among others. He noted that currently only small and mid-sized U.S. companies have a presence Southern Sudan.

“The South cannot stabilize the whole country alone. We need the support of the international business community, and the government of Southern Sudan is appealing to the international community, specifically the United States, to engage in foreign direct investment,” said Nhial. “The U.S. government has been at the forefront of developing the peace agreement. Other countries are taking advantage of the opportunity [to trade and invest].”

He continued, “I’ve received numerous inquiries from NGOs and companies that want to operate in Southern Sudan but did not know they could. Engagement is the important part, and one company going in [to the South] sends the signal to investors that the environment is conducive for investment.”

Nhial discussed three critical events scheduled to take place in the near future that will shape Sudan and bear weight on how the international community interacts with the country moving forward. This year, a census is to be taken and in 2009, elections will be held in Sudan. Finally, a referendum vote on Southern Sudanese independence from the rest of the country will take place in 2011. Nhial also discussed how UN and USAID projects to build roads from the Port of Mombasa, Kenya into South Sudan, will literally help to pave the way for more trade opportunities with the rest of the world.

For more information about the Government of Southern Sudan Mission to the United States of America, please visit http://www.gossmission.org/goss/.  For more information about U.S. regulations involving Sudan, visit http://www.treas.gov/ofac.

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.

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.

The Genocide Intervention Network is working to build the first permanent anti-genocide constituency in the United States, mobilizing the political will to stop genocide when it occurs. Accessible online at www.GenocideIntervention.net, GI-Net empowers individuals with tools to stop genocide through education, fundraising for civilian protection and advocacy efforts.

USA*Engage Calls for “new playbook” for Cuba Policy in the post-Fidel Era

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Business coalition says Cuba a “natural market,” calls sanctions a “flat out” failure

Washington, DC – Today, USA*Engage director Jake Colvin released the following statement in response to the announcement that Raul Castro is the new president of Cuba. The coalition today also announced the release of a new fact-sheet, “U.S. government agency reports show Cuba policy harms American interests,” available at www.usaengage.org. 
 
“For nearly 50 years, the U.S. has been too hung up on Fidel Castro to allow for any realistic assessment of our policies.  Now that Fidel is no longer at the helm, it is time to get over the Cold War and get serious about an approach to Cuba that aligns our policies with our interests.
 
“Our Cold War strategy of isolating Cuba has failed to evolve and is at odds with America’s political and economic engagement of countries like Vietnam and China. Americans are incredible ambassadors of freedom and opportunity to the world.  U.S. policies should facilitate contact with the Cuban people instead of prohibiting it at every turn.
 
“Unilateral sanctions rarely achieve their objectives.  In the case of Cuba, sanctions have flat out failed for close to 50 years.  They divert resources from fighting terrorism, hurt American businesses, and separate the American and Cuban people.  Cuba is a natural market for American companies, and the business community wants to see change.
 
“While Washington is officially resigned to take a wait-and-see approach, today’s announcement should prompt a dispassionate look at how to treat Cuba in the post-Fidel era. Instead of maintaining this outdated Cold War facade, the president and his potential successors should give serious thought to a new playbook for Cuba policy.”  

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.

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 and CEE Critical of Advisory Committee Report on Deemed Exports

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Twelve Leading Business Organizations Cite Concerns in Letter to Commerce Secretary

Washington, DC – In a letter sent today to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC), the Coalition for Employment through Exports (CEE), and ten other leading business organizations questioned the practicality of recent recommendations made by the Deemed Export Advisory Committee (DEAC), and warned of the significant negative impact on U.S. technological leadership if the recommendations were to be adopted.

The organizations agreed with DEAC report findings regarding the difficulty of controlling the global flow of technological knowledge, particularly through the use of unilateral U.S. export control regulations. The organizations also endorsed the report’s call for limiting the scope of deemed exports but criticized DEAC for a lack of guidance in addressing either of these issues.

The letter to Secretary Guttierrez stated: “While the DEAC identified several specific technologies as examples for continued controls, it did not make comprehensive recommendations for narrowing the list of dual-use technologies, or for criteria for revising the control list. Without such guidance, the interagency process is unlikely to make any significant reduction in the scope of technologies covered.”

The letter also expressed concerns that more foreign nationals would be subject to deemed export controls and loyalty tests, stating: “The DEAC’s suggested criteria for clearing foreign nationals would amount to processing Top Secret security clearances for thousands of foreign nationals, a procedure that takes months for U.S. citizens and that has been backlogged for several years.”

The letter continued: “If the current scope of controlled technologies were maintained and the number of foreign nationals subject to licensing were expanded, the annual volume of deemed export license applications would immediately rise from the current 900-1000 to many thousands, far surpassing the government’s resources to process them… The inevitable logjam in license processing combined with increased denials of licenses for nationals of a larger number of countries would accelerate the shift overseas of industrial technology research and development.”

The letter concluded by urging the Commerce Department to “go back to the drawing board and work closely with industry in developing an approach that will produce a more balanced result.”
For a copy of the letter, visit www.nftc.org/default/VISA/DEAC Letter.pdf

The letter was signed by:
•AeA
•American Council on International Personnel
•AMT – Association for Manufacturing Technology
•Coalition for Employment Through Exports
•Computer Coalition for Responsible Exports
•Computer and Communications Industry Association
•Emergency Committee for American Trade
•Information Technology Industry Council
•International Safety Equipment Association
•National Council on International Trade Development
•National Foreign Trade Council
•U.S.-China Business Council

Advancing Global Commerce for Over 90 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.

International Education and Business Groups Applaud Introduction of Legislation to Improve U.S. Competitiveness for International Talent

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ACTION Act addresses REAL ID, trusted traveler, visa-processing, and other key issues

WASHINGTON, February 15, 2008 – NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the National Foreign Trade Council, and USA*Engage applaud yesterday’s introduction by Senators Norm Coleman (R – Minn.) and Jeff Bingaman (D – N.M.) of the American Competitiveness Through International Openness Now (ACTION) Act of 2008. This key piece of legislation addresses many of the specific barriers to international educational and scientific exchange, and international business travel, that have raised widespread concern among lawmakers, business leaders, foreign-policy experts, and the higher-education community about the United States’ competitiveness as a destination for the world’s talent.

“The ACTION Act recognizes that our national security and competitiveness depend to a large degree on the United States’ ability to maintain and enhance its openness to international students, scholars, exchange visitors, scientists, and business travelers,” said NAFSA Executive Director and CEO Marlene M. Johnson. “We greatly appreciate the leadership of Senator Coleman and Senator Bingaman on these significant issues, and we urge Congress to support this important legislation.”

“We welcome the introduction of this important piece of legislation, which is essential to U.S. economic competitiveness,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “The United States must ensure that America’s doors are secure, but remain open to international business travelers and the best and brightest minds, if we are to remain the world’s leader in innovation and the center of global commerce.”

“Our visa policy is in need of reform, and the ACTION Act is a step in the right direction,” said USA*Engage Director Jake Colvin. “The United States’ diplomatic efforts abroad are best served by delivering a message to the rest of world that America is open to international visitors.”
 
In order to better coordinate the efforts of various government entities to attract international talent to the United States, the centerpiece of the ACTION Act is the establishment of an International Education Coordination Council in the White House. The legislation also calls on the President of the United States to submit to Congress a strategic plan for increasing U.S. competitiveness in this area. 

Some of the other key elements of the ACTION Act include:

  • Amending the REAL ID Act to facilitate drivers’ license issuance and renewal for international students and exchange visitors;
  • Facilitating business travel through a “trusted traveler” program, enhancing consular resources, and allowing holders of employment-based visas to renew them in the United States, as recommended in the final report by the Secure Borders and Open Doors Advisory Committee to the Homeland Security Advisory Council.
  • Eliminating the requirement that applicants for student visas prove that they do not intend to immigrate to the United States;
  • Facilitating the transition for international students from student-visa status to H-1B (an employment-based visa) status;
  • Expanding the duration and portability of certain security clearances, and reducing visa-processing times; and
  • Permitting short-term study on a tourist visa.

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.

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.

With nearly 10,000 members in all 50 states and more than 150 countries, NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the world’s largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education.

NFTC Urges WTO Members to Agree on New Agriculture and NAMA Modalities, Conclude Round Successfully

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Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today released the following statement, welcoming new texts on agriculture and industrial market access in the Doha Round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations. The NFTC urged WTO member countries to also move the services negotiations forward and seize the opportunity to successfully conclude the Round.
 
“The NFTC applauds the negotiating chairs for releasing the revised texts on agriculture and NAMA, which will provide the foundation for continued talks,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “However, the negotiating group on services must also produce a text that could move forward in parallel with the other two pillars of the Doha Round. With the updated modalities in these three critical areas, there is a real opportunity for all countries, especially advanced developing and developing nations, to exert leadership and reach an agreement on these core issues as soon as possible.”
 
“With many nations, including the United States, expressing a strong commitment to conclude the negotiations, an ambitious and successful end to the Round could be in sight,” said NFTC Senior Vice President Catherine Bennett. “The real test of this commitment, however, will come as member nations review the new texts. We urge countries to stay focused on the goal at hand and resist the urge to derail talks by putting forth unreasonable demands.”
 
“Six years ago, each nation came to the negotiating table to work together on a multilateral effort of paramount importance – to boost world economic growth by liberalizing trade and removing barriers to an open, rules-based trading system. Six years later, the goal remains the same and though progress has been made, time is running out. Now is the time to reach a real breakthrough in negotiations and conclude the Round,” Reinsch concluded.

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Advancing Global Commerce for Over 90 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 Applauds New Initiative to Expand U.S.- Asia-Pacific Economic Relations, Investment and Financial Services Opportunities

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Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today released the following statement, welcoming an announcement by the U.S. Trade Representative that in the coming weeks the United States will participate in investment and financial services negotiations with Singapore, Chile, New Zealand and Brunei – the “P-4” group of countries.

“As an organization comprised of companies representing a broad cross section of industries that drive the U.S. economy, the NFTC applauds the initiative to deepen ties and expand the scope our economic relations with trading partners in the Asia-Pacific region,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “At a time when it appears the U.S. economy may be taking a downturn, increasing market access in the financial services and investment sectors is essential to curbing this trend and stimulating economic growth both here and around the world.”

“Opening markets in Asia-Pacific nations to investments and services offered by U.S. companies not only benefits the millions of people these industries collectively employ, but the global economy as a whole,” said Chuck Dittrich, NFTC Vice President for Regional Trade Initiatives. “Trade with countries in the Asia-Pacific region accounts for more than half of global GDP, making the expansion of our relations with the P-4 countries all the more vital.”

Advancing Global Commerce for Over 90 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.