Category: Press Releases and Statements
International Education and Business Groups Applaud Introduction of Legislation to Improve U.S. Competitiveness for International Talent
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
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.
###
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
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.
NFTC Releases Statement on 2008 State of the Union Address
Washington, DC – National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President Bill Reinsch today released a statement in response to the President’s State of the Union address.
“The NFTC applauds the President for continuing to push ahead with the U.S. free trade agenda, and we echo the President’s call for Members of Congress to consider and approve without further delay free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.
“All three agreements will boost U.S. export growth and guarantee U.S. manufacturers, farmers and service providers unprecedented access to these markets, which is vital to the strength of the U.S. economy. These agreements also incorporate the environmental and labor standards included in the bipartisan consensus on trade reached by the Administration and Congress last spring.
“As an organization representing some 300 companies in a wide range of industries that drive U.S. and international economic growth, we call on Congress to seize the opportunity to level the playing field by maximizing the benefits of our economic relations with these three nations – benefits these countries already enjoy.
“We urge the House and Senate leadership to make these agreements a legislative priority in the coming weeks by setting into motion the formal Congressional review process, with committees of jurisdiction scheduling hearings and considering the FTAs as soon as possible.”
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 Administration Effort to Modernize U.S. Export Control Regulations
Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today welcomed news that the President signed off on a set of directives aimed at reforming the U.S. export control system. In response NFTC President Bill Reinsch released the following statement:
“I applaud the Administration for initiating an effort to modernize U.S. export controls in a way that both protects our national security interests and encourages economic competitiveness and innovation.
“This is not the first time an Administration has launched export control reforms. Ultimately, their success or failure depends on prompt aggressive implementation by a sometimes unenthusiastic bureaucracy. It will take a firm hand and strong management by the National Security Council to ensure that the President’s decisions are quickly adopted by the State and Commerce Departments.
“I hope this effort succeeds. If the United States is to remain a competitive global leader in innovation well into the 21st century, it is essential that we have an export control system that strikes that delicate balance between keeping America safe and ensuring that U.S. companies are able to export goods to markets abroad.”
The NFTC is a member of the Coalition on Security and Competitiveness, a group of prominent trade and industry organizations whose recommendations formed the basis for much of the President’s decision.
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 Welcomes New Chairman John Mullen, CEO, DHL Express
Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today announced the appointment of its new Chairman, John Mullen, Chief Executive Officer for the Express division of Deutsche Post World Net (DPWN), the parent company of DHL, effective January 22, 2008. Mullen oversees DHL’s global operations, which includes a presence in more than 225 countries and territories. DHL Express, the market leader in the international express and logistics industry, operates a fleet of 420 aircraft and 72,000 vehicles and employs 124,000 people worldwide.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome John Mullen as our new Chairman. As the CEO of a company with expansive international operations, John understands the importance and complexities of global commerce and our open-rules based trading system,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “He will be an immeasurably valuable asset to the NFTC and our member companies.”
Mullen is also a member of the Board of Management of DPWN, the world’s largest transport and logistics group. Prior to being named worldwide CEO of the Express division, Mullen was the CEO of U.S.-based DHL Americas. Before joining DHL, Mullen spent 10 years with the TNT group, holding various senior leadership positions, including Chief Operating Officer for two years and Chief Executive Officer of TNT Express Worldwide for three years.
“With protectionist sentiments growing, the Doha Round outcome uncertain and much work left to be completed in the U.S. Congress on the three pending FTAs, now is a critical time for the NFTC to work with policymakers to illustrate and underscore the benefits of trade to domestic and international economic growth,” said Mullen. “I look forward to working with the NFTC to help lead these efforts.”
Mullen will succeed Dinesh Paliwal, President, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of Harman International, who served as Chairman of the NFTC since 2005.
“We wholeheartedly extend thanks to Dinesh for all of his contributions to help advance the longstanding, pro-trade mission of the NFTC,” said Reinsch. “During his tenure as Chairman, Dinesh was critical to our efforts to press for passage of FTAs with Oman and Peru, as well as Vietnam PNTR and other trade-related legislation. We appreciate his leadership and service to the organization and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
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 and NFTC Submit Comments to SEC on Concept Release
Call Commission’s Activity on Enhanced Access to Company Disclosures ‘Inappropriate’
Washington DC – USA*Engage and the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today sent formal comments to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), recommending that the Commission reconsider its proposal to further develop mechanisms to facilitate greater access to companies’ disclosures concerning their business activities in or with certain countries designated as “state sponsors of terrorism.” In comments sent to the SEC, the associations noted that U.S. companies operating in such countries are conducting legal, legitimate business, and that the proposed mechanism actually punishes those companies who are most transparent.
“The proposed SEC tool is inherently flawed, and while the Commission is seeking comments on how to improve it, the fact is that it should have never been created,” said NFTC President and USA*Engage Co-Chair Bill Reinsch. “To have the SEC selectively posting the names of companies legitimately doing business is inappropriate, in part because it would discourage companies from reporting any activity in excess of what is absolutely required under securities law.”
The letter points out that “a web tool based on company disclosures is further flawed because there is no standard by which to report the nature or extent of business on a country-by-country basis across companies. As a result, companies with more robust reporting mechanisms would be penalized for voluntarily disclosing additional information.”
The letter also emphasizes that it would be “arbitrary for the Commission to provide enhanced access to information in this case but to ignore requests for the same enhanced access for companies doing business in countries on the State Department’s list of ‘Countries of Particular Concern’ contained in its Annual Report on International Religious Freedom, Tier 3 Countries named in the Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report, countries subject to enhanced U.S. export controls for reasons of weapons proliferation, or in the case of Sudan or future situations where the U.S. Government has declared that genocide is taking place.”
The associations, collectively representing small and large businesses that help to generate U.S. economic growth and development, also argue “regardless of the intent or method of enhanced access that the Commission would provide, the inevitable result of any disproportionate access would be to suggest a bias against companies that are highlighted.”
The letter points out anecdotally that some of the companies listed on a previous iteration of the SEC tool resulted in “their precipitous exit from legitimate sales, distribution and service relationships out of a desire on the part of management to disassociate themselves with whatever business caused the additional attention, even when that business was legitimate and legal under local and international law and immaterial to the company’s operations. These precipitous exits expose these companies to penalties and lawsuits by business partners for breaches of obligations.”
In closing, USA*Engage and the NFTC highlight that “it is inappropriate for such a company to be identified by a tool of the Commission when it is conducting legitimate business… It would be both unusual and inappropriate for the Commission to pursue this matter further.”
For a copy of the comments, please click here.
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.
USA*Engage Applauds New GAO Report Questioning Effectiveness of U.S. Sanctions Against Iran
Washington, DC – USA*Engage Co-Chair Bill Reinsch today released the following statement in response to a report released this week by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), titled “Iran Sanctions: Impact in Furthering U.S. Objectives Is Unclear and Should Be Reviewed.” The report calls into question the effectiveness of U.S. sanctions against Iran and recommends that Congress and the Administration garner the appropriate information and tools to regularly evaluate their impact.
“We commend the GAO for producing this report and for asking the tough questions about unilateral sanctions that the NFTC and USA*Engage have been asking policymakers for more than a decade. Consistently, we have questioned why Congress does not more adequately scrutinize unilateral sanctions, the ways in which they are implemented, and whether they actually achieve intended results.
“Since the mid-1990s, when the USA*Engage coalition was formed, we have argued that ‘feel good’ unilateral sanctions guided by emotional impulse and the need to ‘do something’ are often ineffective and counterproductive. Unilateral sanctions, we’ve said, should be the last tool used in the U.S. foreign policy toolbox. That kind of go-it-alone approach alienates the United States from our allies whose support would be at the very least useful in putting increased multilateral pressure on sanctioned regimes or individuals.
“While the report focuses specifically on Iran, it more importantly raises the specter that U.S. sanctions policy is in need of reform, as called for by champions of diplomacy like Senator Richard Lugar and former Rep. Lee Hamilton.
“We have long been calling for the recommendations included in this report, primarily that Congress and the Administration, in the name of accountability, should evaluate and reevaluate our sanctions policy. Congress must require, and the Administration must establish, metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of sanctions.”
The GAO report concludes, “…the overall impact of sanctions, and the extent to which these sanctions further U.S. objectives, is unclear. On the other hand, some evidence, such as foreign firms signing contracts to invest in Iran’s energy sector and Iran’s continued proliferation efforts, raise questions about the extent of the sanctions’ impact. Moreover, U.S. agencies do not systematically collect information on the direct results of the multiple sanctions they implement, or their data do not provide specific information on Iran sanctions. These agencies have not conducted a baseline assessment of the impact of the sanctions. Collecting data on the results of multiple sanctions against Iran and conducting an overall baseline assessment is challenging, given all the agencies involved and the complexities of collecting some of the necessary information. However, without an overall assessment of the sanctions’ impact and subsequent reviews on a periodic basis, the Congress and the Administration will continue to lack important information for developing effective strategies to influence Iran’s behavior.” The report can be found here: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0858.pdf.
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.
USA*Engage Marks Decade of Advocacy with Re-Launch of Web Site
Features New Resources on U.S. Foreign Policy and Diplomacy
Washington DC – USA*Engage today re-launched its Web site, www.USAEngage.org, with new tools, issues pages, publications and other resources, which underscore the importance of diplomacy, trade and engagement between the United States and the international community.
“Ten years ago, U.S. foreign policy seemed to turn frequently to unilateral sanctions,” said USA*Engage Co-Chair Bill Reinsch. “Today, the pendulum seems to be swinging back in the same direction. This new Web site will be an excellent tool as we seek to reinforce the benefits of U.S. engagement and diplomacy in the world.”
Since its inception more than a decade ago, USAEngage.org has been widely recognized as a resource for information about U.S. unilateral sanctions policy. The redesigned Web site features new issues pages cataloging USA*Engage’s work on its priority issues as well as important publications from unaffiliated organizations. These priorities include: State and Federal sanctions; Diplomacy, Trade & Aid; Engaging Cuba; Rethinking Iran; the Alien Tort Statute; Export Controls Policy; and Visa Policy.
The site also includes new navigation and drop-down menus, making articles, legislative updates and publications easier to access. All information posted on the Web site prior to the beginning of 2008 can still be accessed through the site. An archives section preserves access to, and the format of, the coalition’s activities from 1997-2001.
Site visitors can also sign up on the homepage to receive timely updates on USA*Engage’s work.
The original USA*Engage Web site, which was launched in 1997 as an educational tool for policymakers to illustrate the diplomatic and economic costs of a U.S. foreign policy too reliant on unilateral sanctions, was one of the very first sites designed and used specifically for issue advocacy.
The new www.USAEngage.org web site was designed by Free Range Studios.
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.
