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Category: Press Releases and Statements
USA*Engage and NFTC Express Concern Over Committee Approval of Sudan Divestment Bill
Washington DC – USA*Engage and the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today released a statement expressing concern over the Senate Banking Committee’s approval of the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act.
“The NFTC fully supports efforts to bring peace and stability to Darfur, but encouraging states and local governments to levy sanctions against Sudan is not the answer,” said Bill Reinsch, President of NFTC and Co-Chair of USA*Engage. “The Senate Banking Committee has made significant improvements in the House-passed version of the bill, but we continue to believe that it is in the best interest of the United States and our allies for the federal government to set foreign policy, not states.”
“Before taking any further action, we urge Members to take a careful look at the legislation, think through the long term implications of subcontracting foreign policy to the states, and thoroughly examine the bill’s provisions to ensure that they are in line with U.S. foreign policy objectives, and that they provide sufficient latitude to allow the President to conduct an effective foreign policy,” concluded Reinsch.
In August 2006, the NFTC brought suit against the state of Illinois, challenging the constitutionality of the state’s Act to End Terrorism and Atrocities in the Sudan. On February 23, 2007, the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois to deemed the law unconstitutional. The NFTC lawsuit followed the precedent set in the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2000 decision in Crosby v. NFTC, in which the Court struck down sanctions enacted by Massachusetts on Burma. In that decision the Court ruled that if the federal government has enacted sanctions on a country, state and local governments are preempted from imposing sanctions of their own.
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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.
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 Supports US-Peru FTA
National Foreign Trade Council Statement on Washington Legal Foundation Section 211 Legal Paper
NFTC Expresses Strong Disappointment with NAMA 11 Paper
Calls for Real Leadership in the
“The NFTC is very disappointed that several developing countries tabled yesterday a paper that focuses more on what advanced developing countries can’t do on industrial goods market opening in the Doha Round, instead of what they can do,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “With major positive signs of progress in the Doha negotiations over the past several weeks, including a clear commitment by the United States to work with the suggested range of domestic support cuts in the
Chairman’s text on agricultural, this paper goes in the opposite direction.”
“At the end of the day, if we can’t achieve a consensus on the tariff cutting modalities provided in the text, it’s hard to see how these negotiations are going to conclude. Frankly, even under the most ambitious coefficient in the text for advanced developing countries, many applied tariff rates would be left untouched in those countries. The
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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
Testimony of William A. Reinsch: Sudan Divestment Issues: The Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act
House Majority Leader Hoyer Outlines “New Deal” on Trade
Secretary Gutierrez, USTR Schwab Press for Bipartisan Approval of
Pending Agreements
Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) last night hosted its 93rd Annual World Trade Dinner and Award Ceremony at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) delivered the keynote address and discussed trade and the importance of international engagement and multilateral institutions on a range of issues. Hoyer pledged Democratic support for approval of the pending U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA), citing it as an example of a bipartisan “New Deal” on trade, which will address workers’ rights, the environment and the safeguarding of American jobs in future trade agreements.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez and U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab also urged Members of Congress to approve pending trade agreements with Peru, Panama, Colombia and South Korea.
“When the Democrats regained majorities in the House and Senate in January, we were presented with an opportunity to advance trade agreements that enforced worker rights and environmental standards,” said Rep. Hoyer, who represents Maryland’s Fifth Congressional District and is currently serving his 14th term. “In our opinion, this agreement [May 10 bipartisan agreement on trade] strengthens core values and outlines the path forward for bipartisan trade agreements. We want to work these [agreements] in a bipartisan fashion. We think that is good for our country and we think it is good for the rest of the world.”
Hoyer noted that the House would soon vote on the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, and predicted bipartisan support.
“Free and fair trade not only can foster an international economic system based on the rule of law, but also a movement toward democratic reform, market economics and respect for basic human rights – and as a result a more stable, secure political environment,” said Hoyer. “But certainly one of the greater economic challenges of our time is managing the benefits of trade while addressing the very real, adverse consequences that trade and globalization have had on many of our constituents and communities.”
Ambassador Schwab applauded Rep. Hoyer’s commitment to pursuing a bipartisan consensus on the U.S. trade agenda during her introduction of him. Schwab also reinforced the need for Congress to come together in a bipartisan manner to act as soon as possible on the four pending trade agreements. “This is the beginning of an important journey for all of us. Free trade agreements are never easy…And no matter who controls Congress or the White House, we will need a trade policy that sustains American competitiveness in the global marketplace…The trade policy negotiated during this Congress transcends party and president and politics.”
Commerce Secretary Gutierrez stated that “Congressional approval of the four pending free trade agreements, with Peru, with Colombia, Panama, South Korea will further open up markets of 126 million people with a combined GDP of $1.1 trillion.”
“More than 80 percent of the imports that come in today from Peru, Colombia and Panama enter the United States duty-free. Congress has already given their farmers, ranchers and workers preferential access to our market. The question we have is why can we not do the same for our farmers, our ranchers and our workers,” Gutierrez continued.
“We applaud the leadership of Congressman Hoyer, Ambassador Schwab and Secretary Gutierrez for reaching across the aisle to make positive steps forward on trade and global engagement,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “A bipartisan way forward is the only way forward and the NFTC commends their commitment to this ideal.”
The NFTC dinner was attended by members of Congress, the Administration, and the business community. In addition, ambassadors and embassy officials from numerous countries also attended, including representatives from Brazil, Canada, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, the European Union, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, India, New Zealand, Oman, Panama, the Philippines, Russia, Switzerland, Vietnam and Yemen.
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
Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Honored with NFTC World Trade Award
Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today announced that Jim Owens, Chairman and CEO of Peoria, Illinois-based Caterpillar Inc., is the recipient of its prestigious 2007 World Trade Award. Owens officially received the award last night at the NFTC’s 93rd Annual World Trade Dinner and Award Ceremony at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
“Jim is one of the U.S. business community’s leading voices in the trade arena, and has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to advocating for the expansion of an open, rules-based global trading system,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “Throughout his tenure at Caterpillar, Jim has led countless initiatives to build bridges between the private and public sectors on issues of global commerce. We are pleased to honor his tireless service.”
The NFTC’s World Trade Award recognizes members of the business community who are respected for proven lifetime leadership in building consensus and promoting the benefits of open trade and investment. The first World Trade Award was presented in 1937.
Owens, who became Chairman and CEO of Caterpillar in February 2004, held numerous management positions after joining the company in 1972. Owens was named chief economist of Caterpillar Overseas S.A. in Geneva, Switzerland in 1975. From 1980 until 1987 he held managerial positions in Peoria in the Accounting and Product Source Planning Departments. In 1987 he became managing director of P.T. Natra Raya, Caterpillar’s joint venture in Indonesia. He held that position until 1990, when he was elected a corporate vice president and named president of Solar Turbines Incorporated, a Caterpillar subsidiary in San Diego. In 1993 he came to Peoria as vice president and chief financial officer with administrative responsibility for the Corporate Services Division.
In 1995, Owens was named a group president and member of Caterpillar’s Executive Office. Over the next eight years as a group president, Owens was at various times responsible for 13 of the company’s 25 divisions. In December 2003, the Caterpillar Board of Directors named Owens vice chairman and appointed him chairman and chief executive officer effective February 1, 2004.
In addition to his membership in the NFTC, Owens is a director of the Institute for International Economics; Chairman of the International Trade and Investment Task Force of The Business Roundtable; and a member of The Business Council and Manufacturing Council in Washington, DC. He is also a director of the Council on Foreign Relations and a member of the Global Advisory Council to The Conference Board in New York.
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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
Association and Company Letter to Congress on China
NFTC Hails Committee Markups of U.S.-Peru Trade Agreement as Important Steps Toward Approval
Council Urges Bipartisan Support, Action on Other Pending Agreements
“We thank Chairmen Rangel and Baucus and Ranking Members McCrery and Grassley for making the agreement a priority and leading the charge for a strong, bipartisan vote on this well crafted and thoroughly negotiated agreement,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “The informal markups pave a path forward for full Congressional approval of the agreement in the coming weeks.”
The PTPA will expand market access for
“We look forward to expeditious and bipartisan approval of the agreement in the House and Senate, bringing the
“Today’s committee action also signals that momentum is building for prompt consideration of agreements that have been negotiated with other countries in the region. We urge the committees to begin scheduling hearings on pending agreements with
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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
