President Donald Trump on June 29 sent to the Senate the nomination of House Ways and Means Committee Democratic Minority Chief Trade Counsel Jason Kearns to serve on the International Trade Commission until Dec. 16, 2024 (see 1703020078), the White House said (here).
President Donald Trump intends to renominate House Ways and Means Committee Democratic Minority Chief Trade Counsel Jason Kearns to serve on the International Trade Commission until Dec. 16, 2024, the White House said (here). Trump withdrew Kearns’ nomination in February, after former President Barack Obama submitted the nomination in January (see 1703020078). Trump has tapped Kearns to serve out the remainder of former ITC commissioner Dean Pinkert’s nine-year term, which Pinkert vacated when he retired Feb. 28, according to an ITC spokeswoman. By law, the six-member commission can have no more than three members from one political party.
President Donald Trump during a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi June 26 said it is “important” for the U.S. to reduce its trade deficit with India, and for India to remove barriers to U.S. exports, the White House said (here). Trump added that the U.S. is looking forward to exporting more energy to India as its economy grows, including “major long-term contracts” to buy U.S. natural gas, which are currently being negotiated. “We will sign them,” Trump said. “Trying to get the price up a little bit.” Trump and Modi also spoke about strengthening the bilateral trade and manufacturing partnership, “which we believe will be mutually beneficial to us,” Modi said.
President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Robert Wood Johnson to be U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom (here). Johnson is CEO of The Johnson Company, a New York-based private asset management firm, and an owner of the New York Jets. He has also served on the President’s Export Council.
Exports of agricultural commodities, medicines and medical devices to Cuba consistent with the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 will be expressly exempt from the Trump administration’s policy to ban sales to entities under the control or that act on behalf of the Cuban military or intelligence service, according to a June 16 White House policy memo (here). Among other things, the 2000 statute bans U.S. financing of agricultural exports to Cuba, except for pre-transport cash payments or payments from third-party financial institutions. President Donald Trump rolled out changes to U.S. economic policy toward Cuba on June 16, to include diversion of purchases away from the Cuban military while allowing U.S. individuals and entities to develop economic ties with the private small business sector in Cuba (see 1706160042).
President Donald Trump on June 15 sent to the Senate the nominations of Jeffrey Gerrish to serve as deputy U.S. trade representative for Asia, Europe, the Middle East and industrial competitiveness, and Kelly Craft to serve as U.S. ambassador to Canada, the White House announced (here).
President Donald Trump rolled out changes to U.S. economic policy toward Cuba on June 16, which will include diverting economic activities away from the “Cuban military monopoly,” while allowing U.S. individuals and entities to develop economic ties with the private small business sector in Cuba, according to a White House fact sheet. “President Trump’s policy changes will encourage American commerce with free Cuban businesses and pressure the Cuban government to allow the Cuban people to expand the private sector.” The policy directs the Commerce and Treasury departments to start within 30 days the process of issuing new regulations, a process that could take several months, the White House said.
President Donald Trump intends to nominate Kelly Knight Craft to serve as U.S. ambassador to Canada, the White House announced June 14. Craft currently leads Kelly G. Knight LLC, a business advisory firm.
President Donald Trump could announce the tightening of some commercial and travel restrictions with Cuba during a trip to Miami on June 14, the Miami Herald reported (here). A congressional staffer closely focused on Cuba matters said he believes Trump will follow through with such an announcement, which is likely to make use of advice from Cuba hard-liners Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. The announcement may result in the rollback of some regulatory liberalization of U.S.-Cuba relations shepherded through the final years of the Obama administration. The White House didn't comment.
President Donald Trump says he will nominate Jeffrey Gerrish to serve as deputy U.S. trade representative for Asia, Europe, the Middle East and industrial competitiveness, the White House announced June 9 (here). Gerrish is currently an attorney in Skadden Arps’ international trade group, and has “extensive experience litigating” disputes before the Commerce Department, International Trade Commission, federal courts, NAFTA binational panels and the World Trade Organization, the White House said.