The European Union is focused on making progress in 2015 on Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership talks, said European Council President Donald Tusk in March 9 remarks before a sit-down with President Barack Obama (here). The two sides need to “convince our public opinion on both sides of the Atlantic” in order to lock down a TTIP pact that will boost jobs and strengthen political security for the U.S. and EU, said Tusk, who described the agreement as a “good thing.” The EU agricultural commissioner also called for TTIP progress in 2015 in mid-February comments to reporters (see 1502190021).
President Barack Obama signed legislation into law on March 4 to fund CBP and the rest of the Department of Homeland Security through Sept. 30. The bill, HR-240, originally contained provisions to obstruct implementation of Obama's executive action on immigration, but, after weeks of back and forth, both chambers of Congress stripped the immigration language from the measure. The House passed the "clean" DHS funding bill on March 3 (see 1503030070).
Guatemala and Honduras will put into force their Customs Union by the end of 2015, the White House said in a March 3 statement that followed Vice President Joe Biden’s two-day trip to Guatemala City (here). Biden met with the presidents of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. The U.S. is partnering with those countries, along with the Inter-American Development Bank, to implement the Plan of the Alliance for Prosperity in the Northern Triangle (here). That pact focuses on security and economic improvements in the three Central American countries. The three presidents also pledged to put into force a "'single window' for foreign investors," the White House said, while noting a number of other agreements struck during the Biden summit.
Members of the Technology CEO Council and President Barack Obama agree on the importance of Trade Promotion Authority, the White House said in a March 2 statement (here), following a meeting between the council and Obama. "Growing U.S. exports to support new opportunities for our workers and businesses is a top priority for the President and the members of the Council, who reiterated their commitment to building bipartisan support for Trade Promotion Authority," said the White House. Many observers expected lawmakers to introduce TPA legislation in recent days, but a spat between Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and ranking member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., continues to prevent committee progress on the trade front (see 1502250075). Obama met with the council, alongside senior advisor Valerie Jarrett, senior economic advisor Jeff Zients and White House Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith, the White House said. On behalf of the council, CEO’s from Dell, Qualcomm and other companies attended the meeting.
President Barack Obama will sit down with European Council President Donald Tusk on March 9 to discuss the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, among other policies, the White House announced in recent days (here). The European Union agriculture commissioner recently called for conclusion to TTIP talks by early 2016 (see 1502190021), and top officials from both sides of the Atlantic have urged negotiators to close gaps this year (see 1502080002).
President Barack Obama recently unveiled a new strategy to boost U.S. farm exports by dedicating more federal resources to strengthening the agricultural sector across the country (here). The Obama administration will be bringing more foreign buyers and trade experts to rural American to discuss export opportunities, said a White House fact sheet. The strategy, which is part of a White House effort announced last year (see 14021015), will include outreach to American farmers and ranchers on customs filing and calculations for export shipping costs. The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration is creating a new export advisory team to increase U.S. exports, Commerce said in a statement (here). The administration's plans focus largely on export financing and infrastructure boosts, as well.
President Barack Obama continued his offensive to secure Trade Promotion Authority in his weekly address on Feb. 22, saying U.S. trade pacts will build on rapid American job growth over recent months and years (here). Many observers expect lawmakers to introduce a TPA bill in the coming days, and Obama has lobbied repeatedly over recent weeks for that legislation (see 1502190016).
Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill need to rally together to pass Trade Promotion Authority and bring home the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the White House said in a statement and video on Feb. 18. The TPP will boost U.S. manufacturing and allow U.S. businesses to access rapidly growing markets in the Asia-Pacific region, said President Barack Obama in the statement (here).
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union went back to work on Feb. 17 at West Coast ports, as Labor Secretary Tom Perez continued to push for a deal between the ILWU and its employers, the Pacific Maritime Association. President Barack Obama sent Labor Secretary Tom Perez to intervene personally in the ongoing dispute over contract negotiations, a White House spokesman said on Feb. 14, according to media outlets (here). The PMA shut down work from Feb. 14-16 for the second straight weekend (see 1502120049).
President Barack Obama nominated National Small Business Association President Todd McCracken to again serve as a member of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, the White House said on Feb. 11. McCracken has sat on the committee since 2011.