The U.S. and New Zealand are aiming to present a Trans-Pacific Partnership deal to their respective legislative bodies by the end of 2014, said President Barack Obama during June 20 remarks after a summit with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key. Obama is targeting November to “make a forceful argument to go ahead and close the deal,” after consulting with Congress, he said, adding that he will go on another Asia tour that month. Both heads of state emphasized, however, that more work needs to be done to close outstanding negotiating gaps.

The Colombian government continues to elevate labor and environmental standards, but more progress can be achieved, said Vice President Joe Biden during joint remarks with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos in Bogotá, Colombia on June 18. Some lawmakers and advocacy groups have recently criticized insufficient progress on a Colombian Action Plan Related to Labor Rights, a pact put into force in tandem with the U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement (FTA). The critics say violence and intimidation against labor activists continues unabated (see 14040807).

The U.S. government and trade community is failing to sufficiently infiltrate emerging markets globally, particularly on the African continent, said President Barack Obama during remarks at a June 19 Export Council meeting. The African Leaders Summit, slated for August, will be a critical opportunity for the Obama administration and industry representatives to push market access opportunities, said Obama. “Some of these economies are doing very, very well, but we’re not penetrating those markets as well as we should,” said Obama, noting 6 out of the 10 fast growing economies worldwide are on the African continent. “That’s really what that continent is interested in. They’re not interested in aid as much as they are trade, development, and partnering with the private sector.” U.S. industry has been eyeing the summit as a forum to address improvements to the African Growth and Opportunity (AGOA) (see 14040402). Those that utilize AGOA say Congress must pass renewal legislation by the end of 2014 to maintain supply chains, in light of the AGOA's 2015 expiration.

The Obama administration supports passage of the Senate amendment to the House fiscal year 2015 appropriations legislation for the departments of Commerce and Justice, along with related agencies and science programs, the White House said in a June 17 statement. The Senate amendment provides omnibus appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies, Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (see 14061610).

President Barack Obama called for executive branch agencies to work together on a plan to stem illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and seafood fraud in a June 17 memo. A task force made up of agency officials, including from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and Departments of Homeland Security, Commerce and Agriculture, will report to the President on "existing regulatory authorities" and "recommendations regarding further authorities that may be warranted," as well as "opportunities to address these issues at the international level through the regional fisheries management organizations as well as bilateral efforts, such as technical assistance and capacity building," the memo said. The task force will also "coordinate its efforts with other Presidential initiatives focused on related issues," including wildlife trafficking (see 14021126) and streamlined import processes (see 14021928).

President Barack Obama commended the U.S.-Australia joint effort to bring Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations to a timely and “successful” close, during remarks to the media that followed a summit with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on June 12 in Washington. Obama also emphasized the talks are continuing. The two leaders largely focused on bilateral security cooperation during the remarks.

The White House threatened on June 11 to veto the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2015, HR-4800 (here), if the bill advances to President Barack Obama's desk. The Obama administration in a statement outlined several specific criticisms of the legislation, including opposition to the bill’s child nutrition and FDA's rulemaking rider provisions. The administration statement did not explicitly mention trade-related provisions of the legislation.

The Water Resources Reform and Development Act will give the go ahead to 34 water infrastructure projects nationwide, including initiatives to deepen the Boston Harbor and the Port of Savannah, President Barack Obama said as he signed it into law on June 10. Lawmakers across the political spectrum and industry groups praised the passage of the law.

The Obama administration should remove Brunei from Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, or halt the talks all together, over the announcement of a “new Taliban-like Brunei penal code,” said 12 women’s rights organizations in a June 6 letter to President Barack Obama. The penal code will phase-in punishments that include stricter consequences for adultery and theft, media reports say (here). The new laws will also punish women for wearing “indecent clothing,” becoming pregnant outside of marriage and having abortions, said the Feminist Majority Foundation in the letter.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) voiced opposition the House fiscal year (FY) 2015 appropriations legislation for the departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, calling the bill an insufficient measure to address the nation’s pressing infrastructure needs, in a June 9 statement. House Republicans aim to pass the bill this month, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., said in a recent memo (see 14060904). The Senate Appropriations Committee advanced its counterpart legislation on June 5 (see 14060518).