The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) requested comments on the inclusion of Paraguay and Liechtenstein into the 20-nation Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) negotiation process. USTR invited interested parties to assist its assessment of existing trade barriers in services in markets in Paraguay and Liechtenstein. Comments should be submitted by Oct. 4 via www.regulations.gov.
New Zealand will join the U.S. World Trade Organization (WTO) challenge to Indonesian restrictive measures applied to horticultural products, animals and animal products, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman said on Aug. 30, adding that the U.S. is filing a request to “address recent modifications to Indonesia’s measures." Froman also said he welcomed New Zealand's entry into the dispute.
The negotiators that participated in the 19th round of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks in Brunei worked this week “to close gaps” on sensitive issues that continue to pose obstacles to conclude negotiations by the U.S. Trade Representative-promoted end of 2013 target, the USTR said in a Aug. 30 press release. Although the USTR’s involvement is positive, that target remains ambitious, industry players and analysts have said (see 13082011). The Brunei talks lasted from Aug. 23 to Aug. 30.
Vietnam may not be able to meet labor standards in a Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, said International Brotherhood of Teamsters President James Hoffa in an Aug. 26 letter to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman (here). Hoffa asked if the USTR might seek a "phase-in" period for the country to address its labor issues. Hoffa also cited recent endorsement from Rep. George Miller, senior Democrat on the Committee on Education and Workforce of a Worker Rights Consortium May report (here), that outlined poor Vietnamese labor conditions. “The U.S. must lead in enforcement of labor obligations that inform our national trade policy,” said Miller in a July 24 letter (here) to Froman. An Education and Workforce Committee press official declined to comment.
Malaysia formally introduced a proposal providing for a “complete “carve-out” of tobacco control measures” from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement during the 19th round of negotiations in Brunei on Aug. 26. The proposal would prevent the tobacco industry and its government allies from challenging any measures to reduce tobacco use that are adopted by participating nations.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Thomas Donohue cautioned against sacrificing market access gains in exchange for a quick end to negotiations. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has repeatedly pressed for negotiations to end by the end of 2013 (see 13080714). “A successful TPP must get rid of tariffs; eliminate discriminatory regulations and standards; protect intellectual property to support innovation and growth; cultivate the digital economy; bind state-owned enterprises to a standard of fair competition; and combat trade and investment protectionism,” said Donohue in the statement (here).
Ministers of the 12 countries participating in Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations discussed "market access for goods, services/investment, financial services, and government procurement as well as the texts covering intellectual property, competition, and environmental issues,” in Brunei on Aug. 22 and 23 in the lead up to the 19th round of TPP negotiations, according to a U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) press release. The 19th round was slated to begin Aug. 23 and last until Aug. 30. The release said the ministers convened "jointly and bilaterally" in order to help advise negotiators. The group "also discussed the remaining outstanding issues on labor, dispute settlement, and other areas," said the USTR. The release said the ministers will stay actively engaged until the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders summit in Bali, Indonesia from Oct. 1 through 8. There have been no additional TPP negotiating rounds scheduled, said industry and government sources.
The Obama Administration unveiled on Aug. 22 the fundamentals of a new proposal for tobacco commerce in Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the administration intends to table and discuss the proposal during the upcoming 19th round of TPP negotiations in Brunei, scheduled for Aug. 23-30.
A U.S. Trans-Pacific Partnership proposal for language specifically targeting tobacco as a justification for trade restrictions that protect human health faces opposition from 16 business and agriculture associations, according to a press release from the Emergency Committee for American Trade (ECAT). The U.S. is advocating the "product-specific reference" for tobacco and tobacco products in TPP language on application of the General Exceptions article of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (Article XX(b) of GATT).
The U.S. and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will continue to implement the ASEAN-US Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA) and Expanded Economic Engagement (E3) programs, according to a statement (here) released on Aug. 21 by United States Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman and ASEAN economic ministers following a summit in Brunei. The statement said total merchandise trade between the U.S. ASEAN registered at $200.2 billion in 2012, noting the U.S. maintains its position as ASEAN’s fourth largest trade partner. Froman also met with Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma to discuss bilateral trade and investment between the U.S. and India, according to a separate press release (here).