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).
The World Trade Organization on Aug. 17 announced the appointment of four deputies to World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General-Elect Roberto Azevedo. The selections include Yi Xiaozhun of China, Karl-Ernst Brauner of Germany, Yonov Frederick Agah of Nigeria and former U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission in Geneva David Shark of the United States. Azevedo will take over WTO after Pascal Lamy’s second term expires Sept. 1. The four deputies are slated to begin work Oct. 1, according to the WTO in a press release (here). Azevêdo also said Tim Yeend, Australian Ambassador to the WTO for the last three years, will become Chef de Cabinet. U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman praised the selection.
Speaking before the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Aug. 19, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman pressed Japanese officials to implement structural economic reform that will liberalize the Japanese market. Froman said bilateral U.S.-Japanese negotiations that run parallel to Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks, set to undergo a 19th round this month in Brunei, provide opportunity for Japan to eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued on Aug. 16 a request for comment on U.S. export and foreign direct investment barriers, in preparation for release its annual National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers. The report is slated for publication in 2014. The comments, due by Oct. 22, should focus on import policies, government procurement restrictions, export subsidies, lack of intellectual property protection, services barriers, investment barriers, government-tolerated anti-competitive conduct that hurts U.S. business interests, trade restrictions impacting electronic commerce, and other barriers, such as corruption.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued a request for comment and notice of public hearing regarding Russian implementation of its World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments. The comment and hearing are designed to help USTR prepare its annual report to Congress on Russian WTO compliance. Russia acceded to the WTO in 2012.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued a request for comment and notice of public hearing regarding Chinese compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments. The comment and hearing are designed to help USTR prepare its annual report to Congress on Chinese WTO compliance. China acceded to the WTO in 2001. The WTO recently ruled that Chinese antidumping and countervailing duties on U.S. chicken “boiler products” were in violation of WTO agreements (see 13080602).