The Senate should reject the nomination of Robert Holleyman as deputy U.S. Trade Representative due to his private sector ties and track record on controversial legislation, the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen said in recent days. Public Citizen is asking for signatures to support rejection of the nomination. The petition will then be submitted to the Senate, according to Public Citizen. The advocacy group called Holleyman an “industry shill” for the Business Software Alliance, an organization he presided over for more than 20 years before stepping down in 2013. President Barack Obama sent the Holleyman nomination to the Senate in late February (see 14022811). Public Citizen said Holleyman championed the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act and PROTECT IP Act bills, pieces of legislation some critics say infringe on online liberties. Holleyman would attempt to impose provisions of those bills on foreign countries, said Public Citizen.

Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Wendy Cutler will meet with senior Japanese trade negotiators Hiroshi Oe and Takeo Mori from April 15-17 in Washington D.C. to discuss agriculture market access and auto market barriers in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, said the Office of the USTR in a weekly schedule release.

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman praised the April 5 entry into effect of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement. “The revised agreement provides U.S. firms with new and expanded opportunities to sell their goods and services to foreign governments, which unlocks opportunities for American workers and supports American jobs,” said Froman in the statement. “This is a plurilateral success story in the WTO, and we should continue to build on it by expanding participation of developed and developing economies.” The revised agreement entered into force for the U.S. and the following states: Canada, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Norway, the European Union, and Singapore. Entry into force for Armenia, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands with respect to Aruba, and Switzerland will take place 30 days after each country formally adopts the agreement and notifies the WTO.

U.S. and Taiwanese officials will continue to ramp up efforts to lift bilateral data localization requirements and revise multi-pack labeling requirements, said the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in a press release. The officials concluded on April 4 a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council meeting. The U.S. parties to the talks included State, Agriculture, Commerce, and Treasury Departments, as well as the Copyright Office and the Food and Drug Administration. The officials also pledged cooperation at multilateral forums, such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). “The two sides updated each other on regional and multilateral initiatives,” said the release. “They highlighted their close cooperation on various initiatives in APEC, their work towards the prompt conclusion of a balanced and commercially significant expansion of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) at the WTO, achieving entry into force and full implementation of the WTO trade facilitation agreement, and efforts to advance the Trade in Services Agreement negotiations.”

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) outlined on April 4 the non-tariff barriers U.S. telecommunications service and equipment suppliers companies face when exporting goods and services. According to a release, USTR will target its efforts to address the following trade barriers:

China requested the establishment of a World Trade Organization (WTO) panel to contest U.S. Commerce Department antidumping proceedings, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said on April 7. The proceedings involved a number of imported products from China, including the following:

Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Wendy Cutler will visit Tokyo, Japan on April 7 to participate in Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations, with particular focus on market access liberalization and regulatory changes to the autos sector, said the Office of the USTR in its weekly schedule. USTR chief Michael Froman will then travel to Japan from April 8-10 to continue the TPP negotiations with Japanese Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy Akira Amari. Froman will then meet on April 11 in Washington D.C. with Pakistani Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Lilianne Ploumen and a host of African finance ministers, said USTR.

Many trade proponents commended the Obama administration’s commitment to its trade agenda, following U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman’s appearance before the House Ways and Means Committee on April 3. President Barack Obama’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget also boosts USTR funding (see 14030506). "The seven percent increase in funding to the U.S. Trade Representative, paired with USTR Froman's testimony, indicates this Administration's commitment to working with Congress to pass much-needed free trade agreements,” said vice president of government and public relations for the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates in a statement. “Currently, chemical manufacturers in the U.S. are facing challenges in many foreign markets because of costly and burdensome regulatory barriers.”

U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman consulted with Angolan Trade Minister Rosa Escorcio Pacavira de Matos on the African Growth and Opportunity Act and strengthening intellectual property rights during the U.S.-Angola Council on Trade and Investment meeting on April 1, USTR said in a release. “Angola is one of our most important partners in sub-Saharan Africa. American exports to Angola are a strong example of how the Obama Administration is emphasizing trade as a key way to unlock economic opportunity, strengthen the middle class, and benefit our partners abroad,” said assistant USTR for Africa Florie Liser. The U.S. largely imports from Angola mineral fuel and oil, precious stones, wood and rubber, said USTR. U.S. exports to Angola are mostly machinery, poultry, iron and steel products, electrical machinery and optic and medical instruments, said USTR.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is asking for nominations to fill the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee on Trade (IGPAC). USTR is reestablishing the committee for a period of four years from the date the charter is filled. Nominations for those interested in joining the initial full committee must be submitted by May 1. The committee advises USTR on matters that have influence on state and local governments in the U.S. Nominations should be submitted to IAPE@ustr.eop.gov.