There was no disagreement at a June 12 hearing on the need to renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act before it expires about 15 months from now, and Democrats and Republicans on the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade also talked about changing the terms of "graduation" from AGOA. Democrats on the committee were more vocal than members of the Republican majority about the need to change AGOA before renewing it.
Americans for Free Trade, a coalition of more than 100 trade groups, asked the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to extend a public comment period to respond to proposed changes to the Section 301 tariffs and a new product exclusion process limited to industrial machinery. They said another 30 days would be in the public interest.
Trade talks between the U.S. and Argentina this week covered customs facilitation, lithium and copper, and agricultural concerns on both sides.
Laurie-Ann Agama is stepping down from her role as acting assistant U.S. trade representative for textiles and is moving to the job of assistant USTR for economic affairs. Agama, who has a doctorate in economics, has been with USTR for 20 years. The Office of Economic Affairs undertakes economic research and reviews outside research in order to advise USTR on policy. It also supports trade negotiations with analysis.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said it heard from nearly 300 stakeholders in its request for comment on improving supply chain resiliency. Of those, 84 testified in Washington (see 2405010016), St. Paul, New York or in a virtual hearing.
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Barely more than half of the pharmaceuticals' value consumed in the U.S. is domestically produced, but re-shoring is not the answer to vulnerabilities in the supply chains for drugs or medical equipment, panelists said at a think tank event.
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, when asked about the U.S. views on reviving dispute settlement at the World Trade Organization, said that countries need to reflect on how the previous system provided incentives for the U.S. and EU to "continue fighting for almost 20 years about state support for Boeing and Airbus, caused us to fight with each other, and pick at each other while the PRC [People's Republic of China] built up its own large civil aircraft industry under our noses."
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and USDA named to their newly established Seasonal and Perishable Agricultural Products Advisory Committee Astin Farms' Madison Astin, Bedner Growers' Marie Bedner, Georgia Fruit and Vegetables Growers Association's Chris Butts, A. Duda & Sons' Tracy Duda Champman, Southern Hill Farms' David Hill, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association's Michael Joyner, Fresh Produce Association of the Americas' Lance Jungmeyer, L&M Companies' Adam Lytch, MBG Marketing's Brad Moorer, Florida Strawberry Growers Association's Kenneth Parker and the Florida Farm Bureau's Jeb Smith.
Eleven workers were rehired at Minera Tizapa, and the mining company will bargain with the new union, the Office of U.S. Trade Representative and Labor Department announced, as a result of a rapid response labor complaint. The company had paid a bonus only to workers associated with the old union; as a result of this settlement, that bonus was paid to 249 other workers.