The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a fact sheet stating, among other things, that the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has helped lead to a comprehensive new Moroccan labor law, effective June 8, 2004, which raises the minimum employment age from 12 to 15, reduces the work week from 48 to 44 hours, calls for periodic review of the Moroccan minimum wage, etc. (USTR fact sheet, dated 06/23/04, available at http://www.ustr.gov/new/fta/Morocco/2004-06-23-morocco-factsheet-labor.pdf)
U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)
The U.S. cabinet level position that oversees trade negotiations with other countries. USTR is part of the Executive Office of the President. It also administers Section 301 tariffs.
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has released a statement on U.S. China trade relations which announces, among other things, that the administration has rejected a section 301 unfair trade practices petition filed by the AFL-CIO with regard to China's worker's rights policies. The USTR explains while there are serious concerns about labor rights and working conditions in China, the administration believes that trade and economic growth, among other things, will move China faster and further toward achieving results. (USTR Statement, dated 04/28/04, available at http://www.ustr.gov/releases/2004/04/2004-04-28-statement-china.pdf)
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release announcing that the U.S. and Panama will begin negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) during the week of April 26, 2004. According to the press release, these negotiations will be held in Panama City. (Press Release 2004-26, dated 03/26/04, available at http://www.ustr.gov/releases/2004/03/04-26.pdf)