The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release announcing that on March 2, 2004, the U.S. and Morocco reached agreement on a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA).
President Bush has issued Proclamation 7758 in order to delete ten countries from, and add one country to, the list of Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) beneficiary developing countries.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing that the U.S. intends to initiate free trade negotiations with Thailand. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/18/04 news, 04021820, for BP summary of USTR's press release announcing its Congressional notification of this intention.)
On February 24, 2004, World Trade Organization (WTO) arbitrators decided that the European Union (EU) has no current right to retaliate against the U.S.' Antidumping Act of 1916 (1916 Act). However, the arbitrators did allow for the EU to retaliate if final judgments or settlements are made under the 1916 Act in the future.
In December 2003, the U.S. concluded negotiations with El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on a comprehensive U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). In January 2004, the U.S. concluded its CAFTA negotiations with Costa Rica.
According to The Journal of Commerce (JoC), rules of origin under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) are so complex that many companies are forgoing NAFTA benefits, as they feel that the duty savings under NAFTA are not worth all the effort of compliance, such as obtaining manufacturers' affidavits from each supplier. (JoC, dated 02/16/04-02/22/04, www.joc.com)
The Journal of Commerce (JoC) reports that California Assemblyman Alan Lowenthal has proposed legislation to charge a premium fee for daytime use of the Los Angeles and Long Beach marine terminals, which would make shippers pay for extending the life of existing infrastructure. The article notes that the fee is also designed to push more truck traffic into off-peak hours, thereby reducing congestion on the freeway and at terminal gates. (JoC, dated 02/09/04-02/15/04, www.joc.com)
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing the product petitions that have been accepted for further review in the 2003 Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Annual Review.
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a notice requesting public comments by March 5, 2004 regarding a "commercial availability" petition it received under the U.S.-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) from Oxford Industries, Inc.:
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing that the U.S. intends to initiate free trade negotiations with Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia (Andean countries). (See ITT's Online Archives or 11/26/03 news, 03112620, for BP summary of USTR's press release announcing its Congressional notification on this matter.)