In an unexpected move, China this week announced to signatories of the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) that it does not intend to improve the market access concessions it made in its latest accession offer presented in December 2014, but is willing to negotiate exclusions it has proposed. [Reposted from Inside US Trade | February 13,…
You really need an anthology of catch-phrases you hear in this benighted town of DC to understand the difference between what people actually say and what they mean. When someone says “my good friends from the other side of the aisle…,” they’re not really good friends. And when someone says, “that will cause a…
BEIJING—U.S. businesses in China have voiced increased concerns over what they see as rising anti-foreign sentiment and more difficult operating conditions as the economy posts slower growth. [by William Kazer | February 11, 2015 | WSJ] An annual survey released on Wednesday of about 500 members of the American Chamber of Commerce in China…
CEO Michael Stumo’s comment: “Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew’s opposition to fixing rampant global currency devaluation is extraordinarily off the mark. He says it could hamper quantitative when the proposals target entirely different mechanisms, specifically for an exchange or in reserve accumulation. This shows the administration is simply obstructing a fix. It also shows that…
Dearest Member of Congress, Will you be my Valentine? If I have betrayed your trust, I am sorry that you feel that way. I’ve been so focused on convincing you to take the Fast Track trip with me and buy those trade deals I love, I’ve said some things that, in retrospect, were not true. …
Trade is a hot topic on Capitol Hill this year. President Obama has asked members of Congress for “fast track” trade promotion authority in order to finalize proposed trade deals with Asia and Europe that set the stage for growing, trade-related job displacement. [Reposted from the Economic Policy Institute blog | Robert Scott | February…
Sens. Brown, Sessions, Schumer, Graham, and Stabenow to Introduce the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act of 2015. Addressing Currency Manipulation Could Create Nearly Six Million Jobs by Leveling the Playing Field for American Manufacturers and Workers. [Reposted from Senator Sherrod Brown’s website | February 9, 2015] WASHINGTON, D.C. — As Congress prepares to review…
Trade agreements give rise to international tribunals and suits by foreign companies against US local and state governments. Governor Jay Inslee of Washington state is joining the clamor against the global court system being set up by trade treaties. Washington state often brags about being the most export dependent state in the country. While…
A guest editorial from Stan Sorscher of SPEEA, who sits on the Board of the Coalition for a Prosperous America. A new trade agreement, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, has been negotiated in secrecy with the involvement of hundreds of corporate lobbyists while Congress and the public are unable to get or discuss copies of the deal,…
WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) joined Reps. Tim Murphy (R-PA), Tim Ryan (D-OH) and Mo Brooks (R-AL) today in introducing legislation to hold currency manipulators accountable. The Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act takes aim at currency manipulators by enabling the Department of Commerce to impose countervailing duties to…