Emergency Committee For American Trade - Publications

ECAT 2005 AGENDA

Prepared for the ECAT Annual Meeting
April 20, 2005

Acknowledgements

ECAT gratefully acknowledges the substantive advice and input from our member companies in the preparation of the ECAT 2005 Agenda. These contributions are critical to highlight key trade and investment issues and to ensure that ECAT adopts practical positions to expand international trade and investment. We would also like to extend special thanks to Adnan Jalil, ECAT’s Government Affairs Aide, for his valuable contributions in the research and preparation of important parts of ECAT’s 2005 Agenda.

Introduction

Summary: ECAT Positions on the Issues

Section 1: ECAT's Role in the Promotion of International Trade and Investment

Why International Trade and Investment Are Important

ECAT’s Activities to Promote Greater Trade and Investment

The Continued Need for Trade Outreach

Section 2: U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreements

Background

Major Provisions

Top Reasons to Support the CAFTA

Big Markets
Leveling the Playing Field: New Opportunities for U.S. Workers and Farmers
Strong Labor Provisions and New Opportunities to Improve Working Conditions
Textiles and Apparel: Critical Markets and Expanded Partnerships
Bolstering Democracy and the Rule of Law
Comprehensive, but Sensitive Issues and Handled with Care

Key Issues

Labor
CAFTA Meets the TPA Objectives
CAFTA Will Promote Improved Working Conditions Through New Economic Opportunities
CAFTA Has Very Similar, If Not Stronger, Labor Provisions than the U.S.-Jordan FTA
The CAFTA Countries’ Labor Standards Broadly Incorporate the ILO Core Labor Standards
CAFTA Represents a Stronger Worker Rights Model than Unilateral Preference Programs Sugar
Investment
Economic Development

Section 3: World Trade Organization

Five-Year Review of U.S. Participation in the WTO

Importance of WTO for the United States

Doha Development Agenda Negotiations

Background
Doha Development Agenda
2004 Framework Agreement
ECAT Priorities
Market Access
Trade Facilitation
WTO Rules – Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Rules
Dispute Settlement
Government Procurement Importance of the WTO Negotiations

WTO Institutional Framework

Major Issues
Implementation of WTO Agreements
WTO Institutional Reforms

WTO Accessions
Russia’s Proposed Accession
Saudi Arabia’s Proposed Accession
Vietnam’s Proposed Accession

Status of WTO Committees and Working Parties
Rules of Origin
Trade and Investment
Trade and Competition Policy
Trade and Environment

Dispute Settlement

Section 4: Other Major Trade Negotiations and Agreements

Renewal of the Trade Promotion Authority Framework

Major Provisions
TPA Timeline
Extension Procedures
Importance of TPA Renewal

Recently Completed Free Trade Agreement Negotiations

U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement

Comprehensive and Trade-Oriented Bilateral, Subregional and Regional Free Trade Agreements

U.S-Colombia and Andean Pact FTA Negotiations
U.S.-Panama FTA Negotiations
U.S.-Thailand FTA Negotiations
U.S.-Oman FTA Negotiations
U.S.-United Arab Emirates FTA Negotiations
U.S-South Africa Customs Union FTA Negotiations
Free Trade Area of the Americas
Background on the Negotiations
Status of the Negotiations and Outlook for 2005
Importance of the FTAA Negotiations

Consideration of Future FTAs

Section 5: Major Trade Policy Issues

Building a Consensus on Trade and Investment Liberalization

Congressional Approval of the U.S.-Australia and U.S.-Morocco FTAs

U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement
U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement

2005 Legislative Trade Policy Proposals

Legislation to Force Changes in China’s Currency or Impose
WTO-Violative Tariffs on Imports from China
Legislation Expanding Trade Preferences for Haiti
Legislation Expanding Trade Preferences with Least Developed Countries

Addressing Concerns about Trade and Investment Liberalization

Global Outsourcing
Temporary Entry Issues
Labor and Environment Issues
Labor Issues
Environmental Issues Food Trade Issues
Health Policy and Intellectual Property Rights Protection
Transparency

Trade Remedy Law Issues

WTO Dispute Settlement Cases Involving U.S. Trade Remedy Laws

Restructuring and Modernization of the U.S. Customs Service

Transfer to Department of Homeland Security
Automation Modernization
Customs Modernization

Reform of Trade Adjustment Assistance and Worker Retraining Programs

Major Provisions of TAA as Reformed by the Trade Act of 2002
Implementation and Continued Review of TAA Reforms
Private Sector Retraining Efforts

Section 6: Investment

ECAT Studies and the Importance of International Investment to the U.S. Economy
U.S. Negotiating Position on Investment Protections

Importance of Strong Investment Protections
Trade Promotion Authority Provisions on Investment
Investment Protections in Recent Free Trade Agreements, the Model Bilateral Investment Treaty and the Uruguay BIT

Operation of Bilateral Investment Treaties and NAFTA Chapter 11

OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

Antibribery Initiatives

Section 7: The European Union

EU Integration Efforts

European Monetary Union and the Euro
Other Preferential Trade Arrangements

U.S.-EU Trade Relations

Agricultural Issues
Aircraft Issues
Other WTO Dispute Settlement Cases
REACH
Corporate Accounting Standards
Privacy
Other Trade Barriers
Positive Economic Agenda and Trans-Atlantic Economic Partnership

Section 8: Sanctions Reform

Trade Sanctions Reform

Issue-Specific Sanctions Legislation

Religious Persecution
Narcotics Enforcement

Country-Specific Sanctions

Iran-Libya Sanctions
Lifting of Libya Sanctions
Helms-Burton Cuba Sanctions
Easing of Cuba Embargo
Iran Nonproliferation Act
India-Pakistan Nuclear Proliferation Sanctions
Sanctions on Myanmar
Sanctions on Sudan
Sanctions on Syria and Lebanon

Section 9: Export Promotion and Financing

Export-Import Bank

Overseas Private Investment Corporation

Trade and Development Agency

Multilateral Development Banks and International Monetary Fund

Section 10: Export Controls

Computer and Software Export Restrictions

Microprocessor Controls

Revisions to the EAR Liability Standards

Export Administration Act Reauthorization

Encryption

Wassenaar Arrangement

Section 11: Regional Trade Arrangements and Country-Specific Issues

Western Hemisphere

North American Free Trade Agreement
Mexico
Canada
Caribbean Basin Countries
Andean Pact Countries
MERCOSUR

Asia-Pacific Region

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
China
Japan
Korea
Vietnam
Indonesia

India

Sub-Saharan Africa

Russia

Section 12: Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property Protections in Recent Free Trade Agreements

WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights

WTO Dispute Settlement

New STOP! Initiative

Special 301

Optical Media Products Piracy, Organized Crime and End-User Piracy of Software

Implementation of World Intellectual Property Organization Treaties

Promoting International Patent Harmonization

Section 13: Taxation of Foreign Source Income

Reform and Simplification of U.S. International Tax Laws

American Jobs Creation Act, Extraterritorial Income Act and Foreign Sales Corporation Rules

Background
American Jobs Creation Act
Current Status

Bilateral Tax Treaties


	ECAT 2005 AGENDA Prepared for the ECAT Annual Meeting April 20, 2005 Acknowledgements ECAT gratefully acknowledges the substantive advice and input from our member companies in the preparation of the ECAT 2005 Agenda. These contributions are critical to highlight key trade and investment issues and to ensure that ECAT adopts practical positions to expand international trade and investment. We would also like to extend special thanks to Adnan Jalil, ECAT’s Government Affairs Aide, for his valuable contributions in the research and preparation of important parts of ECAT’s 2005 Agenda. Introduction Summary: ECAT Positions on the Issues Section 1: ECAT's Role in the Promotion of International Trade and Investment Why International Trade and Investment Are Important ECAT’s Activities to Promote Greater Trade and Investment The Continued Need for Trade Outreach Section 2: U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreements Background Major Provisions Top Reasons to Support the CAFTA Big Markets Leveling the Playing Field: New Opportunities for U.S. Workers and Farmers Strong Labor Provisions and New Opportunities to Improve Working Conditions Textiles and Apparel: Critical Markets and Expanded Partnerships Bolstering Democracy and the Rule of Law Comprehensive, but Sensitive Issues and Handled with Care Key Issues Labor CAFTA Meets the TPA Objectives CAFTA Will Promote Improved Working Conditions Through New Economic Opportunities CAFTA Has Very Similar, If Not Stronger, Labor Provisions than the U.S.-Jordan FTA The CAFTA Countries’ Labor Standards Broadly Incorporate the ILO Core Labor Standards CAFTA Represents a Stronger Worker Rights Model than Unilateral Preference Programs Sugar Investment Economic Development Section 3: World Trade Organization Five-Year Review of U.S. Participation in the WTO Importance of WTO for the United States Doha Development Agenda Negotiations Background Doha Development Agenda 2004 Framework Agreement ECAT Priorities Market Access Trade Facilitation WTO Rules – Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Rules Dispute Settlement Government Procurement Importance of the WTO Negotiations WTO Institutional Framework Major Issues Implementation of WTO Agreements WTO Institutional Reforms WTO Accessions Russia’s Proposed Accession Saudi Arabia’s Proposed Accession Vietnam’s Proposed Accession Status of WTO Committees and Working Parties Rules of Origin Trade and Investment Trade and Competition Policy Trade and Environment Dispute Settlement Section 4: Other Major Trade Negotiations and Agreements Renewal of the Trade Promotion Authority Framework Major Provisions TPA Timeline Extension Procedures Importance of TPA Renewal Recently Completed Free Trade Agreement Negotiations U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement Comprehensive and Trade-Oriented Bilateral, Subregional and Regional Free Trade Agreements U.S-Colombia and Andean Pact FTA Negotiations U.S.-Panama FTA Negotiations U.S.-Thailand FTA Negotiations U.S.-Oman FTA Negotiations U.S.-United Arab Emirates FTA Negotiations U.S-South Africa Customs Union FTA Negotiations Free Trade Area of the Americas Background on the Negotiations Status of the Negotiations and Outlook for 2005 Importance of the FTAA Negotiations Consideration of Future FTAs Section 5: Major Trade Policy Issues Building a Consensus on Trade and Investment Liberalization Congressional Approval of the U.S.-Australia and U.S.-Morocco FTAs U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement 2005 Legislative Trade Policy Proposals Legislation to Force Changes in China’s Currency or Impose WTO-Violative Tariffs on Imports from China Legislation Expanding Trade Preferences for Haiti Legislation Expanding Trade Preferences with Least Developed Countries Addressing Concerns about Trade and Investment Liberalization Global Outsourcing Temporary Entry Issues Labor and Environment Issues Labor Issues Environmental Issues Food Trade Issues Health Policy and Intellectual Property Rights Protection Transparency Trade Remedy Law Issues WTO Dispute Settlement Cases Involving U.S. Trade Remedy Laws Restructuring and Modernization of the U.S. Customs Service Transfer to Department of Homeland Security Automation Modernization Customs Modernization Reform of Trade Adjustment Assistance and Worker Retraining Programs Major Provisions of TAA as Reformed by the Trade Act of 2002 Implementation and Continued Review of TAA Reforms Private Sector Retraining Efforts Section 6: Investment ECAT Studies and the Importance of International Investment to the U.S. Economy U.S. Negotiating Position on Investment Protections Importance of Strong Investment Protections Trade Promotion Authority Provisions on Investment Investment Protections in Recent Free Trade Agreements, the Model Bilateral Investment Treaty and the Uruguay BIT Operation of Bilateral Investment Treaties and NAFTA Chapter 11 OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises Antibribery Initiatives Section 7: The European Union EU Integration Efforts European Monetary Union and the Euro Other Preferential Trade Arrangements U.S.-EU Trade Relations Agricultural Issues Aircraft Issues Other WTO Dispute Settlement Cases REACH Corporate Accounting Standards Privacy Other Trade Barriers Positive Economic Agenda and Trans-Atlantic Economic Partnership Section 8: Sanctions Reform Trade Sanctions Reform Issue-Specific Sanctions Legislation Religious Persecution Narcotics Enforcement Country-Specific Sanctions Iran-Libya Sanctions Lifting of Libya Sanctions Helms-Burton Cuba Sanctions Easing of Cuba Embargo Iran Nonproliferation Act India-Pakistan Nuclear Proliferation Sanctions Sanctions on Myanmar Sanctions on Sudan Sanctions on Syria and Lebanon Section 9: Export Promotion and Financing Export-Import Bank Overseas Private Investment Corporation Trade and Development Agency Multilateral Development Banks and International Monetary Fund Section 10: Export Controls Computer and Software Export Restrictions Microprocessor Controls Revisions to the EAR Liability Standards Export Administration Act Reauthorization Encryption Wassenaar Arrangement Section 11: Regional Trade Arrangements and Country-Specific Issues Western Hemisphere North American Free Trade Agreement Mexico Canada Caribbean Basin Countries Andean Pact Countries MERCOSUR Asia-Pacific Region Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum Association of Southeast Asian Nations China Japan Korea Vietnam Indonesia India Sub-Saharan Africa Russia Section 12: Intellectual Property Intellectual Property Protections in Recent Free Trade Agreements WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights WTO Dispute Settlement New STOP! Initiative Special 301 Optical Media Products Piracy, Organized Crime and End-User Piracy of Software Implementation of World Intellectual Property Organization Treaties Promoting International Patent Harmonization Section 13: Taxation of Foreign Source Income Reform and Simplification of U.S. International Tax Laws American Jobs Creation Act, Extraterritorial Income Act and Foreign Sales Corporation Rules Background American Jobs Creation Act Current Status Bilateral Tax Treaties ECAT - Homepage About ECAT \| Hot Issues \| ECAT Positions Press Releases \| Trade Resources \| Key Trade Votes \| Publications Steel \| CAFTA \| Search \| Members Only Copyright 1999-2002, the Emergency Committee for American Trade