Emergency Committee For American Trade - Publications

ECAT 2008 AGENDA

Prepared for the ECAT Annual Meeting
April 3, 2008

Acknowledgements

ECAT gratefully acknowledges the substantive advice and input from our member companies in the preparation of the ECAT 2008 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 Bess Gulliver, ECAT’s Government Affairs Associate, for her valuable contributions in the research and preparation of important parts of ECAT’s 2008 Agenda.

SUMMARY OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

PART I: OVERVIEW

Section 1: Importance of Trade and Investment and ECAT’s Role

Section 2: Summary of ECAT’s Positions on the Issues

PART II: INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT NEGOTIATIONS

Section 1: World Trade Organization

Section 2: Major Free Trade Agreement Negotiations

Section 3: Renewal of Trade-Negotiating Authority

Section 4: Russia’s WTO Accession and Permanent Normal Trade Relations

PART III: TRADE AND INVESTMENT POLICY ISSUES

Section 1: Investment

Section 2: Trade Legislation

Section 3: Government Procurement

Section 4: Intellectual Property Rights

Section 5: Transparency

Section 6: Sanctions Reform

Section 7: Export Promotion and Financing and Development Assistance

Section 8: Export Controls

Section 9: Taxation of Foreign Source Income

Section 10: Addressing Concerns about Trade and Investment Liberalization

PART IV: COUNTRY- AND REGION-SPECIFIC ISSUES

Section 1: China

Section 2: European Union

Section 3: Western Hemisphere

Section 4: Asia and Asia Pacific

Section 5: Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

PART I: OVERVIEW

Section 1: Importance of Trade and Investment and ECAT’s Role

Why International Trade and Investment Are Important

Key Facts about International Trade and Investment

ECAT’s Activities to Promote Greater Trade and Investment

The Continued Need for Trade Outreach

Section 2: Summary of ECAT’s Positions on the Issues

PART II: INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT NEGOTIATIONS

Section 1: World Trade Organization

Doha Development Agenda Negotiations

Implementation of WTO Agreements

Status of WTO Committees

Foreign Trade Barriers Addressed through the WTO Dispute-Settlement System

Section 2: Major Free Trade Agreement Negotiations

How Trade Agreements Promote U.S. Interests

Congressional-Administration Trade Deal

Trade Agreements for Consideration in 2008

Section 3: Renewal of Trade-Negotiating Authority

History of Trade-Negotiating-Authority Procedures

Trade-Negotiating-Authority Framework

Importance of Renewing Trade-Negotiating Authority as Soon as Possible

Section 4: Russia’s WTO Accession and Permanent Normal Trade Relations

Russia’s Proposed WTO Accession

Permanent Normal Trade Relations with Russia

PART III: TRADE AND INVESTMENT POLICY ISSUES

Section 1: Investment

Importance of Investment to Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction

ECAT Studies and the Importance of International Investment to the U.S. Economy

OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

Sovereign Wealth Funds

Section 2: Trade Legislation

Trade Preference Legislation and Proposals

Trade-Remedy Law Legislation and Issues

U.S. Customs and Border-Protection Issues

Section 3: Government Procurement

WTO Government Procurement Agreement

APEC Principles

Section 4: Intellectual Property Rights

Importance of Strong Intellectual-Property Protections Globally

Heiligendamm Process

STOP! Initiative

Special 301

Online and Optical-Media Piracy

Implementation of World Intellectual Property Organization Treaties

Promoting International Patent Harmonization

Section 5: Transparency

Transparency in the World Trade Organization

Transparency Provisions in U.S. Trade Agreements

APEC Transparency and Anti-Corruption Activities

Other Antibribery Initiatives

Section 6: Sanctions Reform

Trade Sanctions Reform

Issue-Specific Sanctions Legislation

Section 7: Export Promotion and Financing and Development Assistance

Export-Import Bank

Overseas Private Investment Corporation

Trade and Development Agency

Millennium Challenge Corporation

Multilateral Development Banks and International Monetary Fund

Section 8: Export Controls

Dual-Use Export Control Policy

Deemed-Export Rules

Computer and Software Export Restrictions

Encryption

Microprocessor Controls

Export Administration Act Reauthorization

2008 Export Control Defense Directive

Wassenaar Arrangement

Section 9: Taxation of Foreign Source Income

Background on Key International Tax Rules

Critical Choices Ahead

H.R. 3970, The Tax Reduction and Reform Act of 2007

The 2008 Agenda

Bilateral Tax Treaties

Section 10: Addressing Concerns about Trade and Investment Liberalization

Global Outsourcing

ECAT Studies

Reform of Trade Adjustment Assistance and Worker Retraining Programs

Temporary-Entry Issues

Labor and Environment Issues

Food Trade Issues

Product Safety

Health Policy and Intellectual Property Rights Protection

PART IV: COUNTRY- AND REGION-SPECIFIC TRADE ISSUES

Section 1: China

U.S.-China Economic Relationship

China and the WTO

China’s Implementation of WTO Commitments and Key Commercial Issues

Mechanisms to Improve the U.S.-China Economic Relationship

Strategic Economic Dialogue

China-Related Trade Legislation

Section 2: European Union

EU Integration Efforts

U.S.-EU Trade and Economic Relations

Section 3: Western Hemisphere

North American Free Trade Agreement

Canada

Mexico

Central America and the Caribbean Basin

Implementation of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act

Andean Pact Countries

MERCOSUR and Brazil

Section 4: Asia and Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum

Australia

Asia

Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Japan

Singapore

India

Indonesia

Vietnam

Section 5: Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa

Middle East

Saudi Arabia

Bahrain

Morocco

Jordan

Sub-Saharan Africa


	ECAT 2008 AGENDA Prepared for the ECAT Annual Meeting April 3, 2008 Acknowledgements ECAT gratefully acknowledges the substantive advice and input from our member companies in the preparation of the ECAT 2008 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 Bess Gulliver, ECAT’s Government Affairs Associate, for her valuable contributions in the research and preparation of important parts of ECAT’s 2008 Agenda. SUMMARY OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PART I: OVERVIEW Section 1: Importance of Trade and Investment and ECAT’s Role Section 2: Summary of ECAT’s Positions on the Issues PART II: INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT NEGOTIATIONS Section 1: World Trade Organization Section 2: Major Free Trade Agreement Negotiations Section 3: Renewal of Trade-Negotiating Authority Section 4: Russia’s WTO Accession and Permanent Normal Trade Relations PART III: TRADE AND INVESTMENT POLICY ISSUES Section 1: Investment Section 2: Trade Legislation Section 3: Government Procurement Section 4: Intellectual Property Rights Section 5: Transparency Section 6: Sanctions Reform Section 7: Export Promotion and Financing and Development Assistance Section 8: Export Controls Section 9: Taxation of Foreign Source Income Section 10: Addressing Concerns about Trade and Investment Liberalization PART IV: COUNTRY- AND REGION-SPECIFIC ISSUES Section 1: China Section 2: European Union Section 3: Western Hemisphere Section 4: Asia and Asia Pacific Section 5: Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PART I: OVERVIEW Section 1: Importance of Trade and Investment and ECAT’s Role Why International Trade and Investment Are Important Key Facts about International Trade and Investment ECAT’s Activities to Promote Greater Trade and Investment The Continued Need for Trade Outreach Section 2: Summary of ECAT’s Positions on the Issues PART II: INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT NEGOTIATIONS Section 1: World Trade Organization Doha Development Agenda Negotiations Background Doha Development Agenda 2004 Framework Agreement Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong 2006-2008 Developments ECAT Priorities Market Access Trade Facilitation WTO Rules – Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Rules Market Access for Least-Developed Countries Dispute Settlement Government Procurement Importance of the WTO Negotiations WTO Institutional Framework Implementation of WTO Agreements WTO Accessions Status of WTO Committees Rules of Origin Trade and Environment WTO Dispute Settlement Foreign Trade Barriers Addressed through the WTO Dispute-Settlement System Section 2: Major Free Trade Agreement Negotiations How Trade Agreements Promote U.S. Interests Congressional-Administration Trade Deal Trade Agreements for Consideration in 2008 U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Major Provisions of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Opportunities Created Addressing Concerns about Colombia U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Major Provisions of the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Opportunities Created Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement Major Provisions of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement Opportunities Created Implementation of Completed Free Trade Agreements U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Major Provisions of the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Opportunities Created U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement Major Provisions of CAFTA-DR Opportunities Created U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement Major Provisions of the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement Opportunities Created Ongoing Free Trade Agreement Negotiations U.S.-Malaysia FTA Negotiations P-4 Negotiations Other Free Trade Agreement Negotiations U.S-Southern African Customs Union FTA Negotiations U.S.-Thailand FTA Negotiations U.S.-United Arab Emirates FTA Negotiations Free Trade Area of the Americas Negotiations Background on the Negotiations Status of the Negotiations and Outlook for 2008 Importance of the FTAA Negotiations Consideration of Future FTAs Section 3: Renewal of Trade-Negotiating Authority History of Trade-Negotiating-Authority Procedures Trade-Negotiating-Authority Framework Major Provisions of 2002 Trade Promotion Authority TPA Timeline Usage of Trade-Negotiating Authority Importance of Renewing Trade-Negotiating Authority as Soon as Possible Section 4: Russia’s WTO Accession and Permanent Normal Trade Relations Russia’s Proposed WTO Accession Permanent Normal Trade Relations with Russia PART III: TRADE AND INVESTMENT POLICY ISSUES Section 1: Investment Importance of Investment to Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction ECAT Studies and the Importance of International Investment to the U.S. Economy National Security Reviews of Foreign Investments The Original CFIUS Framework Foreign Investment and National Security Act of 2007 Next Steps Promoting and Protecting U.S. Investment Abroad Importance of Strong Investment Protections Expansion of Bilateral Investment Treaty Program to Major Economies Trade Promotion Authority Objectives on Investment and 2007 Congressional-Administration Trade Deal Investment Protections in Recent Free Trade Agreements, the Model Bilateral Investment Treaty and the Uruguay and Rwanda BITs Operation of Bilateral Investment Treaties, NAFTA Chapter 11 and Trade Agreements OECD Policy Framework for Investment OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises Sovereign Wealth Funds Section 2: Trade Legislation Trade Preference Legislation and Proposals Trade-Remedy Law Legislation and Issues WTO Rules Negotiations Congressional Trade-Remedy Proposals WTO Dispute Settlement Cases Involving U.S. Trade-Remedy Laws Legislative Proposals on the Enforcement of Trade Agreements U.S. Customs and Border-Protection Issues Transfer of Customs Functions to Department of Homeland Security Trade-Related Security Initiatives Cargo Screening Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism and the Container Security Initiative Automation Modernization Customs Modernization Recent Customs and Border-Protection Proposals Proposed Advance Importer/Carrier Security Filing Requirements (10+2 Rule) Proposed Elimination of First-Sale Rule Section 3: Government Procurement WTO Government Procurement Agreement Key Elements of the GPA Efforts to Expand Membership in the GPA Efforts to Reform and Simplify the GPA Other WTO Government Procurement Activities Government Procurement Chapters in Free Trade Agreements APEC Principles Section 4: Intellectual Property Rights Importance of Strong Intellectual-Property Protections Globally Strong Intellectual-Property Protections Are Vital to U.S. Economic Growth and Innovation Intellectual-Property Protection Is Also Important for Developing Countries Strong Intellectual-Property Protections and Enforcement Globally Are Critical for America’s Competitive Advantage Intellectual Property Protections in Free Trade Agreements Model FTA Intellectual-Property Protections 2007 Congressional-Administration Trade Deal and Pending Trade Agreements WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights WTO Dispute Settlement Compulsory Licensing Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement Heiligendamm Process STOP! Initiative Special 301 Online and Optical-Media Piracy Implementation of World Intellectual Property Organization Treaties Promoting International Patent Harmonization Section 5: Transparency Transparency in the World Trade Organization Transparency Provisions in U.S. Trade Agreements APEC Transparency and Anti-Corruption Activities Other Antibribery Initiatives Section 6: Sanctions Reform Trade Sanctions Reform Issue-Specific Sanctions Legislation Religious Persecution Narcotics Enforcement Country-Specific Sanctions Iran Sanctions India-Pakistan Nuclear Proliferation Sanctions Lifting of Libya Sanctions Helms-Burton Cuba Sanctions Easing of Cuba Embargo Sanctions on Myanmar Sanctions on Sudan Section 7: Export Promotion and Financing and Development Assistance Export-Import Bank Overseas Private Investment Corporation Trade and Development Agency Millennium Challenge Corporation Multilateral Development Banks and International Monetary Fund Section 8: Export Controls Dual-Use Export Control Policy Deemed-Export Rules Computer and Software Export Restrictions Encryption Microprocessor Controls Export Administration Act Reauthorization 2008 Export Control Defense Directive Wassenaar Arrangement Section 9: Taxation of Foreign Source Income Background on Key International Tax Rules Critical Choices Ahead H.R. 3970, The Tax Reduction and Reform Act of 2007 The 2008 Agenda Bilateral Tax Treaties Section 10: Addressing Concerns about Trade and Investment Liberalization Global Outsourcing ECAT Studies Reform of Trade Adjustment Assistance and Worker Retraining Programs Major Provisions of TAA as Reformed by the Trade Act of 2002 Renewal and Reform of TAA Private Sector Retraining Efforts Temporary-Entry Issues Labor and Environment Issues 2007 Congressional-Administration Trade Deal Other Trade-Related Labor Activities Other Trade-Related Environmental Activities Climate Change Food Trade Issues Biotechnology and Genetically Modified Organisms Biosafety Protocol EU Beef-Hormone Case ECAT’s Food Chain Coalition Proposal Product Safety Health Policy and Intellectual Property Rights Protection PART IV: COUNTRY- AND REGION-SPECIFIC TRADE ISSUES Section 1: China U.S.-China Economic Relationship China and the WTO Background on China’s WTO Commitments U.S.-China Relations Act and Congressional-Executive Commission on China China’s Implementation of WTO Commitments and Key Commercial Issues Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Protection and Enforcement Government Procurement Industrial Policy Financial Services Liberalization Other Non-Tariff Barriers on Agriculture, Manufactured Goods and Services Food, Feed and Product Safety Transparency Discriminatory Consumption and Value-added Taxation Policies Mechanisms to Improve the U.S.-China Economic Relationship Strategic Economic Dialogue China-Related Trade Legislation U.S.-China Competitiveness Agenda Legislation Currency Proposals Application of Countervailing Duty Law to China Modifications to Section 421 Safeguard Provisions Internet Restrictions Section 2: European Union EU Integration Efforts European Monetary Union and the Euro Other Preferential Trade Arrangements U.S.-EU Trade and Economic Relations Transatlantic Economic Council and Other Cooperative Activities Regulatory Cooperation Agricultural Issues Aircraft Issues Financial Services – Solvency II Other WTO Dispute Settlement Cases REACH Corporate Accounting Standards Privacy Other Trade Barriers “Open Skies” Bilateral Agreements Section 3: Western Hemisphere North American Free Trade Agreement Success of NAFTA Final NAFTA Implementation – Sugar NAFTA Dispute Settlement – Chapter 20 NAFTA Dispute Settlement – Chapter 19 NAFTA Chapter 11 NAFTA and the Environment NAFTA and Labor Canada U.S.-Canadian Trade and Investment Major U.S.-Canadian Trade Issues Canadian Trade Agreements and Negotiations Mexico U.S.-Mexican Trade and Investment Major U.S.-Mexican Trade Issues Mexican Trade Agreements and Negotiations Central America and the Caribbean Basin Implementation of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act Andean Pact Countries U.S.-Andean Trade and Investment Background on Andean Trade Preferences MERCOSUR and Brazil U.S.-MERCOSUR Trade and Investment U.S.-Brazil Trade and Investment MERCOSUR Trade Agreements and Negotiations Section 4: Asia and Asia Pacific Asia Pacific Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum Background on APEC Recent APEC Initiatives Australia Major Provisions of the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement Opportunities Created and Bilateral Issues Asia Association of Southeast Asian Nations Japan Singapore Major Provisions of the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Opportunities Created India Indonesia Vietnam Section 5: Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa Middle East Saudi Arabia Bahrain Major Provisions of the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement Opportunities Created Morocco Major Provisions of the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement Opportunities Created Jordan Major Provisions of the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement Opportunities Created Sub-Saharan Africa African Growth and Opportunity Act AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004 Africa Investment Incentive Act of 2006 Implementation and Impact of AGOA 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