USTR Concludes APEC Meeting, Discusses TPP
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has announced the conclusion of the 2010 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting that was held in Sapporo, Japan on June 5-6, 2010.
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U.S. Held Bilateral Meetings Focused on U.S. Export Priorities
On June 5, 2010, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Marantis held numerous bilateral meetings, focusing on U.S. export priorities with several economies, including:
- Market access for U.S. beef and rice in Taiwan and other agriculture export priorities with Taiwan
- Access for U.S. pharmaceutical sales in Indonesia
- Protection of U.S. intellectual property in Thailand
- Cooperation from Malaysia on a plurilateral initiative to lower tariffs on climate-friendly technologies.
TPP Negotiations Also a Key Focus of Bilateral Discussions
Ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations were also a key focus of bilateral discussions with Chile and Malaysia and of plurilateral discussions in a meeting of the eight current TPP members1.
During the meeting, TPP ministers underscored the importance of reaching meaningful outcomes in all areas typically included in high-standard free trade agreements. They also directed negotiators to be open and creative as they seek to develop proposals in new areas, including regulatory coherence, regional integration, development competitiveness, small- and medium-sized enterprises, and transparency.
Marantis noted that it will be important to make substantive progress at the upcoming second round of TPP negotiations in San Francisco, California, the week of June 142.
Ministers Discussed How to Make APEC More Responsive to Business Needs
On June 6, 2010 Marantis participated in meetings with APEC trade ministers to determine how to make APEC more responsive to the needs of businesses and workers, ensuring that APEC helps member economies to grow jobs at home, open markets, and promote the needs and interests of small- and medium-sized businesses.
U.S. WTO Ambassador Met with Russia to Discuss Poultry Imports, Etc.
During informal meetings, U.S. Ambassador to the World Trade Organization Punke held a bilateral meeting with Russian Minister of Economic Development Nabiullina. Punke, who attended the APEC meetings, stressed the U.S.’ ongoing bilateral concern over Russia's restrictions on imports of U.S. poultry, and also noted the need for ongoing work by Russia to move forward its effort to accede to membership in the WTO.
1Australia, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and the U.S.
2The USTR chief negotiator for the TPP and members of negotiator's team will hold a second online chat to answer questions regarding the negotiations throughout the week of June 14 on USTR.gov. Questions can be submitted beginning June 7 at www.ustr.gov/tpp/comment.