The U.S. and China have not yet began negotiations over sectoral exclusions in Bilateral Investment Treaty talks, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman told the Chamber of Commerce on April 28 (here). Both sides have repeatedly indicated they plan to exchange the exclusions, called the “negative list,” in the beginning of 2015 (see 1503100076). “This will be the most challenging BIT negotiation that either country has ever undertaken,” said Froman in the remarks. “We’ve had very good dialogue with China over the last year on the [BIT] and actually made quite good workmanlike progress on the basis of the text, and it’s very clear that from President Xi [Jinping] on down, the Chinese leadership and ministries are taking this very seriously, and we welcome that kind of engagement in the negotiations.”
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman will speak to a Chamber of Commerce event on China on April 27, the Office of the USTR said in its weekly schedule (here). Froman will then attend Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s speech to a joint session of Congress on April 29. The U.S. and Japan are striving to close the gaps in their bilateral Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations. Deputy USTR Robert Holleyman will on the same day deliver remarks to a group of small business owners at the White House. Holleyman will then participate on May 1 in an event sponsored by the New Democrat Network. Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., will also attend. Kind was one of two Democrats to vote in favor of Trade Promotion Authority at the Ways and Means Committee markup on April 22.
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has the potential to slash “red tape” and bureaucratic hurdles in U.S.-European trade, said the top American TTIP negotiator, Dan Mullaney, in April 27 remarks that capped off a week of TTIP talks in New York City (here). “We made important progress this week in a number of key areas of the negotiations,” said Mullaney. “We had very productive engagement on some of the key regulatory areas. With respect to technical barriers to trade, we discussed ways in which we can reduce regulatory costs and burdens while continuing to achieve our respective high levels of consumer and environmental protection.” Mullaney hinted at mutual recognition of regulatory functions in a final TTIP agreement. A key European business leader recently voiced support for that mutual recognition, instead of full regulatory harmonization (see 1503240062). Chief European negotiator for TTIP, Ignacio Garcia-Bercero, echoed those calls for improved facilitation and regulatory cooperation.
The U.S. has made more progress to close the U.S.-Japanese negotiating gaps in Trans-Pacific Partnership talks, but "continued work is needed to ultimately resolve the outstanding issues," said U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman following two days of meetings with his Japanese counterpart in Tokyo. The progress "will contribute important momentum to the broader TPP talks," said Froman, in a statement released by his office. Froman met with Japanese Economy Minister Akira Amari.
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman traveled to Tokyo on April 18 to discuss Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, the Office of the USTR said in its weekly schedule. USTR didn’t comment on the length of Froman’s stay, but the visit comes at a critical time in U.S.-Japanese bilateral talks under TPP. Lawmakers in recent days introduced Trade Promotion Authority, the legislation trade experts say may provide the impetus to conclude TPP talks. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is also scheduled to visit Washington from April 28-29, during which he’ll both meet with President Barack Obama and speak to Congress (see 1503280002). Froman will then speak to the American Association of Port Authorities in Washington on April 21, and then he’ll deliver remarks to the Atlantic Economy Summit on April 23. Deputy USTR Robert Holleyman will on the same day participate in an event alongside New Democrat Coalition Chair Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis. That coalition is expected to deliver some Democratic votes on TPA, although the number of votes is currently unclear. The U.S. is also hosting the 9th round of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations from April 20-24 (here), and USTR is planning a number of events affiliated with that.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is asking for stakeholder comment on Indonesia’s challenge at the World Trade Organization to U.S. trade remedies on coated paper (here). Comments must be submitted by May 11, via www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2015-0005. Indonesia began consultations, the step before an adjudication panel, with the U.S. in March (see 1503130069).
The Trans-Pacific Partnership is poised to include the strongest environmental regulation in the history of global trade agreements, despite significant resistance from TPP partners, said U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman in a speech to the Outdoor Industry Association on April 15. The pact will crack down on illegal fishing, logging and other wildlife trafficking, and the U.S. will be able to sanction countries that fail to meet their environmental commitments, said Froman.
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman will meet with Mexican Secretary of the Economy Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal in Mexico City on April 13, the Office of the USTR said in its weekly schedule. USTR didn't disclose any details of the meeting, but both the U.S. and Mexico are party to Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations. On April 15, Froman will give remarks to a crowd of Outdoor Industry Association members in Washington, and Deputy USTR Robert Holleyman will speak to the American Apparel and Footwear Association. Acting Deputy USTR Wendy Cutler and chief agriculture negotiator Darci Vetter will on the same day meet with Japanese officials in Tokyo on bilateral market access issues in TPP. Froman will then on April 16 speak to a Bloomberg Conference in Washington.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative asked for stakeholder comments on the South Korean challenge at the World Trade Organization to U.S. antidumping duties on oil country tubular goods (here). USTR criticized South Korea in March for moving ahead with a formal adjudication panel in the dispute, after consultations evidently failed to appease South Korean officials (see 1503130070). USTR is asking stakeholders to comment by May 1 on all aspects of the dispute and U.S. trade remedies. Commenters should make submissions via www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2015-0001.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative released in recent days its annual National Trade Estimate, a review of U.S. trade ties and barriers on a country-by-country basis. The U.S. is continuing efforts to combat trade barriers, such as arbitrary testing, labeling and certifications, sanitary and phytosanitary measures and high, trade-inhibiting tariffs, said USTR in the NTE (here). The review also placed particular emphasis on corruption as a trade barrier, saying bribery and other forms of corruption impacts customs and licensing and has the potential to “negate market access gained through trade negotiations.”