Russia imposed a travel ban June 6 on another 61 U.S. citizens in response to U.S. sanctions, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced, according to an unofficial translation. Listed are Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, along with other American officials and businesspeople in the media, finance, aviation and shipping sectors.
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said, after it was announced that the administration nominated Doug McKalip to be chief agricultural negotiator in her office, "USTR’s Chief Agricultural Negotiator will play a pivotal role in maintaining and building on these successes on behalf of America’s workers, farmers, ranchers, and producers. Doug McKalip is a highly qualified nominee with decades of experience in public service. His institutional knowledge of USDA spans multiple administrations, from leading different offices to serving as trusted advisor to Secretary [Tom] Vilsack, and will help us continue the close collaboration between our agencies that has enabled so much success."
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is soliciting comments from stakeholders on what they would like USTR's negotiating objectives to be on issues related to conformity assessment, technical regulations and standards, customs and trade facilitation, and practices Taiwan has "that undermine fair market opportunities for U.S. workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses."
A week before U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai heads to Geneva for the World Trade Organization's ministerial conference, she said she's excited for what the meeting could bring, though she avoided predicting that either an intellectual property waiver for COVID-19 vaccines would be approved, or that the 20-year fisheries negotiations would be closed.
The U.S. has brought another rapid response request, this time over an alleged violation of worker rights at the Teksid Hierro de Mexico plant in Frontera, Mexico. According to the parent company's website, the plant makes iron castings used in heavy trucks made by Volvo, Cummins, Mack Trucks and others. The owner of the company is Stellantis, the conglomerate that owns the Chrysler brand.
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Koji Tomita signed an agreement that will change the beef safeguard trigger under the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement, USTR announced June 2, but the date the changes will come into force is still not known. "[B]oth countries will follow their respective domestic procedures in order for the updated agreement to enter into force," a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service release said.
The U.S. announced it is starting negotiations with Taiwan on trade facilitation, sanitary and photosanitary regulations for agricultural imports, digital trade, and coordinating to confront non-market practices. The U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade is similar to the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework in its scope, but Taiwan was not invited to join IPEF negotiations.
Former Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., who also is a former ambassador to China, said that while the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework is weak compared with the Trans-Pacific Partnership, "but it’s a beginning and we have to work with it." Baucus said he continues to believe the U.S. should have joined the TPP, which has been rebranded as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP, but said that when he flew back from China to lobby on its behalf, "It was pretty clear this is toxic -- this was going nowhere."
Requests for action from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative should go beyond asking USTR to go and fix a problem via the World Trade Organization, USMCA or other dispute settlement system, said Daniel Stirk, senior associate general counsel at the agency. Speaking on a panel at the Georgetown International Trade Update, Stirk said that instead, trust that the office is already aware of the issue and is taking steps to solve it, and if you still decide to approach USTR, come with thoughtful solutions.
A nonbinding resolution to pursue a free trade agreement with the U.K. passed the Senate through unanimous consent. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, hailed the passage in a May 26 news release. "The United States and the United Kingdom are the closest of allies and the most natural of economic partners. Since the British people have reclaimed the right to negotiate their own trade agreements, I have advocated for a robust trade agreement between our nations. I am overjoyed and encouraged to see the Senate pass this resolution calling for such a mutually beneficial agreement. Free trade between our nations would be good for Britons, for Americans, and particularly for Utahns who have such close economic ties to our friends across the pond," he said.