As countries seek to acquire needed supplies of ventilators, masks and other protective gear, the deputy director for trade and agriculture at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said that nationalizing production of these goods is not the answer for the next pandemic. Julia Nielson, who was speaking on a Washington International Trade Association webinar April 2, said, “I don’t think nationalization of supply has ever meant security of supply.” She said that countries may need to consider the inventories they hold, and redundancies in where they get goods, but that given the way this pandemic is spreading in waves, relying on one country, even your own, could be risky.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative released the 2020 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, detailing foreign trade barriers faced by U.S. exporters, it said in a March 31 notice. The notice includes a fact sheet on the USTR’s efforts to remove foreign trade barriers -- including recent trade deals with China (see 2001150073) and Japan (see 1912050058) -- and details on agricultural and digital trade barriers.
The Senate Finance Committee chairman, joined by 11 other Senate Republicans, is asking President Donald Trump to consider a total moratorium on new or raised tariffs, as well as examining how tariffs and import and export restrictions specific to medical supplies can be tackled. They praised the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative for excluding some medical supplies from Section 301 tariffs since the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic spread to the U.S., but said a wider review should be done to make sure none remain. And they encouraged him to coordinate with other countries that have imposed export restrictions in response to COVID-19, so that there aren't cost increases and “critical supply shortages.”
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with some of the top stories for March 16-20 in case you missed them.
More progress has been made on China’s agricultural commitments under the U.S.-China phase one trade deal, including an agreement relating to poultry exports and an updated list of U.S. facilities eligible to export beef and grain to China, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said March 24. The progress shows China is “moving in the right direction” to fulfill its purchase agreements, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a statement. USTR Robert Lighthizer released an update on Chinese agricultural commitments earlier this year (see 2002250055).
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative scheduled a hearing for businesses to testify about their priorities for negotiations for a U.S.-Kenya free trade agreement. USTR notified Congress March 17 of its intent to enter into negotiations with Kenya (see 2003170061). The deadline to submit written comments and to notify of an intent to testify is April 15. The public hearing will be April 28 in Washington. The office recommended giving feedback on barriers to trade; costs or benefits to reducing tariffs in the U.S. on Kenyan imports; customs and facilitation issues, including those related to pre-shipment inspection; and whatever else companies think needs to be addressed.
The language of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement says that in order for the treaty to take effect on June 1 -- as U.S. officials have told Congress they want -- the countries would have to agree that they're ready 12 days from now. Kenneth Smith Ramos, a former top negotiator of the NAFTA rewrite, said the three countries cannot say they've completed their internal procedures by then. “#NotHappening,” he wrote in English at the end of a tweet in Spanish.
Applications to become a panelist on a state-to-state dispute settlement panel for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or on a specialized labor panel, will be due by April 20, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in a notice.
The U.S. Trade Representative notified Congress March 17 that it will be negotiating a trade agreement with Kenya. Negotiations cannot begin for at least 90 days. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we look forward to negotiating and concluding a comprehensive, high-standard agreement with Kenya that can serve as a model for additional trade agreements across Africa. Kenya is an important regional leader, a strategic partner of the United States, and a commercial hub that can provide substantial opportunities for U.S. trade and investment,” USTR Robert Lighthizer said in a statement.
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with some of the top stories for March 9-13 in case you missed them.