China agreed to purchase a range of U.S. goods as part of the phase one deal signed Jan. 15, totaling about $200 billion worth of U.S. goods and services over the next two years. The deal covers a long list of agricultural products -- including pork, beef, processed meats, dairy and seafood -- along with increased Chinese imports of U.S. rice, energy products and $120 billion in purchases of U.S. manufactured goods this year.
Hogan Lovells named Jared Wessel, who worked in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative General Counsel's office during the Obama administration, a partner, the law firm said in a news release. Anne Fisher, who works on export control issues, was named counsel, Hogan Lovells said.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said he's been told it's going to take three or four days for six other Senate committees to clear the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement so that it can go to the floor for a vote. Whether it can come up the week of Jan. 21 will depend on whether the articles of impeachment have arrived by then, he noted.
Deputy U.S. Trade Representative C.J. Mahoney, who as the deputy in charge of the Western Hemisphere has done a lot of the legwork on the NAFTA replacement, has been nominated to be legal adviser at the State Department.
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with some of the top stories for Dec. 23-27 in case you missed them.
President Donald Trump tweeted that he will sign “our very large and comprehensive Phase One Trade Deal with China on January 15” at the White House. "High level representatives of China will be present" and Trump is planning to go to Beijing "at a later date" to begin talks around Phase Two, he said. An administration official previously said the signing would be done between the U.S. trade representative and China's vice premier, and would happen in the first week of January (see 1912130035).
Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., the strongest free trade advocate in the Senate, said he doesn't know if Republicans will return to their traditional position as pro-free trade. In response to a question from the audience at the American Enterprise Institute Dec. 19, he said it depends on whether President Donald Trump is re-elected in 2020.
A bipartisan group of 161 House members are asking U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to open negotiations for a free trade deal with Taiwan. The letter, sent Dec. 19, was led by Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, Rep. Albio Sires, D-N.J., Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., and Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va. “Taiwan is a longstanding ally and a like-minded partner in the Indo-Pacific region that upholds and shares our values. Taiwan is our 11th largest trading partner worldwide, the 8th largest export market for U.S. agricultural products, a major purchaser of U.S. LNG exports, and the supplier of a significant amount of the semiconductors used by our manufacturers in their finished goods,” they said. “As the trade and investment relationship with Taiwan already supports an estimated 373,000 U.S. jobs, working toward the negotiation of a high-standard and comprehensive U.S.-Taiwan bilateral trade agreement would further enhance our shared goal of enhancing the global competitiveness of U.S. industries while spurring American job creation.”
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement passed in the House of Representatives with a vote of 385-41, with all but two Republicans and 193 Democrats voting yes. This was the biggest vote for a free trade deal in the House since the Canada Free Trade agreement in 1988, and many of the top Democrats in the House say it will serve as a template for future trade deals. It was a far more resounding “yes” than the original NAFTA vote of 234-200, when just 102 Democrats voted yes.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are seeking new members to serve on seven agricultural trade advisory committees, the agencies said Dec. 18. Members will advise both agencies on trade agreements and trade policy, and will provide technical advice on international trade issues that impact both foreign and domestic production in “specific commodity sectors,” the USTR said. The committees will focus on trade in animals and animal products, fruits and vegetables, grains, feed, seeds, processed foods, sweeteners, tobacco, cotton and peanuts. Applicants must have “significant expertise” in agriculture and international trade and will serve four-year terms. Members must also be willing to serve “without compensation for time, travel or expenses,” the USTR said. The committee holds “frequent” conference calls and generally meets in Washington, D.C., twice a year. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Jan. 31, 2020, and can be found on the USDA website.