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World Trade Online

IN TRADE

The week's most noteworthy events.

Mon, 6:02 PM

The Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement aims to reduce barriers to Indigenous economic participation, including in trade.

Mon, 5:44 PM

The House in January voted overwhelmingly in favor of identical legislation.

Mon, 3:47 PM

“The Project on Critical Minerals Security will build upon CSIS’s longstanding work to support market-led efforts to expand production, processing, and recycling capacities to improve domestic and global security.”

Fri, 5:02 PM

The House is expected to vote on the package this weekend.

Fri, 3:10 PM

In Trade

Insider Interview
Former AUSTR: RRM case could illuminate broader enforcement plan
By Margaret Spiegelman

A dispute between the U.S. and Mexico over how to remediate worker rights’ violations at a Mexican call center could shed light on how the Biden administration plans to enforce developing trade arrangements with other partners, former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Labor Affairs Josh Kagan tells Inside U.S. Trade.

House bill would extend de minimis treatment to companies in foreign trade zones
By Jason Asenso

House Ways & Means Committee member Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) has introduced a bill aimed at extending de minimis treatment to companies operating within U.S. foreign trade zones, legislation his office says “complements” the panel’s recent effort to overhaul the de minimis channel.

McKalip: Across-the-board tariff proposal a threat to U.S. agriculture  
By Oliver Ward

A proposal put forward by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to impose a new tariff on all goods entering the U.S. would hurt the agriculture sector, a senior Office of U.S. Trade Representative official said last week, arguing that Republicans’ recent focus on the agricultural trade deficit overlooks the “real threats” to American agriculture. 

Insider Interview
Trade panel Chair Smith: A ‘new AGOA’ must feature a path to graduation
By Margaret Spiegelman

The U.S. must provide a clear path under the African Growth and Opportunity Act for countries that outgrow the unilateral trade preferences program to negotiate reciprocal, enforceable trade agreements with Washington, the chair of the House Ways & Means trade subcommittee tells Inside U.S. Trade.

Yellen: APEP countries must seize opportunities to boost supply chain resilience
By Jason Asenso

Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity countries must “move quickly” to capitalize on opportunities presented by businesses seeking to boost their supply chain resilience, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Friday, ahead of a meeting with APEP finance ministers.

Chair of WTO fisheries talks aiming to finalize deal in the ‘near future’
By Hannah Monicken

Following a close-but-no-cigar failure to secure a deal at the 13th World Trade Organization ministerial conference in February, the chair of the WTO fisheries subsidies negotiations is pushing for members to finalize an agreement in the “near future,” outlining a few categories of “desirable adjustments” for the text, including at least one political interlinkage -- on forced labor -- that will have to be resolved.

  • WTO members consider post-MC13 next steps on agriculture

    World Trade Organization members this week debated next steps to advance agriculture negotiations after failing to agree to any framework or roadmap for the talks at the 12th and 13th ministerial conferences, with some pushing to build on the text from MC13 while others, including the U.S., are skeptical.

  • Okonjo-Iweala urges restraint on national security, potential Trump tariffs

    World Trade Organization members must “be very careful” in invoking the national security exception to prevent a race to the bottom, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said on Tuesday, urging similar restraint if former President Donald Trump wins re-election and imposes his proposed 10 percent across-the-board tariff.

  • Vilsack suggests ag trade deficit could be a message from China

    China is buying fewer agricultural products from the U.S. this year in part because Beijing wants to send a “signal” to the U.S., Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said this week, suggesting the U.S. agriculture trade deficit is in part attributable to the drop in Chinese purchases.

  • Blumenauer says he’ll continue working with Senate, administration on de minimis

    House Ways & Means trade subcommittee ranking member Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) will continue working with senators and the Biden administration to push for his proposal to prevent Chinese shipments from receiving de minimis treatment after Ways & Means Republicans this week advanced alternative legislation he says is insufficient.