User login

World Trade Online

IN TRADE

“Democrats don’t have a monopoly on environmental policy,” the senator says.

Tue, 12:04 PM

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

In Trade

Ways & Means adviser to serve in new USTR textiles and apparel negotiator role
By Dan Dupont

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has hired a House Ways & Means Committee trade adviser to serve in the new position of chief textiles and apparel negotiator, the agency announced.

USTR recommends policy steps for Bangladesh to show progress on labor rights
By Oliver Ward

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued the Bangladeshi government a list of recommended policy actions to “demonstrate progress” on labor rights, a USTR spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Analysts: India could take steps to ease import frictions if Modi wins third term
By Oliver Ward

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expected to win a third term in elections that began last week, has pledged to make his country an exporting powerhouse should he be re-elected -- analysts say that goal could compel the next Modi government to ease some of the trade frictions that have plagued U.S. exporters.

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.

  • Chair of WTO fisheries talks aiming to finalize deal in the ‘near future’

    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...

  • 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.

  • 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.