Africa and The Middle East

GENEVA -- U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab suggested today (July 30) in the aftermath of this week's collapse of the Doha round that countries should consider advancing the less controversial elements of the negotiations given that negotiators have been struggling hard to reach an agreement on an overall deal. In a press conference, Schwab suggested countries might "simplify or parse out pieces" of the Doha round agenda, such as duty-free, quota-free access for least developed countries, export competition, trade facilitation,...

GENEVA - Argentina, South Africa and India in a Green Room meeting last night (July 22) ruled out the latest negotiating text on non-agricultural market access (NAMA) as the basis for negotiations, according to Geneva sources. Geneva sources said the Green Room NAMA talks went poorly, although a few new flexibilities emerged, notably from Malaysia on the level of NAMA tariff cuts. It signaled it could accept a coefficient of 19 instead of 20 for formula tariff cuts and would...

U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab today (July 15) urged African trade officials to keep their "direct and immediate" interests in mind when participating in next week's Doha round talks in Geneva, instead of following the lead of advanced developing countries such as China and India. Schwab, speaking at the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum hosted by the State Department, said the goals of these more advanced developing countries may not be in line with the needs of poorer...

The House Ways and Means trade subcommittee announced late Friday (April 18) that bills eliminating the controversial 2006 abundant supply provision of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and eliminating tariffs on most types of footwear will be bundled into this year's Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB). Chairman Sander M. Levin (D-MI) and Ranking Member Wally Herger (R-CA) of the subcommittee officially requested comments on these and other tariff suspension bills to be included in the package by June 2...

The United Arab Emirates is in the process of approving an export control law that was crafted in collaboration with the U.S. Commerce Department, UAE Minister of Economy Sheikha Lubna said today (March 12). She said that as a result of this new export control law, she is "very confident" that UAE will not be placed in Commerce's export control category "Country Group C," which Commerce is proposing for countries that allow sensitive dual-use goods to be diverted to other...

The United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have in the short term dropped their efforts to negotiate a bilateral free trade agreement because of a failure to bridge their fundamental differences on the substance and scope of a potential investment chapter, according to U.S. trade officials. In light of these differences, it is not realistic to conclude an FTA under current fast-track deadlines, and the two sides will now focus on deepening their bilateral economic relationship through intensifying...

The Senate today (Sept. 19) passed the implementing bill for the U.S.-Oman free trade agreement by a vote of 63 to 31, which is a margin of three more votes compared to the initial Senate approval. On June 29, the Senate passed the same legislation by a vote of 60 to 34. The Senate had to pass the agreement for the second time because it had initially acted before the House. Under the U.S. Constitution, trade bills must originate in...

To secure votes for the U.S.-Oman free trade agreement last week, House GOP leaders promised a group of Republican members from textile states they would move legislation this week that would implement certain rules of origin changes for apparel imported under the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Sources said the legislation could be attached to a pension bill leadership hopes to pass by the end of this week in the House, and in the Senate next week. The legislation...