Economic Downturn Makes Trade Talks a Priority The economic downturn, along with new leadership in the U.S. and India, is spurring G-8 nations to repair trade talks at their coming summit but Washington remains an obstacle, trade experts say. The rest of the world "is waiting for the U.S." to detail its position on trade, Pascal Lamy, director of the World Trade Organization said in an interview at WTO headquarters in Geneva, days before the Group of Eight leading nations gather July 8-10 in L'Aquila, Italy. The Wall Street Journal, July 7, 2009
Obama asks Russians to forge partnership with U.S. Working to turn Russia from antagonist to ally, President Barack Obama asked the Russian people Tuesday to "forge a lasting partnership" with the U.S., but he acknowledged after talks with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that on divisive issues there won't be "a meeting of the minds anytime soon." The San Diego Union-Tribune, July 7, 2009
"CalChamber Companies in the News" is a regular feature in the CalChamber's Trade Update newsletter, highlighting the international activities of member companies who have been featured in the news.
The “Trade Reform, Accountability, Development, and Employment (TRADE) Act” (H.R. 3012 - Congressman Mike Michaud D-ME), which would generate additional bureaucratic reporting requirements relating to international trade agreements on top of those that already exist, was introduced in the House on June 24, 2009. This legislation would place new roadblocks to future trade agreements intended to lower foreign taxes on U.S. exports and require the renegotiation of existing trade agreements. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is expected to introduce companion legislation in the Senate in July. The TRADE Act: A Blow Against the Economy and Workers U.S.Chamber Article
International Tax Proposal The proposal would raise taxes on U.S. companies doing business overseas. The limitation or repeal of deferral, as proposed by the Obama administration, would impose a unilateral tax on the foreign earnings of American companies, upsetting the competitive balance between U.S. and foreign companies. This will result in a loss of jobs for Americans and serious negative impacts on the U.S. economy. Oppose. Federal Proposal Increases Taxes On U.S. Companies Doing Business Overseas
CalChamber, June 8, 2009
California Coalition For Free Trade The CalChamber Council for International Trade (CIT) is urging members of the business community to join (click here to download membership form) its coalition working to secure congressional approval of the free trade agreements (FTAs) with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. Companies .or associations that join the California Coalition for Free Trade will be included on the rapidly growing list of FTA supporters. There is no cost to join the coalition, which will keep members apprised of its activities and how to be supportive of the FTAs. For more information on the FTAs or to join the coalition, visit www.calchamber.com/international
State Chief Information Officer’s office posted a new, online repository of government data in its raw, machine-readable form so the public can more easily analyze it with spreadsheets, databases and the like. The data includes information on vital statistics such as population, birth, death and marriage data, "more than 50 million data records on education," imports and exports through state ports, traffic counts on state highways, driving statistics such as accidents and fatalities, water data as well as Cal-Atlas, which provides mapping data.
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