CalChamber Public Affairs Council Retreat Oct. 28-30, 2009
Annual USTR Hearing / Testimony on China's WTO Compliance
Please click here for a copy of USTR's Federal Register notice requesting comment by Tuesday, September 22on China's compliance with its WTO commitments in preparation for USTR's annual hearing on China's WTO compliance, which will take place on October 2.
USTR invites written comments on China's commitments in the following areas: (a) Trading rights; (b)import regulation (e.g., tariffs, tariff-rate quotas, quotas, import licenses); (c)export regulation; (d) internal policies affecting trade (e.g., subsidies, standards and technical regulations, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, government procurement, trade-related investment measures, taxes and charges levied on imports and exports); (e) intellectual property rights (including intellectual property rights enforcement); (f) services; (g) rule of law issues (e.g., transparency, judicial review, uniform administration of laws and regulations) and status of legal reform; and (h) other WTO commitments.
Brian McGowan, former Deputy Secretary for Economic Development & Commerce at the CA Bus, Trans & Housing Agency has been appointed as the new Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Economic Development Administration in the U.S. Dept. of Commerce.
The “Small Business Int’l Trade Enhancements Act of 2009” (S. 1196 – Senator Mary L. Landrieu D-LA),which would increase the total amount of available trade financing, adjust collateral requirements, and encourage better collaboration on small business export assistance among federal government agencies.
The “Small Business Export Opportunity Act of 2009” (S. 1208 – Senator Olympia Snowe R-ME ) , which would create a new Office of Small business Export Development and Promotion at the Small Business Administration. It would also increase the maximum export loan amount and create a grant program that matches funds for expenses incurred by small businesses that are actively working to start or expand export activities.
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.
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.
The following bills are related to international trade and have been introduced in the California State Legislature in the 2009-2010 Legislative Session.
Any CalChamber position is noted on the CalChamber Legislative website:
AB 961 (Krekorian) Public contracts: genocidal regimes This bill would prohibit a scrutinized company that was engaged in business with perpetrators of genocide, from entering into a contract with a state agency for goods or services. 2-YEAR BILL
AB 1276 (Skinner) International Trade This bill would prohibit the Governor from binding the State to an international trade agreement without specific legislation authorizing the action. ENROLLMENT
AB 1431 (Hill) Air quality: Port of Oakland This bill would require the Port of Oakland to establish emission reduction strategies that are no less stringent than that which are employed at the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach. 2-YEAR BILL
SB 657 (Steinberg) Human Trafficking This bill would require businesses to actively engage to eliminate human trafficking from the supply chain down to raw materials. 2-YEAR BILL
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
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