The CalChamber’s Council for
International Trade recently held a breakfast meeting
featuring Patricia Haslach, the United States Ambassador to
APEC. The Ambassador outlined current activities and projects
related to the US involvement in APEC.
APEC brings together 21 economic
that touch the Pacific Ocean and represent half of global
trade. The APEC process rotates by country each year.
The United States will chair the
APEC process in 2011, including hosting a series of meetings
of high level officials and ministers, culminating in a
heads-of-state meeting and CEO summit in the fall. California
should have an opportunity to host one or more of the key APEC
meetings.
A statewide committee of business
leaders has been formed to bring the ministerial and summit
meetings of APEC to California in 2011, and it is still open
to additional members. The committee is organized by the Bay
Area Council Economic Institute with the support of the
National Center for APEC.
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
The US Congress has returned to
session following their summer break. The US-Colombia
FTA was the focus as a large Colombian Delegation
visited Washington last week and President Uribe visits
this week. On Monday, September 15, the California
Coalition for Free Trade sent letters of support to the
California Congressional Delegation.
U.S.-Colombian Trade
Promotion Agreement A bilateral TPA that will
lower tariffs and foster increased trade between both
countries. This agreement is a critical element of a possible
U.S.-Andean Free Trade Agreement and of the U.S. strategy to
liberalize trade through bilateral, regional and multilateral
initiatives. CalChamber position: Support Status:
Pending Congressional Action Click
here for Additional Information
U.S.-Panama
Free Trade Agreement A bilateral FTA that will
lower tariffs and foster increased trade between both
countries. A U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement is a critical
element of the U.S. strategy to liberalize trade through
multilateral, regional and bilateral initiatives. The
agreement will also increase momentum toward lowering trade
barriers and set a positive example for other small economies
in the Western Hemisphere. CalChamber position: Support
Status: Pending Congressional Action Click here for additional
information
U.S.-Korea Free Trade
Agreement A bilateral FTA which will lower tariffs
and foster increased trade between both countries and is a
critical element of the U.S. strategy to liberalize trade
through multilateral, regional and bilateral initiatives.
CalChamber position: Support Status: Pending
Congressional Action Click here for additional
information
California
*The following bills are
related to international trade and have been introduced in the
California State Legislature in the 2007-2008 Legislative
Session. Any CalChamber position is noted on the CalChamber
Legislative website.
AB 1394 (Krekorian) Counterfeit:
Trademarks Improves protections of trademark
owner rights and consumer health and safety by strengthening
California laws against trafficking of fake products such as
auto parts, prescription drugs, and children's toys. STATUS:
To Enrollment
Intellectual
Property Rights Working Group Consists of
CalChamber members who are interested in being involved with
CalChamber policy development and advocacy efforts in the area
of intellectual property rights (IPR) and want to keep
apprised of pending state legislation or policy issues having
an impact on IPR. Staff
Contact: Kyla Christoffersen
SB 974 (Lowenthal) Tax on Freight
Movement This bill would require the Ports of
Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Oakland to collect a user fee on
the owner of container cargo moving through the Port of Los
Angeles, the Port of Long Beach, or the Port of Oakland at a
rate of $30 per twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU). STATUS: To
Enrollment
CalChamber Policy Advocate Jason
Schmelzer comments on SB 974 (Lowenthal; D-Long Beach), which
imposes a tax on imports and exports that come through the
three major ports in the state and the immediate impact that
it would have on an already-down economy.
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