Vote Nears on
U.S.-Panama Trade Pact
As the U.S. Congress gets closer to voting on the pending U.S.-Panama
Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Panama’s president-elect is expressing his
devotion to seeing that the FTA is passed. CalChamber, May
12, 2009
Trade Deficit
Widens in March to $27.6 Billion
The Commerce Department said Tuesday the deficit widened to $27.6 billion
in March, slightly lower than the $29 billion gap that economists had
forecast. Associated
Press, May 12, 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.
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
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.-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.-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
Trans-Pacific
Partnership Agreement
The Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement ( the
Trans-Pacific Partnership) was signed by New Zealand, Chile, Singapore,
and Brunei in the summer of 2005. In September 2005, negotiations
for the United States to join the Trans-Pacific Agreement were
launched. Australia, Peru, and Vietnam also indicated interest in
participating in negotiations from the first round.
Status: Negotiations postponed Click here for
Additional Information
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.
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.
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.
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.
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