December 7, 2010

Featured Headlines

US - Korea Trade Agreement Closer to Passing
On Friday, the United States and South Korea announced the successful resolution of the outstanding issues with the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA), setting the stage for consideration of the agreement by Congress in the coming months. CalChamber, December 7, 2010

South Korea Defends US Trade Pact
The U.S. and South Korea,in finalizing a sweeping free-trade agreement that had been stuck in legislative limbo since 2007, made compromises that drew some political criticism here over fairness—but likely not enough to prevent ratification. Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon, in a nationally televised news conference that lasted more than an hour, on Sunday rejected critics who, before hearing details, were accusing his negotiating team of caving in to U.S. pressure in the revising of the agreement. The Wall Street Journal, December 6, 2010

From the White House

Statement by the President Announcing the US - Korea Trade Agreement
December 3, 2010

FACT SHEET: Overview of the US - Korea Trade Agreement

FACT SHEET: Economic Value of the US - Korea Trade Agreement

FACT SHEET: Increasing US Auto Exports and Growing US Jobs Through the US - Korea Trade Agreement

Statements of Support for KORUS

Additional Statments of Support for KORUS

Additional Statements of Support

Statement by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on the US - Korea Trade Agreement

Governor Schwarzenegger Applauds Action on Korea - US Free Trade Agreement

Chairman Levin Statement on US - South Korea Free Trade Agreement

Camp, Brady Statement on US - South Korea Free Trade Agreement

US - Korea FTA Business Coaltion Praises Breakthrough on KORUS

USCIB Chairman McGraw The Korean Free Trade Agreement Is a Test of Our Commitment to Markets

Please contact your representatives in Congress
and urge them to support the U.S.-Korea FTA.

For more information, visit
www.calchamber.com/korea

CalChamber Companies in the News

Update on Trans Pacific Partnership Negotiations
USTR, December 6, 2010
**Kim Benson, long standing member of the CIT, is in New Zealand testifying at these negotiations on behalf of CA business.

Southern CA Economist Jack Kyser dies at 76
Los Angeles Times, December 6, 2010
**The Los Angeles County Economic Deveopment Corp is a member of the CalChamber and Mr. Kyser was a significant contributor to the CalChamber's Economic Advisory Council.

Microsoft Says Yahoo Deal Working Better Than Expected
San Francisco Chronicle, December 7, 2010

Trade Policy

U.S. Commerce Secretary Press Releases

Commerce Secretary Locke Launches First Federally Coordinated Renewable Energy and Energy Efficient Export Initiative

United States and the Czech Republic Sign Joint Declaration on Civil Nuclear Power

Remarks at the New Market Exporter Initiative Launch with the National Association of Manufacturers and FedEx

Commerce Department, National Association of Manufacturers, FedEx Join Forces to Boost US Exports

Commerce Secretary Announces Advisory Committee to Promote Exports of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficient Technologies

Remarks at US - China Commercial Relationship Policy Conference

US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and US Trade Representative Ron Kirk to Convene 21st Session of the US - China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade

U.S. Commerce Secretary Blog Posts

Commerce Department's Clean Technology Trade & Investment Mission Moves to Brussels, Belgium

Upcoming Trade Mission to India

U.S. Companies Invited to Apply to Join Secretary Locke on Upcoming High-Tech Trade Mission to India

http://www.trade.gov/IndiaMission2011/

U.S. Trade Representative Press Releases

US Korea Trade Discussions Update - 12/03/10

Statement By Ambassador Michael Punke to the Trade Negotiations Committee

U.S. Trade Representative's Blog Posts

Weekly Trade Spotlight: Trade with Africa

Federal Register Notices:

Identification of Countries Under Section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974: 2010 Special 301 Out-of-Cycle Reviews of the Philippines and Thailand
Written Comments Due Dec. 10, 2010

Compliance with Telecommunications
Trade Agreements
Written Comments Due Dec. 17, 2010

Federal

Current International Trade related Federal legislation of interest to the CalChamber can be found on the CalChamber's International and Legislative websites.

Free Trade Agreements

U.S. Trade Agreements

WTO database on regional trade agreements

U.S. - Panama Free Trade Agreement

U.S. - Colombia Free Trade Agreement

U.S. - Korea Free Trade Agreement

CalChamber position: Support
Status: Pending Congressional Action

Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement
CalChamber position: Support
Status: Negotiations ongoing

California

CalChamber's Economic Advisory Council

State Begins Upturn, But Uncertainty Still High
CalChamber's Alert, December 3, 2010

The California Chamber of Commerce Legislative Pictorial Roster is now available on the CalChamber website at www.calchamber.com

Jerry Brown makes first appointments,
Sacramento Bee, December 7, 2010

California's economy will pick up somewhat in 2011, forecasts say
Los Angeles Times, December 7, 2010 "California's economy will expand at a faster pace than the nation's, thanks in part to improvement in global trade and the technology sector."

California Growers Cultivate New Markets with Dollop of US aid
Sacramento Bee, December 5, 2010