Mexican President Due in California Wednesday
Mexican President Felipe Calderon will make his first, and some have argued overdue, official visit to California on Wednesday as part of a tour of major U.S. cities in an effort to reach out to the 12 million Mexican immigrants in this country. In California, Calderon will address the state Legislature and attend a private lunch meeting with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and other officials. Oakland Tribune, February 12, 2008
Travelers to Europe May Face Fingerprinting
The European Commission will propose tomorrow that all foreign travelers entering and leaving Europe, including U.S. citizens, should be fingerprinted. If approved by the European Parliament, the measure would mean that precisely identifying information on tens of millions of citizens will be added in coming years to databases that could be shared by friendly governments around the world. Washington Post, February 12, 2008
Panda Politics in Taiwan
The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall has just reopened here after being shuttered for more than six months while Taiwan's government worked to diminish the legacy of the former dictator. When the scaffolding came down, the imposing building's name had been changed to National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall. International Herald Tribune, February 11, 2008
The Ambassador of the European Union, the Honorable John Bruton, will be in Sacramento on Wednesday, February 13, to make a presentation before an informational hearing of the California Legislature’s Senate Select Committee on California-European Trade. Click here for more information.
Trade Policy
Draft Blueprints Issued for Final Deal on Agricultural
and Non-Agricultural Trade
Two papers including what could become the formulas for cutting tariffs and trade-distorting agricultural subsidies in a final deal were issued on 8 February 2008. They are the outcome of the latest discussions in negotiation groups and will be negotiated further before they are agreed by all WTO member governments.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez
Remarks at the U.S.-Middle East and North Africa Trade and Investment Conference
Amman, Jordan. US Dept of Commerce, February 11, 2008
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
Act now! Click here to send a letter to your representative
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
Act now! Click here to send a letter to your representative
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
Act now! Click here to send a letter to your representative
California Legislation SJR 22 (Wiggins) California’s Wine Industry This measure would request the United States Department of the Treasury's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau withdraw the Notices of Proposed Rulemaking Number 77, relating to a Proposed Establishment of the Calistoga Viticultural Area , and Number 78, relating to a Proposed Revision of the American Viticultural Area Regulations, because they pose a threat to the state and national wine industry's ability to fairly trade domestically and internationally.
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