Serb Deputy PM Pledges Stability Ahead Of Election
Serbia's pro-Western deputy prime minister vowed on Tuesday that the outgoing government would spend very cautiously to maintain financial stability ahead of an early parliamentary election due in May. "There will be no pre-election sweeteners," deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said on the sidelines of an economic forum. New York Times, March 11, 2008
Boeing to challenge Air Force decision on tanker contract Escalating the fight over the biggest defense contract in years, Boeing Co. said Monday that it intended to challenge the Pentagon's decision to place an aircraft order potentially worth $40 billion with the consortium of Northrop Grumman Corp. and European aircraft maker Airbus. Los Angeles Times, March 11, 2008
Venezuela to reopen embassy in Colombia
Talk of war in the Andes has faded almost as quickly as it flared -- showing that for all their bluster, none of the three leaders involved could afford a protracted confrontation. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's government announced Sunday it was restoring full diplomatic ties with Colombia and reopening its embassy in Bogota, Columbia, after smoothing over a crisis sparked by Colombia's cross-border attack on a rebel base in Ecuador.
CNN, March 10, 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
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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
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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
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California Legislation SJR 22 (Wiggins) California’s Wine Industry - Signed by the Governor
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.
AB 2311 (Tran) International Trade Offices
This bill would require the Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing, on or before February 1, 2009, to establish international trade and investment offices, as specified, using only funds from the Economic Development and Trade Promotion Account for those purposes.
AB 2312 (Tran) Economic Development: International Trade
This bill would establish the volunteer position of State Trade Representative of California, appointed by the Governor, to promote foreign investment in, and trade with, this state and require the Undersecretary for International Trade in the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency to administer the position.
AB 2313 (Tran) International Trade and Investment
Existing law prohibits the Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing from establishing any international trade and investment office, unless certain conditions are met. This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to these provisions.
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).
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