Gutierrez Unveils Colombia Tariff Ticker during
Press Conference with Congressional Leadership
at the Capitol
Washington (April 24) - At a press conference in the United States Capitol, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez, flanked by House and Senate leaders unveiled the "Colombia Tariff Ticker," which calculates the dollar value U.S. exports have faced in Colombian tariffs since the signing of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement. "The tariffs imposed on American exporters tick upward" roughly $22 dollars per second, almost $2 million dollars per day and nearly $1 billion dollars in the past 520 days," said Gutierrez.
CalChamber, Supporters Still Pushing for U.S.-Colombia Trade Agreement
The California Chamber of Commerce and other supporters of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will continue to fight for its approval and upholding the nation's international obligations following a congressional vote delaying the deadline for Congress to act. CalChamber, April 23, 2008
US cites China, Russia for failing to protect intellectual property
The United States on Friday named China and Russia as among the worst protectors of intellectual property rights, flooding global trade with counterfeit items such as DVDs, designer bags, medicines and software. AFP via Yahoo! , April 26, 2008
Cuba announces first Communist Party congress since 1997
President Raúl Castro announced Monday that Cuba will convene its first Communist Party congress since 1997 -- a gathering that could chart the island's political future long after he and his older brother Fidel are gone. Miami Herald, April 29, 2008
The 2008 National Summit on American Competitiveness
Will convene the nation's premier leaders of business, government and academia on what steps the public and private sectors can take to secure America's position as the most competitive economy in the 21st century and beyond.
USTR Issues 2008 Special 301 Report
Report Highlights Shortfalls in Intellectual Property Protection, Acknowledges Progress by Some U.S. Trading Partners April 25, 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 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
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.
AB 1967 (Torrico) Public Employee
Retirement: investments: sovereign wealth
funds
The bill would prohibit the Public
Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and the State Teachers'
Retirement System (STRS) from investing in a private equity
company that is owned in whole or in part by a sovereign
wealth fund, as defined, or in a fund managed directly or
indirectly by a private equity company that is owned in whole
or in part by a sovereign wealth fund, if any country or
federation of countries with which the sovereign wealth fund
is affiliated, either directly or indirectly, is not a
signatory or party to at least 5 of 6 specified international
treaties:
(1)The International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights. (2) The International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights. (3) The International Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. (4)
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women. (5) The Convention against
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment. (6) The Convention on the Rights of the
Child.
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).
SB 1649 (Steinberg) Human
Trafficking
This bill would require retail
sellers and manufacturers doing business in the state to
develop, maintain, and implement policies related to their
compliance with federal law regarding the eradication of
slavery and human trafficking.
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