Asian Inflation Begins to Sting U.S. Shoppers
For two generations, Americans have imported goods produced ever more cheaply from a succession of low-wage countries — first Japan and Korea, then China, and now increasingly places like Vietnam and India. But mounting inflation in the developing world, especially Asia, is threatening that arrangement, and not just in China, where rising energy and labor costs have already made exports to the United States more expensive, but in the lower-cost alternatives to China, too. New York Times, April 8, 2008
EU Allows Mobile Phones On Airplanes
The European Union on Monday opened the way for air travelers to use mobile phones to talk, text or send e-mails on planes throughout Europe's airspace. With the approval by EU regulators, airlines will be able to launch onboard mobile services later this year, officials said. BusinessWeek, April 7, 2008
CalChamber Warns of Harm If New Internet Tax Passes
The California Chamber of Commerce is rallying opposition against two proposals creating new Internet taxes on consumers and businesses. CalChamber, April 7, 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 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
California Legislation AB 1394 (Krekorian) Counterfeit: Trademarks This bill would make it a misdemeanor or a felony for a person to intentionally transport, offer for sale, or distribute any counterfeit registered trademark, as specified. This bill would require the forfeiture of all proceeds from the willful manufacture, intentional transport, sale, offering for sale, distribution, or knowing possession for sale of any counterfeit registered trademark. This bill would also apply provisions related to counterfeited trademarks to unassembled components and would require restitution to be paid to the victim of a trademark offense.
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.
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).
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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