Ask the White House
Discuss Colombia Free Trade Agreement.
Join Carlos Gutierrez, Secretary of Commerce, on Wednesday May 7 at 1p.m. to discuss the Colombia Free Trade Agreement.
Myanmar Cyclone Death Toll Soars Past 22,000 State media in Myanmar said today that the death toll from last weekend's cyclone had climbed past 22,000, with thousands more people missing, news agencies reported. A news broadcast on government-run radio said that 22,464 people have been confirmed dead in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Nargis, which lashed Myanmar with winds of up to 120 mph last Saturday, the Associated Press reported. Los Angeles Times, May 6, 2008
Volcano in Chile spews lava and blasts ash 12 miles into sky The Chaiten volcano spewed lava and blasted ash more than 12 miles into the sky on Tuesday, prompting a total evacuation of the provincial capital and other settlements.
President Michelle Bachelet interrupted a speech in the capital to announce that "the volcano is exploding so a total evacuation of the town of Chaiten has been ordered."Yahoo! News, May 6, 2008
Taiwan's Vice Premier Chiou I-jen resigns Taiwan's vice premier announced Monday that he would quit his job and resign from the ruling party, taking responsibility for a widening scandal in which $30 million worth of secret diplomatic funds has gone missing.Los Angeles Times, May 6, 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
California
Legislation
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.
A California State Legislative Joint Assembly Informational Hearing was held on May 6, 2008 with members of the Assembly Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy Committee and the Assembly Budget Sub-Committee No. 4: State Administration Committee. The hearing, entitled “California Proposed International Trade Strategy: Required Review by Assembly Policy and Fiscal Committees”, began with a panel consisting of Mr. Garrett Ashley, Undersecretary for International Trade, CA Business, Transportation & Housing Agency; Dr. Sean Randolph, Founder, Bay Area Council Economic Institute; Dr. Ed Kawahara, Principal, California Economic Strategy Panel; and, Mr. Jeff Williams, Director, Centers for International Trade Development (CITD). They discussed the International Trade and Investment Study, which can be viewed online (click here).
Dr. Sean Randolph and Mr. Paul Oliva, Oliva Global Communications, are principal authors of this study.
Also speaking at the Hearing was a second panel on Economic Development with: Mr. Paul M. Saldano, Executive Director, Tulare County Economic Development Council; Ms. Priscilla Lopez, President and CEO, Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and representing the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce; Mr. Ken Blackwood, Executive Director, San Joaquin Valley Black Chamber or Commerce; and, Mr. Jock O’Connell, representing The ClarkStreet Group.
Other comments were also given by Dr. Gus Koehler and our own Council for International Trade member, Mr. Paul Oliva, with Oliva Global Communications, co-author of the study.
Committee Chair Juan Arambula concluded that the Assembly Committee Staff will continue to work with the Governor’s Administration on an updated set of recommendations based on Section 7 of the Study (pgs. 37-38). Recommendations will be heard at a further Assembly Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy Committee hearing.
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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