USTR Weekly E-Newsletter

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Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

Ambassador Ron Kirk | Executive Office of the President | www.ustr.gov http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001NVxVog0sP5TvtG39ZPx3E6n4Z4LHp_N-hTs2I1zPYzZ3lN_fcN_keE3IZIiC1c1kmd6LVCZ2CXsz8EnPPcFCfj2_XLTtvXIq2HuJdTu5o4M=

Office of Intergovernmental Affairs & Public Engagement | 202.395.6120 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

April 20, 2012

Volume 131 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Announcements for the Week of April 16-20, 2012 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

United States, Colombia Set Date for Entry into Force of U.S.-Colombia Trade Agreement

April 16 - President Barack Obama announced today that the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement will take effect on May 15, 2012. This announcement follows completion of work by the United States and Colombia to review each other's laws and regulations related to the implementation of the Agreement, as well as Colombia's important steps to fulfill the Action Plan Related to Labor Rights. Before the President's announcement, United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk exchanged letters with officials from the Government of Colombia in which each country confirmed that it had completed its applicable legal requirements and procedures for the Agreement's entry into force.

"This agreement will provide American businesses, farmers and ranchers with significantly improved access to the third largest economy in South America. One month from today, the value of the U.S.-Colombia trade agreement will begin to be seen in lower tariffs on autos, consumer goods, agricultural commodities, machinery, and other exports from the United States, which will make our goods more competitive in the Colombian market. That means support for well-paying jobs at home," said Ambassador Kirk. "Taking this next step toward entry into force of this agreement is recognition that Colombia has met the milestones of, and continues to demonstrate its strong commitment to, the Action Plan Related to Labor Rights. We will continue working with the Santos Administration to help it continue to meet its long-term commitments to improve its labor practices and deter violence against labor leaders. We are making good on President Obama's promise to use a new approach to trade and stand up for the protection of workers in the U.S. and around the world."

Read the rest of the release here http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001NVxVog0sP5SSHJkTF3gzbvBF-hWtbLzSiW2s_0UEKYgq4hU-Hxs1z6GjN3vKEH4HAWmvy3WuOBc_J31Ap8e-1IF7q0rIq3PfqrOuqB7ObLHnOJQCWqTfeoYzFYl22zE52nH4cM2Pdol1TLCqC2RDae1XoL9fEv5udgL7NRMkiN8v4bRZWjcKNFsltK7Vx06eehEb5oxGPWwH6krvda733bS4y_heSmGX9H8gFBrsSHlwxHBuhjvl2AFHXvhoJuh1. ================================================================================

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United States Concludes Review of Model Bilateral Investment Treaty

April 20 - Today, the Office of the United States Trade Representative and the U.S. Department of State announced the conclusion of the Administration's review of the United States' model bilateral investment treaty (BIT) and the release of the revised 2012 model BIT.

International investment is a significant driver of America's economic growth, job creation, and exports. The 2012 U.S. model BIT text will help achieve several important goals of the Obama Administration ensuring that U.S. companies benefit from a level playing field in foreign markets, providing effective mechanisms for enforcing the international obligations of our economic partners, and creating stronger labor and environmental protections.

Read the rest of the release here http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001NVxVog0sP5TH8_QB9B8NO0QucsB9qal4uaQH8wycWK3m6acMZeem71JWfw80BERtBTna191zE4NQvXR-ozF0-ne-G6m5UEPSB_91dUaf3SkcEgVgolKBzi2cfPWT5apAYgWfSNl32C6dP13BC46-DsvoxTQz8g9CIOumdHn3LTwaBZB7KegtfGpwP7xzykmh7HFHDg8OBAkWiuB6wbIygReNCr4DGw3o7kT-27i2VTVTCO5AKHbeza4on3F7Ov-d. ================================================================================

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USTR Announces Revised Fiscal Year 2012 Tariff-Rate Quota Allocations for Raw Cane Sugar

April 20 - The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today announced the country-specific in-quota allocations of additional Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 for imported raw cane sugar and of country-specific reallocations of the FY 2012 in-quota quantity of the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) for imported raw cane sugar. TRQs allow countries to export specified quantities of a product to the United States at a relatively low tariff, but subject all imports of the product above a pre-determined threshold to a higher tariff.

On April 19, 2011, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced an additional in-quota quantity for the TRQ for raw cane sugar for the remainder of FY 2012 (ending September 30, 2012) in the amount of 381,018 metric tons* raw value (MTRV). This quantity is in addition to the minimum amount to which the United States is committed under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Uruguay Round Agreements.

Read the rest of the release here http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001NVxVog0sP5Rlb_G4HJKLjIPqpdGMbrEK-Sk3hgTvIUT2KFkBFlFVQ4hwCfFJ7LTsu4sPJc2bFSO7au7uVkWbGU8kn-_XvaV-tBpUqdmb_9Aq1sKA3ZG6L39Qok6UrKWkoO5o9QgrJ4EBhjeh9fy8J1OTR-6140B0. ================================================================================

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USTR.gov ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

United States and Tunisia Meet to Discuss Growing Trade and Investment Partnership

April 16 - Assistant United States Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East L. Daniel Mullaney recently led a delegation of USTR, Commerce and State Department officials to meet with the Government of Tunisia under the auspices of the U.S.-Tunisia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council, relaunched last fall. Tunisia is charting a path towards greater economic openness, transparency, and deepening bilateral trade and investment ties with the United States, and with partners in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region.

USTR officials Mullaney, Deputy Assistant USTR for Eurasia and the Middle East Mark Mowrey, Deputy Assistant USTR for Small Business Market Access Christina Sevilla, Department of Commerce North Africa desk officer Christopher Wilken, and U.S. Embassy-Tunis Commercial Attache Isabel Rioja-Scott met with a large Tunisian delegation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Ambassador Faysal Gouia. The two sides discussed issues under the Market Access, Services, Investment and Intellectual Property Rights working groups and specific steps that the parties could take to improve the business climate and lay the groundwork for greater and more comprehensive trade liberalization, which would support Tunisia's economic growth and employment goals. The U.S. delegation also met with officials responsible for Small and Medium Enterprises, and the Tunisian private sector, including the Tunisian American Chamber of Commerce, the Tunis Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Tunisian Union for Industry, Commerce, and Artisans (UTICA), to hear their views on how to strengthen U.S.-Tunisia commercial ties and regional integration. The Tunisian private sector is particularly interested in attracting investment, franchising opportunities, forging business partnerships with U.S. firms including in third country markets, and helping small and medium businesses find trade opportunities with American and regional partners.

America and Tunisia have a history of diplomatic and commercial ties dating back more than 200 years, from the American Friendship Treaty with Tunisia signed in 1799. The U.S. is committed to a strong partnership and growing two-way trade with Tunisia as it transitions to a new era of openness.

USTR-led Delegation at TIFA Meeting with the Government of Tunisia ================================================================================

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Ambassador Kirk Highlights Trade Agreements and Trade Enforcement with Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee (IGPAC)

April 18 - Yesterday, Ambassador Kirk held a conference call with members of the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee (IGPAC). Ambassador Kirk provided an update on implementation of U.S. trade agreements with Korea, Colombia, and Panama, as well as the Obama Administration's enhanced efforts to enforce U.S. trade rights.

The discussion focused on the benefits of the trade agreements, including the recent announcement by President Obama during the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia that the U.S.-Colombia trade agreement will enter into force on May 15, 2012. Ambassador Kirk noted the positive response to the President's announcement, adding that USTR certified that Colombia has met the requirements for entry into force of the agreement. Ambassador Kirk also noted progress made by the Colombian government under the Colombia Action Plan Related to Labor Rights, including the establishment of a new ministry of labor and additional resources to prosecute perpetrators of violence against union members.

Ambassador Kirk also highlighted USTR's efforts to enforce U.S. trade agreements, saying that while "trade expansion is one aspect of our work, equally critical is trade enforcement." He described USTR's lead role in the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center (ITEC), which was established by President Obama. As laid out in the President's Blueprint for America and as part of the Obama Administration's commitment to leveling the playing field for international trade, ITEC will draw from various agencies to focus on enforcement and pursue trade issues with more resources than previously available. Ambassador Kirk cited a recently filed World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement case against China's export restraints on rare earths as an example of a complex case that requires the kind of rigorous analysis that ITEC will enable.

To conclude, the Ambassador commented that steps need to be taken by Congress as Russia joins the WTO this year. Specifically, he said Congress needs to repeal the Jackson-Vanik amendment, so that the United States has more WTO enforcement tools available and to ensure that U.S. exporters can compete on a level playing field against their international competitors in Russia. ================================================================================

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Statements Leaders Applaud Announcement of U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Entry into Force

April 18 - Elected officials and leaders across business, industry, agriculture and services issued statements supporting President Obama and Colombian President Santos' announcement on Sunday that the U.S-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement would enter into force on May 15, 2012.

Since the agreement won strong bipartisan approval in Congress last fall, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has worked diligently with stakeholders and the Colombian government to ensure all necessary steps were taken to secure what President Obama called a "high standards agreement."

Upon entry into force on May 15, 80 percent of U.S. exports of industrial and manufactured products to Colombia will become duty free. This will boost U.S. exports, and help to support more and better jobs for American workers.

What leaders are saying so far: here http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001NVxVog0sP5TFfplDdeLhClwtw7aiM65OajTipjOx3FA-CBBCzbvk1c6HuwUyYLjySjooW08zOndoDV2m7VXjscfYL3dHIw64wLnRr4cG_5tQzXLsGGB_GnGKUyH4gViXGM4cxCv8Zc_gTyhcpWdc57oU3Lb7ua3xcy1l64eGdbaBNnZY43xu8n0gacJtkAs4Yi2aNQcAMY_7AI_Tbae0V1TiP0Is1d6CTMA__P0zACuo1eR77kG9fNzNHn3X-xKk ================================================================================

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Ambassador Kirk Participates on a Panel Discussion Regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership Hosted by ECAT

Ambassador Kirk speaks at a panel discussion on the Trans-Pacific Partnership ================================================================================

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IN THIS ISSUE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

United States, Colombia Set Date for Entry into Force of U.S.-Colombia Trade Agreement

United States Concludes Review of Model Bilateral Investment Treaty

USTR Announces Revised Fiscal Year 2012 Tariff-Rate Quota Allocations for Raw Cane Sugar ================================================================================

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USTR.gov ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

United States and Tunisia Meet to Discuss Growing Trade and Investment Partnership

Ambassador Kirk Highlights Trade Agreements and Trade Enforcement with Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee (IGPAC)

Leaders Applaud Announcement of U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Entry into Force

Ambassador Kirk Participates on a Panel Discussion Regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership Hosted by ECAT ================================================================================

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RECENT EVENTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ambassador Sapiro met with the Minister of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Haiti, Wilson Laleau

Ambassador Siddiqui met with Roberto Azevedo, Brazilian Ambassador to the WTO, and USDA Deputy Undersecretary Darci Vetter to commence the next round of negotiations on the Brazil Cotton Framework Agreement

Ambassadors Siddiqui and Marantis met with ranchers from the U.S. Cattlemen's Association at USTR to discuss the Trans Pacific Partnership, country of origin labeling and beef market access issues

Ambassador Kirk participated on a panel discussion regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership hosted by ECAT

Ambassador Sapiro met with Ambassador-Designate to Libya, Chris Stevens

Ambassador Sapiro met with Claudio Bisogniero, Ambassador of Italy to the United States

Ambassador Siddiqui testified before the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness on opportunities for agriculture and food producers from the Great Plains to the Pacific Northwest

Ambassador Punke represented the United States at a meeting of G20 Trade Ministers in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Ambassador Kirk met with Mr. Jac Nasser, Chairman of BHP Billiton Limited

Ambassador Marantis met with the American Sugarbeet Growers Association

Ambassador Siddiqui met with ranchers from the National Cattlemen's Beef Association to discuss country of origin labeling, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and beef market access issues.

Ambassadors Kirk and Sapiro will meet with the Georgian Prime Minister, Nikoloz Gilauri

Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative David Bisbee, Senior Policy Advisor Don Eiss and Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Isaac Faz spoke with a Vietnamese delegation regarding USTR's role in the U.S. government, interagency coordination mechanisms, trade advisory committees, and the interaction between different branches within USTR to achieve common goals ================================================================================

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