Trade Policy
U.S. Export Initiative, Foreign Direct Investment and SELECT USA Initiative
On June 30, 2011, David Campbell gave a presentation on the U.S. Export Initiative, Foreign Direct Investment and the new SELECT USA Initiative during the “Hamburg America Days” of the Chamber of Commerce in Hamburg, Germany. His German-language presentation can be found here (PDF).
German Industry submits comment to DOC
The office of the Representative of German Industry and Trade in Washington D.C. (RGIT) submitted comment on behalf of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) and in cooperation with the German American Chambers of Commerce (GACC) in the United States, to the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC). The DOC sought public comment on options for enhancing the E.U.-U.S. economic relationship by reducing or eliminating divergent standards and regulations.
Companies active in the wind sector recommended that the U.S. government permit self-certification. This would stimulate the market. Electro-technical and electronics companies commented that U.S. standards ought to adopt or be modeled after international standards so that identical products can be produced and sold in multiple countries. Transatlantic cooperation in E-mobility should be deepened as well. This issue is already on the agenda of the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC). The GACC provides a range of services to 3,000 member companies located throughout the United States.
RGIT’s public comment can be found here (PDF).
U.S. Department of Commerce seek comment Re Closer Regulatory Cooperation
On May 3, 3011 the International Trade Administration (ITA), within the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), issued a notice seeking comment regarding EU-U.S. regulatory cooperation with a view to eliminating or reducing divergent regulations and standards that impede U.S. exports. This memo recaps the notice. Comments must be received by June 2, 2011. In 2010 President Obama announced a National Export Initiative (NEI) to double U.S. exports by 2014 to create 2 million jobs in the United States. To support the NEI, the U.S. Government is identifying “unnecessary divergences in regulations and standards” between the U.S. and the EU. The ITA seeks comment from affected private sector companies and other interested parties on how to reduce or eliminate the divergent standards and regulations.
RGIT strongly encourages affected German companies and associations to take advantage of this opportunity to submit comment. The timing works well with ongoing EU-U.S. dialogue as the next meeting of the EU-U.S. High Level Regulatory Cooperation Forum (HLRCF) is scheduled for June 7-8 in Brussels. If you would like to submit comments, please contact David Campbell.
DIHK: Positions on International Economic Policy
The Association of German Chambers of Commerce (DIHK) demands that foreign trade policy should enhance the opportunities for German companies in a globalizing economy and strengthen their competitiveness in international markets. Therefore the following guidelines are given: condemn protectionism, promote trade liberalization, avoid redundant structures in foreign trade promotion, no changes to the rules of origin in customs law, eliminate the bureaucracy in foreign trade law and harmonize it, development policy - let’s take a chance on more commerce. (more: PDF and Link to German-language full-text version)
RGIT Memo on Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
“The Most Advanced Trade Agreement in the World”
Trade policy is a priority topic in Washington, DC. The Obama Administration recently issued its 2011 Trade Agenda. Ambassador Ron Kirk, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), has testified in the House of Representatives and Senate in recent weeks. Members of both parties have written letters to President Obama, urging prompt action to create new U.S. jobs and protect U.S. companies in foreign markets. This memo focuses on US interest in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. (more download PDF)
