In a Nov.
30 speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk laid
out five areas of emphasis for the Obama administration’s trade policy. These
topics are largely the same as those set forth in the 2011
Trade Policy Agenda the White House released in March, and Kirk’s remarks
revealed no significant new initiatives.
The first two issues relate to free trade agreements: implementation of the recently approved FTAs with Korea, Colombia and Panama, and conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. “We think TPP will be a deeply ambitious, groundbreaking trade arrangement, with binding commitments to market access across all sectors,” Kirk said. In addition, “TPP partners are taking on the latest challenges that our companies and workers are facing in the 21st century, many of which have never before been addressed in a trade agreement.” These include regulatory coherence, small and medium-sized businesses, supply chains, competitiveness, business facilitation, wildlife conservation, digital technology and state-owned enterprises. Kirk also indicated that the Obama administration “will discuss additional negotiating authority that may be necessary” to ensure congressional approval of the TPP “at the appropriate time.” Read more here.
The first two issues relate to free trade agreements: implementation of the recently approved FTAs with Korea, Colombia and Panama, and conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. “We think TPP will be a deeply ambitious, groundbreaking trade arrangement, with binding commitments to market access across all sectors,” Kirk said. In addition, “TPP partners are taking on the latest challenges that our companies and workers are facing in the 21st century, many of which have never before been addressed in a trade agreement.” These include regulatory coherence, small and medium-sized businesses, supply chains, competitiveness, business facilitation, wildlife conservation, digital technology and state-owned enterprises. Kirk also indicated that the Obama administration “will discuss additional negotiating authority that may be necessary” to ensure congressional approval of the TPP “at the appropriate time.” Read more here.
