Ambitious 2014 US Trade Agenda Hailed

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman is responsible for putting President Obama’s trade agenda into action. (Photo: USTR)
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman is responsible for putting President Obama’s trade agenda into action. (Photo: USTR)

Washington, D.C., March 4, 2014 – The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) welcomed today’s release of President Obama’s 2014 U.S. Trade Agenda. The agenda outlines an ambitious set of priorities for expanding American trade and investment around the world, in support of expanded job growth and enhanced U.S. competitiveness.

“We agree with the president that international trade and investment play a critical role in creating jobs, promoting growth and strengthening the middle class,” said USCIB Senior Vice President Rob Mulligan.”The American business community is working hard to advance and support this agenda both at home and abroad.”

“President Obama’s trade strategy for 2014 is driven by a commitment to create jobs, promote growth, and strengthen the middle class through the creation of new export opportunities for American farmers, workers, and businesses,” said U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman. “In the coming year, USTR will continue to execute the President’s trade vision that relies on opening markets, leveling the playing field for American workers and producers, and fully enforcing our trade rights around the world.”

Mulligan said the USTR agenda dovetailed well with USCIB’s own 2014 Global Trade and Investment Agenda, Key goals in the USCIB agenda include:

  • reaching bipartisan agreement on Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation
  • completing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations
  • finalizing agreement on expansion of the Information Technology Agreement
  • making significant progress on the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) as well as the Trade in International Services Agreement negotiations, and
  • advancing discussions of a U.S.-China bilateral investment treaty.

“We are working closely with USTR and the other relevant U.S. agencies to advance this ambitious agenda across the board,” said Charles R. Johnston, chair of USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee and managing director of global government affairs at Citigroup. “In addition, USCIB will work with its overseas business partners to foster support for U.S. trade and investment goals among our trading partners.”

USCIB serves on the steering committee of the Trade Benefits America Coalition (www.tradebenefitsamerica.org), which seeks to enhance understanding among lawmakers and the public about the benefits of U.S. trade agreements and advocates for passage of Trade Promotion Authority. USCIB also plays a leading role in U.S. business coalitions on the TTIP and TPP talks and has provided industry insight to U.S. negotiators on many aspects of these negotiations.

“The most essential piece of the trade puzzle is Trade Promotion Authority,” said Johnston. “Without TPA, we cannot negotiate effectively, and Congress’s ability to help guide U.S. trade policy is limited. For these reasons, we urge the Obama administration and Congress to work together to swiftly pass effective TPA legislation.”

About USCIB:

USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and regulatory coherence. Its members include U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world. With a unique global network encompassing the International Chamber of Commerce, the International Organization of Employers and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment. More at www.uscib.org.

Contact:

Jonathan Huneke, USCIB

+1 212.703.5043, jhuneke@uscib.org

 

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

Staff Contact:   Kira Yevtukhova

Deputy Director, Marketing and Communications
Tel: 202.617.3160

Kira Yevtukhova manages USCIB’s print and online publications, including the website, e-newsletter and quarterly magazine, and serves as the organization’s digital media strategist. Prior to this role, Kira worked for over five years within USCIB’s Policy Department, focusing on climate change, environment, nutrition, health, and chemicals related policy issues. She is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and has an MBA from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.
Read More

Related Content