USTR Supports "Mock Mark-up," Posts Info on Pending FTAs, GSP, Etc.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has posted several documents regarding the announcement by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Baucus (D) to hold informal or “mock mark-ups” for three separate draft implementing bills for pending U.S. free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama. Kirk welcomed this announcement and added his strong support for the inclusion of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and renewal of the expired trade preference programs (GSP and ATPDEA¹) in two of the draft FTA implementing bills.

(See ITT’s Online Archives or 06/29/11 news, 11062914, for BP summary of the announcement by Senator Baucus.)

Includes Links to Provisions of Pending FTAs, Background on TAA, Preferences

In advance of this “mock mark-up,” USTR has provided links to key information on the U.S.-Korea, U.S.-Colombia, and U.S.-Panama trade pacts, as well as on TAA and the expired trade preference programs.

For example, for each of the pending FTAs, USTR has provided background information on its provisions on agriculture, environment, intellectual property, labor, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, investment, automotive sector, services, etc.

For TAA and the trade preference programs, USTR provides background information, frequently asked questions, and guidebooks.

Lists Organizations Supporting the Mock Markup and Progress on FTAs

USTR has also posted quotes from several business organizations and associations which it says all support the “mock mark-up” announcement and many of which support the inclusion of TAA and expired trade preference programs (see link below for quotes from each organization):

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce

• National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)

• The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC)

• The Latin America Trade Coalition (LATC)

• American Farm Bureau Federation

• The Motion Picture Association of America Inc. (MPAA)

• Business Roundtable

• The U.S.-Korea FTA Business Coalition

• The United States Council for International Business (USCIB)

• The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA)

• The Coalition of Service Industries (CSI)

• The American Soybean Association (ASA)

• The Emergency Committee for American Trade (ECAT)

• National Pork Producers Council (NPPC)

¹The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA)/Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA)

USTR links to information on the FTAs, TAA, preference programs, dated 06/29/11, available here.

USTR sampling of quotes by organizations in support of FTAs, TAA, etc., dated 06/29/11, available here.

USTR links to an op-ed and meetings conducted by USTR Kirk and Labor Secretary Solis on the pending FTAs, dated 06/29/11, available here and here.