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On May 10, the President’s 2001 International Trade Agenda was
announced by the White House. The text of the complete presentation is
contained on the U.S. Trade Representative’s website at www.ustr.gov/agenda.pdf.
Following are substantial extracts from the presentation:
Introduction and Background
For some 60 years, Presidents and Congresses of both parties worked
together to open markets around the globe. This successful collaboration
is among the main reasons for 17 years of economic growth, peace and
freedom that we know today.
But since 1994, the Executive Branch has not had the authority it needs
from the Congress to negotiate agreements to continue this prosperity. The
European Union has 27 preferential or special customs agreements with
other countries and is negotiating 15 more. Japan is negotiating a free
trade agreement with Singapore and considering agreements with Mexico,
Korea and Chile. There are over 130 referential trade agreements in the
world today—and the United States is a party to only two of them.
Now, more than ever, U.S. leadership is essential to reinvigorating the
international trading system, including launching a new round of global
negotiations, as well as regional and bilateral negotiations.
History has shown that expanded trade - imports as well as exports -
leads to more prosperous U.S. businesses, more choices of goods and lower
prices for consumers, and more opportunities for American farmers and
workers leading to higher wages, more jobs and economic growth. Expanding
trade brings particular benefits to lower-income Americans who are
squeezed both as consumers and taxpayers.
Expanding trade also has many benefits abroad. Open markets promote
economic and political freedom around the world; economic and political
freedom in turn creates competition, opportunity and independent thinking
that strengthen democracy; and greater political freedom and democracy
across the globe substantially enhance U.S. national security. As we
dismantle trade barriers around the world, especially in the developing
world, we help create the economic and social conditions necessary for
countries to make progress on the environment, observance of labor
standards, the protection of children, and other critical issues.
The President’s trade agenda for 2001 is intended to further each of
these benefits of expanding markets for American consumers, farmers and
workers, and to advance a forward strategy for freedom, economic
development and increased living standards around the world by pursuing a
new round of global trade negotiations, a Free Trade Area of the Americas,
and other important regional and bilateral agreements.
Outline of the President’s Agenda
I. U.S. TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY
A. Statement of Purposes
1. To achieve:
a. -Economic growth, higher living standards, higher wages and full
employment in the United States;
b. -Economic growth, development, reduction of poverty, and increased
democratization around the world;
c. -Mutually supportive trade and environment, and trade and labor,
policies;
d. -More open, equitable and reciprocal market access for U.S. goods,
services and investment;
e. -The reduction or elimination of barriers and other trade-distorting
policies and practices that decrease market opportunities for U.S.
exports;
f. -The reduction or elimination of unfair trading practices; and
g. -A more open, transparent, and effective system of international
trade disciplines and procedures.
2. To pursue:
a. -A new round of global trade negotiations under the auspices of the
WTO to promote global economic growth and reinvigorate the international
trading system;
b. -A Free Trade Area of the Americas agreement to expand economic
cooperation and opportunity in the Western Hemisphere; and
c. -Other regional and bilateral trade negotiations, including free
trade agreements with Chile and Singapore, to advance our national
interests.
B. -Negotiating Objectives to Advance U.S. Priorities
-Expand market opportunities for U.S. goods, services and intellectual
property by:
1. -Reducing or eliminating tariffs and other barriers that impede U.S.
exports from competing in foreign markets.
2. -Enhancing market opportunities for U.S. agriculture.
3. -Dismantling barriers to exports of U.S. services.
4. -Keeping electronic commerce free from trade barriers.
5. -Reducing or eliminating artificial or trade-distorting barriers to
U.S. foreign investment.
6. -Encouraging protection for U.S.-created intellectual property and
creating export opportunities for goods embodying U.S. intellectual
property.
7. -Preserving our ability to combat unfair trade practices.
8. -Encouraging the protection of children and adherence to core labor
standards in connection with international trade in a manner consistent
with U.S. sovereignty and trade expansion.
9. -Encouraging mutually supportive trade and environmental protection
polices, in accordance with the objective of sustainable development and
in a manner consistent with U.S. sovereignty and trade expansion.
10. -Ensuring that U.S. rights under trade agreements are secured
through rapid, effective, and transparent enforcement procedures
appropriate to the parties, nature, and subject matter of the agreements.
11. -Improving the transparency and management of international trade
organizations and agreements.
12. -Helping developing countries realize the benefits of the
international trading system.
13. -Encouraging governments to observe procedural due process in
adopting rules and regulations and to combat corruption affecting
international trade.
C. Additional Measures in Support of Negotiations
1. -In determining whether to initiate negotiations, take into account
whether the country has implemented its Uruguay Round obligations.
2. -Work to ensure that provisions in trade agreements are compatible
with important domestic policy objectives, such as health, safety,
environmental protection, and improved employment opportunities.
3. -Consider environmental effects when formulating negotiating
positions, take into account the results of environmental reviews
performed, and encourage trading partners to conduct environmental reviews
of trade agreements.
D. Strengthening Congressional Consultation
1. -In order for TPA to apply to negotiated agreements, each agreement
must make progress toward achieving applicable negotiating objectives.
2. -In addition to seeking input from the public, the Administration
will also notify and consult with the Congress and advisory committees at
key stages of each negotiation and after the agreement is concluded,
including by:
a. -Notifying the Congress before beginning negotiations and consulting
on specific objectives.
b. -Keeping relevant Congressional committees and Congressional trade
advisors informed of negotiations on a timely basis at all stages of the
negotiations.
c. -Notifying and consulting with the Congress and trade advisory
committees well in advance of signing any agreement regarding how the
agreement meets applicable negotiating objectives.
d. -Consulting with relevant Congressional committees on how an
agreement affects issues within their jurisdiction, on plans for
implementing the agreement, and on any related agreements the President
plans to conclude.
E. Duration of Authority
-The President needs U.S. Trade Promotion Authority for a sufficient
time to allow completion of several regional and bilateral agreements, and
to begin and possibly complete global trade negotiations. An extension
mechanism would also allow the Congress to determine whether to continue
this authority.
F. Tariff Authority
-The President will need the appropriate authority to reduce tariffs,
including the authority to fulfill the objectives of WTO zero-for-zero and
harmonization agreements.
II. -IMPROVE WORKER TRAINING, EDUCATION AND ADJUSTMENT
-Re-authorize and improve Trade Adjustment Assistance programs to
promote worker re-training necessitated by sudden economic dislocation.
III. -IMPLEMENT THE U.S.-JORDAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
A. -To create a free trade area between the United States and Jordan in
order to support Jordan’s domestic economic reforms, encourage efforts
by other Middle East countries to open their economies, and enhance
regional stability.
B. -To provide benefits to consumers and businesses in the United
States and Jordan by increasing choices and lowering prices of goods and
services.
C. -To encourage bilateral business ties and thereby increase
employment opportunities in Jordan.
IV. -IMPLEMENT VIETNAM BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENT
A. -To promote economic stability and openness in Vietnam through
enhanced trade and investment, advancing the bipartisan normalization
process.
B. -To open the Vietnamese market to U.S. goods and services, and
provide strong intellectual property rights protection through
comprehensive trade and investment liberalization by Vietnam.
C. -To provide benefits to consumers in the United States and Vietnam
by increasing choices and lowering prices of goods and services.
D. -To provide authority for the President to apply normal trade
relations duties to Vietnamese goods and to put the agreement into effect.
V. RENEW ANDEAN TRADE PREFERENCE ACT
A. -To renew and expand the ATPA program to promote export
diversification and broad-based economic development that provides
sustainable economic alternatives to drug-crop production in the Andean
region.
B. -To bolster democracy and the rule of law in the region.
C. -To complement U.S. aid programs by providing trade opportunities
for private firms in Andean countries.
D. -To support the promotion of core labor standards by making the
program’s eligibility criteria conform to those in existing preferential
trade programs.
VI. -ENACT THE SOUTHEAST EUROPE TRADE PREFERENCE ACT
A. -To promote stability and economic development in Southeast Europe
through increased access to the U.S. market and the facilitation of
regional investment and to encourage a broader opening of markets in
Europe and elsewhere to goods from within the region.
B. -To support the promotion of core labor standards by adopting
criteria that conform to those in existing preferential trade programs.
C. -To encourage governments in the region to eliminate trade in
persons.
VII. -RE-AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES PROGRAM
A. -To assist developing countries move from dependency on foreign aid
towards opportunity, growth, reform, and openness.
B. -To promote the integration of least developed countries into the
global trading system.
C. -To provide trade incentives that promote economic growth and
alleviate poverty in beneficiary developing countries.
D. -To promote stronger economic and political ties between the United
States and developing countries.
E. -To provide benefits to U.S. consumers by increasing choices and
lowering prices.
F. -To encourage the protection of intellectual property rights, assist
in promoting market access for U.S. exports, and promote observance of
core labor standards.
VIII. - IMPLEMENT LAOS BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENT
A. -To promote economic stability and openness in Laos through enhanced
trade and investment, advancing the bipartisan normalization process.
B. -To open the Lao market to U.S. goods and services, and provide
strong intellectual property rights protection.
C. -To provide benefits to consumers in the United States and Laos by
increasing choices and lowering prices of goods and services.
D. -To provide authority for the President to apply normal trade
relations duties to Lao goods and to put the agreement into effect.
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