Trade

October 5, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen today met with Nashua-area business owners to discuss the rewards and challenges of exporting New Hampshire-made products overseas. The discussion took place at Sky-Skan, Inc., a manufacturer of digital planetarium and digital theater instruments that has successfully expanded its business and workforce by tapping into overseas markets.

"Exporting products and services to international markets will help New Hampshire's economy grow during the economic crisis," said Shaheen. "Small and medium sized businesses will benefit greatly from exporting their products overseas, and we must continue to help these businesses access the resources and financing necessary for them to succeed."    » read more »

Sept. 15, 2009 -- PITTSBURGH – The United Steelworkers (USW) today said President Obama’s decision to impose tariffs on Chinese consumer tires was simply a matter of enforcing existing trade laws.

“It’s our union’s responsibility to defend our members and to do it in a way that is within the law and that’s what we have done,” USW International President Leo W. Gerard said. “We’re not against trade. We want a level playing field.

"President Obama rightly rejected groundless retaliation threats and imposed relief based on the merits of this case." The President correctly explained today that "enforcing trade agreements is part and parcel of maintaining an open and free trading system," said Gerard.    » read more »

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today issued the following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s decision to place tariffs on tires made in China.

“I applaud President Obama for taking swift action to ensure that trade laws are being enforced so that American companies, workers and consumers are protected. I have long been an opponent of unfair trade practices. As both a congressman and governor, I have advocated that the U.S. government use the tools at its disposal to ensure that trade laws are strongly and fairly enforced.    » read more »

September 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke welcomes news that, effective today, China will remove the discriminatory taxes it has been imposing on imported auto parts. China had until September 1 to come into compliance with a WTO ruling that China’s auto policies were inconsistent with WTO rules.

The United States, along with Canada and the European Union, had welcomed that ruling. China’s Commerce Ministry and other government agencies announced action today abolishing the discriminatory taxes.    » read more »

July 1, 2009 -- FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple today announced that three local companies are parties to major contracts to supply 2009 food-grade soybeans to South Korean soy food importers.

The purchase agreements call for SB&B Foods of Casselton, Brushvale Seed of Wahpeton-Breckenridge, SunOpta of Moorhead and Wisconsin-based DeLong Company to export about 275,000 bushels of identity preserved soybeans to members of the Korean Federation of Soybean-Curd Industry Cooperatives (KFSCIC). The federation represents 12 Korean tofu-processing cooperatives. The sales are valued at about $5 million.    » read more »

Now seeks President Obama’s support to save U.S. jobs & plants

Washington, D.C. (Jun. 29) – The United Steelworkers (USW) applauded today’s vote by the International Trade Commission (ITC) for a tariff remedy in the union’s Section 421 petition against a surge of low-priced and market disrupting consumer tires from China.

Leo W. Gerard, USW international president, declared: “Today’s remedy vote by the ITC is a great victory for the USW, its members and for all U.S. tire workers. The tariffs voted by the commissioners should remedy the market disruptive surge in Chinese tire imports that have caused harm to the domestic industry.”    » read more »

Says China’s export quotas, taxes are illegal trade barriers that hurt U.S. manufacturing workers

Washington, D.C. (Jun. 23) -- The United Steelworkers (USW) today gave strong support for a new World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute filed by the United States and European Union, challenging China’s export restrictions on key raw materials and minerals used in manufacturing.

The U.S. and the EU have requested WTO consultations with the Chinese government regarding export restrictions placed on a variety of raw materials and minerals, including bauxite, coke, zinc, silicon metal, silicon carbide, fluorspar, yellow phosphorous, magnesium and manganese.    » read more »

June 23, 2009 -- Dearborn, MI—Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) made the following statement regarding the announcement that the U.S. has filed a World Trade Organization complaint against China for its export restraints on raw materials. The export restraints provide Chinese companies with an unfair competitive advantage over U.S. companies. Senator Stabenow has been leading the fight to hold accountable countries that practice unfair trade. Earlier this year, she introduced the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act of 2009 and is currently working on legislation that would expand our resources for trade enforcement.    » read more »

June 23, 2009 -- Washington, DC – The U.S. Trade Representative today formally launched a World Trade Organization (WTO) case to examine China’s raw material export restrictions. Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley applauded the move, which is necessary to end unfair trade practices that have distorted economic incentives and hurt American businesses:

“Despite previous pledges, American companies continue to find it nearly impossible to purchase raw materials such as tin and zinc from China. Export tariffs and low quotas block access to this market, which gives Chinese enterprises an unfair advantage that violates clearly established WTO guidelines.    » read more »

Says ruling is positive step toward timely relief

June 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner released the following statement today after the International Trade Commission ruled yesterday that increased imports from China have injured domestic tire industry workers:

“This is a positive step toward timely import relief for our local tire workers,” said Senator Warner. “While the ruling confirms the unfortunate fact that U.S. tire workers have taken hits due to a surge in imports from China, I expect the ITC will use its honest and thorough analysis to recommend a remedy that will help our domestic tire industry get back on its feet.”    » read more »

Beijing’s actions pose unfair threat to workers in Fort Wayne area

June 18, 2009 -- Washington -- Senator Evan Bayh praised the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today for determining that China is illegally dumping imported tires into the American market, causing a market disruption that should be remedied by U.S. government action.

The ruling will help workers at domestic tire manufacturers like the BF Goodrich Tire Manufacturing/Michelin North America Inc. plant in Woodburn, Indiana. The ITC was considering a petition initiated by the United Steel Workers alleging that an increase in imported Chinese tires has caused a steep decline in U.S. production, sales, profitability and employment.    » read more »

First designation for a company in India will cut red tape and increase flow of high-technology trade between the two countries

June 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke today announced an important step forward in the strategic partnership between the United States and India during remarks to the U.S.-India Business Council’s 34th Anniversary “Synergies Summit.”

General Electric India (GE India) has been tapped as the first Indian company to qualify as a validated end-user (VEU) in India, allowing the company to enter a pre-approved, export express lane as a trusted end user.    » read more »

Trade Agreement Will Lead to Greater Market Opportunities, Economic Growth for Organic Industry Between Two North American Trading Partners

CHICAGO, June 17, 2009 -- Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced that a first-of-its-kind agreement has been reached between the United States and Canada that will expand opportunities for organic producers in both countries.

The "equivalency agreement" follows a review by both nations of the other's organic certification program and a determination that products meeting the standard in the United States can be sold as organic in Canada, and vice versa. Merrigan made this announcement at the All Things Organic Trade Show and Conference in Chicago this morning.    » read more »

Murray Demands Halt to Illegal, Unfair Airbus Subsidies in Letter to E.U.; Calls subsidies "trade-distorting," "completely unacceptable," and "a major step in the wrong direction"

June 16, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) sent a letter to Ambassador John Bruton, head of the Delegation of the European Commission to the U.S, expressing deep concern over reports that Airbus is seeking $5 billion in additional launch aid from four European Union countries, and urging an end to Airbus subsidies.    » read more »

Harmonization of Organic Standards Between the Two Countries Will Boost U.S. Producers' Access to $2.6 Billion Canadian Market

June 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, released the following statement today applauding an announcement made by Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan regarding a new agreement reached between the United States and Canada that will expand opportunities for organic farmers in both countries.    » read more »