Trade

SAN DIEGO - May 20, 2009 - Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), a leading developer and innovator of advanced wireless technologies, products and services, today stated that it is disappointed with the U.S. International Trade Commission's (ITC) final determination that Qualcomm's accused chip packages infringe two patents asserted by Tessera (patents '326 and '419), which it also found valid.

The ITC also issued a limited exclusion order banning Qualcomm and other respondents from importing into the United States the accused chip packages except to the extent those products are licensed.    » read more »

Washington, DC (May 22) – The United Steelworkers (USW) called today’s affirmative vote by the U.S. International Trade Commission to proceed with the trade case investigation against China imports of oil country tubular goods an urgent step for the thousands of laid-off workers at idled pipe production facilities of seven domestic companies.

“The OCTG producers and jobless pipe workers are paying the price of China’s massive government subsidies and unfair dumping of imports in our market,” USW President Leo W. Gerard declared. “More than a third of this industry’s 6,000 workers are now laid off, threatening the future of a critical product used in our energy extraction industry.”    » read more »

May 21, 2009 – Today, Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson joined a majority of Senators voting to keep additional funding in the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill for the International Monetary Fund, which supports global financial stability, trade and growth. An amendment to strip the funding was defeated 64-30.

“We Nebraskans know well that trade and exports provide good jobs and a healthy state economy, and that we live in a global economy,” Senator Nelson said. “With a global recession underway, I can’t imagine why we would back away from the IMF, which exists to promote economic stability around the world.”    » read more »

May 21, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Dick Lugar joined 16 other Republican and Democratic Senators on a bill introduced yesterday easing U.S. trade restrictions to Cuba, the Promoting American Agricultural and Medical Exports to Cuba Act of 2009, S. 1089. The bill would help U.S. farmers and ranchers export their products to Cuba by allowing timely and direct cash payments for agricultural goods.

The bill also requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to promote U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba. Additionally, the bill lifts the current travel ban, allowing U.S. citizens and legal residents to travel to Cuba, and it eases restrictions on exports of medicines and medical devices.    » read more »

Landrieu participates in Commerce Committee hearing on imported drywall; releases updated "Help Guide."

05/21/2009 -- WASHINGTON -- At the request of United States Senators Mary Landrieu, D-La., and Bill Nelson, D-Fla., the Senate Commerce Committee today held a public hearing to learn more about problems caused by tainted Chinese drywall and federal agencies' proposed response to protect consumers. Because thousands of Louisiana homes may contain the defective product, the Commerce Committee allowed Sen. Landrieu to attend and discuss the impact on Louisiana homeowners.    » read more »

May 21, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) joined a bipartisan group of fifteen Senators to introduce legislation easing travel and trade restrictions on Cuba.

"I have long said that trade with Cuba is an opportunity the United States cannot ignore," Senator Roberts said. "It is in the best economic and national security interests of the United States."

Many of the provisions in the bill, S. 1089, the "Promoting American Agricultural and Medical Exports to Cuba Act of 2009," are similar to legislation Senator Roberts has supported in the past including:    » read more »

May 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Federal environmental officials have found that Chinese-made drywall - suspected of causing serious corrosion in homes throughout Florida, Louisiana and other states - contains three materials not found in samples of U.S.-manufactured wallboard, according to U.S. Senator Bill Nelson’s office.

Tests on drywall samples were done at the request of Sens. Nelson and Mary Landrieu, who have initiated an investigation into complaints from homeowners in their respective states, Florida and Louisiana, that drywall in newer or rebuilt homes smells like rotten eggs and is causing corrosion of copper wiring and household appliances. In addition, homeowners are complaining of health problems such as asthma, coughing, headaches and insomnia.    » read more »

Opening Statement of Senator Chuck Grassley; Hearing, the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement

May 21, 2009 -- "I’ll begin by thanking the chairman for his leadership in scheduling today’s hearing on the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement. I also thank our witnesses for being here, and in particular, I want to extend a special welcome to Mr. Sam Carney, a pork producer from Adair, Iowa, and the president-elect of the National Pork Producers Council.    » read more »

Measure would provide duty free status for textiles and imported apparel from 14 Least Developed Countries, as defined by the United Nations

May 22, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Kit Bond (R-Mo.) have introduced a measure to provide trade relief for apparel and textiles imported from 14 of the world’s poorest nations. The legislation is intended to help some of these impoverished nations sustain vital export industries and promote economic growth and political stability.    » read more »

May 22, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) yesterday reintroduced the Vietnam Human Rights Act to address systematic human rights abuses in Vietnam, including religious and political persecution.

Senator Boxer said, “Unfortunately, another year has gone by and Vietnam has yet to significantly improve its human rights record. The Vietnamese government continues to arrest democracy and human rights activists, trade union leaders, journalists, bloggers, and many others. I support a strong U.S.-Vietnam relationship, but for that relationship to grow further, Vietnam must make some key changes. It's time for Vietnam to end its religious and political persecution once and for all.”    » read more »

Crapo says Idaho agriculture could reap benefits

May 20, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Idaho agriculture could benefit from better trade opportunities with Cuba under legislation introduced by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and a large bipartisan group of co-sponsors in the Senate.

Crapo, a member of the Senate Finance Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, joined with Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Montana) to introduce the Promoting American Agricultural and Medical Exports to Cuba Act of 2009.    » read more »

May 19, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – The United Steelworkers (USW) today urged Congress and the Administration to reject any taxpayer-supported plan to restructure automobile companies that would export jobs instead of strengthen the domestic industry.

North America’s largest industrial union made the point today at a “teach-in” on Capitol Hill sponsored by mayors, workers, business leaders, and labor officials to educate lawmakers about the impact on their communities.

Nationwide, more than 7.2 million jobs are related to the auto industry in supply and manufacturing, as well as in health care, education, civil services and many more areas. Thousands of small businesses and local communities could be irreparably damaged if the auto industry is allowed to fail.    » read more »

Brown Also Writes to CEOs of GM, Chrysler Asking for Economic Rationale of Dealership Closings

May 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) last week wrote to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner regarding reports that General Motors may begin to export vehicles from China to the U.S. in 2011. Brown asked Geithner to require GM to produce subcompact cars in the U.S. if it receives further government assistance.    » read more »

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam - 18 May 2009: IBM (NYSE: IBM) and FXA Group today announced a first of a kind collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and the Vietnamese State Agency for Technological Innovation (SATI) that will accelerate the adoption of traceability solutions to improve global food safety.    » read more »

HONG KONG--May. 17, 2009-- American International Group, Inc. (AIG) today announced it will accelerate steps to position American International Assurance Company, Ltd. (AIA Group) as an independent entity and seek a public listing on an Asian stock exchange for the AIA Group, depending on market conditions and subject to regulatory approval.

This public listing of the AIA Group is a significant step in the process that was announced by AIG on March 2 and will result in a board of directors and management team for the AIA Group separate from AIG.    » read more »