Publications and Testimony
Chamber Issues "State of World Trade" Report
As the United States celebrates World Trade Month, U.S. Chamber President Tom Donohue on May 14 issued a report on the "State of World Trade ." Noting that global commerce is recovering from its contraction in 2009, the Chamber has applauded President Obama's goal of doubling exports within five years as a way to help create millions of new U.S. jobs. However, the report documents an alarming trend of rising economic nationalism as governments around the globe erect new barriers to international trade and investment and skew the playing field against U.S. and other foreign companies. The report also highlights the growing threat to U.S. competitiveness posed by Washington's inaction on the trade agenda as other nations devise a new architecture for global commerce. The Chamber offers a strategy to enhance U.S. trade competitiveness and leverage the opportunities presented by booming markets abroad to create jobs at home.
Opening Markets, Creating Jobs: U.S. Employment and Trade with FTA Partners
Also on May 14, the U.S. Chamber released a study highlighting the economic benefits - in particular, U.S. jobs - tied to U.S. free trade agreements (FTAs). The results of this comprehensive study are impressive: It found that nearly 18 million U.S. jobs depend on trade with America's free trade agreement (FTA) partners-5.4 million of which were created by the increase in trade unleashed by the agreements. "I defy anyone to name another budget-neutral government initiative that has generated anything like this number of jobs," said U.S. Chamber President Tom Donohue. Prepared by Laura M. Baughman and Joseph F. Francois of Trade Partnership Worldwide, LLC, the study examined U.S. FTAs implemented over the past 25 years with a total of 14 countries. The economic model used was the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP), which is maintained by a consortium of 31 U.S. and international organizations that include the U.S. International Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy, the OECD, the World Bank, and the WTO.
"Trade Means Jobs" and "Benefits of the U.S.-Korea FTA" - State-by-State Fact Sheets
The U.S. Chamber has released 50 new state-by-state fact sheets entitled Trade Means Jobs with handy facts on the impact of trade in each state. The fact sheets highlight companies that export, state trade data, the economic impact of trade agreements, foreign investments, and the number of small businesses exporting. The fact sheets will be continuously updated to reflect the latest data available from the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Departments of Commerce and Agriculture. Separately, the U.S.-Korea Business Council also released 50 state-specific fact sheets about the benefits of the U.S.-Korea FTA and the costs of inaction. They are available on the U.S.-Korea FTA Business Council website.
Brilliant Urges Moves to Facilitate Agricultural Exports, Travel to Cuba
On April 29, U.S. Chamber Senior Vice President for International Affairs Myron Brilliant testified in a hearing on "U.S.-Cuba Policy" before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade. In his testimony , Brilliant said: "As the administration seeks new initiatives to increase U.S. exports, easing these trade barriers represents a no-cost measure that will help create thousands of American jobs." He urged lawmakers to approve the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act (HR 4645), as a recent study said such legislation could boost U.S. exports by as much as $365 million. "We applaud recent efforts to ease restrictions on U.S. exports and travel to Cuba as a first step toward a policy more likely to bring positive change to the Cuban people," Brilliant said.
Trade Accords Would Help Small Businesses, Testifies Greenblatt
On April 28, Drew Greenblatt, president of Marlin Steel Wire Products of Baltimore, MD, issued a clarion call for approval of the pending trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and Korea in testimony on behalf of the Chamber before the House Small Business Committee hearing on "Evaluating the Impact of Small Business Trade Policy on Job Creation and Economic Growth." "Marlin Steel Wire Products has been exporting for six years, with exports now going to more than 20 countries. We employ only 28 people, and one-fourth of our employees are employed as a direct result of the company's export business. That is why I urge Congress to support the pending trade agreements and seek a more effective trade policy that opens foreign markets, boost exports, and creates jobs."
AACCLA Annual Report Surveys Business in the Americas
The Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America (AACCLA) has issued its annual report , "Advancing Business in the Americas." For nearly a century, the 23 American Chambers of Commerce (AmChams) have been the most influential voice of U.S. business in Latin America and the Caribbean. Today, joined together in AACCLA, these AmChams represent more than 20,000 companies and over 80% of U.S. investment in the region. Acting in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, AACCLA has become the premier advocate for U.S. business in the Americas. This publication outlines the chief accomplishments and activities of the Association in the past year and its program of work for the year ahead.
Chamber's GIPC Unveils New Intellectual Property and Jobs Study
On April 26, in recognition of World Intellectual Property (IP) Day, the U.S. Chamber's Global IP Center released an independent study that demonstrates the vital role of IP-intensive industries -sectors defined as those that invest significantly in research and development - in America's productivity and global competitiveness. The NDP Consulting report, The Impact of Innovation and the Role of Intellectual Property Rights on U.S. Productivity, Competitiveness, Jobs, Wages and Exports, concludes that IP-intensive industries such as pharmaceuticals, aerospace, and computers not only create jobs in the United States, but also pay their workers better, export more goods abroad, and account for higher levels of productivity than non-IP intensive industries.
Chamber Issues Paper on China's Barriers to Investment
On April 21, the U.S. Chamber released a white paper entitled "PRC Barriers to Investment " summarizing the main barriers faced by U.S. and foreign investors in China. The Chamber publicly welcomed China's recently announced plans to liberalize foreign investment, which include a decision to raise the threshold on foreign investment to $300 million, increase the transparency of investment approvals and revise the Catalogue Guiding Foreign Investments in Industry. However, the Chamber underscores in the white paper its concern that Chinese measures to restrict U.S. and foreign competition and promote domestic state-owned enterprises have been on the rise. To solve these problems, the Chamber urges that the U.S. government to take full advantage of opportunities for bilateral dialogue to urge China to reform its regulatory approaches. It also strongly advocates for the negotiation of a high-standard bilateral investment treaty (BIT) with China.
Donohue Leads Missions to India, China
On April 12-15, U.S. Chamber President Tom Donohue embarked on a trade mission to India to highlight opportunities for U.S. and Indian companies to increase trade and investment, expand infrastructure, and leverage technology in order to create jobs in both countries. While there, Donohue spoke to the Confederation of Indian Industry, saying: "There has never been a better time or opportunity to lift U.S.-India trade and investment relations to a whole new level." Donohue met with senior government ministers, including India's Deputy Planning Chairman, the Competition Commissioner, the Commerce Secretary, and the Roads Minister. Aviation Minister Praful Patel joined Donohue on the dais to encourage more U.S. firms to participate in India's civil aviation sector, part of five-year, $1 trillion infrastructure plan. Donohue will travel to Beijing and Shanghai in mid-May for meetings with the Chinese and U.S. Embassy officials as well as business leaders and to attend the World Expo in Shanghai.
International Investment: The Stakes for American Jobs, Exports, and Prosperity
In April, the U.S. Chamber's Global Regulatory Cooperation project released a concise new publication highlighting how the United States has fallen behind other nations in securing new bilateral investment treaties (BITs), which protect investments and promote respect for the rule of law. However, the United States ranks 44th among countries with negotiated BIT agreements, far behind many of major trading nations, placing U.S. companies at a serious competitive disadvantage. America's continued prosperity in a highly competitive world demands that we negotiate more, high standard investment treaties.
Brilliant Addresses PRC Quality Brand Protection Committee
On March 25, U.S. Chamber Senior Vice President for International Affairs Myron Brilliant addressed the 10th Anniversary session of the People's Republic of China's Quality Brand Protection Committee (QBPC). He highlighted the essential role of the business community in supporting the U.S.-China economic relationship and urged China to avoid protectionist measures that could stifle job creation in both countries and undermine the foundation of the relationship. "The U.S.-China economic and commercial relationship is arguably the most important of its kind in the world today," Brilliant said. He pointed to the Chamber's long track record of advancing the relationship, including its ongoing work to highlight two-way business opportunities and strong support of the upcoming World Expo in Shanghai. Brilliant also highlighted efforts to promote bilateral cooperation, from climate change, to macroeconomic coordination, to regional security.
Murphy Testifies on Trade, Labor Rights before House Foreign Affairs Subcommittees
On March 10, U.S. Chamber Vice President for International Affairs John Murphy testified at a joint hearing of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade and the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight. At the hearing on "International Worker Rights, U.S. Foreign Policy and the International Economy," much of the questioning focused on worker rights in Colombia, and Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade Chairman Brad Sherman (D-CA) engaged in a debate with Murphy, who countered by drawing on the attached fact sheet.
Business-Government Dialogue Focus of Murphy Speech
On March 4, U.S. Chamber Vice President for International Affairs John Murphy addressed a USAID-supported DR-CAFTA Implementation Project seminar in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, on "The Role of the Private Sector in FTA Implementation." Murphy's speech, entitled "Government with Consent of the Governed: The Importance of Business-Government Dialogue in Economic, Regulatory and Trade Policy," provides an overview of good regulatory practices and describes the provisions of the U.S. Administrative Procedure Act.
Chamber Testimony Delivered to U.S. International Trade Commission Hearings
On February 9, the U.S. Chamber submitted testimony to the United States International Trade Commission hearing on "Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: U.S. and EU Export Activities, and Barriers and Opportunities Experiences by U.S. Firms." Separately, on February 3, U.S. Chamber Senior Director for Asia Murray Hiebert testified before the United State International Trade Commission's hearing on "ASEAN: Regional Trends in Economic Integration, Export Competitiveness, and Inbound Investment for Selected Industries."
Operation Smile
The U.S. Chamber supports Operation Smile and its work on behalf of children across the globe. Founded in 1982, Operation Smile is a worldwide children's medical charity whose network of global volunteers are dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults. A number of AmChams across the globe already partner with Operation Smile. If you do not have a long standing relationship with the organization and would like to pursue a partnership, please contact Olivia Machado Leonard.
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