Contact Information: Contact: Timothy E. Deal Senior VP USCIB (202) 371-1316 Email Contact
Top U.S. Multinationals Urge Trade Authority Renewal
| Source: USCIB
WASHINGTON, DC -- (MARKET WIRE) -- February 12, 2007 -- The United States Council for International
Business (USCIB), which represents hundreds of America's top global
companies, today urged renewal of trade negotiating authority, calling it
essential for completion of the WTO's Doha Round and a host of bilateral
agreements.
The appeal came at the launch of a new campaign, Trade for America, at a
National Press Club event featuring U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab.
The president's existing trade authority, which provides for an up-or-down
vote by Congress on trade agreements negotiated by the administration, with
no amendments, will expire at the end of June unless Congress takes action
to renew or extend it.
"Renewing trade negotiating authority is essential if we are to complete
the Doha Round, and to secure bilateral trade agreements currently before
Congress or in the works," said USCIB President Peter M. Robinson. "The
business and agricultural communities are united in this belief, and we
will do everything we can to promote legislation that enables companies,
workers and farmers to continue to benefit from expanded trade."
Mr. Robinson said USCIB is rallying global business support for completing
the Doha Round, where negotiations recently re-commenced after several
months of stalemate. USCIB serves as the American affiliate of the
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and other leading global business
groups. Mr. Robinson noted that ICC Chairman Marcus Wallenberg of Sweden
had met with senior government officials in the U.S., Europe, India and
elsewhere in an effort to get the WTO talks back on track.
USCIB is a member of the steering committee of Trade for America, which
represents a wide array of companies and associations from nearly every
sector of the U.S. economy, united in their belief that renewal of trade
negotiating authority is essential to ensure American competitiveness in
the global economy.
Trade for America members welcomed recent statements by President Bush and
leading members of Congress affirming the importance of renewing that
authority. For example, Congressman Charles B. Rangel (D. - N.Y.), the
incoming chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, told a USCIB
audience in December: "I want to see what compromises can be made so that
we move forward, not as Democrats or Republicans, but as a Congress the
nation can be proud of. Where I am most optimistic is in the area of
trade."
USCIB promotes an open system of global commerce in which business can
flourish and contribute to economic growth, human welfare and protection of
the environment. Its membership includes some 300 U.S. companies,
professional service firms and associations whose combined annual revenues
exceed $3 trillion. As American affiliate of the leading international
business and employers organizations, USCIB provides business views to
policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide and works to facilitate
international trade. More information is available at www.uscib.org.
To view this release in HTML, please go to:
http://www.uscib.org/index.asp?documentID=3670.