Trade

Receiving Trade Finance

A crisis in trade finance – credit used to cover delivery and receipt of goods – is contributing to a general drop in trade. Several countries are joining together to solve the problem.  This feature on our sister site, IIPDigital.gov, has this eJournal on Trade issues.

13 February 2013 Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership U.S. Trade Representative Kirk Welcomes Presidential Decision to Pursue Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
•Statement from United States President Barack Obama, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso

08 February 2013 U.S. to Auction Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Exploration Rights   Oil and gas prospectors will be able to bid on leases March 20 to explore and develop petroleum resources in the central Gulf of Mexico as part of the Obama administration’s five-year leasing program for the region.  The auction in New Orleans will be the first of five central Gulf of Mexico lease sales to be held under the Obama administration’s Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012 to 2017.

08 February 2013 U.S. Exports Reached Record High in 2012   The Department of Commerce has announced that the export of U.S. goods and services reached an all-time record during 2012.   Acting Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank said record levels of exports were recorded in a variety of areas, including capital goods; automotive vehicles, parts and engines; consumer goods; and travel and tourism.

14 January 2013 U.S. Trade Deficit Widened in November  The U.S. trade deficit expanded to a seven-month high in November at $48.7 billion, reflecting a rise in the U.S. import of consumer goods from its trading partners around the world.

 2012

 17 December 2012 U.S. Lists "Notorious Markets" of Stolen, Counterfeit Goods  USTR Ron Kirk on announced the results of the Special 301 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets. The review lists more than 30 Internet and physical markets that exemplify marketplaces that deal in infringing goods and services, supporting global piracy and counterfeiting.

05 December 2012 EU, U.S. to Boost Efforts on Small Business Trade Promotion  The U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration  and the European Commission Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry have agreed to work together to support and promote trans-Atlantic trade among small and medium-sized enterprises.

29 October 2012 EU, U.S. Partner to Promote Global Open Investment Policies  Senior officials of the European Union and the United States met in Washington to continue discussions on global investment policy.  The talks have worldwide implications because the United States and the European Union are the world's largest sources and destinations for foreign investment.

26 October 2012 State's Luna at OECD Forum on Illicit Trade, Illegal Economy 

11 October 2012 U.S. Trade Deficit Grows in August   The U.S. trade deficit grew to $44.2 billion in August, up from $42.5 billion the month before, according to the Commerce Department’s latest report.    The July to August decrease in exports of goods reflected decreases in industrial supplies and materials; foods, feeds and beverages; consumer goods; and automotive vehicles, parts and engines. Increases occurred in capital goods and "other" goods.    The monthly drop in imports of goods reflected decreases in consumer goods; automotive vehicles, parts and engines; and capital goods. Increases occurred in industrial supplies and materials; other goods; and foods, feeds and beverages.

21 September 2012 U.S., Global Partners Work Toward International Services Pact  The United States is working with a number of World Trade Organization partner economies to develop a new international agreement that would provide the foundation for consensus on liberalization of trade in services, says Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Michael Punke.

19 September 2012 U.S. Provides $1 Million in Additional WTO Trade Support   U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk announced the new contribution and said the money will help developing nations improve their ability to analyze issues, assess their interests and participate effectively in the World Trade Organization.

17 September 2012 Assistant Secretary Gordon on Trans-Atlantic Trends   During his European visit, Camuñez conducted the Economic and Commercial Dialogue (ECD) with high-level government officials in the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade and led the U.S. delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s 20th Economic and Environmental Forum in Prague.

11 September 2012 U.S. Trade Slows in July, Causes Slight Deficit Rise   The U.S. trade deficit hit $42 billion in July, a slight increase from June due to a 1 percent drop in exports and a 0.8 percent decline in imports during the month, according to the International Trade in Goods and Services report for July.

10 August 2012 U.S. Trade Deficit Shrinks, Exceeding Economists' Expectations The U.S. trade deficit in June shrank a significant 10.7 percent from May to $42.9 billion, thanks to continued growth in exports, according to a new Commerce Department report.

26 July 2012 Commerce Official Highlights Efforts to Promote Trade with Africa  U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sánchez highlighted efforts to increase U.S. trade and investment with sub-Saharan Africa in testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on African Affairs.

17 July 2012 State's Shapiro at Export Control Reform Conference  Remarks by Andrew Shapiro, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, to the Export Control Reform Conference, Washington, DC.

16 July 2012 U.S. Trade Official at U.S.-EU Economic Council Forum    Opening Remarks by Ambassador Miriam Sapiro at the EU-U.S. Small and Medium Enterprises TEC Workshop in Rome, Italy.

06 July 2012 U.S., Global Partners Seek Services Trade Liberalization   A number of World Trade Organization member economies are exploring a new international agreement in Geneva that could provide the foundation for multilateral consensus on liberalization of trade in services.

28 June 2012 Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Fact Sheet on Contribution to Aid for Trade  Trade is one of the most significant drivers of economic growth. MCC considers $3.2 billion of its assistance to partner countries—35 percent—as “aid for trade.”  MCC’s primary contribution to “aid for trade” is through transportation infrastructure financing.

27 June 2012 USTR on Transparency and Trans-Pacific Partnership  A fact sheet from the office of the United States Trade Representative.

14 June 2012 Briefing on Department of State Efforts to Expand Defense Trade 

08 June 2012 U.S. April Trade Figures Reach Second-Highest Level Commerce Secretary John Bryson says American businesses must continue working to reach the 95 percent of the world's consumers who live beyond U.S. borders.

05 June 2012 EU, U.S. Begin Streamlined Trade of Organic Products  Organic products certified in the United States or European Union may now be sold as organic in either market, as trade opened up June 1 under a new U.S.-EU equivalency partnership.  Previously, producers and companies wanting to trade products on both sides of the Atlantic had to obtain separate certifications to two standards, which resulted in a double set of fees, inspections and paperwork.

05 June 2012 USTR Kirk at APEC Ministerial Meeting in Russia  "We are pleased that as Russia leads APEC in 2012, vital work is continuing. Together, we are tackling protectionist barriers in the form of local content requirements, seeking to streamline regional supply chains more broadly, and taking concrete actions to liberalize environmental goods and services trade."

30 May 2012 White House on Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2012  President Obama is to Sign the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2012. This will extend the Bank’s authority through 2014 and increase its portfolio cap to $140 billion to help U.S. businesses sell their products and services around the world.

24 May 2012 U.S. Looks for Most Effective Way to Expand Trans-Atlantic Trade  The top U.S. trade official says the United States is committed to finding the smart, prudent and most effective way to strengthen trans-Atlantic trade and investment.  The U.S. goal for comprehensive trade talks, if they are undertaken, would be full liberalization of market access for all categories of goods and expanded flows of services and investment.

22 May 2012 U.S. Trade Representative on U.S.-EU Trade Policy   U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk at the London School of Economics and Political Science on U.S.-EU Trade Policy.

12 May 2012 U.S. Official on Medical Devices and Economic Growth, Innovation   Assistant Secretary of Commerce Camuñez at the 2012 International Medical Device Industry Compliance Conference, Stockholm, Sweden.

02 May 2012 USTR Releases Annual Report on Intellectual Property Rights  The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's annual Special 301 Report highlights improvements in and concerns about the adequacy and effectiveness of U.S. trading partners’ protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR).
 • Summary of 301 Report on Intellectual Property Rights

09 April 2012 New Reports Show Progress in Removing Trade Barriers  In three new reports to President Obama and Congress, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk details efforts made in the past year to remove barriers to U.S. international trade.  The reports highlight in particular the establishment of a new Interagency Trade Enforcement Center to investigate and pursue any country’s failure to abide by international trade rules and commitments.

13 March 2012 Obama: U.S., Partners File Trade Case Against China  The United States, the European Union and Japan are filing a case against China for violating international trade rules by unfairly limiting exports of rare earth minerals, a key component in high-tech products manufactured around the world.

07 March 2012 USTR Kirk on Obama's Trade Policy Agenda for 2012  Testimony Before the Senate Finance Committee on key initiatives of the President’s Trade Policy Agenda for 2012.

17 February 2012 Obama Promotes U.S. Trade President Obama announced plans February 17 to increase U.S. exports and strengthen the U.S. economy.

27 January 2012 U.S., Egyptian Officials Announce Efforts to Increase Trade Ties   U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Dr. Mahmoud Eisa, Egyptian minister of industry and foreign trade, adopted a joint statement declaring their intention to promote the U.S.-Egypt Trade and Investment Partnership and provide opportunities for job creation. The statement notes the United States’ commitment to support Egypt’s economic growth and Egypt’s commitment to enhance the conditions for fostering dynamic economic activity in the months ahead.

2011

28 December 2011 U.S. Treasury Dept. Reports on International Exchange Rate Policies   The U.S. Department of the Treasury on December 27 released its Semi-Annual Report to Congress on International Economic and Exchange Rate Policies.  The report highlights the need for greater exchange rate flexibility, most notably by China, but also in other major economies.

17 November 2011 U.S. Highlights $25 Billion in Trade Deals with Asia-Pacific  As President Obama wraps up the last leg of his nine-day Asia-Pacific tour, the White House highlights a series of “high-value, historic” private trade deals in the region exceeding $25 billion in value and supporting an estimated 127,000 jobs in the United States alone.  Obama has highlighted the Asia-Pacific region as a key market for U.S. exports due to the region’s “tremendous economic growth and its large and growing middle class.

13 November 2011 USTR Fact Sheet on Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement Outline   Leaders of the nine Trans-Pacific Partnership countries announced the achievement of the broad outlines of an ambitious, 21st-century Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement that will enhance trade and investment among the TPP partner countries, promote innovation, economic growth and development, and support the creation and retention of jobs.

05 October 2011 Remarks by USTR Official at U.S.-Russia Business Council Meeting  Remarks by Chistopher Wilson, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for WTO and Multilateral Affairs at the U.S.-Russia Business Council Annual Meeting.

12 August 2011 U.S. Trade Deficit Surges to Highest Level Since 2008  The U.S. trade deficit has surged to $53.1 billion — its highest level in almost three years — as a drop in the country’s exports exceeded a decline in imports from abroad. June’s trade deficit was up 4.4 percent from May, largely due to a 2.3 percent drop in total exports to $170.9 billion.

21 July 2011 U.S. Ready to Meet Doha Trade-Liberalization Goals  The United States stands ready to address the challenges of meeting the trade-liberalization goals outlined in the World Trade Organization’s 2001 negotiations in Doha, Qatar, says Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Michael Punke.

13 May 2011 Presidential Proclamation on World Trade Week

31 March 2011 Secretary Clinton's Remarks at a Ceremony Celebrating the Negotiation of Agreements Between the U.S. and 100 Open Skies Partners
• Fact Sheet: U.S. Open Skies Civil Aviation Partnerships

03 March 2011 Trade Policy Agenda & 2010 Annual Report of the President of the United States on the Trade Agreements Program 
In 2011, the Administration’s trade policy will continue to provide leadership for the global economy and help American manufacturers, service providers, farmers, and ranchers sell more goods and services around the world, supporting more jobs here at home. 
The President’s Trade Policy Agenda for 2011 outlines an ambitious scope of work to meet these goals. Across the global stage, we will advance market-opening negotiations with our trading partners and bolster existing ties. We will continue to actively enforce U.S. rights under our trade agreements. We will conduct these efforts based on high standards that reflect American values on labor and on the environment, and on public engagement and transparency.

01 October 2010 U.S. Trade Policy Extremely Open, World Trade Organization Finds   “The U.S. trade and investment regimes are among the most open in the world,” the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat reported in its 10th review of the trade policies and practices of the United States.  “Like most other WTO Members, the United States very largely resisted pressures to respond to the global economic recession by tightening restrictions on imports,” the Secretariat reported in its executive summary. “The restraint shown by the United States helped forestall a worldwide slide into protectionism.”

09 December 2009 Anti-Bribery Convention Has Made a Difference  Bribing public officials to obtain business advantages in international transactions carries a stigma and exposes corporations and their executives to an increased risk of successful prosecution, thanks to the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions.

15 November 2009 APEC Leaders Agree on Sustainable Growth Strategies.  President Obama’s Remarks at APEC Leaders' Summit

16 October 2009 World Trade Body Membership Tops U.S. Trade Agenda for Russia 

16 October 2009 Clinton: China, Russia Trade Pacts Show Economic Interdependence

13 October 2009USTR Kirk Says Services Trade Plan Essential to Trade Talks

12 August 2009Trade Panel Tells China to Allow More U.S. Entertainment Imports

17 July 2009 Trade Representative Announces New Enforcement Measures

14 July 2009 Regional Trade Hubs Help Foster U.S.-Africa Trade 

14 July 2009 U.S.-Africa Trade Increased 28 Percent in 2008

25 June 2009 United States Seeks Expanded Economic Growth in Africa

29 May 2009 Trade Finance Drought Forces Exporters to Find Alternatives 

22 May 2009 U.S. Trade Representative Underscores Safety of U.S. Meat Exports

14 May 2009 USTR Kirk Says a New Path for Trade Talks May Be Needed

14 May 2009 Statement on U.S.-EU Beef Hormone Agreement

23 April 2009 United States Will Push for Increased Trade Liberalization

23 April 2009 International Monetary Fund Sees Global Economic Decline in 2009

10 March 2009 Near Confirmation, U.S. Trade Nominee Doesn’t Have Deal Fever

Intellectual Property Rights

2009 Special 301 Report

• 2009 Special 301 report Full text.

Trade Basics and Statistics

• See Ready Reference: the U.S. in Statistics