October 31, 2005 Volume 5 Number 4
The Bush Administration
and Lumber: The Game Continues
The Bush Administration has once again chosen to ignore its international
obligations and even U.S. law. Instead of respecting the August 10th ruling
of a panel of judges convened under the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) finding that current duties on lumber imports from Canada are illegal,
the Administration is choosing to shaft U.S. consumers and thumb its nose
at a treaty upheld by past Administrations in an effort to please a handful
of U.S. lumber producers. What gives? Read
on…
Made in China: Will
Apparel Trade ever Be Free?
Quotas on textile and apparel imports were phased out at the end of 2004 according
to an agreement negotiated in the Uruguay Round more than ten years ago. But
now the Bush Administration is negotiating with China to limit imports of
certain clothing items into the United States. Why? What will this mean for
American consumers? Read on…
Barriers to Trade:
More than Just Policy at Work
We at CWT write
much about the trade policies that our government pursues at the expense of
the American public. But not all trade barriers are the result of laws passed
by Congress. Some barriers to trade are physical. Thanks to inadequate infrastructure
containers filled with goods back up at our ports. This congestion costs you
plenty. Read on…
CWT in the News
- On Aug. 3rd, CWT hosted a panel discussion on DR-CAFTA and its implications for the future of U.S. rade policy.
- On Aug. 11th, sent a letter to USTR Rob Portman urging repeal of Canadian softwood lumber duties after the NAFTA EEC ruling. Read it.
- On Sept. 13th, CWT sent a blast fax to the Senate urging support for Finance Committee Chairman Grassley's amendment regarding the Byrd Amendment. Read it.
- On Sept. 14th, CWT sent a blast fax to the Senate Appropriations Committee opposing an amendment that would have prohibited the United States from negotiating any changes in U.S. trade remedy law. Read it.
- On Sept. 28th, CWT hosted its Annual Awards Dinner at the Phoenix Park Hotel honoring former Congressman Phil Crane, the late Tim Hauser, and New Zealand Ambassador John Wood.
- On Oct. 25th, sent a letter to the House Ways & Means Committee supporting Chairman Thomas' language to repeal the Byrd Amendment. Read it.
- On Oct. 28th, CWT submitted
comments to USTR urging the timely renewal and expansion of the Generalized
System of Preferences (GSP). Read
them.