February 10, 2006 Volume 6 Number 2
Free Trade Talks Could
Lead to Big Savings at the Supermarket
The current round of free trade talks are all about food. Developing countries
are pushing wealthier countries to open up their markets for food and agriculture
imports. This means US consumers might get some relief at grocery stores and
restaurants. However, in order for this to happen, developing countries will
have to agree to open up their markets for imports from wealthier countries.
Find out if you will get
a break at the supermarket...
Could the New Canadian Prime Minister Help Make Housing Affordable for Americans? On February 1, 2006 Steven Harper was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Canada. As head of the new Conservative government, Mr. Harper inherits a long standing trade dispute between his country and the U.S. over softwood lumber which has resulted in higher housing prices for Americans. Does Mr. Harper have the power to settle the dispute and end the high cost of home construction? Find out more...
Pro-consumer trade
program Faces Challenges in Congress
The Generalized System of Preference is up for renewal this year. If Congress
does not act by December to renew this trade program, both U.S. consumers
and the least developed countries could loose out.
Get the details…
The Byrd Amendment
is Finally Gone But With a Twist
Just last week Congress passed legislation designed to reduce the budget deficit.
Thankfully, our elected members of Congress included a provision repealing
the so-called the Byrd Amendment saving consumers millions. Read
more…
CWT in the News
- On Dec. 30th, CWT submitted comments to the U.S. Dept of Agriculture regarding the 2007 Farm Bill. Read them.
- On Jan. 12th, 2006, CWT hosted a breakfast event on the methodologies used by the U.S. Dept of Commerce to calculate duties and the tendency to inflate them at the consumer's expense.
- On Feb. 10th, CWT submitted written comments to the Senate Commerce Committee on the impact of high tarriffs on Canadian lumber. Click here to read the comments...
- Stay tuned!!! CWT has
big plans for it's annual dinner and many more event to keep you updated
on trade policy developments and the consumer.