This week, officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will join a visiting delegation of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economic ministers for ASEAN Road Show events in Los Angeles and Silicon Valley, California, as well as in Washington, D.C. U.S. government officials from USTR, the U.S. Departments of Commerce and State, and trade ministers from ASEAN member states (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) will meet with Members of Congress, local government officials and business leaders to discuss various trade issues. Acting Deputy Secretary of Commerce Patrick Gallagher will greet the Ministers and attend early meetings while Assistant USTR for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Barbara Weisel will lead USTR’s delegation to California. The officials will tour businesses in Los Angeles and Silicon Valley and address important topics such as expanding U.S.-ASEAN economic relations, and promoting job-creating trade opportunities for U.S. and ASEAN businesses and workers in the healthcare, manufacturing and standards, information, communications and technology, customs and freight processing, and creative media sectors. During the Washington, D.C. portion of the trip, U.S. and ASEAN officials will hold a Joint Council on Trade and Investment meeting to discuss the Expanded Economic Engagement (E3) initiative announced by President Obama and the 10 ASEAN Leaders last October, as well as other topics on the U.S. trade agenda. This meeting will be chaired by Acting U.S. Trade Representative Miriam Sapiro, and will include Acting Commerce Secretary Cam Kerry and other senior U.S. government officials
The United States has a robust and fast-growing trade and investment relationship with ASEAN member states which represent a market with a combined GDP of more than $2.2 trillion and a population of 620 million people. Since 2006, the U.S. and ASEAN have worked together under the auspices of a Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA) to further enhance trade and investment ties and promote regional economic and trade integration in the ASEAN area. In August 2012, former U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and ASEAN trade ministers agreed on an updated program of TIFA activities for 2013.
Monday, June 10, at the ASEAN Economic Ministers Road Show
The ASEAN Economic Ministers Road Show is underway in Los Angeles, CA, where U.S. government officials have joined a delegation of ASEAN economic ministers to discuss various trade issues. Monday’s activities began with a welcome breakfast, which was followed by a tour of Fox Studios and a Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) discussion on market access, intellectual property protection, and ways to promote U.S. and ASEAN creative industries. Afterward, the group toured Covidien Headquarters, an innovative medical devices manufacturer that is expanding its presence in Asia and has participated in ASEAN-related workshops. They then met with local officials at the Port of Los Angeles, a major hub for trade with Asia. The day concluded with a reception at the California Club with local business and government leaders.
Tuesday, June 11, at the ASEAN Economic Ministers Road Show
The second day of ASEAN Road Show events began with a visit to the Headquarters of Mattel, Inc. in El Segundo, CA, where talks focused on innovation and Mattel's global strategy, including in the ASEAN region. The delegation then departed southern California and traveled to Silicon Valley, where they toured the Computer History Museum and met with the Semiconductor Industry Association for a discussion of current policy priorities and opportunities to further build trade between the United States and ASEAN in this sector. Afterward, they participated in a roundtable with representatives from the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry to discuss best practices for the development of ICT industries, which was followed by a tour of Google. The day concluded with a reception at Silicon Valley Bank that focused on creating and maintaining open and stable investment climates.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at the ASEAN Economic Ministers Road Show
In the morning, members of the U.S.-ASEAN delegation met with San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, concluding the California leg of the ASEAN Economic Ministers Road Show. They then departed for Washington, D.C., where events will begin on Thursday with a Joint Council meeting of Ministers under the U.S.-ASEAN Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement.
Thursday, June 13, 2013 at the ASEAN Economic Ministers Road Show
ASEAN Road Show events continued today in Washington D.C., where ASEAN economic ministers met with high-level U.S. government officials from USTR and the Departments of State and Commerce, including Acting U.S. Trade Representative Miriam Sapiro and Acting Secretary of Commerce Cam Kerry. Discussions at the meeting, held under the U.S.-ASEAN Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement, focused on concrete initiatives to deepen economic ties and create new opportunities that will benefit businesses and workers in all eleven countries. Following the meeting, the delegation attended a lunch with think tank and academic representatives, participated in a roundtable with private sector representatives and attended a meeting with Congressional staff on the Hill. The Road Show events concluded with a reception and gala dinner hosted by the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, where Ambassador Sapiro gave remarks on the importance of expanding U.S. trade and investment ties with ASEAN. For more information, please see here.
Ambassador Sapiro with the U.S.-ASEAN Economic Ministers Delegation
Acting U.S. Trade Representative Sapiro gives remarks at the ASEAN Economic Ministers Gala Dinner
