The Office of the United States Trade Representative

Bush Administration Delivers Annual Trade Report To Congress
03/04/2008

 

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Bush Administration Monday delivered to Congress the 2008 Trade Policy Agenda and the 2007 Annual Report of the President of the United States on the Trade Agreements Program.

The report highlights the Administration’s 2007 accomplishments of opening new markets, developing and implementing new policies, and enforcing U.S. trade agreements to ensure trade is free and fair.

"President Bush's accomplishments of opening markets at every opportunity have advanced the pro-growth benefits of free and fair trade" said U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab.  "Through negotiations for reciprocal access bilaterally, regionally, and multilaterally - and tough enforcement to ensure that our trading partners must keep their promises of open markets - the past seven years have reaped record exports, job creation, growth, and productivity." 

Bilaterally, in 2008, the Administration will build on the passage of the Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by working with Congress to advance other pending FTAs with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.  These pending agreements offer substantial opportunities for U.S. farmers, ranchers, workers, manufacturers, and producers.  Passing and implementing an FTA with Colombia will solidify relations with a key strategic ally in Latin America.  The Korea-U.S. (KORUS) FTA is the most commercially significant FTA the United States has concluded in 15 years and when implemented will offer immense opportunities to U.S. business and agriculture in a rapidly growing and sophisticated market.

Multilaterally, the United States continues to lead efforts towards concluding an ambitious Doha Development Round.  Concluding an ambitious Doha Round is President Bush’s top trade negotiating priority and will generate economic growth through new trade flows in agriculture, industrial goods and services - helping to lift millions of people in developing counties out of poverty.  The Administration realizes that a window of opportunity exists to conclude the Doha Round this year and looks forward to working with our trading partners to achieve the ambitious and balanced outcome that will be necessary for a successful agreement.

In addition, the Administration will continue to aggressively combat intellectual property rights (IPR) violations in order to protect both industry and consumers.  In 2007, the Administration continued to lead the fight against IPR violations through launching negotiation of an Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement with other trading partners.  Additionally, the Administration filed cases in the World Trade Organization (WTO) over China’s deficiencies in protecting and enforcing copyrights and trademarks.

As part of the Doha Development Agenda negotiations, the Administration developed and introduced, along with the European Commission, a proposal for an innovative new environmental goods and services agreement in the WTO and a commitment by all WTO members to remove barriers to trade in a specific set of climate-friendly technologies and services. 

In 2008, the Administration will continue its efforts to build and strengthen trade relations worldwide while ensuring that all parties involved abide by fair and evenly applied rules.  In particular, the Administration will pursue Asia-Pacific regional economic integration through the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

“Today, the United States is party to FTAs with 20 countries in every corner of the world (14 in force, three approved by Congress but not yet in force, and three concluded but not yet approved by Congress).  These agreements bring real benefits to American workers, farmers, ranchers, manufacturers and service providers” wrote Ambassador Schwab in the report’s introduction.

Background:

The 2008 Trade Policy Agenda and the 2007 Annual Report are prepared according to the guidelines established under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended.  The full report can be viewed at www.ustr.gov

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