For more information on how these developments may affect your business, please contact Nicole Bivens Collinson at (202) 730-4956 or via email.
European Union
The U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council met virtually Sept. 16 to discuss ongoing work on a number of issues, including secure digital infrastructure, investment screening best practices, non-market policies and practices and trade tools to counter them, strengthening semiconductor and solar supply chains, and ways to enhance bilateral trade and investment. The two sides plan to use the remainder of 2024 to engage with stakeholders on the future of the TTC.
Indo-Pacific
The U.S. hosted recently the first in-person meetings of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity’s Supply Chain Council and Crisis Response Network. The SCC adopted a first-year workplan, established subcommittees on logistics and goods movement and data and analytics, and established action plan teams on semiconductors, chemicals, and critical minerals, with a focus on batteries. The Council also plans to establish an action plan team on healthcare in the coming weeks. The CRN focused on addressing immediate supply chain disruptions and conducted an emergency simulation exercise involving a supply chain disruption impacting the import and use of certain chemicals by IPEF countries.
Exports
The U.S., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom reaffirmed at a recent conference their commitment to robust enforcement of export controls on Russia, including preventing the diversion of sensitive technologies and materials that support Russia’s war against Ukraine. Specifically, they committed to enhancing enforcement-related information sharing and capacity building, increasing outreach and guidance to industry to prevent diversion, and expanding joint investigative efforts to impose penalties that deter and redress export control violations. Since June 2023 the partners have collaborated closely to partner with industry to harden the supply chains of a list of common high-priority items, identify entities that have violated related export controls, and share investigative information to take coordinated enforcement actions, which have included detentions, seizures, and investigations.
Nepal
At the seventh Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Council meeting between the U.S. and Nepal, discussions focused on policies related to agriculture, labor rights, digital economy, trade in services, technical barriers to trade, intellectual property protection and enforcement, and information sharing. Among other things officials discussed how to improve utilization of the Nepal Trade Preference Program, which Nepal said it would like to extend beyond 2025, and the importance of a smooth and sustainable graduation of Nepal from least-developed country status, including enhancing export competitiveness and capacity building.
Nepal emphasized its interest in attracting additional foreign investment from the U.S., which welcomed ongoing reform initiatives in Nepal but also highlighted the need for additional progress in transparent regulatory practices, policy stability, allowing global reinsurers to participate in the Nepali markets to share best practices and ensure sufficient geographical diversification of risk, intellectual property rights protection and enforcement, and advancing labor rights.
Paraguay
During the third meeting of the Trade and Investment Council under the U.S.-Paraguay TIFA, held Sept. 10-11 in Washington, D.C., the two sides discussed Paraguay’s progress in fulfilling its commitments under the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, including its new platform through the Food for Progress Trade-Facilitating Agricultural Systems and Technology program and its elimination of consular fees for commercial transactions. Paraguay emphasized the importance of its sugar exports to the U.S., both sides expressed support for reauthorizing the Generalized System of Preferences, and Paraguay reiterated its interest in receiving GSP benefits.
Uzbekistan
The U.S. and Uzbekistan recently signed a customs mutual assistance agreement, which provides the legal framework for the exchange of information and evidence to assist in the enforcement of customs laws, including duty evasion, trafficking, proliferation, money laundering, and terrorism-related activities.
The two countries have also signed a memorandum of understanding that signifies their intention to diversify global mineral supply chains and advance the clean energy transition while also protecting Central Asia’s unique ecosystems.
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