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“Falls within the pattern of this administration giving short-shrift to transparency in trade negotiations. These objectives fall woefully short of explaining the administration’s specific objectives and how they will benefit the United States.”
The Trump administration will have its hands full in 2019, with new talks slated to begin with Brussels, Tokyo, London and potentially more, as well as the implementation of a revised deal with South Korea. The fate of the U.S.-Mexico -Canada Agreement will also be determined next year by a new Congress.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on Friday released a summary of negotiating objectives it intends to pursue in upcoming talks with Japan, starting the clock for formal negotiations to begin as soon as late January.
In October, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said “we would expect to have an equal or better deal than Japan gave the European Union regarding agriculture.”
A look at a range of industry desires for upcoming U.S. objectives.
Ag groups cite CPTPP, EU-Japan deal in warning that U.S. producers could be hurt.
A U.S.-Japan free trade deal should include adequate currency protections, address differences in vehicle standards and facilitate smoother customs procedures, industry representatives said during a Monday hearing on potential negotiating objectives.
The U.S. International Trade Commission on Thursday asked industry representatives and others how the elimination of tariffs on autos and trucks from Japan would impact production in the U.S., with one commissioner predicting autos would be a major focus for the ITC in its assessment of a potential deal.
The U.S. and Japan are headed for difficult negotiations on autos and currency commitments, among other issues, in negotiations for a bilateral trade deal that could jeopardize cooperation between the two countries in dealing with China, sources tell Inside U.S. Trade.
USTR has not yet charged the ITC with studying other potential trade deals with the EU and UK.
“Strong digital trade outcomes in the EU, Japan, and UK negotiations will help counter growing restrictions on U.S. trade and set examples for other countries developing their own rules.”
A joint proposal on transparency issued by the United States, European Union, Japan, Argentina and Costa Rica would strip members of the World Trade Organization of their rights in the body if they fail to live up to the notification commitments prescribed in the WTO agreements.
Thailand, South Korea and the United Kingdom have expressed interest.
Sen. Warren alleges the department is favoring non-U.S. companies.
Technology policy experts and foreign officials are eyeing a U.S.-Japan Free Trade Agreement as a platform for digital trade rules that the rest of the world -- including China -- can follow.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer last week asked the International Trade Commission to provide reports on the potential economic effects of providing duty-free treatment for competitive imports from Japan, as well as the impact of removing some agriculture tariffs.