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The U.S. and Peru have resolved concerns tied to Peru’s environmental obligations under their bilateral trade agreement, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced on Tuesday after the Peruvian government annulled the December 2018 policy that triggered the first-ever consultations.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is considering a proposal from Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden (OR) and Sherrod Brown (OH) aimed at boosting confidence that Mexico will adhere to labor commitments in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, according to Senate aides.
“OSINFOR continues to be independent and separate in accordance to the obligations assumed on the subject in the Peru-United States TPA.”
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Friday requested consultations with Lima under the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement for what he said was a violation of the country's environmental obligations under the deal.
The Times reports that the administration is considering an unprecedented challenge to Peru's deforestation practices.
The Labor Department on Friday issued a second review -- originally expected in June -- of Peru's progress in bringing its labor commitments into compliance with the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, calling on Lima to take additional actions.
The goal is to “help ensure that Peruvian timber is legally harvested and violators are held accountable,” USTR said.
In response to last week's U.S. action to block timber imports from a Peruvian logging company, the Peruvian government said it is committed to collaborative efforts to build a “robust forest system,” which Peru argues takes time to develop.
“There has been no communication regarding progress, leaving petitioning organizations and stakeholders with concerns about U.S. commitment to enforcing labor obligations in trade agreements.”
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, in what he called an “unprecedented enforcement action,” today directed Customs and Border Protection to block timber imports from a Peruvian exporter the U.S. says engaged in illegal harvesting practices.
Top Democrats on the Senate Finance and House Ways & Means committees this week lamented what they view as a lack of response from the Labor Department on its assessment of any progress made by Colombia in an ongoing labor dispute under the U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement.
On the heels of a U.S. fact-finding trip to Peru, four of that country's largest unions plan to ask the U.S. Labor Department for a public update on its evaluation of the Peruvian government's progress in an ongoing labor dispute under the U.S.-Peru free trade agreement.
“Remember that NAFTA was opposed by Democrats because of its lack of labor and environmental standards. We were right.”
Sen. Murray: Puzder will have “a lot of explaining to do.”
Business and labor sources alike are suggesting that Labor Secretary-designate Andy Puzder and the incoming Trump administration will pursue three pending labor disputes in free trade agreements with Latin American countries, saying that following through on Obama administration efforts in the cases meshes with candidate Donald Trump's calls for holding trading partners accountable.
The U.S. Department of Labor has extended by six months a review of Peru's progress in meeting labor commitments under the U.S.-Peru free trade agreement, saying that despite some progress over the past nine months of dialogue, multiple areas of concern still need to be addressed.
With a U.S. Department of Labor deadline approaching, discussions are intensifying around a possible Peruvian presidential decree that would be aimed at resolving issues raised in a labor complaint under the U.S.-Peru free trade agreement -- while labor groups in the South American country are escalating a protest campaign to pressure the government.
The United States and Peru are reporting progress in efforts to address ongoing environmental protection issues in the U.S.-Peru free trade agreement, declaring their intention to redouble joint efforts to combat illegal logging after the Environmental Affairs Council created under the FTA held its first session since Peruvian President Pablo Kuczynski took office.