Latest News
March 2, 2015
U.S. Challenges China’s Export Subsidy Program
On Feb. 11, USTR Michael Froman released a statement announcing that the U.S. has filed a dispute with the World Trade Organization against China’s extensive export subsidy program.
March 2, 2015
Lawmakers Call for Currency Language in Trade Talks
There is growing bipartisan support in both the House and Senate for including strong, enforceable anti-currency manipulation provisions in the TPP agreement.
March 2, 2015
Ex-Im Amendment Fails in House Committee
On Feb. 13, during a House markup of the president’s FY 2016 budget request, the committee rejected an amendment that would have required consideration of the Ex-Im Bank reauthorization.
March 2, 2015
OPIC Launches Small Business Workshop Series
Recently, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation announced the 2015 schedule for its Expanding Horizons event, the agency’s trademark series of traveling workshops designed to help U.S. small businesses export.
March 2, 2015
SBEA Spotlight: Sonya Kostadinova, Transcon Trading Co.
This month, the SBEA Spotlight features long-time member Sonya Kostadinova, owner, president and CEO of Transcon Trading Co., Inc. located in Columbia, South Carolina.
February 11, 2015
Ex-Im Debate Revived with House Bill Introduction
On Jan. 28, Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.) introduced a bill, Reform Exports and Expand the American Economy Act (H.R. 597) which would reauthorize the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. (Ex-Im Bank) for five-years along with a number of reforms. The Bank’s charter was in severe jeopardy last September, however, Congress granted a temporary reauthorization through [Read More]
February 11, 2015
U.S. Exports Sets Record for Fifth Consecutive Year
On Feb. 5, The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, released their fiscal year (FY) 2014 export data. For FY 2014, the BEA reports that U.S. exports of goods and services reached a record of $2.345 trillion, which represents a 2.9 percent increase and set a [Read More]
February 11, 2015
Bicameral Trade Agenda Hearings Held on the Hill
Last week, both the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Ways and Means Committee held hearings with a single witness, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman, to examine the status and potential impact of trade policy on American businesses and workers. Both the hearings specifically dealt with the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade pact [Read More]
January 30, 2015
U.S. Formally Accepts WTO Trade Pact
On Jan. 23, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman released a statement announcing that the U.S. has formally accepted the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), which is expected to improve trade efficiency and generate hundreds of billions of dollars in economic activity. Ambassador Froman delivered the letter of acceptance to WTO [Read More]
January 22, 2015
