The Office of the United States Trade Representative has issued a report on foreign trade barriers. Contained within is no mention whatsoever of Chinese currency manipulation. There is mention of VAT manipulation, tariff-rate quotas and even a 35% tariff on raisins. (who knew?)
While the press is calling this report hard line, I find it kind of wimpy and even question some of the trade figures quoted.
Ya know that meager, token Buy American clause in the Stimulus? Well, surprise, surprise, of course they are still out to kill it. So here comes Canada, now seeking an exemption in order to bid on U.S. contracts.
In USTR Kirk: Deal With Canada On 'Buy American' Not Yet Sealed, of course our U.S. trade representative is trying to subvert a clause passed by Congress and ship U.S. taxpayer stimulus money off to Canada, instead of U.S. manufacturers. It appears the new plan is to just give U.S. manufacturers priority, uh huh in contract bids.
Public citizen live blogged the USTR (United States Trade Representative) confirmation hearing of Ron Kirk.
Here's a classic quote:
Senator Ron Wyden: the middle class does not like these trade agreements. What do you plan to increase support of middle class?
Ron Kirk's Reply: We're going to utilize technology to tell the real story. Our website is "so" 1987.
America knows these trade agreements are glorified offshore outsourcing contracts and the response is to do better Internet PR?
Another Quote from Mr. Kirk:
Cheaper foreign products help hard pressed American families, and exports help create jobs. The overarching benefits of trade are diffuse, and the pain is concentrated.
Robert Cassidy, the Clinton USTR has confessed before on his doubts about the promise of the WTO and the China PNTR, but now he as given more details during a talk at the Economic Policy Institute.
Boy, I'm not impressed. Obama has chosen Ron Kirk as the U.S. trade representative.
As a past supporter of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR), Kirk will face close scrutiny as he assumes the responsibility for delivering on Obama’s pledges to fix existing trade agreements and create a new trade policy that benefits more people
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