Northern Kentucky International Trade Association (or NKITA) Blog

100,000 Strong

Kyle Horseman — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:02:41 +0000

Citing the strategic importance of the U.S.-China relationship President Obama announced in 2009 the 100,000 Strong Initiative, a national effort to increase dramatically the number of American students studying in China and prepare the next generation of American experts to manage the growing political, economic, and cultural ties between the United States and China. Kimberly McClure, Deputy Director of the 100,000 Strong Initiative and a Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State, will visit Northern Kentucky next week to speak to our higher education and business communities.

Kimberly McClure is an eight-year Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. While traveling frequently to China in her current role, Kimberly has spent most of her career working on South Asia policy in India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Washington.

Following two-year assignments to Mumbai, India, and Kabul, Afghanistan, Kimberly worked as Special Assistant to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan; completed an International Affairs Fellowship with the Council on Foreign Relations; and completed assignments in the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Human Resources and Operations Center. Kimberly holds a B.A. in international relations from Stanford University and a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Thanks to an effort by the Greater Cincinnati World Affairs Council (GCWAC), on Wednesday, January 25 at 2:00 PM, Kimberly McClure will be at the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce to meet with local business leaders who have an interest to speak about the economic development and growth benefits of China. To reserve a seat for this meeting, please contact Kyle Horseman at 859.426.3653 or by email.
Focus on China: 100,000 Strong
Kimberly McClure
Deputy Director,100,000 Strong Initiative
US Department of State
Time: 2:00-3:00 PM, Wednesday January 25th
Location: Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Cost: Free to attend
Contact: Kyle Horseman
859.426.3653

Toyota to ship U.S.-built Camry sedans to South Korea

Kyle Horseman — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:56:44 +0000

Toyota today announced it will export about 6,000 U.S.-assembled Camry sedans annually to its distributor in South Korea.

The Camry sedans will be built at Toyota’s manufacturing plant in Georgetown, Ky., and exported out of the Port of Hueneme, near Oxnard, Calif., beginning in January 2012.

CNET Reviews: The Car Tech Blog, Dec 6, 2011

U.S. on Track to be Net Fuel Exporter

Kyle Horseman — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:08:46 +0000

U.S. exports of gasoline, diesel and other oil-based fuels are soaring, putting the nation on track to be a net exporter of petroleum products in 2011 for the first time in 62 years, reported the Wall Street Journal.

A combination of booming demand from emerging markets and faltering domestic activity means the United States is exporting more fuel than it imports, upending the historical norm.

CSPNet.com Nov 30, 2011

U.S. and China Conclude 22nd Session of the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade

Kyle Horseman — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:45:37 +0000

Commerce, USTR and USDA welcome concrete results in trade negotiations, reiterate need to achieve greater market access for U.S. exporters

Chengdu, China – Today marked the conclusion of the 22nd session of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) in Chengdu, China. United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk and U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson co-chaired the JCCT along with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack also participated in the discussions.

Read More
Office of the United States Trade Representative, Nov 21, 2011

KORUS FTA Ratified in Korean National Assembly

Kyle Horseman — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:44:33 +0000

This morning, I am thrilled to announce that the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) has been ratified in the Korean National Assembly. Passage of the agreement in today’s extempore session clears the way for a new level of cooperation and prosperity between our two nations. The agreement passed by a vote of 151-7, with all 14 KORUS implementation bills approved as well.

Nov 22, 2011
Tami Overby, President, U.S.-Korea Business Council
Vice President, Asia, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

As we conclude more than five years of arduous work, I wish to offer my sincere thanks for your long-standing support of the agreement. The Administration, as well as Congress, are to be commended for their efforts in pushing KORUS through the finish line. Much thanks is also due to Ambassador Han and his remarkable team, without which, ratification in either capital would not have been possible.

I would specifically like to thank the more than 1,000 member companies, business associations, and state and local chambers of commerce who worked tirelessly to build support for the agreement in their industries and in their communities. This is the best example of what the American business community can do when fully motivated and I want to thank each one of you personally for your individual efforts. It has been a long road but we now look forward to seeing the fruits of our hard work.

We must now turn our attention to successful implementation of the agreement. As you know, this agreement presents many opportunities for American businesses large and small in the Korean marketplace. We look forward to working with you to ensure that American businesses fully realize their potential in this dynamic market. The U.S. Chamber and the USKBC will soon release a post-KORUS plan regarding opportunities and implementation strategy so please stay tuned.
Following today’s vote in National Assembly, we expect KORUS implementation will take place in early 2012. As we look ahead to these next steps, we hope you will continue to advocate strongly on behalf of the important economic and strategic partnership that exists between our two nations

Philippines, US Sign Customs Agreement

Kyle Horseman — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:50:37 +0000

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and United States signed a customs administration and trade facilitation agreement, a building block towards Philippines participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.

The agreement was signed by United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry Gregory Domingo on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat, Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation, Nov 14, 2011

President Obama signs bill, clearing way for smoother business travel to Asia-Pacific nations

Kyle Horseman — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:00:54 +0000

President Barack Obama signed a bill Saturday making it easier for U.S. business travelers to access Asia-Pacific nations more freely and quickly.

Obama signed the measure just before taking the stage to address the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit in his native Hawaii, referring it to it as an “APEC business gold card.”

Washington Post, Nov 12, 2011

US Department of Commerce Report on Trade in Goods and Service for September 2011

Kyle Horseman — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:40:42 +0000

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of
Commerce, announced today that total September exports of $180.4 billion and imports of $223.5
billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $43.1 billion, down from $44.9 billion in
August, revised. September exports were $2.5 billion more than August exports of $177.9
billion.

Bureau of Economic Analysis, Nov 10, 2011

USRBC Welcomes Working Party Approval of Russia’s WTO Accession Package

Kyle Horseman — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:45:09 +0000

The U.S.-Russia Business Council is pleased to announce that today in Geneva the Working Party on Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) reached a final agreement on the terms of Russia’s WTO accession and approved its accession package.

via USRBC, Nov 10, 2011

As a result of this approval, during an upcoming WTO Ministerial Conference on December 15-17, Russia will be formally invited to become a member of the WTO and can then begin the process of ratifying the accession agreement.

The USRBC congratulates the U.S. and Russian negotiators, as well as all parties to the intensive and complicated negotiating process that produced the agreement, which is the culmination of an 18-year effort to usher Russia into the world’s largest rules-based trading organization.

Once this landmark agreement is implemented and Russia has formally joined the WTO, the terms of Russia’s accession package will provide U.S. companies with access to a major emerging market, where U.S. goods and services enjoy a reputation for high quality. It will also make the Russian economy more predictable for investors.

“We are elated that Russia’s accession is in its final stage and look forward to reviewing the details of this historic agreement,” said USRBC President Edward Verona. “Russia is an important market for many U.S. companies and WTO accession will help enhance the U.S.-Russia commercial relationship,” added Klaus Kleinfeld, USRBC Chairman and Chairman and CEO of Alcoa, Inc.

To ensure that U.S. firms enjoy the full benefits of Russia’s accession, it will be necessary for the U.S. Congress to lift the Jackson-Vanik amendment with respect to Russia and authorize the President to extend Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) to Russia.

“The USRBC, which leads the Coalition for U.S.-Russia Trade, looks forward to working with the Administration, members of Congress, the broader business community and other stakeholders to ensure that this is accomplished at the earliest opportunity. We need to keep opportunities for U.S. interests on par with those that our European and Asian competitors will enjoy,” noted Verona.

Please click here for a statement by the White House marking the approval of Russia’s WTO accession agreement, and click here for a press release from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

The U.S.-Russia Business Council (USRBC) represents the interests of its 250 U.S. and Russian member companies, providing business development and government relations support in both Moscow and Washington. The USRBC contributes to the stability and development of a free market in Russia and supports Russia’s integration into the global economy. It also serves as the Secretariat for the Coalition for U.S.-Russia Trade. For more information, visit the USRBC online here.

Tariff Schedule Now Available

Kyle Horseman — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:57:12 +0000

For the convenience of our readers, we have added a link in the sidebar of this blog to the United States Harmonized Tariff Schedule. At that website, you can download a .pdf of each chapter, including a change record and section notes.