The expansion of civil litigation options for owners of trade secrets that allege their intellectual property has been infringed, a component of the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2014, would benefit U.S. firms of all sizes, said President of Marlin Steel Wire Products Drew Greenblatt in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism on May 13. The legislation (here) was formally introduced on May 12 by Sens. Chris Coons, D-Del., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. Trade secrets include everything from manufacturing formulas to clientele databases.
Lawmakers should pass the GSP Update for Production Diversification and Trade Enforcement (Update) Act in order to incorporate travel goods into the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, said more than a dozen industry officials in a recent letter. The letter was sent to Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committee leadership. Sens, Mark Begich, D-Alaska, and Roy Blunt, R-Mo., introduced the legislation in December 2013, while House members introduced a companion bill months prior (see 13121820).
Recent trade-related bills introduced in Congress include:
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s refusal to broach currency manipulation in Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations jeopardizes congressional support for Trade Promotion Authority, said Rep. Michael Michaud, D-Maine, in a May 7 letter to President Barack Obama. U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman admitted before the Senate Finance Committee earlier this month his office is not currently pushing currency rules in TPP negotiations (see 14050123). “This is deeply troubling news and signals to me that our trade negotiators do not have the best interests of the American workers at heart,” said Michaud. “All the ‘consulting’ in the world doesn’t mean a thing if you are simply going to ignore what Congress is telling you.” Froman said in testimony USTR has held over 1,200 consultation sessions with Congress on the TPP. Majorities in both congressional chambers have demanded currency rules in U.S. free trade agreements (see 13092423).
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee leadership introduced on May 12 the MAP-21 Reauthorization Act (here), which would fund Federal-aid highway programs for six years at current funding plus inflation. The committee will mark up the legislation on May 15, according to a press release. Senate Finance Committee leadership recently emphasized the urgent need for funding legislation, but Finance Committee ranking member Orrin Hatch, R-Utah., criticized recommendations for corporate tax increases as a means to finance the Highway Trust Fund program (see 14050625).
House and Senate conferees brokered compromise in recent days on critical water resources legislation after more than six months of negotiations, according to a joint statement (here). The two sides bridged gaps between the Senate Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) and House Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), bills that target port and waterway infrastructure development. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leadership conferred on the legislation.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative continues to use Census Bureau export data that includes “re-exports” to mask the growing deficit with South Korea, said four House Democrats in a May 9 joint statement. USTR has the option to use U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) data that removes “re-exports,” but chooses not to, said Reps. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., George Miller, D-Calif., Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y. and Paul Tonko, D-N.Y. Moreover, USTR is touting the allegedly flawed export figures to sell the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), they said.
The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee should schedule a vote on legislation to reauthorize the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank, said Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Mark Kirk, R-Ill., in a May 7 letter. “Considering a majority of Senators support the Ex-Im Bank and its reauthorization is imperative, we see no reason to delay this vote," said the letter. "After all, if we do not reauthorize the bank, the U.S. stands to lose over one million jobs and billions of dollars in exports. At a time when our economy’s recovery remains fragile, it would be foolish to weaken this shining example of a successful public-private partnership.” The bank’s charter expires on Sept. 30, but reauthorization faces stiff resistance in the House (see 14050533). The committee aims to take up legislation in the near future, said a committee spokeswoman. "Reauthorizing the Ex-Im Bank is a priority for the Banking Committee and we are currently working to reach agreement on a bipartisan bill that we hope to move soon," said the spokeswoman.
Russian graduation from the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) may give some momentum for renewal of the program in general, though Congressional action remains uncertain, said Scott Miller, Scholl chair in international business at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The change will not significantly impact bilateral trade or the value of the GSP program, said Miller. U.S. importers could have only saved between $7-8 million on duty-free Russian imports since GSP expiration on July 31, 2013, said Miller.
The Obama administration aims to incorporate strong intellectual property rights for agriculture products in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, including increased trademark enforcement for U.S. brands, geographical indicator limitations and biotechnology and nanotechnology patent protection, said Darci Vetter during May 8 testimony before the Senate Finance Committee. Vetter is nominated to be chief agriculture negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The committee also reviewed the nomination of Stefan Selig for undersecretary of Commerce for international trade during the hearing.