Administration Announces Efforts On Telecom, Lumber In Trade Policy Agenda

摘要

The administration this week announced a new effort to boost telecommunications equipment exports through mutual recognition agreements and the development of a new strategy for handling the longstanding softwood lumber dispute with Canada in a trade policy agenda that otherwise provides little new insight on existing trade initiatives or enforcement pledges. The President's 2014 Trade Policy Agenda says the administration seeks to negotiate Telecommunications Mutual Recognition Agreements with select countries "to facilitate U.S. exports of telecommunications equipment." It also says it will develop a new way to ensure fair trade in lumber with Canada ahead of the expiration of an existing bilateral deal. "[W]e will develop a strategy to foster fair trade in the North American lumber market in the lead - up to the expiration of the U.S. - Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement in 2015," the agenda says.