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☆ 33 Democrats urge ban on investor-state dispute provisions in all US trade deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Amanda Andrade-RhoadesWASHINGTON, May 3 (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday urged the U.S. Trade Representative and State Department to eliminate investor-state dispute settlement provisions from current and future trade deals and to intervene on behalf of Honduras against a U.S. company's nearly $11 billion claim against the country. In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Trade Representative Katherine Tai seen by Reuters, 33 lawmakers said that investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) systems in trade deals constitute a "problematic corporate handout" that violates countries' sovereignty and democracy rights. The Democrats signing the letter said the case could require impoverished Honduras to pay billions of taxpayer dollars to a company that has "weaponized" the dispute settlement provisions. The dispute settlement provisions had been a way to protect U.S. firms from abrupt changes in trading partners' government policies by providing recourse through arbitration. The letter cited Georgetown University research tallying $27.8 billion in ISDS settlement orders against Latin American governments, with Argentina, Venezuela, Peru, Mexico and Ecuador the worst hit.

☆ Trump boasted that he 'got rid of NATO' while president during a Fox News interview. (He meant NAFTA.)
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Donald Trump said he had gotten the US out of NATO as president, but meant NAFTA. Trump has repeatedly questioned US membership of NATO, but did not act on threats to withdraw. Trump, who is seeking election again in 2024, boasted about his achievements as president in an interview Tuesday with Fox News' Sean Hannity. Trump as president repeatedly criticised NATO, berating other members for not spending more on defense, and threatened to pull out of the treaty. Trump, since launching his 2024 bid, has sought to portray his likely opponent, President Joe Biden, as in cognitive decline.

☆ Trump says DeSantis will 'beg for mercy' in Iowa after he once voted to kill a prized ethanol mandate
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Trump slammed Ron DeSantis for previously moving to kill a federal mandate prized by ethanol producers. As Insider reported, DeSantis supported legislation in 2017 to kill the Renewable Fuel StandardTop editors give you the stories you want — delivered right to your inbox each weekday. DeSantis, Trump concluded, would "beg for mercy" in Iowa. The standard requires specific percentages of renewable fuel to be blended into the nation's fuel supply. The ethanol industry closely protects the mandate since it effectively subsidizes the industry.

☆ Exclusive: AFL-CIO wants bigger say in U.S. digital trade deals for workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - The Biden administration has made digital trade the centerpiece of its trade negotiations, and the AFL-CIO wants a bigger say in how the U.S. Trade Representative's office sets goals in this area, arguing they are too often dictated by big technology companies. The USTR is expected to soon propose text on the digital chapter in negotiations for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, the Biden administration's signature economic agreement. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai has pledged to create a "worker-centric" trade policy, but the AFL-CIO said digital trade negotiations too often make no mention of labor standards nor the workers who write software or support networks. "Corporations shouldn't dictate the rules of the global digital economy with no regard for working people," AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said in a statement. Other AFL-CIO demands for digital trade negotiations include:- Requiring governments to enact strong policies to safeguard individuals' personal data as opposed to the current largely voluntary "self-regulation" model that has proven inadequate.

☆ Guns, drugs and migrants: Biden heads to Mexico to face diplomatic challenges with North American allies
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Peter Nicholas | Peter Nicholas Is A Senior National Political Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

MEXICO CITY — When North American leaders gathered in 2021 — at the first summit for the group in five years — the mood was upbeat. Before he arrived in Mexico City on Sunday night, Biden stopped in El Paso, Texas, amid criticism from congressional Republicans that the southwest border has gotten more porous on his watch. Citing health concerns, López Obrador has called for banning imports of genetically modified corn. Ahead of the summit, the leaders sought to ease some of the strains and perhaps create a more convivial atmosphere. Rather than fly into the more conveniently located Mexico City hub airport, Air Force One landed Sunday at a new airport that was a pet project of López Obrador’s.

☆ Costa Rica seeks entry to North America trade pact
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAN JOSE, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Costa Rica has told the United States it is interested in joining the North American trade pact between the United States, Mexico and Canada, President Rodrigo Chaves said on Wednesday. Dodd said he had spoken with Chaves about opportunities to boost economic ties, but made no comment on a possible entry for Costa Rica into the North American trade pact. "We are evaluating opportunities," said Tovar, adding membership in the trade pact would give Costa Rica an "immense advantage" and add another strategic link to global supply chains. The United States is Costa Rica's largest trading partner, according to the U.S. State Department, accounting for 38% of Costa Rica's imports and 42% of exports. The Central American country has 10 bilateral and five multilateral trade agreements in force.

☆ Decision on North American auto rules dispute 'imminent', Canada says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MEXICO CITY, Nov 25 (Reuters) - A decision should be made very soon on a dispute pitting Canada and Mexico against the United States on the interpretation of regional trade rules in the auto industry, Canada Minister of International Trade Mary Ng said on Friday. Canada this year joined Mexico in a complaint against the United States over how to apply automotive sector content requirements under the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) free trade agreement, which came into effect in 2020. Mexico and Canada favor a more flexible interpretation of the rules than Washington, and Mexico said in August that dispute panel hearings were beginning. Those disagreements have led to a separate energy dispute under USMCA that pits Ottawa and Washington against Mexico. Ng this week said Canada had begun exploratory discussions with Ecuador over a potential free trade agreement.

☆ Worker complaints alleging anti-union shutdowns rise as organizing surges
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Eli M. Rosenberg | Eli Rosenberg Is An Investigative Tech Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +13 min

The company, G&D Integrated, had closed the factory, saying it had suddenly lost its decade-old contract with a Japanese company, workers said. Starbucks closed multiple stores this year following union activity. Trader Joe’s, for example, abruptly closed a wine shop in the center of New York City where workers had been organizing. Demonstrators protest outside a closed Starbucks in Seattle on July 16. More than 40 percent of the stores had union campaigns, according to data from Starbucks Workers United, the union that has been organizing the workers.

☆ Ohio Republicans focused on winning a battleground Senate race still find things to admire in Tim Ryan just days before the crucial midterm elections
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Senate hopefuls JD Vance and Tim Ryan are making their closing pitches to Ohio voters. Some Buckeye State Republicans give Democrat Ryan points for his fighting spirit. Ohio Senate hopeful JD Vance mingles with local Republicans during Ohio GOP's bus tour stop in Zanesville, Ohio. She can't say the same for Vance, who Drenan claims waffled about abortion in his final debate with Ryan. "That's how dissatisfied I am with Republicans right now."

☆ BMW plans to invest $1.7 billion in U.S. to produce electric vehicles
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

BMW Group plans to invest $1.7 billion in its U.S. operations to build electric vehicles and batteries, the company announced Wednesday. The German automaker expects to produce at least six fully electric models in the U.S. by 2030. The Spartanburg facility, where the investment announcement took place, currently produces BMW "X" SUVs and lithium-ion battery modules for its two plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. "Going forward, it will also be a major driver for our electrification strategy, and we will produce at least six fully electric BMW X models here by 2030," BMW Chair Oliver Zipse said in a release. In April, the company announced plans to spend $2 billion to build a second U.S. plant in Kentucky.

☆ Honda's new $4.4 billion EV battery plant will be built in Ohio
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An employee inspects the door of a 2018 Honda Accord vehicle during production at the Honda of America Manufacturing Inc. Marysville Auto Plant in Marysville, Ohio, on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017. Honda Motor and LG Energy Solution on Tuesday said a new multibillion-dollar plant to produce batteries for electric vehicles will be located in Ohio. The battery plant is expected to cost $3.5 billion, with overall investment by the unnamed joint venture eventually reaching $4.4 billion, the companies said. Honda and LGES announced plans for the joint venture and battery plant last year, but had not revealed a location. In addition to the new battery plant, Honda on Tuesday said it plans to invest $700 million to retool several of its existing auto and powertrain plants for production of EVs.

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