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China
According to a Department of Commerce press release, the second vice-ministerial meeting of the U.S.-China Commercial Issues Working Group was held Sept. 7 in Tianjin, China. Topics of discussion included commercial and market access issues affecting U.S. businesses and workers like cross-border data flows, decreasing regulatory transparency and certainty in China, Beijing’s non-market policies and practices, and overcapacity in a range of industrial sectors. On the other hand, officials “advanced commercial cooperation in a range of key sectors,” including healthcare and climate and environment. The working group was established in August 2023 to address discrete trade and investment issues and advance U.S. commercial interests in China.
European Union
The State Department reports that the seventh high-level meeting of the U.S.-EU Dialogue on China and the sixth meeting of the U.S.-EU High-Level Consultations on the Indo-Pacific were held Sept. 9-10.
With respect to China, senior officials “reiterated deep and increasing concern” about China’s exports of significant amounts of dual-use goods and items used by Russia on the battlefield against Ukraine as well as China-based companies’ continued involvement in sanctions evasion and circumvention. The two sides also “confirmed their intention to continue de-risking” by investing in their resilience and reducing dependencies and vulnerabilities in strategic sectors.
Regarding the Indo-Pacific region, official reviewed the U.S. Smart and Secure Ports Program and the EU Global Ports Safety Project, both of which support regional partners with port modernization, security, and safety.
Latin America
House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) recently led a bipartisan delegation of House members to Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay to discuss with senior government officials ways to strengthen economic relations “while keeping Communist China at bay.” According to a press release from Smith’s office, talks in Argentina focused on major economic reforms in that country as well as legislation to renew and reform the Generalized System of Preferences. In Paraguay discussions included renewing GSP, removing barriers to trade, and improving intellectual property rights enforcement. Meetings in Chile centered on high-standard mining and processing of critical minerals and other commodities.
Kenya
The eighth round of negotiations on the U.S.-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership will be held Sept. 16-27 in Washington, D.C. According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, this round will primarily cover agriculture; customs, trade facilitation, and enforcement; environment; good regulatory practices, inclusivity; legal and administrative matters; and workers’ rights and protections. The two sides have said they are working to conclude an agreement by the end of this year.
Egypt
The State Department reports that during the second session of the U.S.-Egypt Joint Economic Commission, held Sept. 4-5 in Washington, D.C., the two delegations “held a constructive dialogue on the importance of disciplined, rigorous economic reform and a strong, innovative private sector to realize dynamic economic growth.” Talks focused on fostering economic growth and well-paying jobs, closer collaboration in digital transformation, and Egypt’s energy security and transition to renewables. The JEC also advanced “key cooperative economic initiatives,” including U.S. federal motor vehicle safety standards “that are set to transform Egypt into a regional automobile export hub.” The two sides plan to hold talks under their bilateral trade and investment framework agreement in October.
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