U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Transcription

1 Asia U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

2 The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations. Copyright 2010 by the United States Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form print, electronic, or otherwise without the expressed written permission of the publisher.

3 Asia Program Overview The U.S. Chamber of Commerce s Asia program gives voice to policies that help American companies compete and succeed in Asia s dynamic marketplace. The Asia Department is composed of policy, program, and business development experts in Washington, Beijing, and Seoul. The regional expertise of the staff, coupled with the influence and support of the U.S. Chamber, enables the department and its member companies to actively shape policy debates regarding Asia in the region, Washington, and other capitals around the world. The department s efforts encompass policy advocacy on trade, investment, and other commercial issues important to the American business community in Asia. It has been instrumental in advancing key policy issues such as the U.S.-Korea free trade agreement; protecting intellectual property rights in China and Southeast Asia; advancing the U.S. business agenda in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement; and educating Congress and American small and medium-size companies on the benefits of an open and fair U.S.-China economic relationship. Augmented by three bilateral business councils covering Korea, Pakistan, and Hong Kong, the department s experts work with U.S. companies to navigate the often tumultuous regulatory environment that affects U.S. trade and investment in Asia. The department manages the Chamber s Asia Task Force, which is comprised of Chamber member companies representing diverse interests in Asian markets. The principal mandate of the task force is to help the Chamber develop policy positions on trade and investment issues that are of importance to American companies doing business in the region. This brochure provides a summary of the Asia Department s major initiatives and how the Chamber s Asia program can help bolster the commercial endeavors of U.S. companies throughout the region. 1

4 Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) The Chamber s Asia team advocates policies that will help promote increased trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region through the Transpacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations and dialogue within APEC. U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

5 Highlights of the TPP and APEC Program Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) : The department is a leading voice in advocating for a high-quality and commercially-meaningful TPP free trade agreement. It works closely with USTR negotiators, Congress, TPP country representatives, and private sector stakeholders to ensure that negotiators include high standard principles for trade and investment in the agreement. APEC Dialogue With Regional Leaders: The Asia Department partners with the National Center for APEC to ensure that U.S. business interests are raised with senior government leaders from the Asia-Pacific. It convenes meetings at the highest levels of government during the annual APEC leaders summit to provide a platform for our members to address barriers to trade and investment in individual countries. Policy Advocacy: The department works to ensure that policies which are important to our members in the Asia-Pacific are addressed in the APEC forum and TPP negotiations. It focuses its advocacy and capacity building programs in the areas of standards and regulatory coherence, investment, competition policy, intellectual property rights, and energy security. Business Grassroots Initiative: The department coordinates with the U.S. government and the U.S. APEC 2011 Host Committee to promote increased understanding of business opportunities across the Asia-Pacific and, in particular, advocate for trade facilitation initiatives in the APEC forum. 3

6 China The Chamber s China program helps bolster the U.S.-China economic and commercial relationship in a number of key areas and industries, including intellectual property rights, capital markets, and environmental reform. U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

7 Highlights of the China Program Financial Services and Capital Markets Reform: The China program strives to advance China s financial market reforms to further integrate the country s financial system into the global economy and international financial institutions, foster transparency in China s financial rulemaking, and provide American companies full access to the marketplace. Washington Policy and Advocacy: The China program addresses and defends member company priorities on Capitol Hill, including by tracking, reporting on, and advocating for legislation that affects U.S.-China commercial relations. Market Access and Business Climate Advocacy: The China program produces regular reports on the state of U.S.-China economic and commercial relations and the treatment of U.S. companies in China. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): Through cooperative efforts at the national and provincial levels, the China program helps positively shape China s IP regulatory framework, including changes to the criminal code and patent, copyright, and trademark laws. It advocates for improved enforcement of IPR by police and administrative authorities, assists member companies on specific challenges in China, and presses for heightened Chinese public awareness of the importance of IPR. Innovation Policy: The China program addresses challenges in the emerging areas of Chinese standards, competition, government procurement, and patent policies. It conducts programs with Chinese and U.S. government, corporate, and association stakeholders on the important role of American business in China s efforts to build an innovative economy. China Energy Initiative: The China program promotes U.S.-China energy and environmental cooperation by addressing long-term challenges such as energy security and climate change, and facilitating solutions to shorter-term priorities such as regulatory harmonization, tariff reduction, and technology transfer. It supports bilateral efforts like the Strategic and Economic Dialogue, the U.S.-China Oil and Gas Industry Forum, and the U.S.-China Energy Policy Dialogue, and sustains these dialogues by sponsoring public-private forums and high-level conferences. Business Grassroots Initiative: The China program promotes increased understanding and awareness of the business opportunities in China for small and mediumsize American businesses by hosting 10 seminars annually in cities across the United States. Corporate Citizenship: The China program works to build a platform to facilitate sustained dialogue and information sharing between U.S. and Chinese stakeholders in the area of corporate citizenship. Greater China Program: The China program manages a Greater China Initiative, consisting of an array of programs, including dialogues such as the Hong Kong-U.S. Business Council, and activities focused on increasing trade and investment between the United States, Taiwan, and Mongolia. 5

8 Japan The Chamber s Japan program encourages dialogue between Chamber members and Japanese officials to improve the regulatory and investment climate in Japan for U.S. business and to promote cooperation on international economic matters.

9 Highlights of the Japan Program Policy Advocacy: The Japan program works to advance issues important to the U.S. business community in Japan through regular outreach to U.S. and Japanese government officials to present Chamber members views on trade, investment, and regulatory issues. The program facilitates briefings to discuss developments in U.S.-Japan economic relations and provides regular policy updates and alerts on Japan-related economic and political issues. Business Dialogues: The Japan program coordinates regular dialogues in Washington with the U.S. and Japanese business communities, including through the U.S.-Japan Business Policy Interchange, to discuss current and emerging economic and commercial issues of interest to companies engaged in Trans- Pacific trade and investment. Global Engagement: The Japan program promotes cooperation between the United States and Japan on international economic matters, such as multilateral trade liberalization and intellectual property rights protection and enforcement. 7

10 Korea The U.S.-Korea Business Council, which is hosted by the Chamber, is the premier business advocacy organization representing America s top companies investing in Korea and promoting economic reforms to strengthen commercial ties between the two countries. The council promotes dialogue between U.S. and Korean business and government leaders and shapes policy on key economic issues in U.S.-Korea relations. U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

11 Highlights of the U.S.-Korea Business Council Program Policy Advocacy: The council informs policymakers in the United States and Korea on priorities for members in the Korean market through its publications and programs. It advocates for regulatory predictability and transparency, labor market flexibility, and intellectual property rights protection and enforcement. U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA): The council serves as secretariat for the U.S.-Korea FTA Business Coalition, a broad-based group made up of hundreds of U.S. businesses and trade associations working to secure congressional approval of the FTA. Business Dialogues: The council holds plenary sessions twice a year with its Korean counterpart organization, the Korea-U.S. Business Council, providing members with opportunities to exchange views with senior government leaders and discuss strategies for addressing issues of shared interest between the two countries. Washington Advocacy: The council organizes regular business forums with Korean and U.S. government officials to discuss developments in U.S.-Korea economic relations and provides regular policy updates on Korean economic and political issues. Grassroots Outreach: The council conducts educational programs in cities across the United States on the benefits of two-way trade and investment between the U.S. and Korea and opportunities for U.S. businesses under the U.S.-Korea FTA. 9

12 Southeast Asia The Chamber s Southeast Asia program works to lower barriers to trade and investment in the 10 countries of the region and level the playing field for U.S. businesses. The program promotes free trade agreements and regional economic integration, champions intellectual property rights protection, supports efforts to align trade and regulatory policies, and influences regional energy security and climate change policy. U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

13 Highlights of the Southeast Asia Program Market Access: The Southeast Asia program advocates for free trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (including Australia, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and the United States) and supports the bilateral investment treaty negotiations with Vietnam. It works to overcome economic isolationism, including undue restrictions on investment, exports, procurement, and human capital. Economic Integration: The Southeast Asia program supports efforts by governments in the region to move quickly toward regional economic integration and harmonization of standards, which would lead to greater economies of scale, lower business costs, and increased trade. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): In conjunction with the Chamber s Global Intellectual Property Center, the Southeast Asia program works with regional governments, business leaders, and nongovernmental organizations to promote IPR protection as a means to encourage innovation and economic development. It leads efforts to bolster greater public awareness about the importance of protecting IP in the region. Energy Security and Climate Change: In cooperation with the Chamber s Institute for 21st Century Energy, the Southeast Asia program seeks to shape the regional agenda on energy security and climate change to promote U.S. competitiveness. Washington Advocacy: The Southeast Asia program facilitates regular briefings for company representatives, administration officials, and congressional staff on developments in the region that impact the operations of U.S. companies. 11

14 Pakistan The U.S. Pakistan Business Council is the premier organization in Washington dedicated to the advancement of U.S. commercial engagement with Pakistan. The council champions policies that promote open markets and a level playing field for U.S. companies in Pakistan and works closely with the administration and Congress to represent U.S. business interests in Pakistan.

15 Highlights of the U.S.-Pakistan Business Council Program Policy Advocacy: The council promotes members business priorities in Pakistan through publications and programs. It advocates for the completion of a high-standard U.S.-Pakistan bilateral investment treaty and increased intellectual property rights protection in Pakistan. Regulatory Reform: The council calls for legal, regulatory, and economic reform in Pakistan that would strengthen investor confidence and expand market access for U.S. firms. Business Dialogue: The council organizes forums with senior U.S. and Pakistani government officials to facilitate business-government dialogue. Through trade missions and small private meetings, the council provides members opportunities to discuss project proposals and policy issues with officials of both countries. Networking Opportunities: The council serves as a platform for fostering business relationships between the two countries by leveraging its extensive network of government and private sector organizations. 13

16 South Asia The South Asia team promotes trade and investment opportunities for U.S. companies in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It works closely with Chamber members and government officials from the U.S. and countries in this region to advocate market-oriented reforms and strengthen commercial ties and American engagement in South Asia. U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

17 Highlights of the South Asia Program Trade and Investment: The South Asia program advances policy priorities of the U.S. business community in South Asian countries and coordinates input from the U.S. private sector in all government-togovernment dialogues on trade and investment. Washington Advocacy: It organizes briefings for company representatives, administration officials, and congressional staff on developments in countries in the region that affect the operations of U.S. companies. Networking Opportunities: It provides a forum for fostering business-to-business relationships by leveraging its substantial network of government and business relationships in the region. U.S.-Bangladesh Working Group The U.S.-Bangladesh Working Group was launched at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to strengthen economic and commercial relations between the two countries. The working group aims to promote dialogue between the U.S. and Bangladesh business and government leaders, and shape advocacy efforts on key issues in the bilateral trade and investment relationship. U.S.-Sri Lanka Working Group The U.S.-Sri Lanka Working Group was established at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2003 to expand trade and investment relations between the two countries and promote greater awareness of the business opportunities for U.S. companies in Sri Lanka. The working group provides a forum for U.S. companies to discuss and make policy recommendations on important issues impacting the bilateral relationship. 15

18 16 About the Asia Sponsorship Program The Chamber s Asia Department is one of the most prominent organizations in Washington promoting U.S. business interests in Asia. To ensure high levels of advocacy, business development, and government relations services, the department has launched the Asia Sponsorship Program, which is made up of a wide range of multinational companies with strategic commercial interests throughout Asia. Asia Sponsorship includes the following benefits: Reserved seating at forums for heads of state and senior government officials. Customized business development and high-level government relations support. Invitations to exclusive luncheons and dinners with trade ministers, senior government officials, and other international policy experts. Opportunity to become a member of the U.S.-Korea Business Council, U.S.-Pakistan Business Council, and Hong Kong-U.S. Business Council (as part of Asia Sponsorship). For additional information on benefits and sponsorship levels, please contact the Asia Department by phone at , or by at asia@uschamber.com. U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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20 U.S. Chamber of Commerce 1615 H Street, NW Washington, DC phone: fax: