Though China did not play a major role in many congressional midterm elections, the makeup of the new Congress may impact US-China commercial and trade issues in 2015.
At the start of the 114th Congress in January, republicans will hold at least 52 seats in the Senate—retaking the majority and thus the chairmanships for each committee. That will impact the legislative agenda and the issues that are prioritized in the coming year. Republicans also strengthened their majority in...
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November 5th, 2014
October 16th, 2014
October 16, 2014 - The US Treasury Department on Wednesday said China’s currency remains “significantly undervalued,” but did not label it a currency manipulator in its Semi-Annual Report to Congress on International Economic and Exchange Rate Policies. Instead, Treasury observed “some renewed willingness” by Chinese regulators to allow RMB appreciation and reduce intervention, following China’s commitment to do so at the July 2014 Strategic & Economic Dialogue. Treasury has not labelled...
October 16th, 2014
October 16
The US Treasury Department on Wednesday said China’s currency remains “significantly undervalued,” but did not label it a currency manipulator in its Semi-Annual Report to Congress on International Economic and Exchange Rate Policies. Instead, Treasury observed “some renewed willingness” by Chinese regulators to allow RMB appreciation and reduce intervention, following China’s commitment to do so at the July 2014 Strategic & Economic Dialogue. Treasury has not labelled...
October 1st, 2014
Erin Ennis, vice president of the US-China Business Council (USCBC), testified today before the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee on a wide range of issues, including competition enforcement, regulatory transparency, intellectual property rights (IPR), and China’s broader compliance with its World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments.
In her testimony, Ennis said China remains a valuable market for US companies, but one that could be more valuable if market barriers and...
October 1st, 2014
Erin Ennis, vice president of the US-China Business Council (USCBC), testified today before the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee on a wide range of issues, including competition enforcement, regulatory transparency, intellectual property rights (IPR), and China’s broader compliance with its World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments.
In her testimony, Ennis said China remains a valuable market for US companies, but one that could be more valuable if market barriers...
September 19th, 2014
Key Trade Nominees Approved by Senate
The Senate approved Robert Holleyman as Deputy US Trade Representative and Nathan Sheets as Under Secretary for International Affairs at the US Treasury Department yesterday. The approvals fill the remaining deputy-level positions overseeing US commercial relations with China in the Obama administration’s second term.
Holleyman replaces Demetrios Marantis, who left the post in May 2013. Holleyman is expected to cover a portfolio...
August 18th, 2014
Nominees for key Treasury and trade posts advanced on July 31, bringing the nominees one step closer to confirmation. The Senate Finance Committee reported to the full Senate Nathan Sheets’ nomination as under secretary for international affairs at the US Treasury Department – a post formerly held by Lael Brainard – and Robert Holleyman’s nomination as Deputy US Trade Representative, who would replace Demetrios Marantis. The Senate will need to confirm both nominations, but with Congress in...
July 18th, 2014
House committee talks China in hearing on WTO
China needs to make an “appropriate contribution” to negotiations on the Information Technology Agreement (ITA), according to Deputy US Trade Representative Ambassador Michael Punke at a hearing of the US House Ways & Means Trade Subcommittee on Wednesday. Punke told the subcommittee he’s hopeful that discussions will move forward before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Senior Officials’ meeting in November, and said...
June 24th, 2014
Assistant Secretary of State tells Senate US priorities for upcoming dialogue
A “new model” of US-China relations should not be"defined by strategic rivalry, but by fair and healthy competition…practical cooperation on priority issues, and by constructive management of our differences and disagreements,” Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Danny Russel said yesterday at a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The hearing focused on regional...
May 28th, 2014
The Obama Administration on Thursday announced it would nominate Bruce Andrews as Deputy Secretary of Commerce, filling a position previously held by Rebecca Blank.
Andrews has been Chief of Staff for the Department of Commerce since 2011. Prior to that, Andrews was General Counsel for the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Andrews has also held positions with Ford, Quinn Gillespie & Associates, and with former Congressman Tim Holden (D, PA-17).
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