US to expose trade barriers in new report

WASHINGTON, March 10, 2010 (AFP) - The United States said Tuesday it would expose "troublesome" foreign trade barriers in a strategy to prise open markets for doubling American exports to ease an unemployment crisis at home.

It will also push for greater access for American companies to operate in countries under a Trans-Pacific deal, negotiations for which will be launched next week.

US Trade Representative Ron Kirk said his office will publish a new report this month on trade barriers erected by countries on US exports.

They include "unfair" non-tariff barriers linked to health and pest issues imposed on US farm exports.

"This month, we will introduce a new, comprehensive report that will help us to identify and address troublesome technical barriers to trade and unfair restrictions on agricultural exports known as sanitary and phytosanitary barriers," he said in a speech at the National Press Club in Washington.

"As tariff barriers fall, these non-tariff barriers are becoming some of the most difficult challenges our exporters face," he said. "And we will use those reports to guide our work in seeking to address each problem with an appropriate solution."

US officials have complained about foreign rules governing poultry sanitation, restrictions on pork and pork products in response to the H1N1 virus, barriers on the import of US beef, and regulations governing some genetically modified food products.

In the European Union, Japan and elsewhere, the officials argue, certain regulations and enforcement actions are inconsistent with scientific evidence and internationally accepted guidelines.

Facing pressure to boost jobs to help an economic revival, Obama unveiled the National Export Initiative last month to pry open foreign markets for US exports, targeting huge emerging economies like China, India and Brazil.

The initiative is aimed at doubling US exports in five years with a strategy to identify markets for fast-growing sectors such as environmental goods and services, renewable energy, healthcare and biotechnology.

The government wants to help create two million jobs under the export push in the US, still reeling from near double-digit unemployment that threatens to dampen its economic recovery.

US exports in 2009 totaled 1.553 trillion dollars, falling from 1.827 trillion in 2008.

Kirk also said that the United States expected greater market access through the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) linking the United States with an initial group of seven nations -- Australia, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

Negotiations for the TPP deal will be launched in Melbourne, Australia, on March 15 and Kirk said discussions would center on export opportunities for small- and medium-sized businesses and promoting innovation and competitiveness.

"And we will exchange ideas on ways to promote regulatory coherence, which would make it easier for American companies to operate across the region," he said.

He also said that the United States was working to further increase market-access opportunities within the 10 Southeast Asian countries that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the fifth-largest US trade partner.

Among steps to be taken is a joint initiative to boost exports.

"In May, I will join ASEAN trade ministers in a multi-city tour that will permit an exchange between government and business on ways to expand trade and investment opportunities in US and ASEAN markets," he said.

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