Moving To Australia
Department of State Washington File: Chile, Singapore Trade Agreements Begin Moving Through Congress
Washington -- Free trade agreements (FTAs) with Chile and Singapore are moving toward likely swift approval by Congress. ... The committee voted that the 5,400 immigrants from Singapore and 1,400 from Chile who would be eligible every year under the FTAs would be counted as part of the existing H1-B visa program quota, which restricts such visas to a total 195,000 annually. U.S. technology companies have used H1-B visas in the past to fill positions requiring high skill levels. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Senate Moving Toward Vote on Trade Negotiation Bill
Senator Tom Daschle, Democratic majority leader, was expected to seek a vote soon to force an end to debate on the entire package. Meanwhile, Republican senators supporting the trade package went to the White House asking President Bush to press wavering Republicans to vote for the bill; a number of Republicans opposed to the expanded TAA benefits are indicating they plan to vote against the package. ... In another key vote senators voted to table, or kill, another amendment opposed by the administration. It would have restricted in future trade agreements the rights of foreign investors to challenge U.S. state and local health, environmental and other regulations in international tribunals. The amendment sponsored by Senator John Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, had strong support from state and local governments. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: WTO Agriculture Negotiators Moving to Hard Number-Crunching Job
Since the Uruguay Round agreement that created the WTO, countries have had to eliminate non-tariff barriers to trade or else convert them into tariffs. In cases where the calculated tariff was extraordinarily high, a country had to agree to a tariff-rate quota where imports below the quota are subject a lower rate and those above to the higher rate. ... Under the framework agreement, countries must commit to "substantive reduction" in what is called their aggregate measure of support (AMS). Developed countries have already agreed to reduce overall trade-distorting domestic support from bound levels -- levels they cannot exceed under the existing WTO agreement -- by 20 percent in the first year of implementing any new WTO agreement. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: USTR's Barshefsky Says WTO Farm Talks Moving Ahead
The WTO Committee on Agriculture met in a special session in Geneva last week to initiate the mandated negotiations on agriculture that began this year as part of the, WTO's built in agenda. Last week's meeting focused on procedural and scheduling matters necessary to allow the negotiators to move forward with the talks. Despite some difficulties in choosing a chairman, the Committee agreed on a work plan for the coming year, a schedule of meetings, and an end of the year deadline for countries to submit negotiating proposals. ... [Read More]
Washington HyperFile - East Asia Edition
East Asia ... East Asia Edition(Send your requests and complaints to WFfeedback) ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: U.S. Defense Secretary Approves Moving Troops from Korea
This decision supports the military requirement to meet operational commitments in Iraq. The Department of Defense will maintain its commitment to the defense of Korea and to the security and stability of the region. ... The Department of Defense announced May 18 that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has decided to move some 3,600 U.S. soldiers from South Korea to Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. ... Return to Public Table of ContentsSorry, you need a JavaScript capable browser to get the best from this page ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Poor Weather Has Slowed Coalition Troops Moving on Baghdad
"I continue to remind the people of Iraq that the battlefield extends across the country now," he said. "We have forces in all areas of the country. It's not really safe for Iraqis to drive to try to flee danger. It's really much safer for them to remain in their homes." ... "Let me make a point today that we've made a couple of times. It is important," Renuart said. "We continue to work very carefully to ensure that the most precise targeting possible is used." ... [Read More]
Washington HyperFile - East Asia Edition
East Asia ... East Asia Edition(Send your requests and complaints to WFfeedback) ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Excerpt: Powell Says Iran Apparently Moving Forward with Nuclear Program
I hope that Iran will act in a responsible way. But our information suggests that Iran is moving forward with a nuclear program that could lead to the development of nuclear weapons, and it is for that reason that we have been applying pressure to the international community through the IAEA to refer this matter to the United Nations Security Council. And this will be a subject of discussion at the IAEA meeting beginning next week, this coming week, and of course, there is another IAEA meeting in November. We'll just have to see how all these meetings turn out. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Tsunami Relief Effort Moving to Recovery, Rehabilitation Phase
"This means we will have to focus on improved shelter -- 250,000 have been given temporary shelter in Indonesia alone. They need permanent shelter. Clean water, sanitation, and health care need to be sustained and regularized. We need to start the rebuilding of livelihoods and the rebuilding of communities as such," the aid coordinator said. ... "The new phase as of today is the recovery and rehabilitation phase," according to Egeland. In some areas it has already started, even though in some parts of Aceh and Somalia it will take longer to start, he said. ... [Read More]
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