NMMA calls for input on proposed trade deals

With the Trump Administration proposing new trade deals with the EU, UK and Japan, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is requesting input from organisations that will be impacted by the agreements, and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is urging its members to respond by the deadline on 5 December.

According to NMMA’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Nicole Vasilaros, all input should address one or more of the following points:

• General and product-specific negotiating objectives for the proposed agreement
• Relevant barriers to trade in goods and services between the US and Japan, the EU and the UK that should be addressed in the negotiations
• Economic costs and benefits to US producers and consumers of removal or reduction of tariffs and removal or reduction of non-tariff barriers on articles traded with Japan, the EU and the UK
• Treatment of specific goods (described by HTSUS numbers) under the proposed agreement, including comments on: product-specific import or export interests or barriers; experience with particular measures that should be addressed in the negotiations; and ways to address export priorities and import sensitivities in the context of the proposed agreement
• Customs and trade facilitation issues that should be addressed in the negotiations
• Sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade that should be addressed in the negotiations
• Other measures or practices that undermine fair market opportunities for US businesses and workers that should be addressed in the negotiations

Responses from the industry will be compiled and submitted by NMMA. In addition to filing member comments, NMMA is submitting a request to testify before the USTR.