Event Name:
What’s Your Preference – Should U.S. Preference Programs Be Reformed?

Where:
Suite Hemisphere A, Ronald Reagan Building
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC  20004
202-312-1600

Map
click here

When:
December 03, 2009    9:00 am - 11:00 am

Cost
$45.00

Event Description
The last decade has witnessed a dramatic expansion of U.S. trade preference programs, which now consist of a patchwork of regimes with different rules or origin, conditionality, and country and product coverage.

While these programs are generally very popular, Congress has kept these programs authorized for only a few years or months at a time. For example, the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and the Andean trade program expire in less than two months. The Caribbean Basin trade preference program expires next year and key provisions of the African trade preference program are phased out a few years later.

With the imminent expiration of several of these programs, key members of Congress are exploring not just their renewal, but whether more fundamental changes to these programs are appropriate.  Ideas being discussed include changes to product and country eligibility, conditionality, and duration.

What kind of changes can we expect and what will the timetable for this preference reform be? How does the business community and development non-governmental organizations view these reform efforts? How do developing countries (some of which currently benefit from preferences) view this effort? What other policy considerations are being raised in this debate?

Event Speakers
**Event Speakers: Cal COHEN, President, Emergency Committee for American Trade; Stephen SCHAEFFER, Chief International Trade Counsel, Senate Finance Committee (Rep. Staff--speaking OFF THE RECORD); Alan HAN, Assistant VP, Nien Hsing; Stephanie BURGOS, Sr. Policy Advisor, OxFam America; Toby WHITNEY, Legislative Director, Office of Rep. Jim McDermott (speaking Off the Record); and S.M. BELAL, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Bangladesh.

Moderated by Katrin KUHLMAN, Aid Trade and Security Coalition.

Additional Event Information
WITA Members: $30 WITA members who are USG or are full time students: $15 All non-members: $45

Event held with generous support of the International Gateway at the Ronald Reagan Building.

Cancellations within 48 hours of event will be billed to cover costs.

Spaces are limited so please register by COB Wed. Dec. 2.

Closest Metro: Federal Triangle (orange/blue), Metro Center (red).

Contact * :
James Lim

Contact phone * :
202-312-1600

Contact Email * :
events@wita.org

Registration deadline (MM/DD/YYYY) :
2009-12-02 00:00:00

Event Type
WITA Event