rvi c I

UNITEC STATES CEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade AdministrationWashington. O.C. 20230

September 22, 2008

Mr. Christopher J. Farrell Di.rector of Investigations & Research Jt•dicial Watch, Inc. 501 School Street, SW, Suite 500 Washington, DC 20024

Dear Mr. Farrell:

This i s a follow-up and final response to your Freedom of Information .L\ct (FOIA) request for agency records on the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North AmeriC'i.

The enclosed documents are being fully released.

Sincerely,

Linda M. Bell Freedom of Information Act Officer

Enclosures

FOi 06-227

Stephanie Ronald Lorentzen , Kelly Parkhil l/IA/ITA/USDOC@USDOC La ngkamp/IA/IT A/US DOC

cc

To

08/08/2006 09:00 AM bee

Fw: North American Strategy to Address Foreign Subject Government Trade and Ma rket Distorting Policies Basket

I n case you d id not receive (the bul let we commented on is sti l l in this most recent d raft) . . . . ----- Forwarded by Stephanie Langkamp/IA/ITA/USDOC on 08/08/2006 08:58 AM ----­" Luis Pinto"

<lpinto@as-coa.org> "Luis Pinto" <lpinto@as-coa .org>, "Rothkopf, Adrean" To

<ARothkopf@USChamber.com> 08/07/2006 05:29 PM cc <mmedrano@USCha mber.com>

North American Strategy to Address Foreign Government Subject Trade and Market Distorting Policies Basket

Dear members of the External Basket working group:

Attached is a REVISED version of the North American Strategy to Address Foreign Government Trade and Market Distorting Policies section, to reflect all of the comments we have received. We will be discussing and FINALIZING this portion on our conference call Tuesday at 1 0:00. Dial in info for the call is below.

Please note that we tried to incorporate all suggestions that were submitted, but when you review this document please keep in mind that many of you sent in recommendations or suggested action items that were not always compatible with one another. We tried our best to reach a consensus and indeed had many conversations with relevant parties to iron out differences. However, if you look at the document and feel that we have failed to include an important point please bring it up during the call on Tuesday. PLEASE NOTE: We will be going through the document point-by-point and finalizing the text on the call - if you want to make a change to anything, please be prepared with a suggestion on how to rephrase the point in question so that the group as a whole may consider it and make a final decision.

We specially ask that you note the bullet point that is highlighted in yellow, as this has

been a very challenging point to finalize, and we will need all you best thoughts on tomorrow's call.

Many thanks for all of your advice and hard work on this.

** ***

The Dial in Information is:

Dial in info:

From the United States, dial: (866) 433-0017 International Dial-in: (303) 346-4177 Meeting Room Number: *1 952630*

North American Strategy to Address Foreign Government Trade and Market Distorting Policies Basket

Tuesday, August 8 at 1 0:00 a.m.

Luis Pinto

Director, External Affairs

Council of the Americas

Tel: 202.659.8989

Fax: 202.659.7755

Email: LPinto@as-coa.org

Adrean Scheid Rothkopf

Director of Trade Policy, Western Hemisphere, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America

1615 H Street, NW

Washington, DC 20062-2000

Telephone: 202-463-5747

Fax: 202-463-3126

EXTERNAL DIMENSION Draft.doc

At the we need tor1ssess the inzpacts ofourouJJt tr·qde actions on the romp titi,t<e1ies,s Qf o,rth .4nierican. indu t1)<;s, ·s c p$·ys.e dfariti-dumpingmzd eouFteipaihing. dy }CT;zgs.·qs q to°:l to res,tricfintports. (N07TE: 1hhile.· consensus has been ?J1ieved a11zb]1$w°'f inggrqup. men1ber:s'on all otherpartsof thisdocunient, tli1s····. bu'lz.et is still uirae'r aiscussi.8ri. •.vve wezc?mef nput fmnz azI.·Advisory Com11iiitee inei11be1:r durikgi(z'e next 2all on.Aug: 8 at j o?oOa.111 .)

EXTERNAL DIMENSION

OVERVIEW

The NACC agenda must include an external trade dimension because:

• We in the NAFTA region believe in a world of truly free trade and free­market forces;

• Many countries employ policies and practices to promote local industries and investment that can distort markets and put NAFTA companies at a disadvantage

• We often confront competition from foreign countries that is heavily subsidized and benefits from significant market protection;

• We need to ensure that North America's competitiveness is not undercut by unfair tradepractices and other distortions in the marketplace;

• sa111e time, s

• "A North American Strategy to Address Trade and Market-Distorting Challenges" is critical to a full understanding and addressing of the NAFTA region's productivity and competitiveness challenges.

APPROACH TO THE PRIORITY ISSUES

To this end, and to the extent that this external "basket" affects many of our other NACC priorities, NAFTA governments need to take a broad/multi­disciplinary approach to the priority issues under consideration in this basket. This approach should recognize that:

1 . Our objectives are to ensure a strong, globally competitive North American economy and continued improvement in North American standards of living.

2. Key to enhancing prosperity, productivity and competitiveness are investments in human and physical capital as well as investments in R&D and innovation.

3. Also important are securing reliable and cost-competitive energy; access to the best technologies and cost-competitive materials and components, removing regulatory inefficiencies and working to ensure the smooth movement of goods and services across the N AFT A region (addressed in other parts of the proposed NACC agenda).

4. North American industry and govenunents will achieve progress in furthering NACC goals in this and other issue baskets only on the basis of U.S. and NAFT A-wide consensus.

With these factors in mind, the external trade basket offers significant near-term opportunities to:

• Cement further the NAFTA relationship; • Search for additional common ground on trade policy; and • Build upon the cooperative work on trade already in play within North

America -- e.g., the close consultation among NAFTA governments on the South Korea FTA negotiations that are proceeding simultaneously in all three North American countries.

SUPPORT TO ONGOING TRADE POLICY EFFORTS

The main goal of this external trade basket is to provide additional cross-border and high-level industry support to the ongoing trade policy efforts of NAFTA governments to address foreign government import barriers, trade-distorting subsidies and interventions in raw material markets.

Recommendations • A joint statement by NAFT A governments and industry that market

forces drive productivity and competitiveness enhancements and that well functioning, distortion-free markets are a fundamental underpinning of further productivity and competitiveness gains.

• An NACC message to NAFTA governments that in the aftermath of the collapse of the WTO Doha Development Round negotiations, it is important to continue efforts to address trade and market-distorting foreign government subsidies, import barriers and interventions in raw material markets.

• Exploration of a common NAFTA-wide approach to addressing foreign government trade and market-distorting policies, including agreement to enhance NAFTA govenunents' consultations on trade negotiations where appropriate.

I

COlJNCIL OF / /Ainencas THE .

FIRST SPP MINISTERIAL MEETING WITH THE NORTH AMERICAN COMPETITIVENESS COUNCIL (NACC)

June 15, 2006 Washington, DC

TABLE OF CONTENTS ·

Agenda ......... ...... ...... ...... ... ..................... ............ ...... ............ ...... ... ... ... ... ... 2

Invited NACC Participants ......... .............. . ............ ... ..... . . . . ..... . . .. ... ... . .. ...........3

US Government Participants ........... . ... ... ...... ......... ... ............ ...... ......... ... ......... 5

Canadian Government Participants ...... ... ...... ......... ...... ...... ...... ...... ......... ... ...... 5

Mexican Government Participants ... ...... ... ... .. . .. . ... ... ...... ... . .. ... .. . . .. ... ... ... .... . . ....6

Secretariat Participants ................................................... ............................... 7

U.S. Section of the NACC Priorities ....................................... ... ....................... 7

Attachments:

NACC Concept Paper Summary of May 26, 2006 Meeting Submissions from Companies / Associations Bio of Secretary Gutierrez Bio of Secretary Garcia de Alba Bio of Minister Maxime Bernier SPP Priorities

·INVITED NACC PARTICIPANTS

* Indicates that this individual is confirmed to participate in the June 15 meeting.

CANADA:

Dominic D' Alessandro, President and CEO, Manulife Financial

Paul Desmarais, Jr., Chairman and Co-CEO, Power Corporation of Canada

David A. Ganong, President, Ganong Brothers Limited

Richard Lee George, President and CEO, Suncor Energy

Hunter Harrison, President and CEO, Canadian National Railroad Company

*Linda Hasenfratz, CEO, Linamar Corporation

*Michael Sabia, President and CEO, Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE)

James A. Shepherd, President and CEO, Canfor Corporation

*Annette Verschuren, President, Home Depot Canada

Richard E. Waugh, President and CEO, Scotiabank

MEXICO:

*Jose Luis Barraza, Presidente del Consejo Coordinador Empresarial (CCE­Mexico' s main business association), and CEO of Grupo Impulso, Realiza & Asociados, Inmobiliaria Realiza and Optima

Gaston Azcarraga, Presidente del Consejo Mexicano de Hombres de Negocios (CMHN) and CEO of Mexicana de A viaci6n and CEO of Grupo Posadas

Leon Halkin, Presidente de la Confederaci6n de Camaras Industriales (CONCAMIN) and Chairman of the Board and CEO of four companies in the industrial and real estate markets

Valentin Diez, Presidente del Consejo Mexicano de Comercio Exterior (COMCE) and former Vicepresident of Grupo Modelo.

Jaime Yesaki, Presidente del Consejo Nacional Agropecuario (CNA) and CEO of several Poultry companies.

3

New York Life

Whirlpool

U.S. GOVERNMENT PARTICIPANTS

* Note: Only senior government representatives will be at the table.

Carlos Gutierrez, Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce

Franklin L. Lavin, Under Secretary of International Trade, U.S. Department of Commerce

David Bohigian, Assistant Secretary, Market Access and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce

Walter Bastian, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Western Hemisphere, U.S. Department of Commerce

Geri Word, Deputy Director, Office of NAFTA and Inter-American Affairs, U.S. Department of Commerce

Dan Fisk, Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs, National Security Council

Cindy Pendleton, Director for Western Hemisphere, National Security Council

Al Martinez-Fonts, Director, Office of the Private Sector, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

William Merrell, Branch Chief, International Relations, Infrastructure Protection Division, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Elizabeth 'Betsy' Whitaker, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Christopher Moore, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, U.S. Deparbnent of State

CANADIAN GOVERNMENT PARTICIPANTS

* Note: Only senior government representatives will be at the table.

Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry, Industry Canada

5

Juan Bosco, Director General for North America, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Hector Marquez Solis, Representative of SECON in Washington, Ministry of the Economy

Ramon Lecuona, Advisor to the Deputy Chief of International and Business Affairs, Presidency of Mexico

SECRETARIAT PARTICIPANTS

* Note: Will not be at the table.

Mark Smith, Managing Director, Western Hemisphere, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Adrean Scheid Rothkopf, Director of Trade Policy, Western Hemisphere, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Eric Farnsworth, Vice President, Council of the Americas

Luis Pinto, Director, External Affairs, Council of the Americas

U.S. SECTION OF THE NACC PRIORITIES

These five priority areas have been defined by the NACC Advisory Committee and general membership:

Energy Integration

Supply Chain Management/Trade Facilitation/Customs Reform

Regulatory/Standards issues - Harmonization and Sharing of Best Practices

Counterfeiting and Piracy - "Fake Free North America"

Private Sector Involvement in Border Security and Infrastructure Projects

Although initial conversations have been held at the working group level, further action is pending a trilateral agreement on actual priorities.

7

a

www.steel.org

$ o.;- t/1

· American 1140 Connecticut Avenue, NW

Suite 705 Iron and Steel Washington, DC 20036 Institute P: 202.452.7100

F: 202.463.6573

June 6, 2006

Eric Farnsworth Mark Smith Vice President Managing Director Council of the Americas Western Hemisphere Affairs International Div. 1615 L Street, NW, Suite 250 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Washington, DC 20036 1615 H Street, NW

Washington DC 20062 Dear Eric and Mark:

On behalf of the U.S. - and North American-- membership of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) -- I would like to express our industry's strong interest in and support for North American Competitiveness Council (NACC) efforts to produce concrete, near-term deliverables in such areas as (1) energy integration, (2) supply chain, trade facilitation, customs reform, (3) regulat01y and standards issues, (4) counterfeiting and piracy and (5) private sector involvement in border security and infrastructure projects.

As examples of our interest in these areas, I attach a December 2005 North American steel industry letter to NAFTA Ministers on energy concerns, a May 2006 NAFTA steel industry paper on North American Steel Trade Committee (NASTC) cross linkage issues and an outline of remarks on competitiveness and productivity issues by AISI' s President and CEO, Andy Sharkey, at the most recent NASTC meeting in Washington.

I would also be remiss if I did not stress, for the record, that the five issue areas you have initially identified as "priorities" for the U.S. component of the NACC leave out an issue that, for steel and many other industries in North America, is critical to the current and future prosperity and security of the NAFTA region -- namely, foreign government subsidies and other inappropriate market interventions by offshore governments.

I attach a May 2006 case study, submitted to the OECD, on Chinese and Indian government subsidies to steel. It shows that no private company - regardless of how efficient it is - can compete against foreign governments. Our concern is that the NACC, to make a meaningful difference, must embrace both internal efforts to enhance Nor th American efficiency and external efforts to address foreign government trade and market-distorting policies. It is the responsibility of NAFTA governments to ensure that the globally competitive, efficient producers in North America can achieve market-based outcomes. It should be a top priority of the NACC to understand and effectively address the economic strategies of China and India.

AISI urges that you add this external dimension to your initial list of NACC priorities.

Best regards,

Barry D. Solarz Vice President, Trade and Economic Policy Cc Lou Schorsch, Mittal Steel USA

Attachments

Geri Word/MAC/ITA/USDOC a h u nt@omb.eop .gov, andrea.lockwood@hq.doe.gov,

08/04/2006 1 1 :07 AM To a ron.davidson@ita .doc.gov, bernestine. allen@dot.gov, ca rlos .gonzalez@fas.usda .gov, condoaj@state.gov,

cc

bee

Subject Fw: REVISED: Standards and Regulatory Cooperation

Just got this as wel l .

----- Forwarded by Geri Word/MAC/IT A/US DOC on 08/04/2006 11 :06 AM ----­"Rothkopf, Adrean" <ARoth kopf@US Chamber.co To <Geri_ Word@ita .doc.gov> m>

08/04/2006 11 :04 AM cc

Subject FW: REVISED: Standards and Regulatory Cooperation

From :Sent: Friday, Aug ust

Rothkopf, Adrean 04, 2006 9:27 AM

To: Rothkopf, Ad rea n ; 'lpinto@as-coa.org'Subject: REVISED : Sta n da rds and Reg u latory Cooperation

Dear members of the Standards and Regulatory Cooperation working group:

Attached is a REVISED version of the Standards and Regulatory Cooperation section, to reflect all of the comments we have received. We will be discussing and FINALIZING this portion on our conference call today at 11:00. Dial in info for this and all other scheduled calls is below.

Please note that we tried to incorporate all suggestions that were submitted, but when you review this document please keep in mind that many of you sent in recommendations or suggested action items that were not always compatible with one another. We tried our best to reach a consensus and indeed had many conversations with relevant parties to iron out differences. However, if you look at the document and feel that we have failed to include an important point please bring it up during the call today.

Many thanks for all of your advice and hard work on this.

*****

The Dial in Information is:

Dial in info:

From the United States, dial: (866) 433-0017 International Dial-in: (303) 346-4177 Meeting Room Number: * 1 952630*

Standards/Regulation Basket Friday, August 4 at 1 1 :00 a.m.

Supply Chain/Trade Facilitation/Customs Reform Friday, August 4 at 3:00 p.m.

Energy Integration Basket Monday, August 7 at 1 1 :00 a.m.

Innovation Basket Monday, August 7 at 2:00 p.m.

External Aspects Basket Tuesday, August 8 at 1 0:00 a.m.

Border Security and Infrastructure Basket Tuesday, August 8 at 2:00 p.m.

Adrean Scheid Rothkopf Director of Trade Policy, Western Hemisphere, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America 1 61 5 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20062-2000 Telephone: 202-463-5747 Fax: 202-463-31 26

Luis Pinto Director, External Affairs Council of the Americas Tel: 202.659.8989 Fax: 202.659.7755 Email: LPinto@as-coa.org

Standards and Regulatory Cooperation Summary v.2.doc

Geri Word/MAC/ITA/USDOC a h unt@omb.eop.gov, a n d rea . lockwood@hq.doe.gov, To a ron.davidson@ita.doc.gov, bernestine.al len@dot.gov,

08/04/2006 11 :07 AM carlos.gonzalez@fas.usda .gov, condoaj@state.gov,

cc

bee

Subject Fw: R EVISED: Standards a n d Regu latory Cooperation

Just got this a s well.

----- Forwarded by Geri Word/MAC/ IT NUS DOC on 08/04/2006 1 1 :06 AM ----­"Rothkopf, Adrean" <ARothkopf@USChamber.co To <Geri_Word@ita.doc.gov> m>

08/04/2006 11 :04 AM cc

Subject FW: REVISED: Stan d a rds and Regu latory Cooperation

From: Rothkopf, Adrean Sent: Friday, August 04, 2006 9:27 AMTo: Rothkopf, Adrean; 'lpinto@as-coa.org' Subject: REVISED: Standards and Regulatory Cooperation

Dear members of the Standards and Regulatory Cooperation working group:

Attached is a REVISED version of the Standards and Regulatory Cooperation section, to reflect all of the comments we have received. We will be discussing and FINALIZING this portion on our conference call today at 1 1:00. Dial in info for this and all other scheduled calls is below.

Please note that we tried to incorporate all suggestions that were submitted, but when you review this document please keep in mind that many of you sent in recommendations or suggested action items that were not always compatible with one another. We tried our best to reach a consensus and indeed had many conversations with relevant parties to iron out differences. However, if you look at the document and feel that we have failed to include an important point please bring it up during the call today.

Many thanks for all of your advice and hard work on this.

*****

The Dial in Information is:

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STANDARDS AND REGULATORY COOPERATION

OVERVIEW

The Standards and Regulatory sub-group of the U.S. Section of the NACC is pleased to make the following preliminary recommendations for action by the SPP. These recommendations reflect the U.S. Section of the NACC's areas among those already identified by the SPP in the Prosperity x Over the next year, we look forward to developing more detailed these recommendations as well as identifying additional U.S. Section of the NACC standards and regulatory sub-group has along the lines of the SPP working groups.

.0ne overarc hing recommen da hon is to . .. consu tahve

can be re-sue as

the NAFTA Technical Workmg Groups to energized to deliver concrete results on the ues highlighted below. We · ·believe that engagement on these t highest p · al levels will create the necessary impetus to resolve many .· and re barriers that continue to fragment North American

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among regulators and self-regulatory exchanges. Work towards acceptance of

standards, surveillance and enforcement. -1ormahon among regu ators,

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protection, and to eliminate the border as a hiding place for market manipulators. )

• Evaluate issues surrounding cross-border access to stock exchanges. Presently, Canadian exchanges cannot be accessed electronically from the U.S. unless they register in the U.S. as national exchanges in the same manner as domestic exchanges

o Encourage dialogue between SEC, Mexico's SHCP and Canadian authorities regarding ways to achieve bidirectional access to electronic trading screens.

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Recommendations • Close consultation in development of new regulation to allow sale of similarly

fortified foods in all three NAFTA countries. ·

Classification on nutritional supplements In 2000, the Mexican Ministry of Health reclassified food supplements which contain certain herbal ingredients such as ginko biloba and Echinacea as herbal medicines

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TRANSPORTATION

RAIL TRANSPORTATION

Important process reforms are improving railroad system fluidity in the U.S. - Mexico border region through a new customs pre-filing system and documentation improvements. As a result, rail service has improved and to illicit activities .has been reduced. However, further process improvements umbrella of the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) should be of the NACC strategy to create a secure and efficient border, the transportationprocess reforms are recommended for

'Iii l\ I1'ti 't

Mutual Recognition of Mechanical InspectionA1d!. . . . . \II'!The cr ahon o a system m w c mec a1:11 a · d m. M aref hi h h 1 .recognized by the Federal Railroad m the U.S. would greatly

improve cross-border security and y.

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Laredo. This process 1s area. ·

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' " A

Fully Trucking Provisions Access and Investment . Mexico and the es have taken steps to fully implement the trucking provisions as under NAFTA. The U.S. has lifted the moratorium on access for Mexican motor and both Mexico and the U.S. have implemented the necessary requirements for cross-border investment in trucking operations. However, both the U.S. and Mexico have not finalized applications for access and/ or investment. The U.S. has yet to finalize negotiations with Mexico to begin granting operating authority to Mexican motor carriers, though recent announcements have been made by the U.S. Department of Transportation about a "pilot" program to process Mexican motor carriers. In Mexico, the Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT) has failed to provide operating authority and issue license plates to a U.S. motor carrier

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• Industry urges the development of a common, compatible load securement standard that is established in regulation and applied the equally throughout North America.

New Engine Emissions Standards

A new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation for diesel trucks, which will be phased in beginning in 2007, requires dramatic reductions in emissions of nitrogen oxides (a precursor to ozone) and particulate matter - 90 percent from current levels - and will result in diesel engines having when the regulation is fully imple_mented in 2010. All on-road engines.produced will also reqmre the use of ultra-low sulfur to meet the new emission standards and help alleviate concerns. By June 2006, refiners will be required to produce 15 partsper million sulfur, a substantial reduction current maximum content level of 500 parts per million. The to production of lower sulfur diesel fuel beginning 2006 and achieving 100 percent in 2010. When fully this regulation is expected to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides year, along with 110,000tons of particulate matter annually.

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• system that ensures the availability of ultra-low-sulfur diesel America. This will allow motor carriers from all three . . 1 . .countries r1ance as · th t t ley opera e across our mu tu a m ernahona borders.

Motor Carrier Equipment, Technology and Maintenance Standards·

Some technology standards have already experienced various levels of "harmonization" among Canada, Mexico and the United States, but efforts to improve harmonization are ongoing. For example, in the field of electronic commerce, the leading data communications standard, EDI, is split into two major competing standards, the European-oriented EDIF ACT, which is dominant in Canada, and the American National Standards Institute's ANSI X12 standard, which is dominant in the

Ronald To Stephanie Langkamp/IA/ITA/USDOC@USDOC Lorentzen/IA/IT A/US DOC

cc Kelly Parkhil l/IA/ITA/USDOC@USDOC 08/03/2006 01 :41 P M

bee

Re: Fw: NACC External Aspects Basketffi!IISubject

S o w e are supposed to "listen in" again? Stephanie Langkamp/IA/ITA/USDOC

Stephanie Langkamp/IA/IT A/USDOC To Kelly Parkhil l/IA/ITA/USDOC@USDOC, Ronald Lorentzen

08/03/2006 11: 14 AM cc

Subject Fw: NACC External Aspects Basket

FYI -----Forwarded by Stephanie Langkamp/IAllTA/USDOC on 08/03/2006 11 :13 AM---­

Geri Word/MAC/ITA/USDOC

08/03/2006 09:29 AM To Stephanie Langkamp

cc

Subject Fw: NACC External Aspects Basket

i gave her your correct e-mail address -----Forwarded by Geri Word/MAC/IT A/US DOC on 08/03/2006 09:29 AM --­

"Medrano, Maria" <mmedrano@USChamber.co <geri_word@ita.doc.gov> To m>

08/03/2006 09:28 AM cc

S ubject FW: NACC Externa l Aspects Basket

Hi Geri. I'm trying to send this to Stephanie Langkamp, but it keeps bouncing back. Would you mind forwarding to her? The email I have for her is Stephanie.langkamp@doc.mail.gov.

Maria Medrano Associate Manager, Programs Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America U.S. Chamber of Commerce 202-463-5384 202-463-3126 (fax)

From: Medrano, Maria Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2006 9:25 AMTo: Medrano, Maria

Geri Word/MAC/ITA/USDOC ahunt@omb.eop.gov, andrea. lockwood@hq .doe.gov,

08/03/2006 01 :24 PM To aron.davidson@ita.doc.gov, bernestine.a l len@dot.gov, carlos.gonzalez@fas .usda.gov, condoaj@state.gov,

cc

bee

Fw: Draft Recommendations for the U.S. Section of the North Subject

American Competitiveness Council

I just received the fol lowi ng e-mai l that wi l l be sent from the U . S . NACC Secreta riat to the groups working on the various p riority issues.

P l ease send you r comments on the attached priorities to Adrea n and L u is (contact below) prior to the schedu led cal ls if possi ble. The ca l ls wil l provide you with a n opportu n i ty to bring i n d u stry up to speed on what your a gencies have done so far. You can a lso let fol ks know if you th i n k a particu lar issue is ach ieva ble in the near, med i u m , or long term. Keep in mind , that in most cases they've pu l led i n itiatives a l ready l isted in the workpl a n , but they might look a l ittle different. For exa m ple, th ey might ask for a n M RA o n l a bels for food prod ucts, w h i l e t h e mi lestone is t o explore common a pproaches t o l a b e l l i n g , as feasib le a n d a pp ropriate i n the a reas of. . . .. H opefu l ly, FDA a nd U S DA can ta l k about where th is i n itiative sta nds a n d hopefu l ly offer a lternatives, such as we have agreed to look at ways to take a common a pproach to mislead i ng claims o n l a bels a nd we a re currently proposing a change that is going throu gh a re ru lemaking process. Aga i n , a hypothetical example.

T h a n ks everyone!

----- Forwa rded by Geri Word/MAC/IT A/US DOC on 08/03/2006 1 2:52 PM ----­

"Rothkopf, Adrean" <ARothkopf@USCh a m ber. co m> To

"Rothkopf, Adrean" <ARothkopf@USChamber.com>, "Luis Pinto" <lpinto@as-coa.org>

08/03/2006 1 2:25 PM cc

D raft Recommendations for the U . S . Section of the North Subject

American Competitiveness Council

Dear Members of the Advisory Committee of the U.S. Section of the NACC,

Please find attached the revised Draft Recommendations for the U.S. Section of the North American Competitiveness Council. We would like to thank all of you for taking the time to participate in the meetings and conference calls that led us to this document and we look forward to any comments or additions you may have.

We also encourage your participation in the upcoming conference calls we have scheduled for the next few days. The purpose of these calls is to finalize the suggested recommendations in the attached document to submit to our Executive Committee members by August 9, 2006 so that they are prepared to present them at the August 15, 2006 h'ilateral meeting of the NACC (please see below for a schedule of upcoming conference calls and dial-in information - if you cannot participate in the call yourself you can designate someone from your organization to participate on your behalf or you can submit your comments to us via email but the scheduled conference call will be where the priorities are finalized).

As you are reviewing these suggested priorities and recommendations please consider the following:

• We tried to incorporate all suggestions that were submitted, but please remember that many of you sent in recommendations or suggested action items that were not always compatible with one another. We tried our best to reach a consensus and indeed had many conversations with relevant parties to iron out differences. However, if you look at the document and feel that your interests are not represented please call us and we will revisit the issue with all parties. In addition, a number of you have sent in recommendations that we had questions about. Once we have clarified these recommendations with you we will incorporate them and re-circulate the Draft Recommendations document.

• If you have additional suggested priorities or action items that you want us to include please send them in as soon as possible, but NO LATER than the scheduled conference call to ensure that everyone can review them in advance. Because of time constraints, it is mandatory that they are submitted in the format we are using throughout the document - thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.

• Some of you sent in recommendations for a particular Basket. In drafting the attached document, we found overlap among your recommendations and the Baskets. If your recommendations are not in the Basket you suggested, please look in the other Baskets because we moved things around to where we thought they would fit in most appropriately. You may also notice that some of the NACC Basket names have changed as a result of Working Group conversations.

• Finally, some of the Baskets are more fully developed than others and we would especially appreciate your input on those Baskets where there is a considerable amount of work remaining. Please note that for the Energy Integration basket we are expecting input from newly incorporated Advisory Committee members that were invited to provide their expertise in critical areas.

Again, the attached Draft Recommendations document is not final. There is still time for discussion ahead of our August 9 deadline. Please join us in the conference calls if you have any concerns or additional suggestions. Many thanks for all of your advice and hard work on this.

***** The Dial in Information for all NACC Baskets calls is:

Dial in info: From the United States, dial: (866) 433-0017 International Dial-in: (303) 346-4177 Meeting Room Number: *1952630*

Standards/Regulation Basket Friday, August 4 at 11:00 a.m.

LPinto@as-coa.oA ..

Supply Chain(f rade Facilitation/Customs Reform Friday, August 4 at 3:00 p.m.

Energy Integration Basket Monday, August 7 at11:00 a.m.

Innovation Basket Monday, August 7 at 2:00 p.m.

External Aspects Basket Tuesday, August 8 at 10:00 a.m.

Border Security and Infrastructure Basket Tuesday, August 8 at 2:00 p.m.

Adrean Scheid Rothkopf Director of Trade Policy, Western Hemisphere, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America 1 61 5 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20062-2000 Telephone: 202-463-5747 Fax: 202-463-31 26

Luis Pinto Director, External Affairs Council of the Americas Tel: 202.659.8989 Fax: 202.659.7755 Email:

DR.II.FT RECotv1tv1ENDATiot'JS FROM U.S. SECTION OF THE NACC.doc

Geri Word/MAC/ITA/US DOC a hunt@omb.eop.gov, andrea . lockwood@hq.doe.gov, To aron .davidson@ita.doc.gov, bernestine.allen@dot.gov,

0810412006 1 1 :05 AM carlos .gonza lez@fas.usda.gov, condoaj@state.gov,

cc

bee

Subject Fw: Last minute input for our call at 1 1 :00 - to discuss

FYI

----- Forwarded by Geri Word/MAC/IT A/US DOC on 08/04/2006 1 1 :04 AM ----­" Rothkopf, Adrean" <ARoth kopf@USCha mber.co <wilbur.monroe@do.treas.gov>, <Geri_Word@ita .doc.gov> m>

cc

To

0810412006 1 1 :02 AM Subject FW: Last minute input for our call at 1 1 :00 - to discuss

From: Rothkopf, Adrean Sent: Friday, August 04, 2006 10:59 AM To: Rothkopf, Adrean Subject: Last minute input for our call at 11:00 - to discuss

Under Financial Services:

CAP A CITY BUILDING IN MEXICO

Recommendations • Establish a financial services dialogue and regulatory cooperation forum among key U.S., Canadian and Mexican financial experts from the public/ private sectors, which would meet regularly to share best practices in the banking, securities and insurance sectors, prepare annual reports on the broadening and deepening of North American capital markets and identify priority areas for action by regulators to reduce inconsistencies in the design and application of regulatory standards ..

• Evaluate current capacity building programs for bank, securities and insurance regulators and supervisors and determine need for new training areas. Sign an MOU to increase in trilateral collaboration in the development of training programs for financial regulators. Canada's financial regulator is already working with the Mexican insurance supervisor and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is discussing with Mexico possible participation in NAIC education programs, including the International Program for Education and

Regulatory Cooperation. There are opportunities to formalize/regularize some of these regulatory/ technical assistance exchanges.

Adrean Scheid Rothkopf Director cf Trade Policy, Western Hen1ispllere, U.S. Charnber of Cornrnerce Executive Director, Association of Arnericcrn Charnbers of Cornrnerce in Latin Arnerica :1615 H St1·eet, NW

Washington, DC 20062-2000 Telephone: 202-463-5747 Fax: 202-463-3126

Geri Word/MAC/IT A/USDOC

08/04/2006 1 1 :05 AM To

cc

a hunt@omb.eop.gov, a ndrea. lockwood@hq .doe.gov, a ron .davidson@ita.doc.gov, bernestine.al len@dot.gov, carlos.gonzalez@fas.usda.gov, condoaj@state.gov,

bee

Subject Fw: Last minute input for our call at 1 1 :00 - to discuss

FYI

----- Forwarded by Geri Word/MAC/IT A/US DOC on 08/04/2006 1 1 :04 AM ----­"Rothkopf, Adrean" <ARothkopf@USChamber.co To <wilbur.monroe@do.treas.gov>, <Geri_Word@ita. doc.gov> m>

cc08/04/2006 1 1 :02 AM

Subject FW: Last minute input for our cal l at 1 1 :00 - to discuss

From:Sent: Friday, August

Rothkopf, Adrean 04, 2006 10:59 AM

To: Rothkopf, Adrean Subject: Last minute input for our call at 1 1 :00 - to discuss

Under Financial Services:

CAPACITY BUILDING IN MEXICO

Recommendations • Establish a financial services dialogue and regulatory cooperation forum among key U.S., Canadian and Mexican financial experts from the public/ private sectors, which would meet regularly to share best practices in the banking, securities and insurance sectors, prepare annual reports on the broadening and deepening of North American capital markets and identify priority areas for action by regulators to reduce inconsistencies in the design and application of regulatory standards ..

• Evaluate current capacity building programs for bank, securities and insurance regulators and supervisors and determine need for new training areas. Sign an MOU to increase in trilateral collaboration in the development of training programs for financial regulators. Canada1s financial regulator is already working with the Mexican insurance supervisor and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is discussing with Mexico possible participation in NAIC education programs, including the International Program for Education and

Regulatory Cooperation. There are opportunities to formalize/ regularize some of these regulatory/ technical assistance exchanges.

Adrea n Scheid Rothkopf Director of Trade Pol icy, Western Hemispl1ere, U . S . Chamber of Com merce Executive D i rector, Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Lati n America 1 6 1 5 H Street, N W Washington, DC 20062- 2000 Telephone : 202-463-5747 Fax: 202-463-3 1 2 6

today's cal l , please Advisory

"Barry Solarz" <BSolarz@steel .org> T o

"Medrano, M a ria" <mmedrano@USChambe r.com>, "Lui.s Pinto" <lpinto@as-coa .org>

07/26/2006 1 1 :42 AM cc

bee

RE: "External Basket" North American Competitiveness Subject Council Conference Call

M a ria and Lu is :

The attached d raft should suffice to help sti m u l ate d iscussion d u ring today's 2:00 pm conference cal l on a "North American Strategy to Add ress Foreign Govern ment Trade and Market-Distort ing Pol icies Basket ." In advance of distri bute to Comm ittee Members of the U.S. Section of the NACC.

Thank you . NACCExternalDimensionTalkingPoints.doc

J u ly 26, 2006 Draft

The N eed for a n External Di mension i n the Agenda of the North American Competitiveness Cou ncil (NACC)

The NAFTA steel industry has proposed, and U.S. Commerce Department Secretary Carlos Gutierrez reportedly supports, adding an "external dimension" to the NACC agenda. The purpose of this paper is to explain why this makes sense.

1. Our focus in the NACC is productivity and competitiveness.

2. Our objectives are to ensure a strong, globally competitive North American economy and continued improvement in North American standards of living.

3. Key to enhancing prosperity, productivity and competitiveness are investments in human and physical capital as well as investments in R&D and innovation.

4. Also important are securing reliable and cost-competitive energy, removing regulatory inefficiencies and working to ensure the smooth movement of goods and services across the NAFTA region (addressed in other parts of the proposed NACC agenda) .

5. Well functioning North American institutions and markets are the necessary foundation for enhancing productivity and competitiveness.

6. Investments to enhance productivity and competitiveness depend on markets sending the right signals, and on businesses having adequate cash flow and profits. They also depend on governments establishing and enforcing the public policies needed to ensure that markets and market forces work as they are supposed to work.

7. In product after product line, an increasing percentage of world production is traded in the international marketplace; more and more industries are becoming global in scope; in this context, the global picture, not just the domestic/regional situation, is key; and, in this new era of globalization, understanding our productivity and competitiveness challenges - and opportunities -- requires an international, global perspective:

a. The NAFTA region is not alone in framing productivity and competitiveness agendas; most other countries and trading blocs are doing the same.

b . For many other countries and regions, the agendas sometimes include a focus on limiting market-based competitive forces:

First, by restricting market access through tariff and non-tariff barriers, export controls on vital raw materials, toleration of anticompetitive practices or other actions that impede efficient global supply chains and opportunities to gain the full benefits from market-based competition.

ii. Second, by providing trade and market-distorting government subsidies and through state ownership and/ or state-supported development of domestic industries in ways that run counter to market forces. These

i.

a.

2

actions then get exported to North America, disrupting market signals, and negatively affecting improvements in productivity/ competitiveness by diminishing the level of new investments in the N AFT A region and the cash flow or profits needed to make such investments .

m. Third, by violating patent laws, and engaging in counterfeiting and piracy, thereby decreasing the returns from innovation (addressed in another part of the proposed NACC agenda) .

8. The NACC agenda must include an external trade dimension because: we in the NAFTA region believe in a world of truly free trade; all too many of our trading partners actively engage in managed trade; we often confront competition from third countries that is heavily subsidized and benefits from significant home market protection; we need to ensure that our competitiveness is not undercut by foreign unfair trade practices and other distortions in the market; and a North American Strategy to Address Foreign Government Trade and Market-Distorting Policies is critical to a full understanding and addressing of our productivity and competitiveness challenges.

9. In the absence of such a strategy, we will not be able to understand and take fully into account, the actions by other countries and regions, nor will we be able to ensure market-based investment decisions and returns in the NAFTA region, which in turn are essential to promoting future investments in North America to improve our productivity and competitiveness .

10. This external trade basket offers near-term opportunities to cement further the N AFT A relationship, search for additional common ground on trade policy and build upon the cooperative work on trade already in play within North America (e.g., the close consultation among NAFTA governments on the Korea FTA negotiations that are proceeding in all three countries) . Near-term concrete deliverables could include:

Development of a joint statement by NAFTA governments and industry that market forces drive productivity and competitiveness enhancements and that well functioning, distortion-free markets are a fundamental underpinning of further productivity and competitiveness gains in North America.

b. Development of a common NAFTA-wide approach to addressing foreign government trade and market-distorting policies, including agreement to enhance NAFTA governments' consultations on, and explore a common approach to, trade negotiations where appropriate and identify ways to enhance coordination of efforts by NAFTA governments to eliminate inappropriate market interventions and distortions by offshore governments.

c . Development of a comprehensive database on the trade and market-distorting policies of other governments.

d. A formal NACC request that -- as a key part of the Security and Prosperity Partnership -- NAFTA governments produce a study to enhance North America's understanding of the economic strategies of key trading partners and other regions, and to determine what next steps by NAFTA governments may be needed to address inappropriate foreign government market interventions.

Geri Word/MAC/ITA/USDOC

08/14/2006 10: 1 8 AM

no

Geri C. Word U . S . Department of Commerce Office of NAFTA & I n ter-American Affa i rs 1 4th and Constitution Ave NW, Room 3024 Washi ngton , D . C . 20230 Tel : (202) 482- 1 545 Fax: (202) 482-5865

Stephanie Langka m p/IA/ITA/US DOC

Stephanie La ngkamp/IA/IT A/US DOC

08/14/2006 10:17 AM

lo

cc

bee

Subject

To

cc

Subject

Stephanie Langka mp/IA/ITA/USDOC@USDOC

Kelly Parkhil l/IA/ITA/USDOC@USDOC

Re: Fw: NACC P riority Documents for the August 15 meeting in Wash ington

Geri Word/MAC/ITA/USDOC@USDOC

Kelly Parkhi l l/IA/ITA/USDOC@USDOC

Re: Fw: NACC Priority Documents for the August 15 meeting in Washington

Geri - a re we supposed to l i sten i n on the cal l this afternoon? Geri Word/MAC/ITA/USDOC

Geri Word/MAC/ITA/USDOC

08/14/2006 07:45 AM

To

ahunt@omb.eop.gov, a nd rea. lockwood@hq .doe.gov, aron .davidson@ita .doc.gov, bernestine.al len@dot.gov, carlos.gonzalez@fas.usda .gov, condoaj@state.gov, cynthia_a ._pendleton@nsc.gov, Damon.Greer@ita .doc. gov, frasso. kathryn@epa.gov, Fred.eberhart@dot.gov, hugh.austin@dhs.gov, Jim Rice, karen.becker@hhs.gov, karen.marmaud@dhs.gov, Kelly Parkhil l/IA/ITA/USDOC@USDOC, kovner.Karissa@epa.gov, kshigetomi@ustr.gov, manolis.prin iotakis@hq .doe.gov, mplaisie@oc.fda .gov, patrick.marcham@hhs.gov, pauline .simmons@fa s . usda .gov, rbrownridge@osophs.dhhs.gov, rechtls@state.gov, russell.campbell@fd a .hhs.gov, sowell.sarah@epa.gov, sprowgb@state.gov, Stephanie Langkamp, susan .mcdermott@ost.dot.gov, susan .wilson@ita .doc.gov, wilbur.monroe@do.treas.gov, wi l l iam.merrel l@dhs.gov, Wil l iam .steiger@hhs.gov, "John_Mel le@USTR.EOP.GOV".GWIA-03. ITA-GWIA, kshigetomi@ustr .eop.gov, mary.kosinski@hhs.gov,

thomas.banner@d hs.gov, d ianah.dcrumpler@dhs.gov, laura . landers@hhs .gov, tal leyA@fas.usda.gov, orestes. vasquez@fas . usda .gov, sprowgb@state .gov, rechtLS@state.gov

cc

Fw: NACC Priority Documents for the August 1 5 meeting in Subject

Washington

FYI - Also, please let me know if you would like to be removed from my distribution list.

thanks

----- Forwarded by Geri Word/MAC/ITA/USDOC on 08/1 4/2006 07:39 AM ----­

"Rothkopf, Adrean" <ARothkopf@USChamber.co To <Geri_ Word@ita.doc.gov> m>

08/1 1 /2006 1 0 :55 AM cc

FW: NACC Priority Documents for the August 1 5 meeting in Subject

Washington

FYI .

Adrea n Scheid Rothkopf D i rector of Trade Po! icy, Western H ernispl1ere, U . S . Charn ber of Commerce Executive Di rector, J\ssociation of America n Chambers of Commerce in Latin America 1 6 1 5 H Street, NW Washi noton, DC 20062-2000 Telephone : 202-463-5747 Fax : 202-463-3 1 26

From :Sent: Friday, August

Luis P i nto [mailto : l pi nto@as-coa .org ] 1 1, 2006 10:19 A M

To: Luis Pinto; Rothkopf, Adrean ; mmendoza@iacdoas.org Subject: NACC Priority Documents for the August 15 meeting in Washington

Executive Comm ittee M embers of the U . S . Section of the NACC:

Attached please find the p riority documents that the Canadian and Mexican Secretariats sent us late yesterday, as well as the U . S . section's final document which we have shared with them. We are please to n ote that the th ree docu ments s hare some of the same priorities, and although the Canadian and Mexican docu ments do not go into as m uch detail in the " recommendations" as the American document, we have been assured by o u r col leag u es that their members will be able to speak in detail a bout their recom mendations on Tuesday morning.

We have also attached the agenda for Tuesday's meeting , and we wil l send the complete l ist of meeti ng participants as soon as we have received confirmation from al l our counterparts; but wil l certainly have it to you by 3pm today.

We look forward to speaking to you this afternoon at 3pm on the briefing conference call and seeing you next Tuesday at the NACC m eeting in Washi ngton. Please find the dial-in information below.

Dial in i nfo: F rom the U n ited States, d ia l : (866) 433-00 1 7 I nternational Dial- in : (303) 346-4 1 77 M eetin g Room N u m ber: * 1 952630*

Best,

Luis Pinto D i rector, External Affai rs Counci l of the Americas Tel : 202.659. 8989 Fax: 202. 659 . 7755 Emai l : LPinto@as-coa. org

Ad rean Scheid Rothkopf D i rector of Trade Pol icy, Western Hemisphere, U . S . Chamber of Commerce Executive D i rector, Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Lati n America 1 6 1 5 H Street, NW Wash i ngton, DC 20062-2000 Telephone: 202-463-57 47 Fax: 202-463-3 1 26

[attachment "Canadian Priorities.pdf' deleted by Stephanie Langkamp/IA/IT A/US DOC] [attachment "Mexico Draft aug 1 0 .pdf' deleted by Stephanie Langkamp/IA/IT A/USDOC] [attaclunent "FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM U . S . SECTION OF THE NACC.pdf' deleted by Stephanie Langkamp/IA/ITA/USDOC] (attaclunent "NACC August 1 5 Agenda.pdf' deleted by Stephanie Langkamp/IA/IT A/USDOC]

Stephanie To Geri Word/MAC/ITA/USDOC@US DOC Langkamp/IA/IT A/US DOC

08/1 4/2006 1 0: 1 7 AM cc Kelly Parkhi l l/IA/IT A/USDOC@USDOC

bee

Subject Re : Fw: NACC Priority Documents for the August 1 5 meeting in Washington!;]

Geri - a re we supposed to l i sten in on the ca l l th is afternoo n? Geri Wo rd/MAC/IT A/US DOC

Geri Word/MAC/ITA/USDOC ahunt@omb.eop.gov, andrea. lockwood@hq.doe.gov, 08/14/2006 07:45 AM a ron.davidson@ita .doc.gov, bernestine.al len@dot.gov, carlos .gonzalez@fas.usda .gov, condoaj@state.gov, cynthia_a ._pendleton@nsc.gov, Damon .Greer@ita .doc.gov, frasso.kathryn@epa.gov, Fred.eberhart@dot.gov, hugh.austi n@dhs.gov, Jim Rice, karen.becker@hhs.gov, karen.marmaud@dhs .gov, Kelly Parkhi l l/IA/ITA/USDOC@ USDOC , kovner.Karissa@epa .gov, kshigetomi@ustr.gov, manolis.priniotakis@hq .doe.gov, mplaisie@oc.fda .gov, patrick.marcham@h hs.gov, paul ine.simmons@fas.usda.gov,

To rbrownridge@osophs.dhhs.gov, rechtls@state.gov, russell.campbell@fd a .hhs.gov, sowell .sarah @epa .gov, sprowgb@state.gov, Stephanie Langkamp, susan .mcdermott@ost.dot.gov, susan.wilson@ita.doc.gov, wilbur.monroe@do.treas.gov, wil l iam. merrel l@dhs .gov, Wil l iam .steiger@hhs.gov, "John_Melle@USTR. EOP .GOV". GWIA-03. IT A-GWIA, kshigetomi@ustr.eop.gov, mary.kosinski@hhs.gov, thomas.ban ner@dhs.gov, d ianah .dcrumpler@dhs.gov, laura. landers@hhs.gov, tal leyA@fas.usda .gov, orestes.vasquez@fas.usda.gov, sprowgb@state.gov, rechtLS@state.gov

cc

Fw: NACC Priority Documents for the August 1 5 meeting i n Subject

Washi ngton

FYI - Also, please let me know if you would like to be removed from my distribution list.

thanks

----- Forwarded by Geri Word/MAC/ITA/US DOC on 08/1 4/2006 07:39 AM ----­

" Rothkopf, Adre a n" <ARoth kopf@USChamber.co To <Geri_ Word@ita.doc.gov> m>

08/11 /2006 10:55 AM cc

FW: NACC Priority Documents for the August 15 meeting i n Subject

Washington

FYI .

Adrean Scheid Roth kopf Di n::ctor of Tracle Pol icy, Western H e misphere , U . S . Charn be r of Commerce Executi v e Di rector, Association of Arnerica n Chambers of Commerce in Lat i n Ame1·ic:a l 6 1S H Street, N W Washinqto n , DC 2006/ <:WOO Telephon e : 2 0 2 "'46 3 - 5 747 Fa x : 202463 3 1 26

From: Luis Pi nto [mai lto : l pi nto@as-coa .org] Sent: Friday, Aug ust 11, 2006 10: 19 AM To: Luis P into; Rothkopf, Adrean ; mmendoza@iacdoas.org Subject: NACC Priority Documents for the August 15 meeting in Wash i ngton

Executive Comm ittee Mem bers of the U . S . Section of the NACC:

Attached please fi n d the p riority documents that the Canadian and M exican Secretariats sent us late yesterday, as well as the U . S . section's f inal document which we have shared with them . We are p lease to note that the three documents share some of the same p riorities, and a lthough the Canadian and Mexican documents do not go into as much detai l in the "recom mendations" as the American document, we have been assured by o u r col leagues that their members will be able to s peak in detail about their recom mendation s o n Tuesday morning.

We have also attached the agenda for Tuesday's meeting, and we wil l send the com plete l ist of meeting participants as soon as we have received confirmation from all our cou nterparts; but will certainly have it to you by 3pm today.

We look forward to s peaking to you this afternoon at 3pm on the briefing conference call and seei ng you n ext Tuesday at the NACC meeting in Washington . P lease find the d ial-in information below.

Dia l in info: From the U n ited States, d ia l : (866) 433-001 7 I n ternational Dial-i n : (303) 346-4 1 77 M eeting Room N u mber: * 1 952630*

Best,

Lu is Pinto D i rector, External Affai rs Counci l of the Americas Tel: 202.659. 8989 Fax: 202.659 . 7755 Emai l : LP into@as-coa.org

Ad rean Scheid Rothkopf D i rector of Trade Pol icy, Western Hemisphere, U .S . Chamber of Co mmerce Executive D i rector, Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America 1 6 1 5 H Street, NW Washington , D C 20062-2000 Telephone: 202-463-57 47 Fax: 202-463-31 26

[attachment "Canadian Priorities.pdf' deleted by Stephanie Langkamp/IA/ITA/USDOC]

[attachment " Mexico Draft aug 1 0 .pdf' deleted by Stephanie Langkamp/IA/ITAIUSDOC]

[attachment " FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM U . S . S ECTION OF THE NACC.pdf' deleted by Stephanie Langkamp/IA/ITA/USDOC] [attachment "NACC August 1 5 Agenda.pdf'

deleted by Stephanie Langkamp/IA/IT A/USDOC]

r·, [

Geri Word/MAC/ITA/USDOC ahunt@omb.eop.gov, a ndrea . lockwood@hq. doe.gov, To a ron.davidson@ita .doc. gov, bernestine.al len@dot.gov,

08/1 4/2006 07:45 AM carlos.gonzalez@fas.usda.gov, condoaj@state.gov,

cc

bee

Fw: NACC Priority Documents for the August 1 5 meeting in Subject

Washington

. . FYI - A1so, p1ease let me know if you would like to be removed from my distribution list.

thanks

----- Forwarded by Geri Word/MAC/ITA/USDOC on 08/1 4/2006 07:39 AM ----­

"Rothkopf, Adrean" <ARothkopf@USChamber.co To <Geri_Word@ita .doc.gov> m>

08/1 1 /2006 1 0:55 AM cc

FW: NACC Priority Documents for the August 1 5 meeting in Subject

Washington

FYI .

Adrean Scheid Rothkopf D i rector of Trade Policy, Western Hemispl1ere, U . S . Chamber of Commerce Executive D irector, Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America 1 6 1 5 H Street, N W Was h i n gton , D C 20062-2000 Telephone : 202-463-5747 Fax: 202-463 - 3 1 26

From :Sent: Friday, August

Luis P into [mai lto : lpinto@as-coa .org] 1 1, 2006 10: 19 AM

To: Luis Pinto; Rothkopf, Adrean; m mendoza @ iacdoas.org Subject: NACC Priority Documents for the August 15 meeting in Washington

Executive Comm ittee Mem bers of the U . S . Section of the NACC:

Attached please find the priority documents that the Canadian and Mexican S ecretariats sent us late yesterday, as well as the U . S . section's final document which we have shared with them . We are please to note that the three documents share some of the same priorities, and although the Canadian and Mexican documents do not go into as much detail in the "recommendations" as the Am erican document, we have been assured by our colleagues that their members will be able to speak in detail about their recom mendations on Tuesday morning.

We have also attached the agenda for Tuesday's m eeting, and we wi l l send the com plete l ist of meeting participants as soon as we have received confirmation from al l our counterparts; but wil l certain ly have it to you by 3pm today.

We look forward to speaking to you th is afternoon at 3pm on the briefing conference call and seeing you next Tuesday at the NACC meeting in Washington . Please find the d ial-in information below.

Dial in info: From the United States, dial : (866) 433-00 1 7 International Dial- in: (303) 346-4 1 77 Meeting Room Number: * 1 952630*

Best,

Luis Pinto Director, External Affairs Council of the Americas Tel: 202.659 .8989 Fax: 202.659.7755 Emai l : LPinto@as-coa.org

Adrean Scheid Rothkopf Director of Trade Policy, Western Hemisphere, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America 1 6 1 5 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20062-2000 Telephone: 202-463-5747 Fax: 202-463-31 26

Canadian Priorities.pdf Mexico Draft aug 1 O.pdf FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM U.S. SECTION OF THE NACC.pdf

NACC August 1 5 Agenda. pdf

lMOO ./Amen cas Ct\Nl\DL-IN COUNCIL. OF ettllW exiwurrvi;:s

CONSElL CANAD/EN DES CllE.l"S D"l':NTREPR!SR

!COUNCIL OF THE I

I

Trilateral Meeting of the North American Competitiveness Council (NACC)

Tuesday, August 15, 2006 U.S. Chamber of Commerce

AGENDA

10:00 a.m.-10:05 a.m. Welcome and Introduction

10:05 a.m.-10:15 a.m. Proceedures and Governance

10:15 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Presentation of Recommended Priorities

Canada ­ Linda Hasenfratz, CEO, Linamar Corporation

Mexico ­ Jose Luis Barraza, President, Consejo Coordinador Empresarial and CEO, Grupo Impulso, Realiza & Asociados, Inmobiliaria Realiza and Optima

United States ­ Ron Covais, President, The Americas, Lockheed Martin

11:00 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Coffee Break

11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

12:30 p.m.-12:45 p.m.

12:45 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Open Debate and Discussion Part I

Break for Buffet Service for Working Luncheon

Open Debate and Discussion Part II

Wrap Up Session