Trade Policy Leadership Seminar

Tuesday, December 5

8:00 am – 8:15 am
Maverick A/B - Conference Center

Welcome
Seminar Introduction and Workplan
This introductory session will welcome participants to the second Trade Policy Leadership Seminar, outline the genesis of this Seminar, review the goals, and explain the workplan.

Presiding
Honorable Sheryl ALLEN, House of Representatives, Utah and Immediate Past Chair, Standing Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Cultural Affairs, NCSL

Welcome
Honorable Leticia VAN DE PUTTE, Chair, Senate Democratic Caucus, Texas and President, NCSL

Speaker
Kay Alison WILKIE, International Policy Analyst, Empire State Development/NYS Department of Economic Development, New York and Chair, Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee

8:15 am – 9:45 am
Maverick A/B - Conference Center

Working Breakfast
The Fundamentals of Trade
This session may be CLE eligible.
This session will provide an introduction to the basics of international trade, explaining terminology, agreements, processes, and U.S. negotiating objectives that state policymakers need to know as they delve into this important issue.
NCSL and NAAG thank FMC Corporation for sponsoring this breakfast.

Presiding
Karen CORDRY, Bankruptcy Counsel, National Association of Attorneys General, District of Columbia

Speakers
Professor Robert STUMBERG, Director, Harrison Institute of Public Law, Georgetown University Law Center, District of Columbia
Paul PIQUADO, Executive Director, Office of Trade Policy, Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, District of Columbia

10:00 am – 11:30 am
Maverick A/B - Conference Center

Developments in the States: Oversight and Strategic Actions
This session may be CLE eligible.
At the 2006 NCSL Annual Meeting in Nashville, several states reported on the new structures and systems they have instituted to address trade policy interests. Likewise, many state and local officials are involved in Working Groups studying particular facets of trade. This session will offer updates on developments in individual states and some of the thematic Working Groups, offering an opportunity for everyone to benefit from their work and findings.

Presiding
Jeremy D. MEADOWS, Trade & Transportation Policy Director, NCSL State-Federal Relations, District of Columbia

Speakers
Honorable Sheryl ALLEN, House of Representatives, Utah and Immediate Past Chair, Standing Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Cultural Affairs, NCSL
Sam BURR, Legislative Counsel, Legislative Council, Vermont and Immediate Past Chair, Agriculture & Rural Development Committee, NCSL
Wade E. MERRITT, Senior Trade Advisor, Maine International Trade Center, Maine and Member, Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission
Tim OLSON, International Program Manager, California Energy Commission, California

11:45 am – 1:00 pm
Navarro - Conference Center

Luncheon and Keynote Address
Services and Investment Negotiations: An Update and a Forecast
Many issues addressed during this year’s Trade Policy Leadership Seminar relate to services, while NAFTA Chapter 11-like investment chapters remain a concern for state officials. At NCSL’s Annual Meeting in Nashville, USTR’s lead services negotiator provided an update on General Agreement on Trade in Services negotiations, which at that time had stalled along with WTO Doha Development Round negotiations. Since August, tentative negotiations on services issues have resumed while bilateral talks on Free Trade Agreements containing investment chapters continue. During this working lunch, the Assistant USTR for Services and Investment rejoins us to update us on negotiations developments – particularly as related to domestic regulation, gaming, and energy – and to forecast expectations for 2007 trade talks.
NCSL and NAAG thank Chevron Corporation for sponsoring this lunch.

Presiding
Honorable Steve CONWAY, Chair, House Commerce & Labor Committee, Washington and Chair, Labor & Economic Development Committee, NCSL

Speaker
Christine BLISS, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Services & Investment, Executive Office of the President, District of Columbia

1:15 pm – 5:30 pm
Maverick A/B - Conference Center

Competitiveness in Global Context: The Challenges of the 21st Century Economy
What is "global competitiveness"? How is it measured? How do different industries and professions contribute to this competitiveness? How do they respond to structural changes in the global economy? What are the cultural and demographic dimensions of these changes? How do the policies, regulations, and decisions of state officials affect competitiveness and economic success? What effect do trade agreements have on these policies, regulations, and decisions? The afternoon sessions will address these challenging questions with policy discussions and sectoral case studies.

1:15 pm – 2:15 pm
Maverick A/B - Conference Center

Trade & Change: A Framing Debate
For the first part of this full-afternoon program, two leading keen observers of the global economy will offer their different thoughts on best directions for U.S. manufacturing, services, capital and labor markets, as well as U.S. trade negotiating priorities and state policy options, as America grapples with the challenges of 21st century competition.

Presiding
Peter RIGGS, Executive Director, Forum on Democracy & Trade, New York

Speakers
Dean BAKER, Co-Director, Center for Economic Policy Research, District of Columbia
Douglas HOLTZ-EAKIN, Paul A. Volcker Chair in International Economics and Director of the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies, Council on Foreign Relations, District of Columbia

2:15 pm – 3:15 pm
Maverick A/B - Conference Center

Services Sector: Internet Gaming
This session may be CLE eligible.
Antigua's case against the United States before the World Trade Organization on internet gaming challenged federal laws as well as many state laws. While the WTO panel did not explicitly rule against any of the state provisions in question, the challenge did make many state officials aware of commitments the United States made during the first round of General Agreement on Trade in Services negotiations and possible implications for state laws and American federalism. Having been negotiated, challenged, and appealed, the internet gaming issue is a "mature" though still fluid case that may inform how state policymakers choose to view and prepare for 21st century competitiveness.

Presiding
Honorable Gary LeBEAU, Assistant Senate President Pro Tempore, Connecticut and Vice Chair, Committee on Labor & Economic Development, NCSL (Invited)

Speakers
Brian FARR, Assistant Attorney General, Utah and Chair, Public Lawyers Working Group
Lillian OMAND, Covington & Burling, District of Columbia

3:15 pm – 4:15 pm
Maverick A/B - Conference Center

Agriculture & Manufacturing Sectors: Biofuels
Increased U.S. biofuel production has been suggested as a strategy for addressing dependence on foreign oil, on-farm income, climate change, electrical grid stability, and the preservation of capital assets in rural areas. Biofuels are a classic "emerging industry" for the 21st century in a competitive global market. This case study will provide a glimpse into how trade affects innovation and the role that state-level public policy can play in encouraging entrepreneurs, agricultural and electrical cooperatives, and manufacturing firms or networks to be globally competitive.

Presiding
Honorable Steve MORRIS, Senate President, Kansas and Vice Chair, Agriculture, Environment & Energy Committee, NCSL

Speakers
James R. DUBOIS, Jr., Fellow, Harrison Institute of Public Law, Georgetown University Law Center, District of Columbia
Mark REISINGER, Rural Development State Director, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Iowa (Invited)

4:15 pm – 5:30 pm
Maverick A/B - Conference Center

Assuring American Competitiveness: Facilitated Brainstorming
Growth in the American economy and increased employment are regularly attributed to the success of small and mid-sized businesses, but these businesses are increasingly competing in globalizing markets. What trade-related constraints, interests, and pressures are confronting state policymakers as they work to foster these small and mid-sized engines of economic growth? How are economic development and labor agencies at the state and local level confronting these challenges while working to maximize international market opportunities? What assistance does or should the federal government provide state officials faced with these challenges? This facilitated discussion will offer an opportunity to draw lessons from the debate and case studies, to share promising practices, and to learn about state-federal partnership opportunities.

Presiding
Peter RIGGS, Executive Director, Forum on Democracy & Trade, New York

Speakers
Peter CUNNINGHAM, Director, International Trade Division, Department of Commerce, North Carolina
Tom McGINTY, Regional Director, U.S. Department of Commerce, District of Columbia
Howard ROSEN, Executive Director, Trade Adjustment Assistance Coalition, District of Columbia

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Regency East 1 - 2nd Floor

Networking Reception
Joint with the NCSL Advisory Council on Energy
Seminar participants are invited to mix and mingle, to continue the day's discussions, and to further build their networks of state officials with an interest in trade issues.
NCSL and NAAG thank the Canadian Consulate General-Dallas for sponsoring this reception.

Presiding
Peter CUNNINGHAM, Director, International Trade Division, Department of Commerce, North Carolina

Speaker
Honorable Norris PETTIS, Consul General of Canada, Texas

Wednesday, December 6

8:00 am – 9:45 am
Seguin - Conference Center

Breakfast and Keynote Address
The Grand Bargain
With the Democrats taking control of the House and Senate, the prospect for any action on Trade Promotion Authority and implementation of the Doha Round negotiations will depend on a package of initiatives. Similar to the Trade Act of 2002, the elements of such of package will most likely include expansion of assistance to US workers adversely affected by increased imports and shifts on production. Howard Rosen will address the prospects for Congressional action on trade in the 110th Session, as well as discuss existing domestic assistance programs, including the traditional Unemployment Insurance program and Trade Adjustment Assistance and reform proposals under consideration.
NCSL and NAAG thank AT&T for sponsoring this breakfast.

Presiding
Honorable Phillip FRYE, Chair, House Federal Relations & Trade Issues Committee, North Carolina and Vice Chair, Labor & Economic Development Committee, NCSL

Speaker
Howard ROSEN, Executive Director, Trade Adjustment Assistance Coalition, District of Columbia

10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Navarro - Conference Center

Immigration Policy, GATS Mode 4, and Why States Care
Joint Session with the NCSL Executive Committee Task Force on Immigration & the States
This session may be CLE eligible.
Under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), the fourth defined means of trading services is via the movement of people. With immigration reform raging in Congress, this session will seek to explain exactly what GATS Mode 4 is, how it may relate to the current immigration debate, and states' interests.
NCSL and NAAG thank the Forum on Democracy & Trade for sponsoring this lunch.

Presiding
Honorable Joe HACKNEY, House Majority Leader, North Carolina and Vice President, NCSL (Invited)
Honorable Joe MIRO, House of Representatives, Delaware and Co-Chair, Executive Committee Task Force on Immigration & the States, NCSL

Speakers
Marcus COURTNEY, President, Washington Tech/CWA, Seattle, Washington
Richard W. FISHER, President & CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Texas (Invited)
Ann MORSE, Program Director, NCSL Immigrant Policy Project, District of Columbia
Mark NGUYEN, Senior Policy Advisor, International Trade, Bryan Cave LLP, California
Robert VASTINE, Executive Director, Coalition of Service Industries, District of Columbia

1:15 pm – 2:30 pm
Navarro - Conference Center

Closing Session
The States and International Trade: Moving Forward
Joint Session with the NCSL Standing Committee on Labor & Economic Development
The 2006 Trade Policy Leadership Seminar has featured discussions on several hot topics and impending debates. As NCSL's NAFTA policy comes up for renewal, as NCSL and NAAG prepare for congressional debates on TPA, and as state economies compete globally, state policymakers need to be informed and involved. During this closing session, participants will be invited to identify issues needing further study and analysis – whether at the state level, in a multi-state Working Group, or through a national organization – and to brainstorm strategies for further engaging in the trade policy discourse.

Presiding
Honorable Steve CONWAY, Chair, House Commerce & Labor Committee, Washington and Chair, Labor & Economic Development Committee, NCSL
Honorable Phillip FRYE, Chair, House Federal Relations & Trade Issues Committee, North Carolina and Vice Chair, Labor & Economic Development Committee, NCSL

Speakers
Karen CORDRY, NAAG Bankruptcy Counsel, District of Columbia
Jeremy D. MEADOWS, Senior Policy Director, NCSL State-Federal Relations, District of Columbia
Kay Alison WILKIE, International Policy Analyst, Empire State Development/NYS Department of Economic Development, New York and Chair, Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee

The Fall Forum of the NCSL Standing Committees will continue according to the Committees’ agendas.