Formerly known as ''Fast Track'', Trade Promotion Authority allows the President to negotiate trade agreements and present them to Congress for approval (or rejection) without amendment. TPA expired on July 1, 2007.

On December 7, 2005, after 18 months of negotiations, the United States and Peru announced that they had concluded their negotiations for the Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA). The PTPA was signed by both parties on April 12, 2006.

On February 27, 2006, the United States and Colombia announced that they had concluded their negotiations for the Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA).

The agreement between the United States and Panama will expand trade between the two countries, eliminate tariffs and other barriers to goods and services, and promote economic growth.

Implemented on January 1, 1994, the NAFTA has already eliminated most barriers to trade between the United States, Mexico, and Canada. AACCLA’s related North American initiatives include hosting annual U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico Business Dialogues towards bilateral commerce agendas and monitoring the implementation of NAFTA’s scheduled reductions. Read more about AACCLA’s NAFTA programs.

After an aggressive lobbying campaign led by AACCLA, the U.S.-Chile FTA was signed by President George W. Bush on September 3, 2003 and implemented on January 1, 2004. The FTA offers significant benefits to producers, consumers and workers in both countries. AACCLA and AmCham Chile are currently monitoring its implementation. Learn more about the landmark U.S.-Chile FTA.

In terms of the flow of trade liberalized, DR-CAFTA creates the largest new FTA market in a decade. Together, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua are now on par with France and Italy as a market for U.S. exports. President Bush signed DR-CAFTA into law on August 2, 2005.

The Generalized System of Preferences extends duty-free treatment to around 4,000 products from approximately 140 beneficiary countries in the developing world. President Bush signed the legislation on December 21, 2006, which continues the GSP program for two years until December 31, 2008. This is the first time since the GSP program was created in 1974 that it has been extended without a lapse.

The United States has maintained an embargo on trade with Cuba since October 1960. Implemented to pressure the Castro regime to democratize, the sanctions have proved ineffective. AACCLA supports efforts to reexamine U.S. policy towards Cuba and economic engagement with the island nation.

AACCLA and its member AmChams are continuing to work to raise awareness among business and government leaders of the economic threat posed by counterfeiting and piracy. Our aim is to educate lawmakers, media, and businesses on the growing economic threat of counterfeiting and, indeed, to re-brand the problem; these are not “victimless” crimes.

Trade facilitation consists of measures to make the flow of international commerce faster, cheaper, and more efficient by streamlining the administration of ports and customs. Trade facilitation measures fall into four categories: port efficiency; customs procedures and requirements; the overall regulatory environment; and automation and e-business usage.

Recognizing that private sector participation is a key element to enhancing North America’s competitive position in global markets and is a driving force behind innovation and growth, in March 2006 the Leaders of Canada, Mexico and the United States established the NACC. The creation of the NACC not only provides a voice for the private sector, it also engages them as partners in finding solutions.