NEWS RELEASES

May 4, 2008: Services Employment Grew By 90,000 Jobs in April, Despite Weaker Economy. To read the press release, click here.

May 2, 2008: CSI Joins Business Community in Supporting Greater Economic & Trade Assistance to Haiti. For a copy of the letter, click here.

April 21, 2008: The Coalition of Services Industries Welcomes Breakthrough on Full Reopening of Korea's Market to U.S. Beef. For a copy of the press release, click here.

April 16, 2008: Global Services Coalition: Better Offers on Services Essential to Doha Round Success. For a copy of the press release, click here

April 9, 2008: CSI: Congress Should Reject TPA Changes. For a copy of the press release, click here.
April 7, 2008: CSI Supports Colombia FTA, Calls for Passage. For a copy of the press release, click here.

March 24, 2008: In a letter to House leadership, CSI calls for the passage of the US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement. For a copy of the letter, click here.

February 14, 2008:
US Services Exports, Surplus Grows Sharply in 2007. For a copy of the press release, click here.

Febraury 13, 2008: The Global Services Coalition issues response to WTO Services Report. For a copy of the press release, click here.

February 12, 2008: CSI President Bob Vastine and Other Businesses Call on Congress for Concrete Progress on Trade Front. For a copy of the letter, click here.

February 4, 2008: CSI Welcomes Negotiations with P-4. For a copy of the press release, click here.

December 21, 2007: Reports on Progress in GATS Services Negotiations. To access each report, click here.

CSI Launches Outreach Group to Presidential Campaigns. To access articles, speeches, and position papers, click here.

December 7, 2007: CSI President Bob Vastine's speech at the Shenzhen International  Service Industry Conference. Click here for slides.

December 4, 2007: CSI Applauds Senate Vote in Favor of the Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. For a copy of the press release, click here.

November 12, 2007: The Global Services Coalition issues statement of ambition. To view the statement, click here.

Congressional Services Caucus Members vote overwhelmingly in favor of US-Peru FTA. To see how they voted, click here.

November 8, 2007: CSI Commends Congressional Vote on Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. For a copy of the press release, click here.

November 1, 2007: New US services trade data need underscore to implement free trade agreement. For a copy of the press release, click here.

September 27, 2007:
Coalition of Service Industries along with the Global Service Coalition Call for "Ambitious Results" in the Doha Round. For a copy of the press release, click here.

September 17, 2007: Coalition of Service Industries Issues Statement On China's WTO Compliance. For a copy of the statement, click here.

July 18, 2007: Op-ed on Trade Policy by CSI Chairman Mike Ducker

June 30, 2007:
Coalition of Service Industries Expresses Strong Support for US-Korea FTA;
Urges Swift Congressional Passag
e
. For a copy of the press release, click here.

June 29, 2007:
Coalition of Service Industries Urges TPA Renewal. For a copy of the press release, click here.

June 28, 2007: Services Industry Expresses Strong Support for U.S. - Panama Trade Promotion Agreement. For a copy of the press release, click here.

June 26, 2007:
Groundbreaking New Report Underscores Important Role of U.S. Service Sector Service Industry Calls for Expanded Trade Opportunities in the Global Marketplace. For a copy of the press release, click here.

June 21, 2007: Statements by the Coalition of Service Industries and the Global Services Coalition over the collapse of WTO talks in Potsdam.  For the CSI Statement, click here. For the Global Services Coalition statement, click here.

June 20, 2007: Coalition of Service Industries statement to the International Trade Commission on the benefits to the service sector in the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement. Click here for the statement.


May 23, 2007:
Coalition of Service Industries Applauds SED Outcome. Click here for press release.

May 14, 2007:
Richard W. Fisher, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas gives remarks on the global service sector, "The Dog That Does Not Bark, but Packs a Mean Bite." Click here for a copy of the speech.

May 10, 2007:
Coalition of Service Industries Welcomes Bipartisan Deal on Trade. Click here for press release.

April 24, 2007:
CSI President testifies at a hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce about funding services statistics programs of the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Census Bureau in the fiscal year 2008. Click here for the testimony.

April 2, 2007:
Coalition of Service Industries Expresses Strong Support for US-Korea FTA. Click here for press release.

March 27, 2007:
CSI submits a statement for the Senate Finance Committee's hearing on US-China economic and trade relations. Click here for a copy of the statement.

March 20, 2007:
CSI President submits a statement for the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade on the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement. Click here for a copy of the statement.

March 20, 2007:
Insurance, Service Industries Support Free Trade Agreement with South Korea. Click here for press release.

March 20, 2007:
CSI submits joint testimony on the importance of the services sector for the Korus FTA negotiations. Click here for the testimony.

March 16, 2007:
Statement on the importance of the service sector by Congressman David Dreier, March 12, 2007. Click here for a copy of the statement.

March 13, 2007: CSI President delivers speech on the benefits of liberalizing infrastructure services and the important role India plays in those negotiations at a high level conference in New Delhi. For a copy of the presentation, click here.

March 1 , 2007:
Statement by the Coalition of Service Industries on China's Implementation of WTO Commitments Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Hearing. Click here for a copy of the statement.

February 28, 2007:
CSI submitts a statement to the Ways and Means Committee of the US House of Representatives, on the content and direction of US trade policy.  For a copy of the statement, click here.

February 28, 2007: Comments on Draft Ministerial Ordinance to enforce Japan's Postal Law. English/Japanese

February 21, 2007: Global Services Coalition: Progress in Services Negotiations Needed to Secure Business Support for Doha Round. Click here for statement.

January 31, 2007: Trade Promotion Authority Essential to Growth of American Services Jobs and Trade. Click here for press release.

January 30, 2007: International Trade Associations Urge the Use of Global Best Practices in Privatizing Japan Post
Click here for the press release.

December 5, 2006: CSI sends out a key vote letter urging Senators and Congressmen to support Vietnam's PNTR. Click here for a copy of the letter.

December 1, 2006:
CSI writes to Congressional leadership urging to pass Vietnam's PNTR before the 109th Congress adjourns this week. Click here for a copy of the letter.

November 15, 2006: CSI joins 19 other associations in writing to the Indian Finance Minister regarding their Insurance FDI Cap. Click here for a copy of the letter.

November 13, 2006:
CSI joins 214 other companies and associations asking Congress to alleviate the H-1B and EB Green Card problems. Click here for a copy of the letter.

November 10 , 2006
: U.S. Service Industry Supports U.S. Agreement on Russia's WTO Accession. Click here for the press release.

October 13, 2006: CSI submits an amicus brief in support of Catherine Lacavera's pending petition at the Supreme Court. Click here for brief.

October 6, 2006:
CSI and other associations write to administration seeking a strengthening of FTA investor-state provisions for U.S. Financial Institutions. Click here for a copy of the letter.

October 4, 2006
: Mike Ducker of FedEx Express Assumes Chairmanship of CSI. Click here for the press release.

September 22, 2006: CSI Urges Senators to Oppose Schumer-Graham Bill Imposing 27.5% Tariff on Imports from China. Click here for a copy of the letter.

September 14, 2006:
CSI President submits a statement for a Trade Policy Committee hearing on China's WTO compliance. Click here for a copy of the statement.

August 24, 2006:
Congresswoman Melissa Bean writes to US Trade Representative Susan Schwab to emphasize the importance of liberalization of international trade in services.  Click here for a copy of the letter

August 2, 2006: Leading Sectoral Organizations Back Extension of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). Click here for press release.

July 24, 2006: CSI Legal Services Committee submits an amicus to the Supreme Court regarding Louisiana’s discriminatory ruling, which prohibits non-immigrant aliens from admission to the state Bar. Click here for brief.


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HIGHLIGHTS

CSI President Bob Vastine during a December 2007 visit to Shenzhen, China.  He was in China to attend the  Shenzhen International Conference on the Service Industry.

CSI Chairman Mike Ducker recognizes Congressmen Brady, English and Meeks for their work related to services at the 25th Annual Gala Dinner September 19, 2007. The keynote address was given by Council of Economic Advisors Chairman Edward Lazear, who discussed the critical role of services to US competitiveness.  For the full text of his remarks, click here.


Congressman Gregory Meeks delivers remarks at the launch of the Congressional Services Caucus, June 26, 2007


USTR Ambassador Susan Schwab gives remarks on the importance of services to the U.S. economy at the launch of the Congressional Services Caucus,
June 26, 2007

CSI President Bob Vastine (left) testifies at a hearing of the Trade Subcommittee of the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, on the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement, March 20, 2007

Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY) at a meeting with CSI Chairman Mike Ducker, President, FedEx Express International, on January 17, 2007

Photo by Scott Ferrell, Congressional Quarterly
CSI Directors Meet with WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy
WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy and CSI President Bob Vastine
On November 2, 2006, several of CSI's Chairman's Circle members hosted a dinner with WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy to discuss the future of the Doha Round. Above is Mr. Lamy (left) with CSI President Bob Vastine.

Susan Schwab, US Trade Representative

Ambassador Susan Schwab Addresses CSI Annual Dinner; Mike Ducker of FedEx Takes Over as CSI Chairman

United States Trade Representative Susan Schwab gave the keynote address at the Coalition of Service Industries Annual Gala Dinner on Wednesday, October 4, 2006. At the event, Mike Ducker, President of FedEx Express International, also assumed the Chairmanship of CSI, succeeding Norman Sorensen, President and CEO of Principal International Inc. Congresswoman Melissa Bean was also honored for her work in promoting US trade interests. Click here for more highlights.

Right: Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the WTO with the Global Services Coalition & Financial Leaders during the Working Group Mission to the WTO in Geneva: July 11-13, 2006. Click here for more information.


Right: CSI President Bob Vastine with Tan Sri Samsudin Osman, Chief Secretary to the Government of Malaysia, during CSI’s Kuala Lumpur mission, April 12-13, 2006.


More CSI Highlights...
 
ABOUT CSI

CSI is the leading business organization dedicated to the reduction of barriers to US services exports, and to the development of constructive domestic US policies, including tax policies, that enhance the global competitiveness of its members. CSI was formed in 1982 to ensure that US trade in services, once considered outside the scope of U.S. trade negotiations, would become a central goal of future trade liberalization initiatives.

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THE SERVICE ECONOMY

Services represent nearly 78% of US economic output, and a similar proportion of private employment.  US services exports exceeded $323 billion in 2005, and the US enjoys a services surplus of approximately $65 billion.

Services are essential inputs into the production of virtually all products.  The price and quality of services influence costs and productivity in all other sectors in an economy, including manufacturing and agriculture.  Thus, when liberalized and made more efficient, services have a strong effect in the competitiveness of an entire economy.  For more data and statistics on the service economy, click here.