RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
COALITION OF SERVICE INDUSTRIES
OCTOBER 4, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC

Resolution Relating to Trade Negotiations

The Coalition of Service Industries remains committed to multilateral trade liberalization in the Doha Round and supports all efforts to revive it.  It also strongly supports the negotiation of free trade agreements with Korea and Malaysia and will work to achieve their implementation. It recognizes, however, that in order to sustain the momentum of our trade liberalization program it will be essential to reauthorize or extend the President’s Trade Promotion Authority.  CSI is committed to this objective.

Resolution Relating to Bilateral Trade Relationships

CSI has a very strong interest in the trade relationship with China.  CSI and its Members worked hard for a good accession agreement, for the passage of Permanent Normal Trade Relations for China, and since its accession have made a consistent effort, in close cooperation with the USTR and other agencies, to encourage China to implement its commitments.  

CSI Members – in all sectors – are encouraged by the creation of the Strategic Economic Dialogue with China, but we also recognize that though it undoubtedly will be helpful,  this very high level new process  is focused on longer term issues and is not intended to bring immediate results on specific industry issues.  We must continue to participate in the existing channels for dialogue.

Many CSI Members have a deep interest in Indian markets, and seek further access to them.  USTR and Treasury have established useful formal avenues of dialogue with the Indian Government.  CSI will make a concerted effort to work with these agencies more closely to try to achieve its Members’ objectives in this very large and very important market. It is critical that the Indian government refrain from rate regulation and other government policies, such as limits on foreign equity ownership, that undermine open markets, foreign investment, and ultimately restrain India’s own development.

Resolution Relating to Accessions

WTO accessions are one of the best means of obtaining excellent commitments to liberalization across all sectors.  Recently CSI members have worked closely with USTR to ensure that the Saudi and Vietnam accessions create truly open markets consistent with the principles of the WTO, and at the same time assure Members that they can achieve their commercial objectives.   CSI and its Members have and will continue to urge Congressional passage of PNTR.

The Russian accession has been a protracted and difficult negotiation.  We appreciate the efforts of US negotiators to open this market and fulfill our Members’ commercial objectives.  We believe that significant further progress must be made in achieving a fair and disciplined market for our Members’ intellectual property and services, before the US concludes its agreement with Russia.

CSI’s financial services Members appreciate the efforts of the negotiators to secure a more liberal environment for their operations in Russia.  They continue to be concerned about key elements of the agreement, including the operational and precedential effects of caps on aggregate market penetration.  They look forward to working closely with negotiators on these issues.

Resolution Relating to Temporary Mobility

Time and again CSI members experience situations in which our own employees in other countries, current and /or prospective foreign business partners and investors, and other individuals essential to the development of their global businesses, cannot obtain US visas or encounter delays in securing US visas.  This has frustrated our companies’ organizational development, impaired business transactions, and forced some activities to be performed offshore.  CSI and its Members have taken the lead in the introduction of  legislation that could help remedy this situation.  We will continue to work for its passage.