Tag Archives: Trans-Pacific Parternship

The House Armed Services Committee Marks-Up the NDAA, While the Full House Considers an MTB Reform Bill; A Senate Committee Marks-Up the DIGIT Act, While President Obama is in Germany at the Hanover Messe

President Barack Obama travelled to Saudi Arabia last week, meeting with Saudi officials on Thursday and attending the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit on Friday to discuss crises in the Middle East. The President then travelled to the United Kingdom (UK), where he urged the UK to remain in the EU ahead of its June … Continue Reading

U.S. President Announces Upcoming Trips to Cuba, Argentina, Vietnam and Laos; Congress Returns to Washington, Faces a Busy Week of Oversight Hearings, Including Testimony from the Secretaries of State and Defense

By Stacy Swanson on February 22, 2016 Posted in Data Privacy & Cybersecurity, Defense & Homeland Security, US Executive Branch

Early last week, President Barack Obama hosted the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders in California and announced he will travel in May to Vietnam and Laos. Back in Washington on Wednesday, the President announced another trip in March to Cuba and Argentina. Congress was in recess last week, in observance of the Presidents’ … Continue Reading

Congress to Examine Russia’s Role in the Crises in Syria and Ukraine; The First Lady Travels to Qatar and Jordan

By Stacy Swanson on November 2, 2015 Posted in Defense & Homeland Security, US Executive Branch

Syrian and Iraqi Crises Secretary of State John Kerry delivered remarks on U.S. Middle East policy last Wednesday at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The Secretary called on the Russian Government to contribute to the end of the Syrian conflict, including through a political settlement. He also highlighted areas where the United States, Russia, … Continue Reading

President Obama Hosts Indonesian President; Congress Scrutinizes the U.S. Middle East Policy; House Vote Ahead on Reauthorization of the U.S. Ex-Im Bank

By Stacy Swanson on October 26, 2015 Posted in Defense & Homeland Security, US Executive Branch

Indonesia – Washington Visit This afternoon, President Barack Obama will welcome President Joko Widodo of Indonesia to the White House. President Widodo is making his first visit to the United States since becoming President of Indonesia. President Obama and President Widodo are expected to discuss plans to expand existing areas of bilateral cooperation, including in … Continue Reading

Iran Nuclear Deal Enters into Force, While Congress Scrutinizes Iran’s ICBM Test; 11th Round of TTIP Negotiations Commence This Week in Florida; President Obama and Senate Committee Focus on Climate Change Early This Week

By Stacy Swanson on October 19, 2015 Posted in Defense & Homeland Security, US Executive Branch

Iran Nuclear Deal Enters into Force – Congress Scrutinizes Iran’s ICBM Test On Sunday, President Barack Obama issued a statement on the adoption day of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between the P5+1 and Iran. The President said he had directed the heads of all relevant U.S. executive departments and agencies to begin … Continue Reading

A Final TPP Deal, Possibly Today? The Senate Is Scheduled to Consider the NDAA Compromise Bill on Tuesday, While Washington Continues to Scrutinize Russia’s Activities in Syria and Ukraine

By Stacy Swanson on October 5, 2015 Posted in Defense & Homeland Security, US Executive Branch

TPP Update Extending into a fifth day on Sunday, TPP negotiators spent the weekend hashing out final compromises on biologics exclusivity, dairy market access, sensitive products, investor-state dispute settlement, and other last minute issues. The United States and Japan reportedly reached agreement in principle on automobile market access and rules-of-origin in talks that also included … Continue Reading

President Obama Heads to New York City to Attend the U.N. General Assembly, Will Meet with Russian President Putin; Congress to Focus on Cybersecurity, and the House May Consider the NDAA Conference Report

By Stacy Swanson on September 28, 2015 Posted in Defense & Homeland Security, US Executive Branch

President Obama’s UNGA Schedule President Barack Obama is in New York City (NYC) attending the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) until Tuesday. He delivered remarks at the closing session of the Post-2015 Development Agenda after he arrived Sunday afternoon. The President will address the UNGA this morning, where he is expected to review progress made over the last year … Continue Reading

Possible Announcement of a Comprehensive Deal with Iran; Greek Debt Crisis Still Unresolved; TTIP Negotiators Meet in Brussels; TPP Chief Negotiators to Meet at the End of the Month in Hawaii

By Stacy Swanson on July 13, 2015 Posted in Defense & Homeland Security, US Executive Branch

Iran According to the press, the P5+1 negotiators and Iran plan to announce today that they have reached a historic deal that would address Iran’s nuclear program in return for sanctions relief. Though negotiators said that they had hoped to reach a nuclear agreement with Iran by last Friday, Secretary of State John Kerry announced … Continue Reading

House Passed TPA Last Week, To Vote Again on TAA This Week; The Senate Resumes its NDAA Floor Debate; Defense Secretary Carter to Testify Before a House Committee; Fighting Flares Up Again in Eastern Ukraine

By Stacy Swanson on June 15, 2015 Posted in Defense & Homeland Security, US Executive Branch

Recap of Last Week’s House Action on Trade Legislation Last Friday, President Barack Obama made a last-minute trip to Capitol Hill in the morning to encourage support among Democrats for the bill containing Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), acknowledging to the press that the vote situation remained fluid. That afternoon, the … Continue Reading

Congress Focuses on TPA and Iran; TPP and TTIP Negotiators Meet This Week; President Obama Meets with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi

By Stacy Swanson on April 20, 2015 Posted in US Executive Branch

Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) On Thursday, 16 April, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) released a draft Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) bill – The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (“TPA-2015”). The bill includes objectives on currency manipulation, settlement of investor-state disputes, intellectual property protections, … Continue Reading

All Eyes on the Negotiations with Iran; US President to Host Afghan President

By Stacy Swanson on March 23, 2015 Posted in US Executive Branch

Russia/Ukraine Crisis Late last Wednesday, Vice President Joe Biden and Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko agreed that sanctions on Russia imposed in response to its actions in eastern Ukraine should be tied to full implementation of the Minsk agreements. Vice President Biden welcomed the Ukrainian Parliament’s adoption of measures in accordance with the Minsk agreements. The … Continue Reading