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APCAC Launches New Advocacy Initiative with Successful DC Doorknock

The Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce ("APCAC"), comprising of 28 member AmChams representing over 10,000 U.S. businesses around the region, held one of its most successful DC Doorknocks from June 17th through 20th in Washington.

A delegation of around 40 executives brought a message of economic opportunity from the Asia-Pacific region to U.S. policymakers, hailing from such diverse countries as Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Bangladesh and Korea. The delegates traveled to Washington to deliver a unified message to U.S. decision-makers: through stronger engagement in the Asia-Pacific region, a robust trade policy and multi-lateral initiatives, there are tremendous export opportunities to help drive U.S. growth and jobs.

APCAC started its Doorknock with a daylong interaction with key Administration agencies, including the Departments of State, Commerce and Treasury, the U.S. Trade Representative, and leading political analysts.

Over the following two days, the delegation headed to Capitol Hill, where teams split up to cover nearly 50 offices on both sides of the political aisle in the House of Representatives and Senate. The groups met with elected officials and top policy staff of the relevant committees of jurisdiction on APCAC's priority issues including trade, visas, bilateral affairs and tax. The groups not only met with senior members of Congress that support APCAC's pro-growth agenda, they also engaged many of the newer members of Congress that remain skeptical of trade agreements and often vote against expanded U.S. engagement abroad. Delegates also participated in educational events, including a luncheon panel on developments in key Asian markets sponsored by the Mansfield Foundation in the Capitol.

During these meetings, APCAC members highlighted the significant progress seen over the past year resulting from US commercial engagement in Asia-Pacific: a successful U.S. Chairmanship of APEC 2011; the passage of the U.S.-Korea free trade agreement (KORUS); the signing of the law giving U.S. businesses access to the APEC Business Travel Card; and, momentum on Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations.

Looking at the year ahead, the delegates outlined opportunities offered by the fast-growing Asian market and made specific policy recommendations that would help U.S. companies be better positioned, including:

1. Press forward with the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) by the end of the year to anchor the United States in Asia's evolving trade architecture and drive for transparency and openness;

2. Extend progress in APEC by continued U.S. leadership in this multilateral forum, including support for initiatives in streamlining of customs and logistics, promoting inclusive and sustainable growth, facilitation of trade in environmental goods and services, and regulatory harmonization, all of which benefit U.S. firms;

3. Leveling the playing field for U.S. business by requiring, through the TPP and bilateral agreements, that state-owned enterprises that compete with the private sector are governed by the same rules applied to the private sector;

4. Quickly implementing regulations for issuing the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) to the U.S. business community;

5. Updating U.S. tax policy to make American corporations and citizens competitive with foreign competitors, including by adopting a territorial taxation system like other developed trading partners, and by extending the protections of Section 911 against double taxation;

6. Energizing the National Export Initiative including increasing resources for the Foreign Commercial Service and the Foreign Agricultural Service;

7. Educating Congressional decision-makers about the far-reaching impact of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). American citizens and businesses are already incurring significant damages from the pendency of FATCA, as they are seeing their banking relationships terminated, business opportunities lost, and significant compliance burdens imposed, all while alternatives exist that would mitigate these effects while still achieving the IRS' overall objectives;

8. Updating sanctions against Myanmar to ensure U.S. companies have the same opportunities to compete as their European and Asian competitors in an emerging market of close to 60 million people.

To build momentum off of June's successful Doorknock, APCAC intends to follow up with regular engagement with the Administration and Congress, and ensure that its unique perspectives from the front lines of American business in Asia are considered, as the post-election period will be a time for serious decisions about the future direction of U.S. policy. Based on the achievements to date, APCAC is clearly at the forefront of constructive changes underway in U.S. foreign and economic policies toward the Asia-Pacific region. The challenges and, more importantly, the opportunities for U.S. business continue to grow, and APCAC will continue to play a leading advocacy role.