Re: Where do Democrats stand on China's complete lack of pollution control?

On Jul 30, 9:42 pm, "Do the World a favour, kill a leftist"
<rander3...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:


Bush didn't buy, ship and re-assembled 120 used Soviet-era, coal-fired
power plants, the Chinese did.  It's not Bush to blame, it is the
American people and the Chinese for buying from Walmart ($300B last
year) and not having pollution controls on industry, respectively.

Ah, but Richard - look at what encouragement Bush's Treasury Dept. and
his State Department are giving to the Chinese, to continue with their
CO2 - intensive energy production!

From the web site of “America.gov” - A web site of the US State
Dept.

Mutual respect and trust lead to trade and development agreements
(Government fact ***)


U.S. Treasury Department
Office of Public Affairs
June 18, 2008
U.S. Fact ***:


Fourth Cabinet-Level Meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic Economic
Dialogue


The United States and China today concluded the fourth Cabinet-level
meeting of the Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED). President George W.
Bush and President Hu Jintao established the SED to create a Cabinet-
level forum to develop strategies to reach shared long-term
objectives
while managing short-term challenges in our economic relationship.


During the meeting held June 17 and 18, 2008 at the U.S. Naval
Academy
in Annapolis, Maryland, 9 U.S. Cabinet officials and agency heads
joined Secretary Paulson for discussions with China’s Vice Premier
Wang Qishan and a delegation of 18 Chinese ministers and agency
heads.


The SED is a mechanism for managing the U.S.-China economic
relationship on a strategic basis. Stable and prosperous bilateral
economic relations are increasingly important to both countries. At
the meeting this week, leaders from both countries discussed the
following topics: joint opportunities in energy and the environment,
managing financial and macroeconomic cycles, investing in people,
trade and competitiveness, and enhancing investment.


The dialogue in Annapolis builds upon the progress that has been made
in U.S.-China bilateral economic relations since the beginning of the
SED, including: progress on consumer safety issues, with discussions
creating a new culture of collaboration between the U.S. and Chinese
governments to promote the health and safety of American consumers;
progress on financial sector reform, including the value of the RMB;
a
new bilateral civil aviation agreement, opening the Chinese air
passenger and cargo markets to U.S. air carriers; steps to address
energy security and environmental sustainability, including an
agreement to establish a national emissions trading program in China
and an agreement to strengthen cooperation on strategic oil stocks
with the International Energy Agency; and a new tourism memorandum of
understanding, facilitating visits for groups of Chinese tourists
that
is projected to be a significant driver of growth for the U.S. travel
industry.


Joint Opportunities in Energy and the Environment


Building upon the Major Economies Process launched by President Bush
last September as well as previous SED discussions, the United States
and China have agreed to take further concrete steps to enhance
collaboration between the two countries to promote energy security,
and further environmental sustainability:


• Ten Year Energy and Environment Cooperation Framework: At the third
Cabinet-level SED meeting, the United States and China announced the
establishment of a working group to develop plans for extensive
cooperation on energy and the environment over a ten year period. The
United States and China today announced that both countries have
agreed to a framework for this cooperation, and have established
joint
task force groups to tackle challenges in five specific areas:
electricity, air, water, transportation, and conservation of forest
and wetland ecosystems.


• Eliminating Barriers to Trade in Environmental Goods and Services:
Discussions in this area began at a broad level, and are now focused
on the scope of product coverage and on the modalities for tariff
reduction or as appropriate elimination, to facilitate a
comprehensive
WTO agreement on environmental goods and services.


• Cooperation with the International Energy Agency:


Building on the commitment at the third Cabinet-level SED meeting to
strengthen cooperation on construction and management of strategic
oil
stocks, China agreed to consider voluntary participation in the joint
actions of IEA member countries during times of oil disruption, in
line with the principles of the Five Country Ministerial and G8 Plus
3
energy ministerial agreements in Japan.


Coordination with the IEA during times of oil disruption
significantly increases energy security both globally and for the
United States.


China also agreed to strengthen collaboration with the IEA on areas
such as global energy markets, energy efficiency, and clean energy
technology.


• Sustainable Forest Management: The United States and China have
agreed to promote global sustainable forest management, with both
sides identifying specific regions and activities for joint
cooperation by the next meeting of the Cabinet-level SED.


• Illegal Logging: The United States and China convened the first
meeting of the bilateral forum under the Memorandum of Understanding
on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade on June 13, 2008 and agreed
to
detailed follow-up work on priority areas.
Bilateral Investment


America’s policy of bilateral investment is one of our economic
strengths, and the United States continues to promote openness to
trade and investment. Foreign direct investment into the United
States
stimulates growth and competitiveness, creates jobs, enhances
productivity and prosperity, and fosters competitiveness.


The United States and China reached a number of agreements that build
upon both countries’ mutual interests in supporting and promoting
open
investment and market-based competition:


• Bilateral Investment Treaty Negotiations: The United States and
China have agreed to launch negotiations of a bilateral investment
treaty. The conclusion of a BIT would send a powerful signal that our
two countries are committed to open investment and to treating each
other’s investors in a fair and transparent manner.


The United States will negotiate on the basis of the U.S. model BIT,
which reflects high-standards of investor protection. We will pursue
a
comprehensive treaty that provides important legal protections for
all
economic sectors, including the right to non- discriminatory
treatment, due process, transparency, free capital transfers, and
compensation in the event of expropriation.


We will pursue an agreement that enables investors to enforce these
rights through independent international arbitration. Our two
governments will begin negotiations soon and expect to have several
rounds of discussions before the next SED meeting, but the timeline
for concluding the negotiation will be determined by the quality of
the agreement.


We believe that a high-standard BIT is clearly in our mutual
economic
interests.


• Creation of an Investment Promotion Initiative: The United States
and China jointly agree to create an investment promotion initiative,
to enhance public recognition of the positive benefits of investment
flows between our two countries.


• First Meeting of the U.S.-China Investment Forum: The first meeting
of the U.S.-China Investment Forum was held on June 16th, with both
sides discussing bilateral investment and agreeing to a framework and
work plan.


The Investment Forum is a platform allowing the U.S. to focus on
practical investor concerns with the Chinese, such as the process of
investment reviews, potential investment barriers in China, and
encouraging increased job-creating Chinese investment in the United
States.


• Sovereign Wealth Funds: China agreed that investment decisions by
its state-owned investment firms will be based solely on commercial
grounds.


Financial Sector Reform


The United States and China, as leaders in the global economy and in
the international financial and trading systems, share a
responsibility to promote balanced and sustained growth in their
economies.


A competitive and efficient financial sector will be an engine for
growth in China’s fast-growing economy, providing opportunities for
American manufacturers and service providers.


During the fourth Cabinet-level SED in Annapolis, both sides
discussed
market turmoil of recent months and the repricing of risk in global
markets. The United States reported on steps it is taking to address
market turmoil in the short-term and in the intermediate term steps
to
address policy issues arising from recent turmoil.


The Chinese reported on steps they are taking to open their financial
services sector and further integrate into global markets.


The United States and China have reached a number of agreements
resulting in further opening of China’s financial services sector:


• Consumer Finance: China agreed to allow, on a pilot project basis,
non-deposit taking foreign financial institutions to provide consumer
finance. This agreement provides new opportunities for U.S.
companies.


• Stock Exchange Listings in China: China agreed to allow qualified
foreign companies to list on its stock exchanges through issuing
shares or depository receipts.


• RMB-Denominated Bonds: China agreed to ease qualifications for
foreign incorporated banks to issue subordinated RMB-denominated
bonds. This will allow foreign banks, including U.S. banks, to raise
capital and grow their business.


• Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors: China agreed to reduce
the initial “lockup period” for the investments of certain Qualified
Foreign Institutional Investors (QFIIs), creating new opportunities
for U.S. mutual funds and money managers.


• Credit Rating Agencies: China agreed to allow existing credit
rating
agency (CRA) joint ventures to apply for a license to rate corporate
bonds without reducing their existing percentage foreign equity
stake,
following entry into force of new U.S. regulations on Nationally
Recognized Statistical Reporting Organizations. This action will
expand business opportunities for foreign CRAs, including U.S. CRAs,
in the


Chinese domestic market.


• Insurance: China confirmed that it recognizes U.S. concerns
regarding proposed regulations (“Administrative Methods of Equity
Interest”) that would restrict investment in Chinese domestic
companies and that it will continue to fully consult and consider
comments received from all interested parties. China also clarified
that it had recently issued regulations (“Overseas Investment with
Insurance Funds”) which specify the relevant requirements to allow
insurance companies in China –including foreign-invested companies--
to invest assets overseas.


This should provide greater clarity regarding the requirements to
manage such assets and will provide companies with greater
flexibility
in managing their business.


• Securities Joint-Ventures: As agreed to at the May 2007 Cabinet-
level SED meeting, China reported that it had resumed its licensing
of
securities joint ventures by approving the application of Credit
Suisse’s investment banking operations in China, allowing Credit
Suisse to participate in China’s domestic stock underwriting market.


Credit Suisse’s Investment Banking Operations are headquartered in
New York.


• Securities Scope of Business: As agreed to at the May 2007
Cabinet-
level SED Meeting, China reported that it had acted to meet its
commitment to allow foreign securities firms to expand their
operations by granting CLSA brokerage and research licenses. This
precedent will benefit U.S. financial institutions.


• Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (QFIIs): Since committing
to QFII expansion at the May 2007 Cabinet-level SED meeting, China
has
issued quotas for several new QFIIs. This action allows foreign
mutual
funds, including U.S. mutual funds, to invest in China’s domestic
stock market. This precedent will benefit U.S. financial
institutions.


• RMB Appreciation: The RMB has appreciated 20.3% since July 2005
against the US dollar, and since the last SED, the annual pace of
appreciation has accelerated to 14.6% compared to 3.4% in 2006 and
6.9% in 2007.
Trade and Competitiveness


The United States and China have made joint commitments and taken
joint actions to ensure that our economies remain competitive in an
economic environment shaped by globalization, including:


• Doha Round: The United States and China will work together with
other WTO members to actively promote the conclusion of Doha
Development Agenda negotiations, with the view to facilitating the
development of multilateral trading system.


• Transportation Forum: The United States and China signed a Joint
Declaration on Transportation Cooperation establishing a
Transportation Forum between the two countries covering all modes of
transportation.


The Transportation Forum will help identify opportunities for, and
work to reduce barriers to, American companies that desire to help
design, construct and equip China's new roads, rail, port and
aviation
facilities, and to provide a broad range of freight, passenger and
mail services within the country.


The Transportation Forum will help identify transportation
infrastructure needs and will identify bottlenecks, to enable a free
flow of trade between the U.S. and China.


• Transparency: The United States and China agree to publish in
advance for public comment, subject to specified exceptions, all
trade
and economic-related administrative regulations and departmental
rules
that are proposed for adoption, and provide a public comment period
of
not less than 30 days from the date of publication.


China agrees to publish such measures for comment on the Chinese
Government Legislative Information Website maintained by the
Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council, and the United
States
agrees to publish such measures for comment in the Federal Register
maintained by the National Archives.


• Intellectual Property Rights: The United States and China agreed to
intensify cooperation on IPR protection through the IPR Working Group
under the JCCT as soon as possible after the close of SED IV and
prior
to the 19th JCCT.


Both sides agree to start the above mentioned cooperation with an
introduction of China’s recently published “Outline of National
Intellectual Property Rights Strategy” and “Plan for IPR Protection
Initiatives in 2008,” and both sides may discuss issues that are not
related to the claims of the current WTO dispute settlement.


The Safety and Quality of Products


The United States is one of the most open economies in the world.
Ensuring the integrity of trade, the quality of products, and the
safety of food, drug and medical devices is a continuing priority for
the United States. Americans expect that goods and products sold in
our marketplace are safe, and the United States continues to take
steps with all trading partners to ensure the safety and quality of
these goods and products.


To further enhance and strengthen our ongoing dialogue about the
integrity of the trade relationship between the United States and
China, the two countries reviewed progress on the implementation of a
number of agreements to ensure China meets the strict requirements
the
United States has in place to protect consumers and ensure the safety
and quality of products in our marketplace. These agreements cover
the
safety of drugs, medical products, food and animal feed. In addition,
the two countries announced:


• Food and Drug Administration in China: The United States and China
reached consensus that U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/
Food and Drug
Administration personnel shall be placed at the U.S. Embassy and
Consulates General in China and agreed to work out detailed
arrangements.
(end fact ***)


http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2008/June/20080619150342x...
.