In This Issue:

- 01 U.S.-China Trade Concerns Highlighted In Report To Congress

- 02 Congressional Committee Finds Huawei And ZTE To Be Threats To National Security

- 03 Administration Announces Manufacturing Partnership Grants

- 04 Aspen Institute Event Focuses On The Impact Of The Energy Renaissance On U.S. Manufacturing

- 05 News Of Note:

.. China Expands Polysilicon Investigation To The EU

.. U.S.-Panama TPA Agreement Goes Into Effect

.. Laos Joins The WTO

.. WTO Panel Established On China’s Duties Against U.S. Autos

.. Burma Import Restrictions Lifted

- 07 Contacts

- Excerpt from U.S.-Panama TPA Agreement Goes Into Effect:

The United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (“TPA Agreement”) went into effect on October 31, 2012, expanding U.S. manufacturers’ access to one of Latin America’s fastest growing economies. In a statement, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk emphasized that “Panama will eliminate tariffs and other barriers to U.S. exports, which will promote economic growth, and expand trade between our two countries.” He further noted that Panama’s strategic location adds to the importance of the TPA Agreement, as roughly two-thirds of the Panama Canal’s annual transits are bound to or from U.S. ports. Under the Agreement, 86 percent of U.S. consumer and industrial exports to Panama became duty-free immediately upon implementation. Remaining tariffs will be phased out over the next ten years.