The International Issues Update is on hiatus for the holidays. We will resume publication in the first week of the new year. Please note the January 2023 WIBC schedule and a few other quick updates below.
We look forward to serving you in the New Year and wish you a relaxing break!
WIBC DISCUSSIONS
January 2023 schedule of events:
- January 4: Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Development Finance and Policy Mathew Haarsager, Priorities for multilateral development bank reform and its effects on international business
- January 12: State Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Dereck Hogan, U.S.-European political and economic relations
- January 19: House Ways and Means Committee Republican Chief Trade Counsel Joshua Snead, Trade agenda for the 118th Congress
- January 24: EU Delegation Head of Trade Michael Margherita, U.S.-EU trade opportunities and challenges, including priorities for the Trade and Technology Council
WIBC discussions are open to WIBC members only. Not a member? Contact Ethan for membership inquiries.
Stocking stuffers
- In a surprise visit to Washington (his first foreign travel since Russia launched its February 2022 assault), Ukrainian President Zelenskyy met President Biden Wednesday and is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress at 7:30 p.m. President Biden is expected to announce a nearly $2 billion dollar defense aid package for Ukraine, including provision of a Patriot surface-to-air missile system.
- Treasury will issue Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) guidance before the end of 2022, providing information on clean energy tax credits and the “anticipated direction” of critical mineral and battery component requirements, among other topics. Treasury will issue a notice of proposed rulemaking on critical minerals and battery component requirements in March 2023.
- Congress is racing to pass this week a $1.65 trillion omnibus appropriations bill funding the government for fiscal year 2023. Trade priorities did not make the final bill, leaving the Generalized System of Preferences and the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill still lapsed.
- USTR extended for an additional 9 months more than 350 Section 301 tariff exclusions, aligning their expiration with a broader review underway.