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Embassies' Business Outreach
On June 12, 2008, the US-ASEAN Business Council facilitated the business outreach efforts of American embassies in South-East Asia. Under its auspices, four U.S. ambassadors joined with 10 foreign ambassadors to meet with business representatives at the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC. Secretary of Commerce, Carlos Gutierrez, present the keynote speech.
Gutierrez argued that protectionism does not protect and called for focused efforts on free trade agreements with ASEAN nations. The Council has long supported such FTAs and serves as the secrectariat of the US-Malaysia FTA Business Coalition.
The American ambassadors stressed the educational aspects of their tour. In San Diego and Houston, they learned from business about approaches in intellectual property law and energy where embassies and business have opportunities for enhanced cooperation. -- Clemens Kochinke, Berliner, Corcoran & Rowe, LLP, Washington.
Sat, / Embassy Law Link