<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">Two articles with calendar items below…<div class=""><br class=""><div class="">
Arthur Stamoulis<br class="">Citizens Trade Campaign<br class="">(202) 494-8826<br class=""><br class=""><br class=""><br class="">
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<div class=""><div class=""><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1;"><div class="" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><i class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Inside U.S. Trade<o:p class=""></o:p></span></i></div><div class="" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><b class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">A new administration means a wide-open 2021 trade calendar<o:p class=""></o:p></span></b></div><div class="" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></div><div class="" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;" class="">12/31/2020</span></div><p class="" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">The trade to-do list for the Biden administration and the 117th Congress is a long one: President-elect Biden, who will be sworn in on Jan. 20, will have to nominate a full slate of trade advisers and hope they are approved, while lawmakers are expected to weigh the looming expiration of Trade Promotion Authority and the end of two trade preference programs at the close of 2020.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Biden has announced his pick for U.S. Trade Representative -- House Ways and Means Democrats chief trade counsel Katherine Tai. But she must first be confirmed by the Senate, as do three of her deputies and a chief agriculture negotiator, before his trade team will be fully up and running. Two runoff Senate elections in Georgia in early January will decide who controls the body, which could have major implications for Biden’s agenda.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">In addition to its role in evaluating Biden’s nominees, Congress will grapple with the expiration of the Generalized System of Preferences, as well as its failure to pass a new Miscellaneous Tariff Bill in 2020. Both GSP and the current MTB had Dec. 31 expiration dates. A broad swath of industry groups supports the renewal of GSP and a new MTB; Democrats, however, are demanding reforms to GSP and want to exclude some products from the next MTB.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Trade Promotion Authority is set to expire at the end of June. If the Biden administration at some point hopes to conclude trade deals -- something the president-elect has said is not an immediate priority -- Congress will have to rewrite the always-controversial trade legislation if any agreements are to be fast-tracked. Negotiations are well underway with the United Kingdom and Kenya.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">On the international stage, the World Trade Organization enters 2021 without a leader, a functioning Appellate Body or clear direction on reforms. The Trump administration has blocked the consensus pick for WTO director-general, Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and has been blocking appointments to the Appellate Body since mid-2017, leaving the panel without any members.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">The WTO could convene a General Council early in 2021 once it receives an indication from the Biden administration about whether it will support Okonjo-Iweala’s nomination. The WTO must also schedule its next ministerial, which has been hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. The meeting was initially slated for June 2020 and could take place late in 2021. At that meeting, negotiators are hoping to strike a deal to curb harmful fisheries subsidies after missing an end-of-year deadline in 2020.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Here is<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em class=""><span class="" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Inside U.S. Trade’s</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>annual look at key dates and events for the new year.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;"><em class=""><b class=""><u class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">January</span></u></b></em><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Jan. 3: The 117th session of Congress is sworn in.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Jan. 5: Two runoff elections in Georgia could flip control of the Senate to the Democrats once Biden is sworn in, or could keep it in GOP hands.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><div class="" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Jan. 6: The end of a 180-day suspension period USTR imposed for tariffs on $1.3 billion worth of French goods. USTR put the tariffs, announced in response to France’s imposition of a digital services tax, on hold as France agreed to delay the collection of the tax while negotiators at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development worked to reach a deal on digital taxes by the end of 2020. The OECD deadline has been pushed to mid-2021, though, and France has<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://insidetrade.com/node/170069" class="" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">begun billing U.S. companies</span></a>. Accordingly, U.S. tariffs are set to be imposed in January.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Jan. 6, 8: India undergoes its trade policy review at the WTO.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Jan. 6: Post-hearing comments from USTR’s December hearing on its Section 301 investigation into Vietnamese timber practices are due.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Jan. 7: Post-hearing comments are due to USTR following its December hearing on its Section 301 investigation into Chinese currency practices.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Jan. 12: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual “State of American Business” event.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Jan. 12: The International Trade Commission holds a hearing on whether imported fresh, chilled or frozen blueberries are causing injury to the domestic industry. USTR in September asked the commission to conduct the investigation as part of its attempt to mollify U.S. growers of seasonal and perishable produce.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Jan. 14-15: The OECD will hold a public consultation session for its work on a new international tax structure that could supersede individual digital services taxes.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Jan. 20: Biden is inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Jan. 25: The WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body holds its first regular meeting in 2021.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;"><em class=""><b class=""><u class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">February</span></u></b></em><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Feb. 8-9: The Washington International Trade Association holds its annual conference.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Feb. 11: The deadline for the ITC to issue its injury determination in its blueberries investigation.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Feb. 15: The one-year anniversary of the U.S.-China phase-one agreement. The agreement requires that the USTR and a Chinese vice premier meet every six months. The two sides held the first six-month check-in in August.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Feb 16: The ITC is scheduled to hold a hearing in its investigation into whether imports of Chinese twist ties are injuring the domestic industry as part of the Commerce Department’s trade remedy investigation. The Commerce investigation includes consideration of whether China’s currency is undervalued -- the second time the department has considered currency as a countervailable subsidy and the first time in a case with China.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Feb. 17: Commerce is scheduled to announce its final determination for countervailing duties on Chinese twist ties.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Feb. 18-19: The Agriculture Department hosts its annual “Agricultural Outlook Forum,” this time virtually.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;"><em class=""><b class=""><u class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">March</span></u></b></em><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">March 2-3: The G20 holds is first trade and investment working group meeting in 2021.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">March 5: China’s National People’s Congress will hold its fourth session in Beijing. China is expected to unveil its 14th five-year plan during the session.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">March 9-12: Georgetown Law hosts its annual international trade update. Former USTR Charlene Barshefsky will give the keynote address.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">March 16: Commerce is slated to announce its final determination in a countervailing-duty probe involving Vietnamese tires. Commerce preliminarily issued countervailing duties, a portion of which were attributed to an undervalued Vietnamese dong. The case marked the first time Commerce has treated an undervalued currency as countervailable subsidy.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">March 23: The proposed date for an ITC vote on whether imports of Chinese twist ties are injuring the domestic industry.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">March 27: The deadline for the director of National Intelligence to submit a report to Congress assessing whether China exploited pharmaceutical and information and communications technology supply chains during the coronavirus pandemic.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">March 29: The deadline for the ITC to issue a report to the president with its findings from its investigation into whether imported blueberries are harming the domestic industry.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">March 31: USTR is due to release its annual National Trade Estimate report on foreign trade barriers.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">March 31: Section 301 tariff exclusions on some medical-care products, extended in late December due to COVID-19 concerns, are set to expire.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;"><em class=""><b class=""><u class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">April</span></u></b></em><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">April 1: The deadline for the executive branch to submit trade deals to Congress under the 2015 Trade Promotion Authority law, which expires later in the year.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">April 2: The ITC is scheduled to issue a determination on whether imports of Chinese twist ties are injuring the domestic industry.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">April 15: The Treasury Department is due to issues a semiannual report on the currency practices of major trading partners. The last report, issued in December 2020, named Vietnam and Switzerland as currency manipulators.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">April 27, 29: Vietnam undergoes its trade policy review at the WTO.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">April 30: The ITC is slated to make its final injury determination on whether Vietnamese tire imports injure the domestic industry.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">April 30: USTR is due to publish its annual Special 301 report on foreign intellectual property rights protections.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;"><em class=""><b class=""><u class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">May</span></u></b></em><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">May 3-4: The G20 holds is second trade and investment working group meeting in 2021.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">May 25-28: The World Economic Forum will take place in Singapore. Government and business leaders typically convene for the event in Davos, Switzerland, every January. The theme of this year’s “special” summit is recovering from the pandemic. A WTO mini-ministerial typically is held on the sidelines of the annual forum.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;"><em class=""><b class=""><u class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">June</span></u></b></em><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">June 27: Two reports required by the fiscal year 2021 omnibus spending package are due to Congress. One requires that the director of National Intelligence assess partner countries’ export control regimes as well as the semiconductor supply chain. The other report that requires department and agency heads evaluate recommendations made in 2020 by the Cyberspace Solarium Commission on developing and implementing an information and communications technology industrial base strategy.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">June 30: Trade Promotion Authority expires.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;"><em class=""><b class=""><u class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">July</span></u></b></em><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Early July: The State and Treasury secretaries are required to establish a Multilateral Semiconductors Security Fund within 180 days of the enactment of the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, or report to Congress if they are unable to do so.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">July 1: The one-year anniversary of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s entry-into-force. Most committees established under USMCA are required to have met once by this time.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">July 14, 16: China undergoes its trade policy review at the WTO.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">July 26-28: The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security will hold its annual conference on export controls.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;"><em class=""><b class=""><u class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">August</span></u></b></em><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Aug. 15: The 18-month anniversary of the U.S.-China phase-one deal, at which point the USTR and Chinese vice premier are supposed to meet to assess progress.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;"><em class=""><b class=""><u class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">September</span></u></b></em><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Sept. 30: Fiscal year 2020 ends. Congress and the White House must act by this date to extend government funding.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;"><em class=""><b class=""><u class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">October</span></u></b></em><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Oct. 4: The G20 is slated to hold a third trade and investment working group meeting.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Oct. 5: G20 trade ministers are scheduled to meet in Sorrento, Italy.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Oct. 13, 15: Korea undergoes its trade policy review at the WTO.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Oct. 15: The Treasury Department is due to issues a semiannual report on the currency practices of major trading partners.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Oct. 30-31: The G20 leaders summit is scheduled to be held in Rome.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;"><em class=""><b class=""><u class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">November</span></u></b></em><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Nov. 11: U.S. companies have until this date to divest from securities found to support the Chinese military, according to a November 2020 Trump executive order.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;"><em class=""><b class=""><u class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">December</span></u></b></em><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 58.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span class="">·<span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;">The World Trade Organization could hold its next ministerial this month -- its first since December 2017. WTO ministerials generally happen every two years, but the body’s 12th ministerial was initially slated for June 2020 before being further delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><div class="" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span></div></div></div></div>
<div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><i class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Politico Pro<o:p class=""></o:p></span></i></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Key dates to remember for trade events in 2021<o:p class=""></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">By Doug Palmer</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">01/05/2021<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The coronavirus pandemic forced many international meetings to be canceled or go online in 2020, and it continues to cast its shadow over the trade and economic calendar in 2021.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Italy is still hoping world leaders will be able to flock to Rome for the annual G-20 summit on Oct. 30-31, but New Zealand is already planning a virtual meeting for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders during the week of Nov. 8.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The World Trade Organization could hold its 12th Ministerial Conference in Kazakhstan in June — or it may postpone until December.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Usually, a number of world leaders would travel to Washington to meet with Joe Biden after he takes office on Jan. 20. But how soon those visits will occur and when Biden will make his first trip overseas is unclear.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Here's a look at what the calendar holds in 2021:<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Jan. 6:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The United States<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/07/16/2020-15312/notice-of-action-in-the-section-301-investigation-of-frances-digital-services-tax" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199);" class="">is scheduled to impose a 25 percent tariff</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>on $1.3 billion worth of French goods in a dispute over France’s new digital services taxes. USTR<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/07/16/2020-15312/notice-of-action-in-the-section-301-investigation-of-frances-digital-services-tax" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199);" class="">announced the tariffs in July</span></a>, but suspended them for six months.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Jan. 6:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Deadline for interested parties to make final comments in U.S. Trade Representative’s investigation into whether to impose tariffs on Vietnam for allegedly using<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/11/25/2020-26061/notice-of-public-hearing-in-section-301-investigation-of-vietnams-acts-policies-and-practices" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199);" class="">illegally harvested lumber</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in wood products exported to the United States.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Jan. 7:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Deadline for interested parties to make final comments in USTR’s investigation into whether to impose tariffs on Vietnam because it has<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/11/25/2020-26063/notice-of-public-hearing-in-section-301-investigation-of-vietnams-acts-policies-and-practices" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199);" class="">undervalued its currency</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>for an unfair trade advantage.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Jan. 12:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The U.S. International Trade Commission holds a hearing<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=ITC-2020-0385-0001" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199);" class="">as part of its investigation</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199); text-decoration: none;" class=""> </span></span></a>into whether blueberry imports from Canada, Mexico and other suppliers are harming the domestic industry.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Mid-January:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The Senate could hold hearings on at least some of President-elect Joe Biden’s nominees for Cabinet positions.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Jan. 20:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Biden takes office as the 46th president of the United States.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Jan. 25-29:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">World leaders, industry officials and public figures are expected to participate in a weeklong virtual event hosted by the World Economic Forum, traditionally held in Davos, Switzerland.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">TBD:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The Swiss government usually hosts a trade ministers meeting in late January in conjunction with the World Economic Forum. This year’s meeting, if there is one, is expected to be virtual.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Late January or February:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The WTO General Council could hold a special session to select former Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the WTO's next director general, assuming the incoming Biden administration drops the objection lodged by the Trump administration.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">TBD:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">WTO dispute settlement panels could issue rulings early this year in cases challenging Trump's decision to impose national security tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">February:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Hearings and confirmation votes on Biden’s cabinet nominees, including USTR-designate Katherine Tai.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">February:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Biden will most likely make the first major speech of his presidency to a joint session of Congress. It will be an early sign on how prominently, or not, he will push trade issues during his first year in office.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">February:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has said he hopes to visit Washington for a meeting with Biden.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Feb. 11:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Deadline for the International Trade Commission to determine whether the volume of blueberry imports warrants the United States imposing emergency restrictions.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Mid-February:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Semi-annual deadline for USTR to announce any changes to current retaliation on $7.5 billion worth of EU goods in the Airbus-Boeing aircraft subsidy dispute.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Feb. 28:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Deadline for USTR to release its annual report on the president’s trade agenda. This would be the first such report of Biden’s presidency. The most important elements are often known ahead of time.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">TBD:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committees usually hold hearings with the U.S. trade representative after the release of the president's trade agenda report. Last year’s hearings did not take place until June.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">TBD:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-30/biden-invited-to-nato-summit-early-next-year-stoltenberg-says" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199);" class="">invited</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Biden to a leaders’ summit in early 2021.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">TBD:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">European Union leaders want to host Biden for a transatlantic summit early in his first year in office.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">TBD:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Biden has pledged to hold a “Summit for Democracy” before the end of the year, but has not announced a date for the meetings.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">TBD:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">China and leaders from Central and Eastern Europe are expected to hold their annual summit in the first half of 2021.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">March 24-27:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""><a href="http://english.boaoforum.org/en/index.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199);" class="">The Boao Forum for Asia<b class="">,</b></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>sometimes called "Asia's Davos,"<span class="apple-converted-space"><b class=""> </b></span>is scheduled to hold its annual conference on the Chinese resort island of Hainan.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">March 31:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">USTR releases its annual National Trade Estimate report on foreign trade barriers.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">April 1:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Deadline for White House to notify Congress of its intention to sign a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom or any other country before the 2015 Trade Promotion Authority law expires on July 1. Agreements signed after July will not receive TPA protections that speed congressional approval of trade deals.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">April 9-11:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The International Monetary Fund and World Bank are scheduled to hold their spring meetings in Washington.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">April 15:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Deadline for the U.S. Treasury Department to release its annual report on foreign exchange rate policies. The report is often delayed. The Trump administration formally labeled Vietnam and Switzerland as currency manipulators in its last report before leaving office.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">April 30:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Deadline for USTR to release its annual report on how well other countries protect U.S. intellectual property rights.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">May:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris usually hosts a meeting this month of top trade officials from member countries.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">May:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The annual Central China Investment and Trade Expo is expected to be held. The Chinese vice premier and senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce usually attend.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">May. 18-21:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The World Economic Forum<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.weforum.org/press/2020/10/annual-meeting-2021-to-take-place-in-lucerne-burgenstock/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199);" class="">is scheduled to hold its annual meeting</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in Lucerne-Bürgenstock, Switzerland.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">June 5:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Trade officials from the U.S., China and other members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum will<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.apec.org/Events-Calendar" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199);" class="">hold a virtual meeting</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199); text-decoration: none;" class=""> </span></span></a>hosted by New Zealand.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">June 7-11:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The Commerce Department is scheduled to hold its annual SelectUSA Investment conference, which attracts delegations from around the world and usually includes high-profile speakers from government and business.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">TBD:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The United Kingdom will host the G-7 summit of leading Western economies this summer. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has invited Australia, India and South Korea to attend in addition to the current members: Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and the EU. The 2020 summit was canceled because of the coronavirus.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">June (tentative):</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Kazakhstan has renewed its offer to host the World Trade Organization’s 12th Ministerial Conference, after being forced to cancel the event in 2020 because of the pandemic. However, WTO members could decide to wait until December to hold the meeting because of pandemic concerns.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">July 1:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">U.S. trade promotion authority expires. Any U.S. trade agreement signed after this date will not have the protections that facilitate approval of the agreement by Congress.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">July 8-9:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">G20 economy and finance ministers<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.g20.org/en/index.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199);" class="">are scheduled to meet</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in Venice, Italy.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">July:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Leaders of the BRICS group of nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — are expected to hold their annual summit.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">July:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is expected to hold its annual summit. Members include China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Early August:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The annual meeting of officials from the United States and countries that receive trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act usually occurs in early August. There was no meeting in 2020 because of the pandemic.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Mid-August:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Semi-annual deadline for USTR to announce any changes to its current retaliation on $7.5 billion worth of EU goods in the Airbus-Boeing aircraft subsidy dispute.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Sept. 8-11:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The annual<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.cantonfair.net/event/1530-china-international-fair-for-investment-trade-cifit" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199);" class="">China International Fair for Investment and Trade</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>is scheduled to take place in Xiamen.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Sept. 14-30:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">World leaders could gather in New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly and related events if conditions permit.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Sept. 19-20:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">G-20 agriculture ministers<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.g20.org/en/index.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199);" class="">are scheduled to meet</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199); text-decoration: none;" class=""> </span></span></a>in Florence, Italy.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Oct. 5:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">G-20 trade ministers<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.g20.org/en/index.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199);" class="">are scheduled to meet</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in Sorrento, Italy.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Oct. 15:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Semi-annual deadline for the U.S. Treasury Department's report to Congress on foreign exchange rate policies.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Oct. 15-17:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The International Monetary Fund and World Bank hold their fall meetings in Marrakesh, Morocco.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Oct. 30-31:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">G-20 leaders are scheduled<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.g20.org/en/vertice-di-roma.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199);" class="">to meet in Rome.</span></a><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Nov. 1-12:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The U.K. and Italy are<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://ukcop26.org/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199);" class="">scheduled to co-host the COP26 UN climate conference</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in Glasgow, Scotland. The meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was originally scheduled for Nov. 9-19, 2020.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Week of Nov. 8:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Leaders from the U.S., China and other members of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum will hold<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.apec2021nz.org/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199);" class="">a virtual summit meeting</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199); text-decoration: none;" class=""> </span></span></a>hosted by New Zealand.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Nov. 5-10:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The Chinese Ministry of Commerce co-hosts the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.ciie.org/zbh/en/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199);" class="">China International Import Expo</span></a>, which is held every year in Shanghai.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">November:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">Brunei is this year's host for the annual East Asia Summit, which includes<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://asean.org/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 123, 199);" class="">the 10 ASEAN countries</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>as well as Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States. It is usually held in November, following the APEC leaders meeting.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.9375rem 0px 0px; font-size: 1.125rem;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">December:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif;" class="">The WTO could hold its 12th Ministerial Conference in December, if it appears too risky to hold it in June. The WTO usually holds its major decision-making conference every two years, but this would be the first meeting since December 2017.</span></div></div></body></html>