2008 annual report - US Trade and Development Agency

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East Asia: USTDA achieved notable success in East Asia during FY 2008 by continuing to strike a balance among U.S. foreign policy and trade objectives and economic development priorities in China and Mongolia. Throughout the year, USTDA built on its record in the region of promoting public-private partnerships designed to address priority issues. Cleaner energy and environmental improvement projects were priorities for USTDA in East Asia. During the year, the Agency funded two projects to help reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide and other harmful pollutants in Shandong and Liaoning provinces. USTDA also hosted an orientation visit for the Ministry of Water Resources to promote the use of advanced water pollution monitoring systems in key waterways, supporting China’s efforts to more effectively control pollutants entering its lakes, river systems, and coastline. As in prior years, USTDA’s China portfolio exhibited a diverse combination of trade policy initiatives and infrastructure development projects. In the trade policy area, USTDA launched a series of technical workshops designed to assist China as it implements its Anti- Monopoly Law, the enforcement of which has the potential to significantly impact global corporations doing business in China. USTDA also provided assistance to the Ministry of Finance during its negotiations to accede to the World Trade Organization’s Government 16 U.S. Trade and Development Agency Building Partnerships to Procurement Agreement (GPA). Once China becomes a party to the GPA, this market will offer tremendous potential for U.S. firms. Other successful USTDA trade policy initiatives in China continued during FY 2008 under ongoing programs and included activities to promote transparency and international best practices in standards and conformity assessment, effective intellectual property rights protection, and science-based approaches to agricultural biotechnology regulatory policies. In the aviation sector, USTDA supported an expansion of the highly successful U.S.-China Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP). This model public-private partnership, brings together leaders from the U.S. government, private industry, and the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC). The ACP continues to promote enhanced dialogue on aviation safety and security issues in the rapidly growing Chinese market and encourage liberalization of China’s airspace. As part of the program’s activities, USTDA hosted 35 Chinese aviation professionals for a three-month executive management training program for China’s next generation of aviation leaders. In addition, a USTDA-funded training grant awarded under the program’s framework played a critical role in the selection of U.S.-manufactured aircraft engines for China Eastern Airlines’ expanding fleet. USTDA responded quickly after the May 2008 earthquakes in Sichuan Province to provide funding to strengthen the ability of the China Earthquake Administration and China Geological Survey to predict and monitor aftershocks and landslides. In addition, USTDA funded an orientation visit for officials from the CAAC to learn about U.S. technologies related to airport emergency and rescue services. As the region continues to suffer from these events, this assistance will enhance China’s capacity to minimize loss of life and damages. In Mongolia, USTDA continued to seek out opportunities for U.S. commercial involvement in priority development projects. In coordination with the MCC, which signed a Compact with Mongolia in October 2007, USTDA provided funding to examine a branch railroad to link a coal mine in the southeastern part of the country to the main rail line. The branch railroad will offer a more efficient avenue to transport coal resources from the mine to domestic and regional markets. USTDA will continue to pursue projects in East Asia that are industry-driven, policy and trade-oriented, and highly supportive of U.S. trade and foreign policy priorities. Photo courtesy of SCS Energy
Promote Trade Developing China’s Clean Energy Resources A 120 megawatt (MW) coal mine methane power facility is producing electricity in China based on the results of a USTDA-funded study. Approximately $ 40 million in U.S. exports were used in the development of the facility. The project was designed to further Chinese efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve mine safety, and increase the capacity of the local power grid. USTDA supported the project with a grant to Shanxi Jincheng Anthracite Coal Mining Group (JMG), which funded a contract between JMG and SCS Engineers, Inc. of Long Beach, California. Under the contract, SCS Engineers defined equipment specifications for the project and facilitated the evaluation of bids by suppliers. The positive results of the USTDA-funded assistance and financing provided by the Asian Development Bank supported the award of a contract to Caterpillar Inc. of Peoria, Illinois, and its Chinese partner, Shanghai Electric. Caterpillar supplied U.S.-manufactured gas engines and other equipment and services associated with the project. Following the success of this project, Caterpillar was selected to provide an additional 31 methane gas-powered generator sets to produce an additional 54MW of power at the Cheng Zhuang and Mei Gan Shi coal mines in Shanxi Province. “These projects are major steps forward in China’s road to sustainable development and demonstrate the benefits of positive bilateral trade relations between the United States and China,” said Rich Lavin, Caterpillar group president with responsibility for Asia. Overall, these projects represent important contributions in the development of clean energy solutions to meet China’s growing power needs. Moreover, they reflect the increasing cooperation between U.S. and Chinese energy sector interests under the Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate, a priority energy and environmental initiative. Caterpillar engines/generators were used in the construction of the Jincheng coal mine methane power facility in China. Annual Report 2008 17
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Page 5 and 6: overview In FY 2008, USTDA’s prog
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2008 annual report - US Trade and Development Agency

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