The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Department of State will host a public meeting concerning the U.S. model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) review on July 29, 2009 from 9am-5pm (with a two-hour break from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.) in the Loy Henderson Auditorium of the Harry S. Truman Building.
The Administration is reviewing the U.S. model BIT to ensure that it is consistent with the public interest and the overall U.S. economic agenda. The key question is whether the current model text, last updated in 2004, achieves these objectives or whether there are changes that should be made.
According to a Federal Register notice published on July 14, 2009, persons wishing to speak at the meeting are requested to provide a written summary of their remarks in advance; however, failure to do so will not bar a person from speaking. Speakers will be asked to limit their remarks to five minutes.
Admittance to the State Department building will be by means of a pre-arranged clearance list. In order to be placed on this list, please provide your full name, date of birth, and driver's license state and number or passport number to Model_BIT_RSVP@state.gov or, by fax, to (202) 647-0320 by 5:00 p.m. on July 23.
The building is located at 2201 C Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20520. Attendees must enter through the 23rd street entrance.
For further information, contact Jonathan (Josh) Kallmer, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Investment, at (202) 395-9451 or Michael Tracton, State Department BIT Coordinator, at (202) 736-4060. Members of the press may also contact Jeffrey Jamison, Deputy Director of the Economic, Energy and Business Affairs's Office of Economic Policy Analysis and Public Diplomacy at (202) 647-4864.
