NICHOLAS COUTSOS

Provide the United States government (USG) with recommendations on AAPC member companies views regarding trade and related market access issues facing the United States, including implementation of the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) and related issues regarding USMCAs automotive rules of origin and USMCA auto parts definition expansion. Engagement and coordination with other industry stakeholders regarding the same. Engagement and advocacy in connection with USTR biennial USMCA review. Engagement and coordination with USG officials on the continued acceptance of FMVSS-certified vehicle exports in Colombia. Coordinate with other associations and auto industry stakeholders on advocacy efforts in connection with Dept. of Commerce anti-dumping/countervailing duty investigation on imported aluminum extrusions from China, Columbia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, and UAE. Continue to monitor the Korea-U.S. FTA implementation and advocate for the elimination of Korea automotive market access barriers and concerns with fuel economy standards. Engagement with Commerce Dept. officials, House, and Senate staff regarding implementation of the CHIPS Act of 2022 semiconductor incentive funding legislation. Advocate for the continued acceptance of vehicles certified to U.S. standards and regulations and other automotive issues to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Standards Organization (GSO), the Public Authority for Industry of the State of Kuwait (PAI) and UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), Bahrain Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC), Oman Directorate General for Standards and Metrology (DGSM) and Qatar General Organization for Standards and Metrology. Address concerns with fuel economy standards and other automotive issues to the Saudi Arabia Standards Organization (SASO). Advocate for the acceptance of vehicles built to meet U.S. standards and regulations in all markets especially in China, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Ecuador, Brazil, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, Malaysia, Morocco, Mexico, Israel, Iraq, Philippines, Tunisia, Ghana, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Request the support of U.S. regulators and trade officials to advocate globally for acceptance of U.S. certified vehicles. Engagement with the Australian government on Australian New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, and advocacy in coordination with officials from the U.S. Embassy in Australia and other USG officials at USTR, NHTSA, and Commerce-ITA. Engagement with USTR on Dominican Republic vehicle import issues and potential violation of CAFTA-DR rules of origin. Submission of written comments to Viet Nam through WTO TBT Enquiry point in connection with proposed revisions to Viet Nam National Technical Regulation on automotive safety. Engage with U.S. regulatory officials on advancing U.S. vehicle safety standards and U.S. autonomous vehicle (AV) and electric vehicle (EV) standards priorities at UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) related meetings. Engage with regulatory and industry officials from EU member states, China, Korea, Japan, and Canada on WP.29 AV work in connection with same. Engage with regulatory and industry officials on a tire issue at the Transport Events Vehicle Regulations Working Party on Noise and Tyres (GRBP) at WP.29. Engage with NHTSA officials on WP.29 regulatory developments in connection with new UNECE standard for event data recorders in heavy- and medium-duty trucks; submitted written comments to European Commission through WTO TBT Enquiry Point in connection with same. AAPC participated at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Auto Dialogue 40 meeting in Peru, which included coordination with USG officials at Commerce-ITA and NHTSA on automotive trade and regulatory harmonization issues in the APEC region. Participation in multi-association advocacy to NSC & NEC regarding U.S. digital trade policy. Joined multi-association advocacy efforts with USG officials on labor negotiations with Atlantic and Gulf Coast longshoremens union. Submitted written comments in response to USTR Federal Register Notice on Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP) Trade Track. Submitted written comments to the European Commission (EC) through WTO TBT Enquiry Point in response to EC WTO TBT notification on proposed EU End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation. Advocated with Italian Embassy on temporary closure of key automotive component facility in Italy. Develop a report of the economic contributions of the U.S. automakers to the growth of the U.S. economy.

Provide the United States government (USG) with recommendations on AAPC member companies views regarding trade and related market access issues facing the United States, including implementation of the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) and related issues regarding USMCAs automotive rules of origin and USMCA auto parts definition expansion. Engagement and coordination with other industry stakeholders regarding the same. Engagement and advocacy in connection with USTR biennial USMCA review. Engagement with Senate and U.S. House of Representatives offices on AAPC trade and other policy priorities. Engagement and coordination with USG officials in connection with advocacy efforts for the continued acceptance of FMVSS-certified vehicle exports in Colombia. Joint advocacy efforts with other associations in connection with House and Senate meetings on restoring deductibility of R&D expenses. Engagement with Commerce Dept. officials on possible revisions to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). Coordinate with other associations and auto industry stakeholders on advocacy efforts in connection with Dept. of Commerce anti-dumping/countervailing duty investigation on imported aluminum extrusions from China, Columbia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, and UAE. Continue to monitor the Korea-U.S. FTA implementation and advocate for the elimination of Korea automotive market access barriers and concerns with fuel economy standards. Engagement with Commerce Dept. officials, House, and Senate staff regarding implementation of the CHIPS Act of 2022 semiconductor incentive funding legislation. Advocate for the continued acceptance of vehicles certified to U.S. standards and regulations and other automotive issues to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Standards Organization (GSO), the Public Authority for Industry of the State of Kuwait (PAI) and UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), Bahrain Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC), Oman Directorate General for Standards and Metrology (DGSM) and Qatar General Organization for Standards and Metrology. Address concerns with fuel economy standards and other automotive issues to the Saudi Arabia Standards Organization (SASO). Advocate for the acceptance of vehicles built to meet U.S. standards and regulations in all markets especially in China, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Ecuador, Brazil, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, Malaysia, Morocco, Mexico, Israel, Iraq, Philippines, Tunisia, Ghana, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Request the support of U.S. regulators and trade officials to advocate globally for acceptance of U.S. certified vehicles. Engaged the Australian government on Australian New Vehicle Efficiency Standard and brought this issue to the attention of U.S. Embassy in Australia and other USG officials at USTR, NHTSA, and Commerce-ITA. Engagement with USTR on Dominican Republic vehicle import issues and potential violation of CAFTA-DR rules of origin. Engage with officials from China and relevant USG officials on new Chinese standard for EV coolant standards. Engage with officials from Viet Nam and relevant USG officials regarding potential violations of the WTO TBT Agreement associated with Vietnams proposed revisions to its National Technical Regulation on automotive safety. Engage with U.S. regulatory officials on advancing U.S. vehicle safety standards and U.S. autonomous vehicle (AV) and electric vehicle (EV) standards priorities at UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) related meetings. Engage with regulatory and industry officials from EU member states, China, Korea, Japan, and Canada on WP.29 AV work in connection with same. Engage with regulatory and industry officials on a tire issue at the Transport Events Vehicle Regulations Working Party on Noise and Tyres (GRBP) at WP.29. Engage with NHTSA officials on WP.29 regulatory developments in connection with new UNECE standard for event data recorders in heavy- and medium-duty trucks. AAPC participated at the APEC Auto Dialogue 39 meeting in Peru, which included coordination with USG officials at Commerce-ITA on engagement at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and in planning efforts for the Auto Dialogue 40 meeting in Lima, Peru. Engagement with Dept. of Commerce-International Trade Administration officials on status of ongoing USG review of tariffs imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974; prepared comments in connection with same in response to Request for Comments posted in a Federal Register Notice dated May 30, 2024, from USTR. Prepared and submitted comments in response to Dept. of Commerce-Bureau of Industry and Security ANPRM on potential development of U.S. policies to safeguard the ICTS supply chains for connected vehicles. Drafted and submitted comments in response to USTR Federal Register Notice dated March 7, 2024, on promoting resilient supply chains. Engagement with Dept. of Treasury officials regarding Chinese trade policies generally. Joined multi-association letter to NSC & NEC regarding U.S. digital trade policy. Coordinate with other associations in Congressional advocacy efforts to urge passage of the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill and tax legislation to restore immediate deductibility of R&D expenses. Engagement with EPA and USTR on EU and international standards on vehicle lifecycle assessments/carbon footprint regulations for EVs. Develop a report of the economic contributions of the U.S. automakers to the growth of the U.S. economy.

Provide the United States government (USG) with recommendations on AAPC member companies views regarding trade and related market access issues facing the United States, including implementation of the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) and related issues regarding USMCAs automotive rules of origin and USMCA auto parts definition expansion. Engagement and coordination with other industry stakeholders regarding the same. Engagement and advocacy in connection with USTR biennial USMCA review. Engagement with Senate and U.S. House of Representatives offices on AAPC trade and other policy priorities. Engagement and coordination with USG officials in connection with advocacy efforts for the continued acceptance of FMVSS-certified vehicle exports in Colombia. Joint advocacy efforts with other associations in connection with House and Senate meetings on restoring deductibility of R&D expenses. Engagement with Commerce Dept. officials on possible revisions to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). Coordinate with other associations and auto industry stakeholders on advocacy efforts in connection with Dept. of Commerce anti-dumping/countervailing duty investigations. Continue to monitor the Korea-U.S. FTA implementation and advocate for the elimination of Korea automotive market access barriers and concerns with fuel economy standards. Engagement with Commerce Dept. officials, House, and Senate staff regarding implementation of the CHIPS Act of 2022 semiconductor incentive funding legislation. Advocate for the continued acceptance of vehicles certified to U.S. standards and regulations and other automotive issues to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Standards Organization (GSO), the Public Authority for Industry of the State of Kuwait (PAI) and UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), Bahrain Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC), Oman Directorate General for Standards and Metrology (DGSM) and Qatar General Organization for Standards and Metrology. Address concerns with fuel economy standards and other automotive issues to the Saudi Arabia Standards Organization (SASO). Advocate for the acceptance of vehicles built to meet U.S. standards and regulations in all markets especially in China, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Ecuador, Brazil, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, Malaysia, Morocco, Mexico, Israel, Iraq, Philippines, Tunisia, Ghana, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Request the support of U.S. regulators and trade officials to advocate globally for acceptance of U.S. certified vehicles. Engage with U.S. regulatory officials on advancing U.S. vehicle safety standards and U.S. autonomous vehicle (AV) and electric vehicle (EV) standards priorities at UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) related meetings. Engage with regulatory and industry officials from EU member states, China, Korea, Japan, and Canada on WP.29 AV work in connection with same. Engage with regulatory and industry officials on a tire issue at the Transport Events Vehicle Regulations Working Party on Noise and Tyres (GRBP) at WP.29. Engage with NHTSA officials on WP.29 work on testing requirements for thermal propagation in EV batteries. Coordinate with USG on engagement at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and assist in planning efforts for upcoming APEC Auto Dialogue 39 meeting in Peru; participation at same. Engagement with Dept. of Commerce-International Trade Administration officials on status of ongoing USG review of tariffs imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Coordinate with other associations in Congressional advocacy efforts to urge passage of the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill and tax legislation to restore immediate deductibility of R&D expenses. Coordinate with other associations in advocacy efforts with the House Energy & Commerce Committee regarding the Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act requirements. Engagement with EPA and USTR on EU and international standards on vehicle lifecycle assessments/carbon footprint regulations for EVs. Engage with the U.S. Department of Energy on their Petroleum Equivalency Factor (PEF) incorporated in NHTSAs proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. Engagement with NHTSA in connection with Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for new CAFE standards. Engagement with EPA officials on emissions rules and testing protocols for heavy- and medium-duty trucks. Develop a report of the economic contributions of the U.S. automakers to the growth of the U.S. economy.

AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE POLICY COUNCIL, INC.

AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE POLICY COUNCIL, INC.

AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE POLICY COUNCIL, INC.