Emergency Committee for American Trade

Founded in 1967, the Emergency Committee for American Trade (ECAT) is a U.S. trade body representing U.S.-based international business enterprises from the principal sectors of the U.S. economy.

ECAT is perhaps the most powerful of all trade representation bodies for the private sector in the United States, and a significant actor in international negotiations.

Mandate

The mandate of ECAT is to promote economic growth through the expansion of international trade and investment".^[1] ECAT was very active in the negotiations for the Free Trade Area of the Americas treaty^[2] (FTAA) and also in the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) negotiations. ECAT is presently active in negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP).

Functions

ECAT provides a trade outreach program for the private sector, and represents the U.S. business community before Congressional committees. It provides the private sector with facilitated contact with members of Congress and Administration officials

Management

The Chairman of ECAT is Mr. Harold "Terry" McGraw III, who is also chairman of the board of McGraw Hill Financial and Chairman of the Executive Board of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).^[3] The President of ECAT is Calman Cohen.

References

• Testimony of the Emergency Committee for American Trade before the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC)
• President of the Emergency Committee for American Trade Dr Cal Cohen discusses why he thinks Australia should not impose plain cigarette packaging, ABC News
• Beder, Sharon, Suiting Themselves: How Corporations Drive the Global Agenda, Routledge, Jun 25, 2012, 272 pages.