Gary Fazzino's blog

After more than four years of convoluted negotiations (both bilaterally and domestically), Congress today finally approved the legislation necessary to ratify and implement the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). This long overdue action is an important step in U.S. trade policy, and will help open new opportunities and new markets. And the agreement was ratified just in time to welcome South Korea’s President Lee Myung-bak to a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday afternoon and to the White House for a state dinner on Thursday evening.

The KORUS FTA bill was approved as part of a package of trade-related measures, which also included agreements with Colombia and Panama and an extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance program for displaced U.S. workers. In total, it is estimated that these three agreements would boost U.S. exports by about $13 billion annually – with approximately $10-$11 billion alone stemming from implementation of the KORUS FTA. Read more

Ten U.S. Senators recently visited Applied Materials' Solar Technology Center in Xi’an, China. The delegation’s mission was to learn more about renewable energy markets, manufacturing and projects in China as well as to observe U.S. investment in China.

The delegation included Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Democratic Caucus Chairman Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.)Read more

Some positive signals from Washington this week: President Obama has rolled out a new strategy to develop a cleaner and more diversified energy portfolio.

In a speech at Georgetown University, President Obama called for reducing oil imports by at least one-third by 2025 – through improved fuel economy standards, energy efficiency and alternative forms of energy, such as solar, wind, biofuels and natural gas.

The President also built on his State of the Union speech with renewed calls for cleaner electricity generation, and a goal of requiring that 80% of electricity come from cleaner sources by 2035. Applied Materials applauds President Obama for his continued commitment to fostering the nation’s clean technology industry – and strongly support a plan for a clean energy standard that fosters solar deployment. We agree that renewable energy and clean technology is the key to our country’s future competitiveness.Read more

As the government considers President Obama’s proposed budget, we hope our legislators push hard for budget commitments and policies that make the creation of a strong domestic clean technology industry a priority. The budget, after all, is the government displaying its priorities with numbers attached. We’re pleased that President Obama’s budget focuses on the future, and creating a cleaner, greener, more competitive, and more secure America.Read more

President Barack Obama meets with members of the Technology CEO Council in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Feb. 1, 2011. Seated across from the President, from left are;  Joseph Tucci, Chairman, President and CEO, EMC Corporation; Michael Splinter, CEO, Applied Materials; Sam Palmisano, Chairman, President and CEO, IBM; Ursula Burns, Chairman and CEO, Xerox Corporation; Michael Dell, Founder and CEO, Dell; and Steve Appleton, CEO, Micron Technology. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

On Tuesday Mike Splinter Applied Materials Chairman and CEO and other members of the Technology CEO Council (TCC) met with President Obama and his senior advisers in the White House. Mike and the TCC CEOs discussed with the President and his team a variety of issues, all centered on U.S. competitiveness. Playing off many of the themes sounded by President Obama in his State of the Union address, the dialogue touched on innovation, taxes, trade, making government more efficient and regulation and other areas. The President recognizes the importance of innovation as the driving force behind U.S. economic prosperity and we at Applied Materials share his enthusiasm on the topic. On taxes, the CEOs conveyed the importance of aligning corporate tax structure to make the United States the favored destination for investment. Noting that 95% of the world's customers are outside the United States, the CEOs also noted the important of trade to U.S. economic prosperity -- and the President agreed. On the topic of making government more efficient, TCC members outlined the proposals contained in One Trillion Reasons.Read more