By Kay Scrimger
July 2, 2012

Led by Acting Chair Doral FL Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez, the International Affairs Committee met June 13 at the 80th Annual Conference of Mayors in Orlando.

The committee first considered policy resolutions and then heard from Conference of Mayors Metro Exports and Ports Task Force Chair Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown on metro exports and ports, U.S. Treasury Policy Advisor Brendan Kelly on the U.S.-China strategic and economic dialogue, Jackie Cabasso on elimination of nuclear weapons, and Gainesville Mayor Craig Lowe on a partnership between his city and two others –one in Palestine, the other in Israel.

Brown, host of the Conference of Mayors National Leadership Meeting on Metro Exports and Ports, February 23-25, highlighted the need for cities to become more competitive globally.

Although exports will account for nearly 40 percent of U.S. future economic growth over the coming decades, increased growth in the nation's intermodal transportation system is critical to the nation's ability to take full advantage of expanding markets overseas.

Local areas are developing their transportation systems, but overall intermodal transportation systems are desperately in need of federal investment. Railways are essentially maxed out, the lack of elevated crossings slows movement and ties up traffic, most ports remain too shallow for the new mega'ships, intermodal connections are inadequate, and trucks remain stalled in urban congestion. The U.S. is lagging while foreign governments such as India and China are making dramatic investments in their infrastructure.

The opening of new Panama Canal locks in late 2014 will have a huge impact on expanding markets for U.S. goods. Brown encouraged mayors to continue to speak out strongly about exports and trade.

Kelly briefed mayors on efforts to strengthen the bilateral relationship between China and the U.S., both at the national and the sub-national level. The fourth round of Secretary Timothy Geitner's efforts on the U.S.-China bilateral relationship focuses on increasing economic access. The potential for investment is vast — 29 of China's top cities have a population of five million or more.

Kelly pointed out that an excellent example of the continuing U.S.-China dialogue would be a conference on investment and trade, June 22-23, in Nanjing, China, developed by the U.S. Treasury and China's Ministry of Finance to encourage investment deals.

Mayors for Peace North American Representative Jackie Cabasso discussed the continuing growth in the number of members of the organization—5,276 member cities from 153 countries and regions. The U.S. has 191 member cities. She thanked the Conference of Mayors for its more than three decades of support for nuclear disarmament and stressed the imperative for the world to move toward complete elimination of nuclear weapons by 2020.

Lowe described a fifteen-year collaboration between Gainesville, the Israeli city of Kfar Saba, and the Palestinian city of Qalquilya, the first trilateral sister city relationship of its kind. Generated initially by a request for assistance on building a water treatment plant, the relationship between the two cities has led to development of trusting relationships that continue to strengthen, despite political and physical barriers.

Lowe described his opportunity to visit the two cities and his sense of accomplishment and pride in his city's contribution to bringing Kfar Saba and Qalquilya closer together.

The committee passed eight resolutions:

• Supporting the Peace Corps;

• National Exports and Ports Policy;

• Support of Rio-20, The U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development;

• Support of the Trans-Pacific Partnership;

• Supporting Enhanced U.S. Mayors-International Partnerships on Major Sporting Events;

• Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812;

• Urgency to Address Climate Protection; and

• Calling for U.S. Leadership in Global Elimination of Nuclear Weapons and Redirection of Nuclear Weapons Spending to Meet the Urgent Needs of Cities.