Trade Associations
Here's a look at documents from national and international trade associations
Featured Stories
CCIA Laments Failure to Extend WTO E-Commerce Moratorium at MC14
WASHINGTON, March 30 [Category: Computer Technology] -- The Computer and Communications Industry Association issued the following news release:
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CCIA Laments Failure to Extend WTO E-Commerce Moratorium at MC14
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Washington - World Trade Organization (WTO) Members failed to reach an agreement at the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon to extend the longstanding moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions. As a result, the moratorium will lapse for the second time since its adoption in 1998 (the first time being the failed Seattle Ministerial in 1999).
While ministers
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WASHINGTON, March 30 [Category: Computer Technology] -- The Computer and Communications Industry Association issued the following news release:
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CCIA Laments Failure to Extend WTO E-Commerce Moratorium at MC14
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Washington - World Trade Organization (WTO) Members failed to reach an agreement at the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon to extend the longstanding moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions. As a result, the moratorium will lapse for the second time since its adoption in 1998 (the first time being the failed Seattle Ministerial in 1999).
While ministershighlighted progress across other areas and committed to continue work in Geneva toward a broader "Yaounde package," the failure to extend the moratorium introduces significant uncertainty into the global digital economy and risks undermining a foundational principle of digital trade. To date, no governments have imposed such duties, and CCIA urges WTO Members to exercise restraint and avoid actions that would disrupt digital trade flows while negotiations continue -including through unilateral or bilateral commitments to refrain from such action. As a modest, positive development, a large group of WTO Members agreed to implement elements of the Joint Statement Initiative on e-commerce, including a prohibition on customs duties on electronic transmissions, though this commitment falls short of and cannot substitute for a multilateral solution. CCIA has long advocated for a permanent and binding moratorium and strongly regrets that WTO Members were unable to deliver that outcome.
The following can be attributed to Jonathan McHale:
"The WTO's failure to take an obviously positive step is a deeply disappointing outcome that creates unnecessary risk for the global digital economy. No WTO members will benefit, and all will suffer the consequences. For more than two decades, WTO members have recognized that imposing tariffs on electronic transmissions would be counterproductive, but allowed the issue to become a negotiating football. If any Members now take the unwise step of imposing such duties, other Members, including the United States, should be prepared to respond firmly in the appropriate manner. WTO Members must return to this issue urgently in Geneva, build on the draft texts developed at MC14, and deliver a durable solution that restores certainty and credibility to the system."
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Original text here: https://ccianet.org/news/2026/03/ccia-laments-failure-to-extend-wto-e-commerce-moratorium-at-mc14/
CCIA Applauds Canada's Withdrawal of Discriminatory Digital Services Tax
WASHINGTON, March 30 [Category: Computer Technology] -- The Computer and Communications Industry Association issued the following news release:
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CCIA Applauds Canada's Withdrawal of Discriminatory Digital Services Tax
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Washington - The Canadian government formally withdrew its digital services tax (DST) with the passage of its budget bill, which rescinds the DST and commits to refunding all payees with interest. The tax, first announced in 2020, had been paused in June 2025 just days before in-scope companies were due to submit initial payments.
The Computer & Communications Industry
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WASHINGTON, March 30 [Category: Computer Technology] -- The Computer and Communications Industry Association issued the following news release:
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CCIA Applauds Canada's Withdrawal of Discriminatory Digital Services Tax
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Washington - The Canadian government formally withdrew its digital services tax (DST) with the passage of its budget bill, which rescinds the DST and commits to refunding all payees with interest. The tax, first announced in 2020, had been paused in June 2025 just days before in-scope companies were due to submit initial payments.
The Computer & Communications IndustryAssociation has consistently opposed DSTs, including Canada's, on the grounds that they are discriminatory, inconsistent with established international tax norms, and burdensome for U.S. commerce. Research from CCIA's Research Center found that Canada's measure risked imposing up to $2.3 billion in annual direct losses on U.S. companies and could have resulted in thousands of full-time U.S. job losses. Comparable DSTs in Europe have been estimated to collect more than $9 billion between 2020 and 2024, with the vast majority of those costs falling on U.S. firms. Canada's action is particularly relevant given the continued (and proposed expanded ) DSTs that are still in force or under active consideration.
The following can be attributed to Jonathan McHale, CCIA Vice President for Digital Trade:
"Canada's formal withdrawal of its digital services tax and commitment to refund all payments is a welcome development. This reflects the sustained efforts of negotiators in both countries who worked diligently to resolve this issue, including officials from USTR, Treasury, and the White House who consistently pressed for a resolution. Other countries with enacted or proposed digital services taxes, including the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Belgium, and Poland, should take note of Canada's action and commit to abandoning such discriminatory and harmful policies."
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Original text here: https://ccianet.org/news/2026/03/ccia-applauds-canadas-withdrawal-of-discriminatory-digital-services-tax/
ASAM Releases New Guide to Strengthen Substance Use Disorder Care in Hospitals and Emergency Departments
ROCKVILLE, Maryland, March 30 [Category: Health Care] (TNSrpt) -- The American Society of Addiction Medicine posted the following news release:
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ASAM Releases New Guide to Strengthen Substance Use Disorder Care in Hospitals and Emergency Departments
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), a leading medical society dedicated to improving addiction care, today released its Implementation Guide for Hospital and Emergency Department Substance Use Disorder Care, a new guide to help hospitals and emergency departments (EDs) meet nationally recognized standards of care for patients
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ROCKVILLE, Maryland, March 30 [Category: Health Care] (TNSrpt) -- The American Society of Addiction Medicine posted the following news release:
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ASAM Releases New Guide to Strengthen Substance Use Disorder Care in Hospitals and Emergency Departments
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), a leading medical society dedicated to improving addiction care, today released its Implementation Guide for Hospital and Emergency Department Substance Use Disorder Care, a new guide to help hospitals and emergency departments (EDs) meet nationally recognized standards of care for patientswith substance use disorders (SUD). The guidance comes as drug overdose remains the leading cause of death for Americans under age 50 and national policymakers aim to dismantle care silos.
SUD is common among patients in hospitals and EDs but often goes unaddressed despite the availability of effective treatments. Untreated SUD is associated with high costs and increased rates of premature hospital discharge and mortality. ASAM's new guide provides hospital and ED leadership with an overview of SUD care standards, along with care delivery models and actionable strategies to effectively meet those standards and improve patient outcomes.
"For patients with severe addiction, EDs are sometimes the only point of contact with the health care system. This positions EDs and hospitals as vital gateways to life-saving treatment and recovery," said Itai Danovitch, MD, DFASAM, co-author of the guide and chair of ASAM's Quality Improvement Council. "Research shows that when services are offered, including medication and psychosocial interventions, patients are more likely to initiate effective treatment and connect with aftercare services. Integrating SUD care can also reduce stigma among clinicians, increasing comfort and willingness to provide SUD treatment."
Healthcare in the United States faces increasing pressure to reduce care fragmentation and deliver evidence-based addiction treatment services. The new guide describes seven core capabilities that all hospitals can meet to effectively care for patients with SUD. This includes identification and engagement of patients with SUD; intoxication and withdrawal management; overdose and post-overdose care; initiation and continuation of addiction medications; assessment and management of common co-occurring conditions; linkage to ongoing SUD care; and risk reduction. These hospital standards are aligned with the Fourth Edition of The ASAM Criteria, the most widely used and comprehensive set of standards for matching patients with addiction to an appropriate level of care.
The guide also describes how hospitals can deploy one or more different care models to fit their unique needs and ensure they meet the core standards for SUD care. These models include addiction consult services (ACS) models, practice-based models, in-reach models, and linkage to care models, such as bridge clinics.
"While all EDs and hospitals should meet basic standards, centers that manage a high volume of patients with complex conditions that frequently co-occur with SUD, such as trauma centers, transplant centers, or cardiac surgery centers, should ideally have interdisciplinary, interprofessional addiction consult services staffed by addiction specialists," said Sarah Wakeman, MD, FASAM, chair of the ASAM presidential task force that oversaw the creation of the guide. "This is how hospitals approach other common conditions and patient needs."
Hospital administrators and clinical leaders can also find a step-by-step implementation guide to receive organizational buy-in, identify champions who can drive implementation processes forward, and make the business case for expanding SUD services.
"The evidence is clear that treating SUD in hospital and ED settings is feasible, rewarding, and improves outcomes," Dr. Wakeman added. "Now is the time to implement what we know works and for SUD care to become a routine element of medical care for all hospitals and EDs."
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About the American Society of Addiction Medicine
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), founded in 1954, is a professional medical society representing over 8,000 physicians, clinicians, and associated professionals in the field of addiction medicine. ASAM is dedicated to increasing access and improving the quality of addiction treatment, educating physicians and the public, supporting research and prevention, and promoting the appropriate role of physicians in the care of patients with addiction. For more information, visit www.ASAM.or g.
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REPORT: https://downloads.asam.org/sitefinity-production-blobs/docs/default-source/guidelines/hospital-implementation/hospital-implementation-guide_final.pdf?sfvrsn=e9a4bbf0_1
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Original text here: https://www.asam.org/news/detail/2026/03/30/asam-releases-new-guide-to-strengthen-substance-use-disorder-care-in-hospitals-and-emergency-departments
APHA and leading health organizations sue EPA over proposal to allow power plants to release more mercury and other toxic pollutants
SAN DIEGO, California, March 30 [Category: Health Care] -- The American Public Health Association posted the following news release:
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APHA and leading health organizations sue EPA over proposal to allow power plants to release more mercury and other toxic pollutants
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The American Public Health Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Lung Association and Physicians for Social Responsibility, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) final action repealing updated limits on mercury
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SAN DIEGO, California, March 30 [Category: Health Care] -- The American Public Health Association posted the following news release:
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APHA and leading health organizations sue EPA over proposal to allow power plants to release more mercury and other toxic pollutants
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The American Public Health Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Lung Association and Physicians for Social Responsibility, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) final action repealing updated limits on mercuryand air toxics from power plants finalized in 2024. These organizations issued the following statements:
American Public Health Association:
"The American Public Health Association is pleased to join with our health partners in challenging EPA's ill-conceived decision to roll back the life-saving Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. These standards have already reduced toxic mercury emissions by 90% from the power sector, protecting the health of children across the country. Maintaining the updated 2024 standards is essential to building on the proven successful track record of the MATS, which have slashed emissions of toxic air pollutants, including mercury, particulate matter, arsenic and lead, and have saved thousands of lives each year," said APHA CEO Georges C. Benjamin, MD. "Millions are breathing cleaner air because of these standards, and we are joining this effort to ensure these critical public health protections remain intact."
American Academy of Pediatrics:
"Children are disproportionately impacted by toxic air pollution due to their vulnerable physiology, normal childhood behavior that increases their exposures, and the fact that their lungs are still developing. For these reasons, the American Academy of Pediatrics has long supported standards that work to ensure cleaner air and protect child health. Without the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards in place, harms to children's brain development will increase and risks of respiratory conditions like asthma will become worse. We urge the court to reinstate these standards and overturn the Environmental Protection Agency's 2026 final rule rescinding them," said Andrew D. Racine, MD, PhD, FAAP, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
American Lung Association President and CEO Harold Wimmer:
"The American Lung Association is taking this action because of EPA's choice to allow more toxic pollution to impact the health and well-being of children throughout the United States. This will expose more communities to mercury and other toxic pollutants, leading to brain development impacts, asthma attacks, cancers and premature deaths. Our mission is to save lives, and we are taking this action because EPA has retreated from their mission and is putting Americans at risk."
Physicians for Social Responsibility
"Physicians for Social Responsibility proudly joins our health partners in this lawsuit to protect Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, which ensure life-saving protections for all Americans. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin, especially for developing fetuses and children that can suffer lifelong impairments from exposure. The Trump Administration's attempt at rolling back these updated protections is one example in a long list of giveaways to corporate interests at the expense of health," said Executive Director, Brian Campbell, PhD. "These potentially deadly emissions are entirely preventable and it is EPA's duty to put the health of the American people and our shared environment first. We look forward to our day in court."
Southern Environmental Law Center
"Federal safeguards that have significantly lowered levels of mercury, arsenic, lead and other toxic air pollutants have proven to be a success story for public health and the environment," said Deborah Murray, Senior Attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center. "Efforts by the Trump administration's EPA to undermine this progress to promote industry-friendly policies comes at a huge cost for communities who depend on clean air."
The American Public Health Association champions optimal, equitable health and well-being for all. With our broad-based member community and 150-year perspective, we influence federal policy to improve the public's health. Learn more at www.apha.org.
About the American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. Learn more at www.aap.org.
About the American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org. To support the work of the American Lung Association, find a local event at Lung.org/events.
About Physicians for Social Responsibility
Guided by the values and expertise of medicine and public health, Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) works to protect human life from the gravest threats to health and survival. Our national organization and local chapters across the country mobilize health professionals and public health advocates to advance environmental justice, climate solutions, and a nuclear weapons-free world. To learn more, get involved, and support PSR, visit PSR.org.
About the Southern Environmental Law Center
The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation's most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. With a long track record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to protect our region's air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and people. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, the organization has a staff of 250, including more than 160 legal and policy experts, and is headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., with offices in Asheville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond, and Washington, D.C. southernenvironment.org.
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Original text here: https://www.apha.org/news-and-media/news-releases/apha-news-releases/apha-and-leading-health-organizations-sue-epa-over-mercury-and-other-toxic-pollutants-proposal
Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction on Hiatus
CHICAGO, Illinois, March 30 [Category: Libraries] -- The American Library Association posted the following news release:
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Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction on Hiatus
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CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) today announced that the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction will be presented at ALA's Annual Conference in June 2026 in Chicago. The 2026 awards will mark the conclusion of the Carnegie Corporation's support for the medals.
As ALA celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, the Annual Conference will provide a meaningful
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CHICAGO, Illinois, March 30 [Category: Libraries] -- The American Library Association posted the following news release:
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Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction on Hiatus
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CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) today announced that the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction will be presented at ALA's Annual Conference in June 2026 in Chicago. The 2026 awards will mark the conclusion of the Carnegie Corporation's support for the medals.
As ALA celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, the Annual Conference will provide a meaningfulopportunity to both commemorate this milestone year and honor the final cohort of Carnegie Medal winners. ALA leadership has expressed its hope of identifying a new sponsor in the coming year to continue this important recognition of outstanding writing.
The Andrew Carnegie Medals were established in 2012 with a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York in recognition of Andrew Carnegie's deep belief in the power of books and learning to change the world. The Medals have been co-sponsored by ALA's Booklist and the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA). The two medals have served as a guide to help adults select quality reading material. They were the first single-book awards for adult books given by the American Library Association and have reflected the expert judgment and insight of library professionals and booksellers. The winning authors have each received a $5,000 cash award.
A longlist comprised of up to 50 titles was released each fall. Six finalists, three fiction and three nonfiction, were announced in November. The two winners were announced in January. Titles were nominated by a seven-member selection committee. The annually appointed committee included one member of the American Booksellers Association, three Booklist editors or contributors, and three RUSA members.
The 2026 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction will be presented to Megha Majumdar for "A Guardian and a Thief," published by Knopf, a division of Penguin Random House. The Carnegie for Excellence in Nonfiction will be presented to Yiyun Li for "Things in Nature Merely Grow," published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, a division of Macmillan. The ticketed event will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, beginning at 8:00 pm, at the American Writers Museum, 180 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601.
Past fiction winners include Percival Everett for "James," Julie Otsuka for "The Swimmers," Tom Lin for "The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu," James McBride for "Deacon King Kong," and Valeria Luiselli for "Lost Children Archive." Past nonfiction winners include Kevin Fedarko for "A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon," Ed Yong for "An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us," Hanif Abdurraqib for "A Little Devil in America: In Praise of Black Performance," Rebecca Giggs for "Fathoms: The World in the Whale," and Adam Higginbotham for "Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster."
"The Carnegie Medals not only recognize and celebrate literacy excellence, they also serve to promote reading and literacy," said Donna Seaman, Editor in Chief for Booklist. "Library workers, booksellers, and the reading public look to the Medals as a trusted guide for the very best in adult fiction and nonfiction for adults. We are honored to have had the Carnegie Corporation's support since the inception of this important award."
Please contact Amy Katzenberger ( akatzenberger@ala.org ) Director of Development, American Library Association with inquiries regarding sponsorship.
About the American Library Association
The American Library Association is the largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to America's libraries. The ALA mission is to empower and advocate for all libraries and library workers to ensure equitable access to information for all. For 150 years, ALA has provided resources for information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more information, visit www.ala.org.
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Original text here: https://www.ala.org/news/2026/03/andrew-carnegie-medals-excellence-fiction-and-nonfiction-hiatus
American Heart Association: Too much sitting is taking a toll on heart and brain health
DALLAS, Texas, March 30 [Category: Health Care] -- The American Heart Association posted the following news release:
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Too much sitting is taking a toll on heart and brain health
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Too much sitting has quietly become one of the most common threats to heart health in the United States. Research shows that prolonged sedentary time is linked to higher risks of heart disease, stroke and poorer mental health, even among people who exercise. On National Walking Day, the American Heart Association the world's leading nonprofit organization focused on changing the future of health for all, is urging
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DALLAS, Texas, March 30 [Category: Health Care] -- The American Heart Association posted the following news release:
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Too much sitting is taking a toll on heart and brain health
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Too much sitting has quietly become one of the most common threats to heart health in the United States. Research shows that prolonged sedentary time is linked to higher risks of heart disease, stroke and poorer mental health, even among people who exercise. On National Walking Day, the American Heart Association the world's leading nonprofit organization focused on changing the future of health for all, is urgingpeople to interrupt that cycle by moving more, starting with something as simple as a walk.
National Walking Day, celebrated Wednesday, April 1, offers an opportunity for communities across the country to step away from sedentary routines and make movement part of the day. Walking remains one of the most accessible ways to be physically active and can be adapted to fit different abilities, schedules and lifestyles.
"Many people think exercise only helps if it happens every day or for long periods of time," said Eduardo Sanchez, MD, MPH, FAHA, chief medical officer for prevention at the American Heart Association. "What matters most is how much you move over the course of a week. Walking, whether it happens in short bouts or longer stretches, can support heart health, reduce stress and improve overall well-being."
Research shows that accumulating at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week is associated with meaningful health benefits. Those minutes do not need to be spread evenly throughout the week. They can add up through daily walks, active weekends or a combination of both, offering flexibility for people with busy lives.
To make the most of National Walking Day and continue moving all month, consider these tips:
* Invite friends, family members or coworkers to join you for a walk.
* Take a walking meeting or break up long periods of sitting during the workday.
* Walk your dog, explore a new route or take a stroll after dinner to unwind.
* If walking is not accessible, try seated movement, gentle stretching or other activities that keep you moving safely.
* Share your walk on social media using #NationalWalkingDay to inspire others.
Regular physical activity, including walking, is a key part of the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8(tm), which outlines the most important behaviors for supporting optimal cardiovascular health. In addition to aerobic activity, the Association recommends muscle-strengthening activities at least two days each week.
National Walking Day serves as a reminder that movement does not need to be complicated to matter. Every step, every break from sitting and every choice to move counts toward better heart and brain health.
For tips, tools and inspiration to help build healthier habits, visit the Association's Healthy for Good(tm) initiative at heart.org/movemore.
Additional Resources:
* Multimedia is available on the right column of the release link.
* Spanish news release (to be added as available)
* Healthy for Good Move More - Steps to building healthy habits
* Fit in Walking Morning, Noon or Night
* American Heart Association Recommendations for Physical Activity
* Follow American Heart Association/American Stroke Association news on X @HeartNews
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public's health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
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Original text here: https://newsroom.heart.org/news/too-much-sitting-is-taking-a-toll-on-heart-and-brain-health
