In Search of an Obama Trade Policy

In its first six months in office, the Obama administration has offered contradictory signals on trade.

Presidential Leadership and Trade

On trade policy, President Obama faces a deeply divided party with a strong antiglobal element concentrated among House Democrats.

What President Obama Can Learn from President Clinton

On trade policy, President Obama's record is certainly not "smart and tough," though it is too early to permanently brand it "expedient and weak."

The U.S., the London Summit, and Trade

The Obama administration may have decided to increase demands for acceptable compromises on Doha, even at the risk of jettisoning the negotiations.

The Politics and Likely Trade Policies of the Obama Administration

Trade policy has traditionally been considered an extension of foreign policy, but in truth trade policy today is intimately intertwined with domestic policy.

The Doha Endgame and the Future of the WTO

The World Trade Organization should suspend its formal negotiations for the next twelve months.

Suspend Negotiations at Doha

It would be a mistake for the World Trade Organization to restart the multilateral trade negotiations.

Suspend Doha Talks for a Year

The best option to regain control of the multilateral negotiating process would be to suspend the Doha talks.

Beware of Investment Protectionism

Barack Obama should announce to the world that the United States welcomes and encourages foreign investment.

Trade and Raw Materials--Looking Ahead

Exporting nations need to understand that the negative consequences from the imposition of export restrictions will often outweigh the short-term gains.

Stand By with Smelling Salts for Your Cloistered Editorial Writers

Campaign attack ads are not for the faint of heart.

Taiwan's Time

Afree trade agreement with Taiwan would advance American interests and give Taiwan an opportunity to thrive and compete in an increasingly integrated East Asian region.

Taiwan's Time

Afree trade agreement with Taiwan would advance American interests and give Taiwan an opportunity to thrive and compete in an increasingly integrated East Asian region.

The Fast-Track Trade War

No matter how our allies react to the Colombia spat, the politics of FTA passage may have been permanently changed.

Democratic Runners Not So Different on Free Trade

Barack Obama is not more adept in international trade than Hillary Clinton.

Patents Pending

The U.S. patent system is more important than ever. It is also a mess, but help may finally be on the way.

The Dragon Stirs

Congress's Patent Mistakes

Government should address intellectual property reform carefully and with caution.

Congress's Patent Mistakes

Government should address intellectual property reform carefully and with caution.

U.S. Trade Policy

Considering new U.S. domestic political realities, diplomatic and security imperatives will pose a huge challenge for the next president and Congress as they attempt to advance national interests.

Should Labor Standards Have a Role in U.S. Trade Agreements?

The Grand Bipartisan Trade Deal

What have Congress and the White House really agreed to on trade? It is hard to say, judging from their widely differing views of last week's deal.

US-South Korea FTA

The U.S./Korea FTA has triggered a tectonic shift in regional trade relations and in future potential institutional frameworks.

Tout Seoul

America's new trade deal with Korea shows that bilateral negotiations can work. But the deal is headed for tough scrutiny on both sides of the Pacific.

Europe (Re)Joins the FTA Bandwagon

The EU'snew initiative onglobal tradetracks with the explanations given for the Bush administration’s 2001 decision to elevate bilateral and regional FTAs.

The United States, China, and the Rise of Asian Regionalism

Korea, the US, China and Japan: The Rise of Asian Regionalism

The European Commission's Communication on External Policy (Regional Trade Agreements)

Time Right for a US-Taiwan FTA?

With the collapse of the Doha trade negotiations, the United Stateshas vowed to pursue alternatives with willing partners--particularly in the emerging economic powerhouse in East Asia.

U.S. Trade Policy

What plausible alternatives exist for multilateralism?

No Credible Evidence of Widespread Fraud in Mexican Poll

What effect would a recount of the recent Mexican presidentialelection have on electoral institutions and procedures?

Links Between Japan and U.S. are under Pressure from Burgeoning Accords in Asia-Pacific Region

The US and Japan, as the world's biggest economies, have a strong interest in setting the pace for global standards in any regional consolidation.

The US and China

With President Bush's meeting with Chinese president Hu Jintao truly be "friendly but forthright"?

The Doha Round

What will the final outcome of the Doha round be--and when will negotiations be completed?

Reworking the WTO

Securing American Sovereignty

Heading off future corrosive conflicts between the United Statesand the EU will necessitate reform of the international trading rules that have enmeshed--and entrapped--both trading superpowers.

The Cause of World Trade Demands a Powerful Patron

The democratic legitimacy of the WTO would bestrengthened if the member states chose a politically astute director-generaland then gave hima more powerful mandate to lead.

Avoiding an Air War

All forms of government support for Airbus and Boeing should be placed on the table for negotiation, with the goal of eliminating or drastically reducing competition-distorting public aid.

Aim for Airbus and Boeing Should Be to Operate without Subsidies

For Airbus, it is time finally to kick away the "infant" industry crutch; for Boeing, it is time to agree that all subsidies should be open for negotiation and elimination.

Free Trade and the 2004 Presidential Race

John Kerry promises to review trade agreements to strengthen labor and environmental sanctions, whileGeorge W.Bush reinstated trade promotion authority and expanded free trade.

What Happened to "Compete, Not Retreat"?

Support for the so-called Byrd Amendment will place the United States in violation of World Trade Organization rules and lead to an increase in antidumping cases.

When It Comes to Free Trade, Bush Outshines His Predecessors

No administration will ever fully satisfy the free traders, but the Bushadminstration has established accomplishments in trade negotiations stronger than any other recent administration.

Should the WTO Determine U.S. Tax Policy?

What are the implications for U.S. sovereignty of theWorld Trade Organizationdecision regarding the U.S. tax system for foreign income of U.S. corporations?

Bush Trade Policy

The United States, China, and the Rise of Asian Regionalism

The goal of this paper is to analyze the evolution of trade relations between the United States and China, against the background of rising East Asian regionalism.

The G8

Why not rebuild on the basis of current and future potential economic and political power and start with a basic G3: the United States, the European Union, and China?

The United States, Korea, China, and the rise of Asian Regionalism

National Champions

The brazen, repeated and very public intervention of high French government officials represents a major challenge to EU competition and merger rules.

A Negative Side to Decision on GSP

The General System of Preferences creates asense of entitlement among developing countries and has become an impediment to a successful conclusion of the Doha Round.

How Much Is Latin America Hurt by the Byrd Amendment?

To Reform the U.S. Antidumping Regime, Look to Politics

Large Strides in Trade Policy

U.S. Steel Tariffs Gave Safeguards a Bad Name

In the end the greatest damage the Bush administration may have inflicted on the World Trade Organizationis in giving safeguards a bad name by its abuse of the system in the case of steel.

U.S. Steel Tariffs Gave Safeguards a Bad Name

In the end the greatest damage the George W. Bush administration may have inflicted on the WTO is in giving safeguards a bad name by its abuse of the system in the case of steel.

The Real Cancun

Why did the World Trade Organizationtalks in Cancun collapse?

How Will the Collapse of WTO Negotiations Affect FTAA Talks?

The World Trade Brief

Increased use of safeguards would reduce inflammatory and often spurious comparisons between "fair" and "unfair" trade practices.

Are Any Major Breakthroughs Expected in Cancun?

Common Issues, Economic Renewal Can Bring About Success in Cancun

The WTO meeting in Cancun is meant to provide guidance and set the parameters for a package of negotiating agreements to be completed by January 2005.

Trade Defenses

What the Cancun Meeting Can Achieve

At the WTO Cancun Meeting, U.S. negotiators must find a balance between compromise and assertiveness to overcome soured U.S.-EU relations.

How "Pragmatism" Is Costing U.S. Dear

In the trade world, the adjective "critical" before the noun "industry" is always a sure sign that the fraudulent and hackneyed national security argument is about to raise its ugly head.

Bush Trade Policy Has Made Progress

After six years of drift under the Clinton administration (post-NAFTA), since 2001 the U.S. has re-emerged as the indispensable leader in the international trade policy arena.

Hoover Economics?

Joseph Stiglitz's critique of globalization and multilateral institutions contributes more heat than light.

Telecommunications in the Multilateral Trading System

Advisor Analysis

Only Farmers Might Benefit from Trade Proposals

It's too early to predict if "Let's Roll!" can become the hallmark of President George Bush's trade policy over the balance of his term.

Preferential Pacts Hurt Trade

WTO Dispute Settlement System in Need of Change

The United States and the European Union are victims of too much substantive success in multilateral trade negotiations, combined with overreaching in the area of dispute resolution.

Snakepit of Alternatives to Consensus Rulemaking

The WTO representsan advance in furthering the cause of free markets and open competition, but technocratic legalism will roll back that advance unless corrections are put in place.

Flaws in WTO Dispute Settlement System

There are two dangerous flaws in the new dispute settlement system: the promise of a binding decision in each case and the inability to overturn a decision of a WTO panel once it is rendered.

Nerves of Steel

The Bush administration faces a crucial test of its commitment to free markets and open competition in the face of powerful protectionist pressures from business and labour.

The Role of International Trade and Investment

In combating the deepening worldwide recession, policymakers should heed lessons from the last great global downturn--the depression of the 1930s.

Who's a Conservative, Who's a Reformer?

In Europe, as in America, it is getting so you cannot tell the players, even with the score cards. It is a fact that has great relevance to the United States, from malls to mills, on jobs and prices.

China, WTO, and Rule of Law

U.S. Trade with China and Taiwan Is Inextricably Linked to Security

Candor and a clear delineation of policies are a better means of avoiding conflict than the obfuscation and vagueness of past agreements.

The Valuable Trade Policy Review Mechanism

The World Trade Organization Trade Policy Review Mechanism is potentially one of the most innovative and far-reaching reforms to emerge from the Uruguay Round of trade talks.

Memorandum on the Politics of Trade and Fast Track in the United States

Two Sides to China's Entry into the WTO

The November breakthrough in trade negotiations between Washington and Beijingis to be applauded for lowering China's tariffs and increasing foreign access to its markets.

Two Sides to China's WTO Membership

Becauseof a deal between the United States and China on accession for Chinese membership into the World Trade Organization, there is cause for rejoicing and cause for worry.

More Than You Can Chew?

China and the World

Events in Yugoslavia have reinforced the People's Republic of China'sdetermination to exercise greater leadership against U.S. "hegemony."

Parallel Trade in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Safeguards vs. Antidumping Protection

If the U.S. government determines that temporary relief for the steel industry is necessary, it should opt for safeguards, rather than antidumping actions, against low-priced imports.

Collaborative R, European Style

Review of Technology Policy in the European Union by John Peterson and Margaret Sharp.

Steel

Clinton administration is missing a historic opportunity to reshape the scope and rationale for trade rules that govern sudden, large increases in imports.

Unilateral Sanctions Undermine U.S. Interests

Feuding over Fast-Track

As with all legislation, the devil will be in the details when it comes to judging the merits of the bills renewing fast-track authority for the president on trade negotiations.

CD Imports on Wrong Track

Big Government's Retreat

Review of The Commanding Heights by Daniel Yergin and Joseph Stanislaw.

Boon in a Boom

The way for the United States to keep growing is to help Asian economies.

Politics of Trade and Fast Track in the United States

Fast track legislation is dead for this year; and indeed, the likelihood is that fast track authority will not be granted again by Congress until the next president comes into office in 2001.

It Pays to Be Copyrighteous

A System American Wanted

A System America Wanted

The World Trade Organization's ruling in a casealleging that the Japanese government rigged the Japanese market has produced ironies andrhetoric about the future of the WTO.

Standing Firm on Fast Track

Labor and environmental leaders are demanding that upgrading other nation's labor and environmental standards become preconditions to further trade liberalization.

Helms-Burton Credibility Gap

Though at this point there seems little prospect that a wide-ranging multilateral investment agreement will be reached by October,UnderSecretary of StateEizenstat must press on.

The Future of Free Trade

Domestic markets will become more contestable and competition among firms across countries will intensify.

Social and Environmental Charters

The inclusion of clauses dictating labor and environmental policies defeats the purpose of free trade agreements.

Mismanaged Trade

Chapter 5 in Freedom to Trade: Refuting the New Protectionism, edited by Edward Hudgins

Return of Eurosclerosis

Unless European leaders show greater courage in putting their economic house in order, the continent will lose out as an investment location to North America andAsian economies.

Gutting Federal R&D

The postwar consensus on the government's role in scientific research has broken down.

Principles Needed in U.S.-Japan Trade

Economic goals and international economic welfareshould beservedby standingagainst market-distorting interventions anddestroying competition under the guise of deregulation.

Protectionist Pressures

The test will come when, after the 1996 American election, the United States once again embarks on multilateral or regional trade liberalization.

Blame Woes of Europe on Maastricht

If Europe fails to put its economic house in order, pressure will grow for inward-looking trade policies, and the United States and Asian nations will move toward greater trade liberalization.

Financial Talks

America's decision to torpedo the international trade talks on financial services is a striking demonstration of the abdication of leadership by this country in the multilateral trading system.

Bungling the WTO Job Search

Peter Sutherland was scheduled to step down today as head of the World Trade Organization, yet there is no consensus candidate to replace him.

Select a Real Leader for WTO

The issue is the selection of a leader for the new World Trade Organization.

Flat Panel Displays

An Industrial Debacle

A Look at . . . the GATT Spat

Will the New World Trade Organization Work?

Only belatedly did attention turn to the implications of a new world trade organization and the completely revamped and streamlined dispute settlement system that came with it.

China and GATT

Now that the celebrations regarding the Uruguay Round are over, world trade leaders are beginning to comprehend the administrative tasks that faced by the World Trade Organization.

Pacific Partnership

America's Clumsy Textile Policy

The Clinton administration's threatened retaliation against China's alleged transshipment of textiles and apparel reveals a confused sense of priorities.

Europe

The NAFTA Side Agreements

Nafta Side Deals

Minivan Trade Mockery

Dumping Know-Nothingism

An American MITI?

Before the Election, Cut a GATT Deal

Flaws in Mr. Bush's Enterprise

Taiwan and U.S. Crown Jewels

Two Cheers for an Important U.S. Breakthrough in the Trade Wars

Protectionist Tide at OTA?

Banish Auto Import Restraints

Considering the American Experience

Europe vs. the U.S.?

Europe 1992

The Grand Inquisitor on Trade