Simon Lester

Bloomberg reports: The World Trade Organization upheld Australia’s right to impose plain-package label restrictions on the sale of tobacco products, dealing a blow to the cigarette industry, according to two people close to the situation. A WTO dispute-settlement panel backed Australia’s argument that the rules it set in

Following-up on my last post, the Executive Order Addressing Trade Agreement Violations and Abuses is here.  Let's go through it quickly. Here's how it starts: Section 1.  Policy.  Every trade agreement and investment agreement entered into by the United States, and all trade relations and trade

A new Executive Order on Trade Agreement Violations and Abuses is coming soon (I haven't seen the official document yet). An explanation by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross at a press briefing is here.  I have some thoughts on what Ross said.  Here's how he started off:

On May 16, the ECJ will issue its opinion on the EU-Singapre FTA.  In anticipation of that, here's a new paper on the case from David Kleimann: On December 21, the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) published the legal view of CJEU Advocate General (AG) Sharpston

This is from Reuters: Bankrupt U.S. solar panel maker Suniva on Wednesday asked federal trade officials to recommend new duties on imported solar products to combat a global oversupply of panels that has depressed prices and made American producers unable to compete. The company, which was founded in Georgia

I've been asked this question, and I'm not completely sure of the answer.  This is what a CRS report says: An interesting question is the basis on which U.S.-Canada trade would be conducted following a withdrawal from NAFTA. Sec. 107 of the NAFTA implementing

From Politico: The Trump administration is considering an executive order on withdrawing the U.S. from NAFTA, according to two White House officials. A draft order has been submitted for the final stages of review and could be unveiled late this week or early next week, the officials said. The

A WTO arbitrator ruled today that Mexico can retaliate in the Tuna/Dolphin dispute: 7.1. For the reasons set out above, the Arbitrator determines that the level of nullification or impairment of benefits accruing to Mexico as a result of the 2013 Tuna Measure is USD 163.23 million

Here are a couple statements by Commerce Department Secretary Wilbur Ross on U.S. - Canada trade issues.  First this: It has been a bad week for U.S.-Canada trade relations. Last Monday, it became apparent that Canada intends to effectively cut off the last dairy products being exported

The Department of Commerce has made a preliminary determination of countervailable subsidies on imports of softwood lumber from Canada.  This is from the fact sheet: Commerce calculated preliminary subsidy rates for five mandatory respondents: for Canfor Corporation, 20.26 percent; for J.D. Irving, Limited, 3.02 percent; for Resolute