International Economic Law and Policy Blog

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Simon Lester

Trade Law Research Project

These two short-term research projects may be of interest to this blog's readers: Post: Legal researcher (2) Pay: £11,900 Work completed by: 16 September 2011 The Clean Trade project is based on the premise that the citizens of each country have the ultimate right to control the

GATT Article XX and Domestic Production of Environmental Goods

From an article (subscription only) describing the Columbia panel discussion mentioned here: China could plead environmental necessity to win a dispute over its wind industry subsidies, a case now moving through the World Trade Organization, one legal expert suggests. Provisions under Chinese law mandating that nearly all wind power equipment

The Scope of the Trade Regime: Protectionism vs. Trade Barriers

Here's an issue I've always wondered about, but never discussed with others. I'm going to put it out there, to see if anyone has thoughts. I have this sense that there are two schools of thought about the scope of the international trade regime.

Panel Discussion in NY Today: Climate Change, China and the WTO

If you're in New York today, you may want to attend this: SUMA, Columbia Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School, Center for Chinese Legal Studies at Columbia Law School and Earth Institute co-sponsor: Climate Change, China and the WTO Wednesday, March 30, 2011, from 6:

The WTO Boeing Subsidies Case: Decision Coming Tomorrow

From AFP: The World Trade Organisation is due Thursday to publish its verdict on decades of state support for US aircraft maker Boeing amid EU claims of a multi-billion dollar dent in sales for rival Airbus.

Pamela Anderson on Transparency in the WTO Seal Products Dispute

Here's the text of a letter from actress Pamela Anderson to Canada's trade minister: Dear Mr. Van Loan, In light of the WTO's decision to formally hear and settle Canada's case over the ban on seal products by E.U. member countries,

Multiple Permissible Interpretations under the Vienna Convention?

From the U.S. - Orange Juice (Brazil) panel report (DS382) circulated last Friday: 7.129 It is well established that the purpose of treaty interpretation through the use of the Vienna Convention is the identification of the common intention of the parties. It follows that where the common intention

GE Tax Breaks and the SCM Agreement

From the NY Times: General Electric, the nation’s largest corporation, had a very good year in 2010. The company reported worldwide profits of $14.2 billion, and said $5.1 billion of the total came from its operations in the United States. Its American tax bill? None. In fact,

More on the Reinhardt Free Trade Debate

As noted here, Princeton economist Uwe Reinhardt seemed to want to start a debate on the merits of free trade vs. protectionism over at the NY Times economix blog. In this regard, he wrote: But along with my Princeton colleague Alan S. Blinder, I do worry about what the dynamic

More on "Public Body": Where do WTO Terms Come From?

Recall from this post that SCM Agreement Article 1.1(a)(1) refers to a "public body" in the context of defining "financial contribution": (a)(1) there is a financial contribution by a government or any public body within the territory of a Member (referred to