Sign in Subscribe

Simon Lester

Simon Lester

Co-founder of WorldTradeLaw.net and China Trade Monitor. Non-resident fellow at the Baker Institute.

http://simonlester.com

Bilateral vs. Multilateral Trade Agreements: The U.S. View

Via Larry Friedman, I see the following from a speech by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Hong Kong: we are pursuing new cutting-edge trade deals that raise the standards for fair competition even as they open new markets. For instance, the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement, or KORUS,

Norway on the Right to Trade

Following-up on the WTO's quick summary of the March 25 DSB meeting mentioned here, here's more from Norway on its right to trade in seal products, from the full DSB minutes: 86. The representative of Norway said that, at the present meeting, her country was

ASIL IEcLIG Call for Papers

From the ASIL IEcLIG: International Economic Law Interest Group (IEcLIG) of American Society of International Law (ASIL) Call for Papers Post - Crisis International Financial Regulation: Fragmentation, Harmonization and Coordination The challenges of the 2008 financial crisis were severe and prolonged. The international regulatory community struggled to contain, manage and respond

Optimal Tariffs, Trade War Tariffs and Trade Policy Cooperation

Via Jonathan Dingel, economist Ralph Ossa looks at the gains from trade policy cooperation: What are the optimal tariffs of the US? What tariffs would prevail in a world-wide trade war? What are the gains from international trade policy cooperation? And what gains can be expected from future reciprocal

Unilateral Carbon Border Measures

Here's the abstract of a paper called "Unilateral Carbon Border Measures: Key Legal Issues", from frequent commenter Anuradha R.V.: Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have been engaged in discussions on the future of the climate change regime. While the

Overlapping NAFTA/WTO Environment Claims: Ontario's Renewable Energy Policies

A WTO panel was established today in the Canadian "Feed in Tariff" case (DS412). From AFP: The World Trade Organization said on Wednesday it will rule on a Japanese claim that a Canadian province's renewable energy programme flouts international trade law. "A panel was established,

Section 301 and Investor-State

USTR declines a Section 301 petition related to expropriation: On May 24, 2011, representatives of two individuals—Mauricio Gadala Maria and Carolina Maratos Gadala Maria—filed a petition requesting that the Trade Representative initiate a Section 301 investigation with respect to alleged expropriations without adequate compensation by the Government of

Assistant USTR For Trade Policy and Economics Job

A job advertisement from USTR: The incumbent serves as the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Trade Policy and Economics. The Office is responsible for managing a staff of professionals engaged in the intra-agency and interagency trade policy coordination. The Office also provides statistical and economic analytical support for

Australia and the U.S. on the Aspect of the Measure to be Examined under GATT Article XX

More on the issue of the aspect of the measure to be examined under Article XX, from last week's DSB meeting: Australia had reservations about the reasoning applied by the Appellate Body in its application of the necessary test under Article 20 of GATT 1994. According to Australia,

The Problem of "Overly Restrictive Regulations" on Whiskey

From a recent op-ed by USTR Ron Kirk: Tariff levels are generally falling around the world, but U.S. companies still face significant “behind-the-border” barriers, which typically take the form of complex, burdensome regulations and standards. The story of Tuthilltown Spirits of Gardiner, N.Y., illustrates the