International Economic Law and Policy Blog

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Simon Lester

Are We Living Under a "Pro-Corporate Global Governance System"?

Todd Tucker refers to the current trade regime as a "pro-corporate global governance system." Is that a fair characterization? Aren't just as many corporations opposed to the system as are for it? There are winners and losers from every policy -- some corporations are hurt and

Intra-National Free Trade: Super Bowl Edition

This story has a similar feel to the concerns about producing the U.S. flag abroad: A Wisconsin towel maker is smack-dab in the middle of the Green Bay Packer-Pittsburgh Steeler Super Bowl matchup. McArthur Towel and Sports, a WinCraft company, has been producing officially licensed sports towels for years,

Legal Protectionism: Tariffs vs. Other Measures

Todd Tucker of Global Trade Watch recently complained that the WTO Government Procurement Agreement restricts the ability of the U.S. government to favor domestic solar panel producers through its Buy America procurement policies: ... dig a bit deeper into the NYT story to understand what the phrase "subject to

Korea FTA Hearing Going on Now

The House Ways and Means Committee is holding a hearing on the Korea FTA. Todd Tucker is live blogging it here. You can view the live stream here.

Balancing Trade and the Environment

From a European Commission press release: On Monday 24 January, the Korean Ministry of Environment made a public announcement of a number of adjustments that will be introduced in a new regulation on car CO2 emissions and fuel efficiency. These follow consultations launched by the Korean Government on a draft

The Role of Intent in WTO Non-Discrimination Obligations

I thought this was a good question from the panel in the U.S. - Tuna Labeling (DS381) dispute: 111. To the United States: Please clarify the relevance of your arguments relating to the justification of the measure in terms of dolphin protection, such as the arguments related to the

"China’s Currency Isn’t Our Problem"

That's from Mark Wu, writing in the NY Times. But just to be clear, he is not saying that China's currency policies are not a problem, but rather that they are everyone's problem, not just a problem for the U.S.: China’s currency

WTO Dispute Submissions: USTR Posting of Other Government's Submissions

I don't know if this is new, but it's the first time I have noticed it. USTR seems to be posting the non-confidential version of other governments' submissions in disputes against the U.S. The executive summary of the Philippines' first written submission in

"there is not a system of precedent within the WTO dispute settlement system and panels are not bound by Appellate Body reasoning"

That's from the panel in U.S. - Zeroing (Korea) (DS402), circulated today. Here's the full context (without footnotes): 7.29 Korea relies upon the Appellate Body report in US – Softwood Lumber V to argue that the United States acted inconsistently with the first sentence of

The U.S. Record in NAFTA Chapter 11 Cases: Still Undefeated

Over the week-end, the State Department announced the following: On January 12, 2011, a three-member NAFTA arbitration tribunal rejected a claim against the United States filed by Grand River Enterprises Six Nations, Ltd., a Canadian corporation, and Jerry Montour, Kenneth Hill and Arthur Montour Jr., members of Canadian First Nations,