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Simon Lester

Simon Lester

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

http://simonlester.com

Reporting on the GATT Negotiations

It's pretty well established that trade agreements today are controversial. But how does the situation compare to the past? I was recently digging around the NY Times archives for something non-trade related, and I thought I'd see what was being said about the original GATT

Public Opinion on Investor-State

From a New Zealand publication: Concerns that the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) will result in the New Zealand Government being successfully sued by international corporations are unfounded and incorrect, says the NZ US Council. "It is absurd to suggest that the New Zealand Government would be so naive to

Cato Goes after Anti-Dumping

From Cato's Dan Ikenson, writing in Forbes: The U.S.antidumping law still enjoys broad bipartisan support in Congress and within pockets of the executive branch. Although some of that support can be chalked up to politicians representing the narrow interests of influential constituencies that have mastered the

GSP and the U.S. Sleeping Bag Industry

Reuters reports: Valuable U.S. trade benefits for about 130 developing countries could expire at the end of the year because of a Republican senator's objection to duty-free treatment for sleeping bags from Bangladesh. With Congress hoping to finish its work this week, Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions

Talking Trade in Thailand

From the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand: The American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (AMCHAM) plans on conducting a symposium in the latter part of 2011 on plurilateral and bilateral FTAs generally and the challenges Thailand will likely face meeting its AFTA obligations by 2015 specifically. As part of

Non-Confidential Summaries in Anti-Dumping Investigations

A finding by the EC - Fasteners panel (DS397), which may only be of much interest to you trade remedy lawyers (and legal assistants) out there, brings back long ago memories of preparing exhibits in anti-dumping investigations. AD Agreement Article 6.5.1 states: The authorities shall require interested parties

The Origin of the Word "Tariff"

Fun with Google Books: This is from "The protective system considered in connection with the present tariff," by someone named Edmund Burke (this one, I'm pretty sure, but certainly not that one), published in the mid-1800s: But have digressed from my purpose which was to

The Korean Auto Market, FTAs, and U.S. vs. European vs. Japanese Imports

Here's a little more on the issue of Korean car regulation and standards for imported cars: The Korean government is expected to apply tougher standards on cars manufactured in Europe than those made in the US in terms of fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions. Trade Minister Kim

Don Boudreaux: "The only reason for exporting is to import"

From Don Boudreaux: ... U.S. exports ... unloaded on foreign docks generate money income for American producers. But what’s the value to Americans of receiving this money? Ultimately, that value is what this money can purchase abroad – the amount of goods, services, and assets that Americans are able to buy

Dan Ikenson on the Rule of Law vs. a Policy of Free Trade

Cato's Dan Ikenson, commenting on yesterday's WTO Tyres panel decision, points out that international trade law still allows a good deal of protectionism: Yesterday’s WTO decision was arguably a victory for the rule of law in international trade—but also a reminder that politicians write