International Economic Law and Policy Blog

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Simon Lester

Assistant USTR Speaks about WTO Reform

At a symposium today hosted by the Yeutter Institute, Andrea Durkin (Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, WTO and Multilateral Affairs) said the following about U.S. views and efforts on WTO reform (I don't have any comments on what she said, just thought people might be interested): So

Arguments about GATT Exceptions in Relation to Non-GATT Goods Agreements in the DS597 Dispute

Last year, I wrote about a U.S. argument in the U.S. - Rules of Origin (DS597) case that "the essential security exception of Article XXI of the GATT 1994 applies to the multilateral agreements on trade in goods, including the Agreement on Rules of Origin." One

Sanctions and Boycotts as "Engines for Worldmaking"

In a paper called "The Possible Worlds of Economic Sanctions" that takes a brief look at the history of economic sanctions and speculates about their future, law prof Ben Heath writes the following: Any attempt to understand the future of economic statecraft is a bit like gazing into

Some Questions about the Biden Administration's Plans for Industrial Subsidies

This is from a speech last week by White House NEC Director Brian Deese on "Executing a Modern American Industrial Strategy": Some have raised a valid concern that countries may keep one-upping each other on ever-larger industrial subsidies, reducing their efficiency. But the investments we’re making will

Conference on the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade

This is from the University of Göttingen:On 8 and 9 November 2022, the ESIL Interest Group on International Economic Law together with Universities of Göttingen, Innsbruck and Bologna will be holding a hybrid conference on the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade (INTA Committee). The Conference will

Katherine Tai on Market Access, Trade and Peace, and Trade and Prosperity/Inequality

At an event last week, U.S. Trade Rep. Katherine Tai was asked the following question: How would you respond to allies' concerns that trade policy is now more focused on standards rather than market access? Here was Tai's response: So to translate this, for those of

Neoliberalism vs. Post-Neoliberalism vs. Plain Old Mixed Economies

I recently went to an event on industrial policy hosted by the Roosevelt Institute, and on one panel Rana Foroohar of the FT said the following about neoliberalism and post-neoliberalism: So let me scene set a little bit about where we've been, and in particular, the neoliberal paradigm,

The Colombia - Frozen Fries MPIA Appeal

The first MPIA appeal (and second DSU Article 25 arbitration appeal) is now underway as Colombia has appealed the Colombia - Frozen Fries (DS591) dispute. The WTO announced today that the following arbitrators will hear the case: * Mr José Alfredo GRAÇA LIMA (Chairperson) * Mr Alejandro JARA * Mr Joost PAUWELYN With

Katherine Tai on Enforcing Trade Agreements

This is a question on the enforcement of trade agreements from an event at which U.S. Trade Rep. Tai spoke today: I've always been struck at the priority you place on enforcement of trade agreements. It's always a tricky task for any administration. There have

The Origins of Trade Law's Rules on Domestic Regulation

Until now, research into the League of Nations economic discussions was a serious challenge. You needed to be an archives master like Mona Paulsen to make much progress. But things have changed with a new digitization efforts by the UN folks, which includes most -- and eventually all, I think