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Simon Lester

Obama: It's Not the Time to Reopen NAFTA

From Reuters: Obama said he still believed side agreements on labor and environmental protections should be incorporated into the core of the agreement. "But I will be honest with you: at a time when the economy has been shrinking drastically and trade has been shrinking around the world, at

More on the Wisconsin Diploma Privilege

Following-up on this post, we may eventually get a decision related to whether Wisconsin's "diploma privilege" violates the dormant commerce clause. From the National Law Journal: A federal appeals court has rekindled a challenge to a Wisconsin rule that allows graduates of the state's

Comments on the U.S. Model BIT: The Investor-State Debate

At this link is a list of submissions made in relation to the review of the U.S. model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). Here's a sampling of the comments submitted on the investor-state arbitration mechanism (in no particular order), with the submitting entity indicated. (Not that I think

Subsidies Rules and Financial Services Bailouts

Todd Tucker has an interesting post over at Eyes on Trade, in which he makes the following points: 1. Certain trade experts have been saying that WTO rules do not apply to subsidies to the financial services industry (or, at least, do not provide much discipline). Thus, in their view,

The Impact of Ethanol Tariffs

From a letter sent by Sec. of State Hillary Clinton and USTR Ron Kirk to Senator Chuck Grassley: The Obama Administration is committed to developing our domestic biofuels industry in order to reduce US dependence on oil imports and increase our use of renewable energy sources. There has been no

Achieving Domestic Free Trade

With all the talk of international trade negotiations, it's easy to forget that there may still be work to be done at the domestic level: As the [Canadian] premiers gather in Regina from August 5 to 7 for their Council of the Federation summer meeting, a business coalition

The Economist on Buying Local

The Economist has an article in this week's issue about the "Buy Local" movement, in which three reasons for buying local are put forward: * A "character" argument: "local and independent businesses have more individual character" and "are owned by your friends

Alan Sykes on Enforcing WTO Obligations

From the abstract of a paper called "Optimal Sanctions in the WTO: The Case for Decoupling (and the Uneasy Case for the Status Quo)," posted on SSRN: Various commentators have suggested that the current system of trade sanctions for violation of WTO obligations be replaced with financial compensation.

WTO Disputes: It's All About China These Days

Here are the 11 most recent WTO consultations requests: Dispute Name DS Number Complainant(s) Respondent Request Date European Communities - Definitive Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Iron or Steel Fasteners from China 397 China European Communities Jul 31, 2009 Philippines - Taxes on Distilled Spirits 396 European Communities Philippines Jul

Cash for Clunkers and MFN

Over at Opinio Juris, Roger Alford notes that the "Cash for Clunkers" program has seemed to favor non-U.S. car-makers such as Toyota and Honda over the U.S. car-makers (with the caveat that some Toyota and Honda cars are made, in part at least, in the U.