Simon Lester

From an Obama speech today: A healthy economy in the 21st century also depends on our ability to buy and sell goods in markets across the globe.  And make no mistake, this administration is committed to pursuing expanded trade and new trade agreements.  It is absolutely essential to our economic

For those of you looking for background on the China specific safeguard, check out the following:-- The China Accession Protocol, at Section 16, "Transitional Product-Specific Safeguard Mechanism", for the full text. -- The following articles, which I have not read but look like they would be useful (two

Since the Obama administration decided to impose safeguard tariffs on Chinese tires, China has announced two things: 1. WTO consultations: China has requested WTO-sanctioned consultations with the United States over Washington's new duties on Chinese-made tires, a spokesman for China's Commerce Ministry said. 2.

As everyone has probably heard by now (although you may not have heard, as the decision was announced late on Friday night) the Obama administration has decided to impose tariffs on Chinese tire imports pursuant to the China-specific safeguard mechanism.  The rates are 35 percent ad valorem in the

Paul Krugman says: Free trade is supposed to be about a principle: nondiscrimination between domestic and foreign goods. If only it were so simple. Certainly everyone would agree that non-discrimination betweeen domestic and foreign goods (and services) is a crucial part of free trade.  But there are a number

With the the U.S. health care reform debate heating up, I can't resist jumping in here with some thoughts on how "free trade" could play a role in improving health care.  I have two things in mind:  (1) free trade within the U.S. and

Reuters has some new details on the WTO Airbus ruling: Picking apart the contrasting claims, two sources familiar with the case told Reuters the draft conclusions of a five-year WTO probe overwhelmingly backed U.S. charges that the dozen or so loans were "actionable" subsidies that harmed

From the WSJ: The Journal reported that the WTO in its interim ruling classified every launch aid package given for the A380 passenger jet as an illegal subsidy.ADDED: Let the debate over what the ruling actually says commence.  From Reuters: Comments that the World Trade Organization on Friday backed