International Economic Law and Policy Blog

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Simon Lester

The Auto Bailout and Trade Tensions

It appears that the multi-billion dollar aid package that will likely be given to the U.S. auto industry has not gone unnoticed by our trading partners: "We will look very carefully at the details of the proposed aid package to the U.S. auto industry, in order

The WTO and the financial crisis: excluding civil society?

From Rob Howse: According to the WTO website there was recently a meeting of "experts" dealing with the difficulties of trade finance in the current environment. Here is the link: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/trade_finance_12nov08_e.htm You will note the

Clarify versus Interpret

In a communication related to the AB's Hormones Suspension decisions, the U.S. says: 3. Accordingly it is clear that the Appellate Body can clarify, but not interpret or amend, any of the covered agreements, including the DSU. Putting aside "amend," it is not very clear

Government Ownership of the Auto Companies

AP reports: Congressional Democrats are pushing legislation to send $25 billion in emergency loans to the beleaguered auto industry in exchange for a government ownership stake in the Big Three car companies. Here's what I wonder: Will this make them "state enterprises" subject to GATT Article

Panels, the AB, and the Role of Precedent

From the recent EC appeal in the Continued Zeroing (DS350) case: First, if the Panel Report is construed as finding that a panel can invoke "cogent reasons" for departing from previous Appellate Body findings on the same issue of legal interpretation (paragraphs 7.180 and 7.182 of

Conference on "Fuel Rules - Energy and the WTO"

Details here: Don't miss this opportunity to learn about the latest issues on international trade in energy products and services, and how the WTO regulates such activities. Topics include: · An overview of the international legal regimes applicable to trade in energy products and services, with a particular focus

The State of the Doha Round

I've heard some talk about pushing forward with the Doha Round, so as to have it close to done by the time Obama takes office. However, based on the following two articles from today, it seems to me that not much has changed Compare this: French Foreign Trade

Trade Versus the Environment: More on Biofuels PPMs

Updating this old post, there has apparently now been a threat of a WTO complaint against proposed EU biofuel restrictions. Here are the restrictions: [The EU] intends to introduce new restrictions defining what type of land is suitable for creating biofuels. If the plans were to go ahead, fuels coming

USTR Candidates

From Reuters: Daniel Tarullo, a Georgetown University law professor who has advised Obama on trade issues, is thought by many Washington lobbyists to be to a top candidate for the job. Tarullo worked for former President Bill Clinton in the 1990s -- first as an assistant secretary of state for economic

Change is coming ...

... to U.S. trade policy. It is not clear exactly what this change will look like, but no doubt we will spend a lot of time on this blog talking about it. Here are some of the issues I'll be watching for: -- What will a NAFTA renegotiation look