Sign in Subscribe

Simon Lester

Simon Lester

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

http://simonlester.com

The G-20 on Protectionism

From the G-20 statement: 13. We underscore the critical importance of rejecting protectionism and not turning inward in times of financial uncertainty. In this regard, within the next 12 months, we will refrain from raising new barriers to investment or to trade in goods and services, imposing new export

AB Member Baptista

Sad news from the Appellate Body: The head of the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) top court, Brazilian lawyer Luiz Olavo Baptista, has resigned for health reasons, a senior WTO diplomat said on Friday. Best wishes to Professor Baptista. This means the AB Member selection process will start again.

"Forward-Looking Protectionism"

Via Jonathan Dingel, I see that Ha-Joon Chang is making the case for "forward-looking protectionism in the US." A key sentence: Mr Obama should use protectionism in a similarly forward-looking way. Industries that can be revived through re-tooling of its factories and re-training

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