International Economic Law and Policy Blog

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Simon Lester

David Gantz: The Path Forward for North American Trade and Economic Integration

This is a post from David Gantz, Will Clayton Fellow, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Mexico Center; Samuel M. Fegtly Professor Emeritus, College of Law, the University of Arizona. Part I: Introduction This report addresses the challenges to the continued viability of the United States-Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA), and more

Trade Deficits, Savings/Consumption, Currencies and the Causes of U.S. Budget Deficits

I've seen a number of recent statements by people suggesting that U.S. fiscal deficits are being driven by (1) the dollar as the reserve currency and (2) relatively low foreign consumption/high foreign savings. These factors, it is suggested, lead to lower interest rates for borrowing in

Questions and Responses in DS623 on Non-Market Policies and the Relationship of GATT Exceptions to the SCM Agreement

The U.S. has posted its responses to the panel's questions in U.S. - IRA (China) (DS623). I want to highlight two specific questions/responses: One relates to the meaning of "non-market" policies and practices, and the other relates to the availability of GATT exceptions

How Will the Trump Administration Approach the WTO and WTO Dispute Settlement?

At a hearing on Tuesday to consider the nomination of Joseph Barloon to be the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative in Geneva (and Ambassador to the WTO), there were some questions about the Trump administration's views of the WTO in general, as well as WTO dispute settlement and

MPIA Update: A New Party Joins and Four New Arbitrators are Appointed

I mentioned here that Paraguay had joined the MPIA in early May. Since then, Malaysia has joined too, bringing us to 29 parties (counting the EU and its 27 member states as one). But the bigger news is that there has been a successful transition to a partially re-composed arbitrator

Guest Post: Initial Thoughts on the IEEPA Tariff Rulings

This is a guest post by Perry Bechky, a partner at Berliner Corcoran & Rowe LLP and a visiting scholar at Seattle University School of Law. On Wednesday and Thursday, two courts ruled that President Trump lacked the statutory authority under IEEPA to impose tariffs. The cases are VOS Selections

Will the Trump Administration Revisit ISDS?

Back during Joe Biden's presidency, there were some hints that the Biden administration might be willing to push for the removal of ISDS from existing trade agreements and investment treaties. Members of Congress pressed then-U.S. Trade Rep. Katherine Tai on this issue on a couple occasions, including

Fighting the Trade Narratives: "Unfettered" Liberalization and "Reckless and Dogmatic" Free Trade

This is my second post about the questions for the record with U.S. Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer from his April 8 Senate Finance Committee testimony. Senator Warren (D-MA) asked this question: In the last recession, 700,000 American workers lost their jobs each month. While the President has paused

A Few Questions and Answers (and Then More Questions) about Trump's Trade Deals

As part of the questions for the record for U.S. Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer after he testified before the Senate Finance Committee on April 8, there was an interesting exchange between Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Greer related to any trade deals resulting from the IEEPA "reciprocal"

Is the U.S. Pulling Back on Its Hormone-Treated Beef Demands?

In my recent post about the U.S.-UK trade deal, I noted the discussion of hormone-treated beef at the White House press conference, including a response by U.S. Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer to a reporter's question. I did not take his answer, or the General Terms