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Simon Lester

Simon Lester

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

http://simonlester.com

Some Quick Thoughts on Warren's Trade Policy Plan

Elizabeth Warren's campaign team has just posted a document entitled "It's Time for a New Approach to Trade." My initial reaction is that it's difficult to see how there would be much, if any, trade liberalization in a Warren administration; however, there

What Does the U.S. Want To See Happen With Appellate Body Reform?

This is from a U.S. statement to the DSB yesterday: * We have listened closely as several Members have criticized the United States. These Members argue that the United States has failed to participate in ongoing discussions on Appellate Body reform. * These statements are wrong – and appear to represent public

Transparency in WTO Disputes

This is from a U.S. statement to the DSB at the July 22 meeting: With respect to the open meetings and hearings that have taken place, the experience has been entirely successful. The United States is not aware of any incidents of improper behavior by observing members of the

What Do Critics Think Has Caused Problems With The Appellate Body?

Back in February, the U.S. said the following at a DSB meeting: Rather than seeking to make revisions to the text of the Dispute Settlement Understanding to permit what is now prohibited, the United States believes it is necessary for Members to engage in a deeper discussion of the

Separate Opinion in Today's Appellate Body Report

In today's DS437 Appellate Body report, there was a separate opinion covering several issues. Here is one of the issues (footnotes omitted): 5.5.1 Public Body 5.242. I concur with the majority in: (i) rejecting China's interpretation of the term "public body"

Joe Biden on Trade Policy

In a recent speech on foreign policy, Joe Biden said the following about trade policy (as prepared): Our trade policy has to start at home, by strengthening our greatest asset – our middle class. We have to take care of everything I’ve talked about on the campaign trail – giving every

The Way To Address USMCA Panel Blocking Is To Eliminate USMCA Panel Blocking

Inside US Trade reports: A leader of the House working group on U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement labor issues told Inside U.S. Trade on Wednesday that he will be traveling to Mexico next weekend to discuss “panel blocking” with Mexican officials. Many congressional Democrats have criticized USMCA for not

Guest Post: Contestation of Reforms to the WTO Notification Procedures: Inclusive Approach or More Differential Treatment?

This is a guest post by Vineet Hegde, PhD researcher in International Law, and Professor Dr. Jan Wouters, Professor of International Law and International Organizations, KU Leuven, and Director of the Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies, Belgium. 1. Elsewhere in this blog, Professor Joost Pauwelyn highlighted a 29 March

Sub-National Measures that Discriminate Against Imports and Against Other State/Provincial Goods

This is from Australia's first written submission in the Canada - Sale of Wine (DS537) WTO dispute: 3. Article III requires treatment no less favourable than the "most favoured" domestic product within the territory of a Member 117. The majority of the Canadian measures that Australia is

Joe Biden on Trump's Trade Policy

From a CNN interview with Chris Cuomo: BIDEN: With regard to North Korea, with China, I make it clear that we're going to move our defenses up, as we did before, and we're going to make sure we have the capacity to deal with it near