This is from Politico: European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker aims to solve one of the greatest weaknesses of EU trade policy by proposing fast-track ratification of trade deals that would eliminate the need for approval by some 40 parliaments across Europe. ... Building on the momentum of a landmark

The U.S. wants to "eliminate" NAFTA Chapter 19; Canada and Mexico want to keep it. It's hard to find a compromise between these two positions, but I gave it a shot with this proposal: Regardless of whether Chapter 19 was justified initially, a long time

Chantal Thomas asked that I post the following: Conference Announcement -- This Week at Boston University-- "Trade Law in the Trump Era: A Transatlantic Perspective" If you happen to be in the Boston area or otherwise available, please join this upcoming conference at Boston University School of Law. Friday,

The Canadian government is looking for Canadians and non-Canadians to be on their international trade and investment dispute rosters (application details at the link): We know that our country is stronger — and our government more effective — when decision-makers reflect Canada's diversity. The Government of Canada will

This is from yesterday's Brazil - Taxation panel report: 7.565. In reviewing the arguments and evidence submitted by Brazil, the Panel considers that Brazil has demonstrated that there is a problem of a "digital divide" in Brazil, and that the problem of the digital divide has

This is from the U.S. statement at today's DSB meeting: 7. APPOINTMENT OF APPELLATE BODY MEMBERS: PROPOSAL BY THE EUROPEAN UNION (WT/DSB/W/597/REV.3) Second Intervention The U.S. seems to be saying that it will not work towards filling any Appellate Body vacancies

By a long stretch, the Financial Times is my favorite English-language newspaper.  Not only because it covers better than others the international economic stories that are of concern to folks like me, the readers of this blog.  More importantly, the line-up of outstanding writers and thinkers is stunning:

As most of us know, including Kim Jong Un (I hope by now!), Donald Trump is a guy who doesn't like to be threatened.   But big business lobbies such as the US Chamber of Commerce are menacing the Administration with grave consequences if it goes ahead with a

The recent Eiser v. Spain ICSID award is yet another example of a state being condemned to pay a large monetary sum merely because an investor has been economically disadvantaged by a reasonable and necessary regulatory change.  Eiser, which generates renewable energy in Spain, complained, like many other companies (Spain

This is from Inside US Trade: U.S. negotiators are considering a new approach to the controversial investor-state dispute settlement mechanism featuring an opt-in clause that would allow each of the three NAFTA countries to decide whether to use the provision, sources told Inside U.S. Trade. Does