International Economic Law and Policy Blog
  • Home
  • About
  • WorldTradeLaw.net
Sign in Subscribe

Could Trump Start a Trade War Regardless of Congress? Not So Fast.

In a study released yesterday well-known veteran trade policy analyst Gary Hufbauer sounds the alarm that Donald Trump could use presidential authority under a range of arcane statutory provisions to start a trade war immediately upon taking office-with Congress and the courts helpless to stop him, at least
Rob Howse 20 Sep 2016 5 min read

Brexit and Trade Law

Is it fair to say that the UK leadership is having some trouble figuring out what to do with Brexit? Yes, I think that's fair. But at least they are talking to the right people. The UK parliament recently brought in some experts to advise on the technical
Simon Lester 19 Sep 2016 7 min read

More Separate Opinions in Appellate Body Reports

Today's India - Solar Cells Appellate Body report is the second report in a row with a separate opinion (could be a record -- I'll have to check).  This separate opinion is a little different, as it does not relate to a particular legal finding, but rather to
Simon Lester 16 Sep 2016 4 min read

Which Trade Restrictions and/or Protectionist Measures Should the WTO Secretariat Be Monitoring?

Via Inside U.S. Trade, Congressman Levin and Senator Wyden are upset with the WTO Secretariat about its recent Report on G20 Trade Measures. Here's an excerpt from the letter they sent to WTO DG Roberto Azevedo: We are deeply disappointed that the Secretariat of the WTO has
Simon Lester 12 Sep 2016 5 min read

Could the Critics of ISDS Save TPP? An opportunity for Hillary Clinton to strike a new national bargain on trade

This is the third in a trilogy of posts on Hillary Clinton and trade policy. In recent days, some of the highest-profile US critics of the TPP have refocused their sights on the provisions of the agreement that call for investor-state arbitration.  Elizabeth Warren, for example, singled out
Rob Howse 11 Sep 2016 6 min read

New AU funding system and the WTO

At its July 2016 summit in Kigali, Rwanda, the AU Assembly held a special retreat to consider new proposals intended to ensure that the AU “is financed in a predictable, sustainable, equitable and accountable manner with the full ownership by its Member States”. The new funding proposal adopted by the
Melaku Desta 10 Sep 2016 3 min read

Polling the TPP

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs has a new poll on Americans' views on trade issues. Their results showed a lot of support for free trade, which surprised me a bit given the current campaign rhetoric.  Here's what they found on the TPP: Perhaps no other trade
Simon Lester 09 Sep 2016 2 min read

A Defense of Zeroing

This is from a dissenting opinion in today's Appellate Body report in U.S. - Washing Machines, with the dissenter arguing that zeroing should be permitted in the context of "pattern" transactions under the second sentence of AD Agreement Article 2.4.2: 5.1.10 Separate
Simon Lester 07 Sep 2016 6 min read

Hillary Clinton's Trade Team

The polls are tightening a bit (gulp), but it still seems likely that Hillary Clinton will be the next U.S. President. If that happens, the choices for who in her administration runs trade policy will be very important. Roughly speaking, I would say the Democratic Party includes three views
Simon Lester 06 Sep 2016 3 min read

Appellate Body Update

From Monday's DSB meeting: Chair's statement on Appellate Body matters The DSB Chair, Ambassador Xavier Carim (South Africa), reminded delegations that the deadline for nominations of candidates to fill the vacancy left by the non-reappointment of Mr Seung Wha Chang is 14 September 2016. He
Simon Lester 06 Sep 2016 1 min read

Sign up for email notifications

jamie@example.com
Subscribe

Featured

What Kind of Discrimination Should Section 338 Target?

A couple weeks ago, the U.S. International Trade Commission asked for public comments on implementing Section 338.
25 Sep 2026 5 min read

Jake Sullivan Wants To Build On the Biden Administration's Industrial Policy

In a recent article, Jake Sullivan makes the case for continuing on with the Biden administration's economic policies, arguing for an even broader and more comprehensive industrial policy than what we saw under Biden.
13 Sep 2026 6 min read

How Difficult Will It Be Politically To Remove Trump's Tariffs?

Heather Hurlburt, who was the Chief of Staff for U.S. Trade Rep. Katherine Tai from 2022-2024, recently poured some cold water on the idea that Trump's tariffs might be removed quickly after he is out of office.
12 Aug 2026 3 min read

Why Section 338 Does Not Work in a GATT/WTO World: Lessons from Trade Law History

On July 21, 2026, President Trump exercised his authority under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (hereinafter Section 338) to impose the maximum amount of additional tariffs (fifty per cent) on Canadian cars, alcohol, and dairy, owing to his determination of Canada’s discriminatory treatment of US exports.
23 Jul 2026 10 min read

EU WTO Reform Proposal Seeks To Extend Accession-Based State Enterprise Rules To All Members

In a new WTO reform paper entitled "Further Reflections on Disciplines, Subsidies and Industrial policy," the EU argues for stronger WTO disciplines on the behavior of state enterprises.
17 Jul 2026 5 min read

Topics

2008 Presidential Election

25 posts

2012 Republican Primary

6 posts

2020 Democratic Primary

22 posts

2020 Presidential Campaign

6 posts

2024 Presidential Campaign

9 posts

2024 Republican Primary

9 posts

AI

1 post

Announcements

30 posts

Appellate Body

72 posts

CAFTA

5 posts

CETA

8 posts

Currency Disputes

60 posts

Development

23 posts

Digital Trade

63 posts

Domestic Trade Powers

10 posts

Dormant Commerce Clause

3 posts

DSU 25 Interim Appeals

43 posts

DSU Article 11

13 posts

Economic Integration

8 posts

Economic Statecraft

12 posts

EU-China Trade Relations

3 posts

EU-UK Trade Negotiation

5 posts

Exceptions

19 posts

Exchange Rates

7 posts

Export Restrictions

13 posts

Food Aid

5 posts

Foreign Investment

21 posts

FTA Negotiations

14 posts

FTAs - General

22 posts

Gambling Dispute

52 posts

Global Governance

9 posts

Globalization

13 posts

Government Procurement

5 posts

Green Steel Deal

14 posts

IEEPA

9 posts

IEL in Domestic Courts

20 posts

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework

5 posts

Industrial Policy

21 posts

Investor-State Arbitration

93 posts

Jamieson Greer

19 posts

Katherine Tai

66 posts

NAFTA

19 posts

NAFTA Chapter 11

15 posts

NAFTA Chapter 19

5 posts

National Security

38 posts

Non Appeal Pact

3 posts

Non-Discrimination Standards

63 posts

Non-Market Economies

7 posts

Non-Violation Nullification or Impairment

19 posts

Precedent

25 posts

Public Views of Trade

10 posts

Robert Lighthizer

19 posts

Russia Trade Sanctions

17 posts

Sanctions

15 posts

Section 301

20 posts

Sovereignty

12 posts

SPS/TBT

5 posts

Standards of Review

7 posts

State Enterprises

13 posts

Sub-National Trade Issues

5 posts

Subsidies

84 posts

Terms of Trade Manipulation

7 posts

Trade Agreements

24 posts

Trade and Competition

14 posts

Trade and Development

21 posts

Trade and Environment

119 posts

Trade and Health

20 posts

Trade and Human Rights

9 posts

Trade and Income Inequality

1 post

Trade and Intellectual Property

28 posts

Trade and Labor

29 posts

Trade and Peace

4 posts

Trade and Security

36 posts

Trade and the Stock Market

2 posts

Trade Balance

14 posts

Trade in Everything

65 posts

Trade in Services

21 posts

Trade Law and International Law

10 posts

Trade Preferences/GSP

23 posts

Trade Remedies

65 posts

Trans Pacific Partnership

10 posts

Trump Administration

63 posts

U.S. Trade Policy

32 posts

U.S. Trade Politics

63 posts

US-China Trade Relations

29 posts

USMCA

20 posts

USMCA Dispute Settlement

34 posts

USMCA Sunset/Review Clause

25 posts

USTR

16 posts

WTO - General

28 posts

WTO Accessions

8 posts

WTO Disputes

178 posts

WTO DS Reform

13 posts

WTO Jurisprudence

28 posts

WTO Negotiations

32 posts

Zeroing

29 posts
Powered by Ghost