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The EU Biodiesel Complaint

The latest WTO complaint, on various EU measures related to the biodiesel industry, is now available here: http://www.worldtradelaw.net/cr/ds459-1(cr).pdf  There are some complicated measures involved, and I don't claim to fully understand it all yet.  Here are some excerpts: The measures referred
Simon Lester 24 May 2013 2 min read

In Other EU Investor-State News ...

Following up on the post from the other day, let's see what the EU member states think of an investment agreement with China: The European Commission decided today to ask the Member States for their agreement on a mandate to open negotiations on an investment agreement with China.
Simon Lester 23 May 2013 1 min read

Global Trade Watch Praises the Appellate Body

Well, sort of: The WTO’s Appellate Body ruled that the program’s requirement that meat producers gather a greater amount of information about meat origins than is ultimately conveyed to consumers downstream violated WTO requirements. To address this concern, USDA’s new rule will offer consumers more precise labels
Simon Lester 23 May 2013 1 min read

Trade in Lethal Injection Drugs

The issue of trade in lethal injection drugs came up a while ago in relation to U.S. excecutions.  But we are not the only executioner around, and similar issues have now arisen in Viet Nam: Vietnam has issued a new law allowing domestically produced chemicals to be used in
Simon Lester 23 May 2013 1 min read

PPMs in the Renewable Energy Case

I've always thought that the importance of production and process methods for the analysis of WTO rules is greatly overstated, but I recognize that others find it relevant, or at least interesting.  Hence, I feel obligated to point to the following statement by the AB in para. 5.
Simon Lester 23 May 2013 1 min read

Investor-State in the TTIP: The EU is Wary

From Reuters: Some EU member states are also concerned that a procedure included in the mandate to allow for resolving disputes between investors and states. While such dispute mechanisms are increasingly common in free trade agreements, some EU diplomats say they are not necessary for two parties with strong legal
Simon Lester 21 May 2013 1 min read

The FIT Case: Is There Any Doubt There Is A Subsidy Here?

Commenting on the panel report, economist Amar Breckenridge says no: The reason governments choose to support the development of renewables is not primarily because of concerns regarding the adequacy and affordability of supply. Rather it is because lower emissions sources of energy, such as renewables, confer a positive benefit to
Simon Lester 21 May 2013 1 min read

Vacancies/Funding at the Graduate Institute in Geneva

With Simon's permission, I wanted to let you know about two calls for candidates we have in Geneva: 1. A 50% job, to help me run and supervise the Trade & Investment Law Clinic at the Graduate Institute, and to set up a new, related internet platform www.
Joost Pauwelyn 20 May 2013 1 min read

Future Developments Related to "Benefit"

I've done several posts related to the Canada - Renewable Energy AB reasoning on "benefit."  As I noted, there is some uncertainty as to the potential scope of the ruling.  How much leeway do governments now have to provide finanical contributions in a way that "
Simon Lester 19 May 2013 1 min read

Director, College of Law Global

Arizona State University asked me to post this: The Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law seeks a dynamic, proactive, and highly-motivated individual for the position of Director of the Center for Law and Global Affairs. The Director will report to the Dean of the College and will work
Simon Lester 19 May 2013 1 min read

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International Economic Law and Policy Blog

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Tracking Goods Exports under the Trump Administration's Trade Policies

My sense is that one of the reasons some traditionally pro-trade members of Congress have continued to support Trump's trade policies, despite misgivings they may have about tariffs, is because they hope these policies will pry open foreign markets, leading to increased US exports.
07 May 2026 8 min read

Could Congress Extend the USMCA for Another Term?

People have been assuming that the decision on whether to extend the USMCA for another term is up to President Trump, but based on the language of the USMCA related to the upcoming joint review, could Congress actually have the power to make this decision on its own?
04 May 2026 4 min read

Is There No Going Back on Trade? What Is the Path Forward? A Response to Lighthizer

Former U.S. Trade Rep. Bob Lighthizer has a new essay in Foreign Affairs, and I have some thoughts. I'm going to start with his brief big picture points on the direction of U.S. trade policy, and then go through a couple of the specific concepts he emphasizes.
27 Apr 2026 6 min read

The Section 301 Excess Capacity Investigation Needs Less Madness, More Method

Shortly after the Supreme Court ruled President Trump’s emergency tariffs under IEEPA  unconstitutional, the administration scrambled to rebuild its tariff wall. While the announcement of Section 122 tariffs immediately following the ruling will provide a temporary patch, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office quickly began to utilize another
24 Apr 2026 6 min read

War Tariffs

This is a co-authored post by Kathleen Claussen and Tim Meyer. Last week, President Trump announced that the United States would be imposing new tariffs of 50 percent of the value of any product coming from any country that sells weapons or provides military aid to Iran. Some commentators questioned
14 Apr 2026 5 min read

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