International Economic Law and Policy Blog (Page 440)

International Economic Law and Policy Blog

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G-20 on the Bicycle

This from today's WSJ: The leaders embraced a renewed effort to unblock global trade talks and promised they will refrain from using commercial barriers to protect their own industries for the next 12 months. "We agreed on the importance of rejecting protectionism," Mr. Brown said. "

China – Financial Information Services: Dispute Settled

We had a good discussion on this blog about this case a year ago before the dispute was formally launched. See No News is Bad News at the WTO? The U.S. and EU filed their WTO complaints in March 2008, and Canada joined them in June 2008. Now the

"Forward-Looking Protectionism"

Via Jonathan Dingel, I see that Ha-Joon Chang is making the case for "forward-looking protectionism in the US." A key sentence: Mr Obama should use protectionism in a similarly forward-looking way. Industries that can be revived through re-tooling of its factories and re-training of its workers should be

The Auto Bailout and Trade Tensions

It appears that the multi-billion dollar aid package that will likely be given to the U.S. auto industry has not gone unnoticed by our trading partners: "We will look very carefully at the details of the proposed aid package to the U.S. auto industry, in order to

The WTO and the financial crisis: excluding civil society?

From Rob Howse: According to the WTO website there was recently a meeting of "experts" dealing with the difficulties of trade finance in the current environment. Here is the link: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/trade_finance_12nov08_e.htm You will note the

Asian Society of International Law Second Biennial Conference

The Asian Society of International Law, which was inaugurated in April 2007, is going to hold its second biennial Conference in Tokyo on 1-2 August 2009. It started Call for Panels/Papers. Please refer to its website for further information: http://www.asiansil-tokyo2009.com

Clarify versus Interpret

In a communication related to the AB's Hormones Suspension decisions, the U.S. says: 3. Accordingly it is clear that the Appellate Body can clarify, but not interpret or amend, any of the covered agreements, including the DSU. Putting aside "amend," it is not very clear

Government Ownership of the Auto Companies

AP reports: Congressional Democrats are pushing legislation to send $25 billion in emergency loans to the beleaguered auto industry in exchange for a government ownership stake in the Big Three car companies. Here's what I wonder: Will this make them "state enterprises" subject to GATT Article

Panels, the AB, and the Role of Precedent

From the recent EC appeal in the Continued Zeroing (DS350) case: First, if the Panel Report is construed as finding that a panel can invoke "cogent reasons" for departing from previous Appellate Body findings on the same issue of legal interpretation (paragraphs 7.180 and 7.182 of

Conference on "Fuel Rules - Energy and the WTO"

Details here: Don't miss this opportunity to learn about the latest issues on international trade in energy products and services, and how the WTO regulates such activities. Topics include: · An overview of the international legal regimes applicable to trade in energy products and services, with a particular focus