International Economic Law and Policy Blog (Page 441)

International Economic Law and Policy Blog

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Obama's Latest Trade Comments

In a Q & A with the Detroit Free Press, Obama explains that he is for free trade, but he wants the U.S. to do a better job negotiating and he wants labor and environment standards included in trade agreements: Q: You’ve been accused of flip-flopping on the

Slightly Off-Topic: The Economic Structure of International Law

It's not about international economic law per se, but it is about the economic structure of international law. Does that count? Decide for yourself at http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/TRAECS.html

Bananas, Healthy Kids and Trade

EU policies related to bananas have a long history in trade disputes. Is this the next chapter: EU agriculture ministers gave broad political support on Tuesday to a scheme offering millions of schoolchildren free fresh fruit and vegetables from next year as a way to promote healthy eating and tackle

Canadian Socialised Medicine and the NAFTA Boogeyman

It was with great interest that I heard about a new "case" against the Government of Canada under the NAFTA, concerning the provision of health care services. Granted, I had learned of the matter through a very small handful of press articles; NGO warnings; and personal messages from

COOL is Here

Country of Original Labeling (COOL) for food is finally here: After years of wrangling, so-called “country of origin labeling” is expected to take effect at the end of the month, requiring most food retailers to disclose where many types of meat, produce and other food products come from. The new

Byrd Amendment Update

Ben Muse reports on efforts to revive it: http://benmuse.typepad.com/custom_house/2008/09/is-the-byrd-amendment-coming-back.html The post has lots of good links.

An SSM Solution

Robert Baldwin proposes a solution to the SSM stalemate. As I understand it, he suggests that an increase in imports by itself should not be enough to trigger the safeguard. Rather, you should look at the level of import consumption as well, and only impose the safeguard when import consumption

U.S. to join P-4...but will it be P-4 as we know it?

As many will have seen, Susan Schwab announced this week the U.S.'s intention to join the Comprehensive Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership agreement, aka (at least here in New Zealand) the P-4 Agreement or P-4. P-4 is a pretty interesting agreement. The current parties are New Zealand, Singapore,

Reviewing "Battle in Seattle"

From the Washington Post review of the movie "Battle in Seattle": Townsend even opens the film with a narrator's summary of the issues involved (as the protesters see them), and it's an ingenious gambit: It relieves him of the expository task of explaining what

The Spread of Bailouts, Part II

The big auto industry loan package I mentioned the other day seems close to passing in Congress: Key members of the U.S. Congress are confident a provision needed to trigger $25 billion in loans to automakers will become law within days ... I haven't seen the full details,