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For Better or Worse, We Have Another Chance to Evaluate Industrial Policy

Over on the Baker Institute website, I have a piece entitled "Will the Biden Administration’s Industrial Policy Experiment Succeed?" You won't be surprised to hear that I am skeptical that the administration's industrial policy moves will be good for the U.S. economy
Simon Lester 23 Apr 2023 1 min read

Could Chinese Integration into the World Trading System Have Led To Democracy, Free Enterprise, and Human Rights?

In recent years, I've seen a number of people trying to make the case that the conventional wisdom on trade with China in the late 1990s was wrong. Here is a version of the argument from James Hohmann of the Washington Post: The Washington consensus at the dawn
Simon Lester 13 Apr 2023 7 min read

China and Japan Agree To Use MPIA for DS601 Dispute

In a post last month after Japan joined the MPIA, I said: Why is Japan making this announcement right now? Hard to say for sure, and there could be a number of things going on, but as Dmitry Grozoubinski pointed out to me, the ongoing panel hearing Japan's
Simon Lester 13 Apr 2023 1 min read

Katherine Tai on Interpreting the Essential Security Exception

Yesterday, Ambassador Katherine Tai gave the Wenger Lecture at American University's Washington College of Law. She took some audience questions afterwards, and I used the opportunity to ask her about the U.S. position on the essential security exception at the WTO. I realized there is only so
Simon Lester 06 Apr 2023 3 min read

Guest Post: Give me a cell and I will feed the world: Synthetic Biology in the UK Precision Breeding Act 2023

This is a guest post from Dr Mariela de Amstalden Last month, the UK Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act [PBA] received royal assent. This act establishes a novel framework in the UK for the release and marketing of, and risk assessments relating to, precision bred plants and animals, including derived
Simon Lester 05 Apr 2023 6 min read

Rethinking World Trade 2023 Event at Georgetown Law

The Center on Inclusive Trade and Development (CITD) at Georgetown Law will be hosting a conference on "Rethinking World Trade 2023," Thursday, April 13th (8:30-5:00 p.m.). Space permitting, people can attend in person, but you can also register for the virtual option. You can
Simon Lester 03 Apr 2023 1 min read

Toward a More Open ICJ Advisory Process

Toward A More Open ICJ Advisory Process Steve Charnovitz 2 April 2023 In a recent action, the United Nations General Assembly (A/77/L.58) requested an Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the obligation of States in respect of climate change.  This is an important
Charnovitz 02 Apr 2023 2 min read

Katherine Tai on "Traditional Fully Liberalizing Trade Agreements" and Non-Market Policies and Practices

Here's an exchange between Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Ambassador Katherine Tai at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing (2:10:46 of the video) on Friday, March 24: Rep. LaHood: Ambassador Tai, great to have you here and thanks for being with us. As you
Simon Lester 02 Apr 2023 8 min read

The Latest from Katherine Tai on WTO Dispute Settlement Reform

Here are some exchanges from a House Ways & Means Committee hearing last week between members of Congress and U.S. Trade Rep. Katherine Tai about the state of WTO dispute settlement reform. Are there any definitive answers in here as to where things are going and when they will
Simon Lester 26 Mar 2023 4 min read

What Is the Economic Purpose of the GATT/WTO? Free Trade/Anti-Protectionism vs. Market Access

In his latest Trade Talks podcast, my friend Chad Bown has covered a topic that he and I have discussed several times: What is the economic purpose of the GATT/WTO? I assume he knew his podcast would generate a reaction from me, and I don't want to
Simon Lester 22 Mar 2023 10 min read

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Governments Make Their Case Against Section 301 Forced Labor Tariffs

Last month, USTR made a determination in its Section 301 investigation into "Acts, Policies, and Practices of Various Economies Related to the Failure To Impose and Effectively Enforce a Prohibition on the Importation of Goods Produced With Forced Labor."
10 Jul 2026 5 min read

How Should the EU Get Tough with China? Unilateral Action vs. WTO Complaints

I've seen several recent calls for the EU to get tougher in its economic relations with China, along with arguments that it has been too slow to act against the Chinese economic threat.
06 Jul 2026 4 min read

Trump Administration Decides Not To Extend USMCA for Another Term: What Does That Mean Exactly?

Today, as part of the first joint review of the USMCA, the three governments held a virtual meeting.
01 Jul 2026 4 min read

Competing Views of Sovereignty: The Haves vs. The Have Nots in AI (and Steel)

It's interesting to watch how political leaders craft narratives around economic competition that reflect their own country's strengths and weaknesses.
29 Jun 2026 4 min read

A law of many meanings: Exchange Actions under the GATT and IMF

Earlier this week, Simon Lester posted about the EU’s concerns with the undervaluation of the Chinese currency. He situated the recent demands for trade restrictions against a longstanding debate about the function of GATT Article XV:4.
25 Jun 2026 8 min read

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