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July
25, 2006
After
Faltering for Months, Global Free Trade Talks Suspended
International
trade representatives officially suspended the Doha round of free
trade talks, marking a major setback to efforts to reduce trade
barriers throughout the globe. Sherman Katz of the Carnegie Endowment
for International Peace analyzes the breakdown.
Update:
Suspension Deals Blow to Free Trade Efforts
December 19, 2005
Nations
Agree to Phase Out Farm Export Subsidies
Trade
ministers from 149 nations concluded talks in Hong Kong with a
deal on eliminating farm export subsidies by 2013 but without
agreements on reducing trade barriers for agricultural and industrial
products.
December
9, 2005
Impasse
over Agriculture Threatens WTO's Hong Kong Meeting
Trade
representatives from 149 nations will converge in Hong Kong from
Dec. 13-18 at the World Trade Organization's ministerial meeting
in an attempt to revive the Doha Development Agenda to lower trade
barriers in farm and manufacturing goods and services.
November
8, 2005
Collapse
of Trade Talks Hints at U.S.-Latin American Divide
President
Bush's inability to broker a hemisphere-wide free trade zone during
a 34-nation summit in Argentina has brought the differences between
U.S. and Latin American policies into sharp relief. Alvaro Vargas
Llosa, director of the Center on Global Prosperity, and Sarah
Anderson, director of the Global Economy Project at the Institute
for Policy Studies, consider the divisions over free trade.
Update:
U.S. Push for Latin American Free Trade Agreement Falls Short
May
31, 2005
U.S.,
EU Clash over Airplane Subsidies
The
United States and European Union have filed lawsuits against each
other before the World Trade Organization over subsidies to aircraft
makers Airbus and Boeing, setting the stage for one of the largest
clashes in WTO history. Edward Allen of the Financial Times discusses
the trade dispute.
November
29, 2004
Asian
Nations to Form World's Largest Free Trade Zone
Leaders
from China, Japan and South Korea signed a landmark pact with
members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
in Laos Monday aimed at developing the world's largest free trade
area by 2010.
August
2, 2004
Trade
Talks Back on Track After Negotiations in Geneva
Rich
and poor nations struck a deal Sunday to relaunch global trade
talks, agreeing to a general framework to cut farm subsidies,
open industrial markets and boost global growth.
June
18, 2004
WTO
Rules Against American Cotton Subsidies, U.S. Vows Appeal
The
World Trade Organization ruled Friday that U.S. subsidies to cotton
farmers are unfair to producers in Brazil, but the United States
said it will appeal the decision. The
WTO's final report upholds an April preliminary ruling that American
government subsidies cause artificially low international prices,
hurting Brazilian farmers.
April
27, 2004
WTO
Rules Against U.S. Cotton Subsidies
The
World Trade Organization handed Brazil a key victory Monday when
the international body ruled against the United States and its
subsidies to cotton farmers. In
the preliminary decision, the WTO ruled that U.S. subsidies to
some 25,000 cotton farmers distort world prices, violate global
trade rules and price developing nations' goods out of markets,
Brazil said.
February
24, 2004
WTO
Rules EU Can Retaliate Against U.S. in Trade Dispute
The
World Trade Organization concluded Tuesday that the European Union
can retaliate against the United States in a dispute over a U.S.
1916 anti-dumping law.
February
9, 2004
U.S.
and Australia Agree to Free Trade Pact
Update: The
United States and Australia reached a free trade deal Sunday that
supporters said would increase U.S. manufacturing exports to Australia
by $2 billion a year. Australia is the United States' 13th largest
export market and buys more goods from America than from any other
country.
January
27, 2004
Costa
Rica Joins U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement
Costa Rica
agreed Sunday to join a free trade pact with the United States
that already includes four other Central American countries. The
announcement came after U.S. and Costa Rican negotiators resolved
issues in areas including market access for agriculture, textiles
and apparel, and professional services.
Update:
U.S., Four Central American Countries Reach Free Trade Deal (12/17/03)
December
4 , 2003
Pres.
Bush Lifts Steel Tariffs, Avoids Trade War
President Bush
lifted tariffs on foreign steel Thursday, less than a month after
the World Trade Organization's highest court ruled that they violated
global trade laws. Jim Lehrer discusses the move with the president
of a steelworkers' union and a lawyer for businesses that use
steel.
November
21, 2003
FTAA
Talks on Track After Meeting in Miami
Update: Trade
ministers from across the Americas papered over differences and
concluded their meeting one day early after drafting an outline
for future talks aimed at creating the world's largest free trade
bloc.
November
19, 2003
U.S.
Defends Quotas on Chinese Textiles
Update: The
Bush administration's decision Tuesday to set new quotas on Chinese
textiles has angered China and may have led to the country suspending
expected purchases of U.S. farm products.
November
10, 2003
U.S.
Tariffs on Steel Found to Violate Trade Laws
The Bush administration
suffered a setback in the trade wars when the World Trade Organization
ruled that the tariffs the United States imposed on imported steel
last year violate global trade laws.
September
15, 2003
WTO
Talks in Cancun Collapse
Ray Suarez
discusses the collapse of the talks and the ramifications for
the trade organization with Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Josette
Shiner and Richard Bernal, the lead negotiator for the Caribbean
countries at the meetings.
Update:
WTO Talks Break Down as Poorer Countries Flex Their Muscle
September
12, 2003
How
Free Trade Could Heighten Ethnic Tensions
As world trade representatives in Cancun, Mexico debate lowering
barriers to international commerce, Paul Solman investigates one
possible downside to free trade -- the possibility that it could
increase hostilities toward ethnic minorities in some developing
countries.
September
9, 2003
Mali
Pushes Rich Countries to End Agriculture Subsidies
One of the most contentious issues facing ministers gathering
in Cancun for the meeting of the World Trade Organization is how
to address the use of agricultural subsidies. Fred de Sam Lazaro
reports on how U.S. cotton subsidies affect the global market
and the life of farmers in the African nation of Mali.
September
9, 2003
Tensions
High Leading into WTO Conference
As WTO member countries gear up for the Sept. 10-14 ministerial
conference in Cancun, Mexico, tensions between industrialized
nations and their developing counterparts remain high over agricultural
subsidies and other contentious topics.
August
30, 2002
WTO
Approves Record Sanctions Against U.S.
The WTO ruled that the E.U. may impose record sanctions of some
$4 billion on U.S. exports, creating a major incentive for Washington
to abandon special tax breaks for U.S. companies that export goods.
August
6, 2002
The
Battle Over Steel Tariffs
Paul Solman reports on the ongoing international fight over the
steel trade.
May
23, 2002
How
Political Forces Influence Trade
As the Senate heads for a vote on trade legislation that includes
steel tariffs, Kwame Holman reports on the politics of trade.
May
8, 2002
Senate
Passes Farm Subsidies Bill
Gwen Ifill leads a discussion on the $180 billion farm bill that
the Senate passed and whether it violates the WTO agriculture
rules. 
April
20, 2002
Free Trade Across the Americas?
A panel debates the merits of a free trade zone spanning the Americas.
March
6, 2002
E.U.
Objects to U.S. Tariffs on Imported Steel
Experts discuss the President Bush's decision to impose tariffs
on imported steel and the international response to his move.
May
19, 2000
Trade with China
Two members of the U.S. House of Representatives debate whether
China should be granted permanent normal trade relations.
April
14, 2000
Activists
Discuss their Opposition to Globalization
Two World Bank protest organizers discuss their opposition to
globalization and world trade agreements.
January
20, 2000
WTO Director General Discusses the Seattle Summit
World Trade Organization Director-General Mike Moore discusses
the troubled Seattle summit, the role of diplomacy in commerce
and the future of international trade.
December
6, 1999
The WTO After Seattle
Experts discuss the future of international trade following last
week's collapsed WTO talks in Seattle.
December
6, 1999
The Chief U.S. Trade Negotiator Reflects on the WTO's Seattle
Conference
U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky talks to Margaret
Warner about how the breakdown of the WTO talks in Seattle will
influence international trade.
December
1, 1999
President
Clinton Addresses the WTO Conference in Seattle
The full text of President Clinton's speech to the WTO during
its 1999 Seattle summit
 December
1, 1999
China Pushes for WTO Membership
Ray Suarez talks with three experts about China's push to join
the WTO and whether a successful membership bid would encourage
democratic reforms in the Asian nation.
November
30, 1999
Experts
Assess the WTO as the Seattle Conference Begins
Trade experts assess the merits of the U.S. involvement in the
WTO and debate the organization's effectiveness.
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