Feb 02 Column: Is our trade deficit a problem? By Gary Clyde Hufbauer, Euijin Jung Withdrawal from Trans-Pacific Partnership, renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement and launching trade actions against China ensure political headlines, but they will not make much difference to the global U.S. trade deficit. Nor will they bring more jobs… Continue reading
Jan 30 Column: Trump's border tax is not the right fix for U.S.-Mexico trade By Chad Bown There is little to gain and much to lose by using a border tax adjustment as either a punitive import tariff or a policy designed to finance a border wall. Continue reading
Jan 27 Column: The great irony of the Mexico tariff is that Americans would pay for it too By Robert Lawrence Ultimately, trade policies based on deals and short-term political advantage will not only damage U.S. relations with Mexico and our other trading partners, but fail to enhance the employment or living standards of the working classes that elected him. Continue reading
Jan 03 Trump nominates Robert Lighthizer as U.S. trade representative By Julie Pace, Associated Press President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday he will nominate lawyer Robert Lighthizer as U.S. trade representative, picking an experienced trade official who has questioned the conservative movement's commitment to free trade. Continue reading
Dec 15 Obama administration files 15th trade challenge against China By Kevin Freking, Associated Press The Obama administration says it is trying to hold China to its commitment to allow set quantities of grain and corn to enter the country subject to a lower tariff rate. Continue reading
Dec 03 Watch 10:23 Embargo remains for some Cuba sectors, as trade grows slowly By PBS News Hour In 2014, after a five-decade freeze, President Obama announced the U.S. would begin re-establishing diplomatic ties with Cuba. But last week's passing of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro is a reminder that the U.S. embargo remains in effect for most… Continue watching
Dec 01 Watch 7:53 Analyzing the long-term value of Trump's Carrier agreement By PBS News Hour President-elect Donald Trump’s deal with United Technologies will preserve 1,100 jobs in the state of Indiana, thus appearing to validate a central promise of his campaign. But questions remain: Is this sort of agreement viable? What is the future of… Continue watching
Nov 30 Column: Why there's a backlash against globalization and what needs to change By John Rennie Short From the Brexit, to the recent U.S. election of Donald Trump, voters across the world are rejecting candidates and policies in support of globalization. Continue reading
Nov 21 Column: The truth about trade agreements – and why we need them By Chad Bown Trade agreements remain critical because that beggar-thy-neighbor temptation for governments — in the United States, but especially elsewhere — never goes away. And it will surely resurface if the United States is the first to rip them up. Continue reading
Nov 18 Column: Why don't we have free trade for highly paid professions in the U.S.? By Dean Baker Most people are probably not aware of the extraordinary level of protectionism that benefits doctors and, to a lesser extent, other highly paid professionals in our own country. And we pay a huge price for this protectionism. Continue reading