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Laboring for Trade

Labor provisions are an increasingly important feature in trade agreements. But do they work? Despite the attention paid to labor provisions in trade deals like USMCA, domestic policy, not trade agreements, might be the most direct – and most effective – way to improve workers’ lot, especially in advanced countries like the United States.

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What Today’s USMCA Debate Has to Do with The Drugs of Tomorrow

The political winds seem to be blowing in favor of a Congressional vote on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement (USMCA) yet this fall. But before they vote, some Members of Congress want to talk over a few issues with the Trump administration’s negotiators. One is intellectual property protections for the U.S. biopharmaceutical industry. As important as it is, the issue of data protection for biologic drugs is not well understood.

Should Women Have Their Own Provisions in Free Trade Agreements?

As rallying calls of “Trade for All” and economic inclusion reverberate throughout national trade agendas, international forums, and across trade negotiation tables, here’s a closer look at trade and gender issues, how trade agreements of the past have addressed them, and how a new generation of trade and gender chapters aim to change the narrative.

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A No-USMCA, No-NAFTA Scenario: How Bad Is It?

Just hours after signing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement in December last year, President Trump said, “Congress will have a choice of the USMCA or pre-NAFTA, which worked very well.” On the tariff side at least, while a no-USMCA scenario is bad, no NAFTA is most definitely worse.

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USMCA Currency Provisions Set a New Precedent

The US-Mexico-Canada Agreement contains provisions on macroeconomic and exchange rate policies for the first time in a trade agreement. By setting a precedent, the Trump administration is likely to insist on similar commitments in future trade negotiations.

Will the U.S. and Canada Cry Over Spilled Milk in NAFTA?

Production limits and price-setting means Canadian milk drinkers pay significantly more than they would in a free market. Conversely, for certain lucrative and in-demand dairy product ingredients, Canadian dairy boards have set prices at or below international market prices. U.S. and other global dairy farmers have argued this offers Canadian exports an advantage in third markets, while driving global prices and farm receipts down. Will NAFTA 2.0 change any of this?

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The U.S. Beef Industry Will Take NAFTA Well Done

The implementation of NAFTA has allowed U.S. beef trade to flourish, and the efficient supply chains developed under NAFTA have also helped the U.S. beef industry become more competitive in Asia.

Trade Promotion Authority: Driving Trade Deals on the Fast Track to Congressional Approval

A May 17 NAFTA deadline has been in the news. That’s because Congressional leaders have advised the Trump administration that the deal needs to get done soon in order to have a vote on NAFTA 2.0 in this Congress under so-called “fast track” voting procedures. There are all sorts of steps on the timeline built into the Trade Promotion Authority legislation (TPA) for expedited approval of trade agreements. Here’s a short version of the history, context, and essentials of how it all works.

Investor-State Dispute Settlement Faces Hurdles on the Road Ahead

The United States has a long history of advancing the rules-based order and, as a practical matter, has never lost a dispute arising from one of its many investment agreements. But investor-state dispute settlement procedures may not have a future.

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All the World Treasures an Heirloom – Tomato, That Is

Farmers markets are a great way to shop fresh and seasonal, but if you can’t get there, you can still find an increasingly impressive selection of tomatoes at your local grocery store. To meet year-round demand, the business of the heirloom tomato has grown global.