On May 18, 2017, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer formally notified the US Congress of President Donald Trump’s intent to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In letters transmitted to senior Congressional leaders, Ambassador Lighthizer pledged that the administration will consult closely with Congress to ensure its negotiating positions are consistent with the … Continue Reading
Following through on his promise to put “America first,” President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) on April 18 titled “Buy American and Hire American,” a two-part document addressing both US federal procurement and immigration programs. Our international trade and public policy teams together analyzed the provisions contained in the EO and offer explanations … Continue Reading
President Donald Trump hosted the Canadian and Israeli Prime Ministers at the White House last week. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly traveled to Mexico City this week to discuss trade and security matters. Cabinet Shuffle. Gen. Michael Flynn resigned as the National Security Advisor (NSA) last week, after … Continue Reading
On Monday, 13 February, President Donald Trump welcomed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the White House. President Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Wednesday. The U.S. Senate confirmed Steven Mnuchin to serve as Secretary of the Treasury on Monday evening. Congress is scheduled to be in recess next … Continue Reading
Since taking office on January 20, 2017, President Trump’s actions on several trade-related matters – from officially withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), to signaling the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), to suggesting reconsideration of existing bilateral trade agreements – will have a ripple effect seen and felt around the … Continue Reading
In his first week in office, President Donald Trump signed a series of documents under his executive authorities on topics ranging from trade to national security to immigration, including on “extreme vetting” of persons from select Arab countries and establishing an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) also … Continue Reading
By judgment of 24 January 2017, the UK Supreme Court has dismissed the government’s appeal against the Divisional Court’s judgment in R (on the application of Miller & Dos Santos) v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. The court has held that parliamentary authority in the form of an Act of Parliament is required for the government … Continue Reading
On Friday, 20 January, businessman Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States of America. At the inauguration ceremony, President Trump stated: From this moment on, it’s going to be America First. Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American … Continue Reading
Following through on one of his campaign promises, on Monday, January 23, President Donald Trump signed a memorandum formally withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. It is anticipated that President Trump may issue a separate document regarding the United States’ intent to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as early as … Continue Reading
President Barack Obama will travel to Chicago on Tuesday, 10 January, to deliver his farewell address to the nation. U.S. businessman Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on Friday, 20 January. Trump Transition News – Confirmation Hearings. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tennessee) has … Continue Reading
Welcome to 2017. The 115th Congress convened on Tuesday, 3 January. U.S. businessman Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on Friday, January 20. Trump Transition News. President-Elect Trump continues to announce senior officials who will serve as part of his Administration. The Trump Transition Team noted at … Continue Reading
Electric vehicles (EV) will soon get a boost in power and energy due to a relatively new cathode material known colloquially as NMC for its nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide chemistry. Battery experts predict NMC will, in the immediate future, replace the currently commercially used cobalt oxides and nickel-cobalt-aluminum oxides in EV and many other electronic applications. While … Continue Reading
Excess Steel Capacity – Global Forum Launched. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman issued a statement welcoming the formal launch of a global forum to address excess steel capacity on 16 December, saying: By establishing this forum, the United States and our trading partners have demonstrated a resolve to address … Continue Reading
Both chambers of the U.S. Congress recessed last week after passing a Continuing Resolution to fund the U.S. Government until April. The 114th Congress stands adjourned for the year. The 115th Congress will convene on Tuesday, 3 January 2017. China – Trump’s Call with Taiwan. In an interview that aired on Sunday, President-Elect Donald Trump … Continue Reading
Iran – Sanctions Measure Advances. Last week, the Senate passed the Iran Sanctions Extension Act (H.R. 6297) by a vote of 99-0, sending the measure to President Obama’s desk. Members of Congress and Administration officials have said they do not believe renewal of the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) would violate terms of the nuclear agreement … Continue Reading
Cuba – Fidel Castro Passes Away. In the statement released on 26 November, President Barack Obama said of the former Cuban leader: [W]e extend a hand of friendship to the Cuban people. We know that this moment fills Cubans – in Cuba and in the United States – with powerful emotions, recalling the countless ways … Continue Reading
Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on 8 November in what many are describing as an upset. President-Elect Trump’s transition team is now tasked with vetting possible Cabinet officials and lower-level appointees, receiving background briefings from the Obama Administration, and crafting policy proposals based on his campaign … Continue Reading
Likely Major Policy Developments President-Elect Trump will enter the White House facing a dramatic decline in global trade growth. A recent World Trade Organization (WTO) report notes that 2016 marks the slowest pace of trade and output growth since the 2008 financial crisis. WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo called slowing trade growth “a wake-up call,” … Continue Reading
The U.S. House of Representatives will reconvene on Monday, 14 November, and the U.S. Senate the following day. TPP – Administration Still Stumping. In a call on 3 November, Ambassador Froman reiterated the Obama Administration is still aiming for a lame-duck congressional vote on the TPP deal, but he did not offer any details on … Continue Reading
With less than two weeks remaining until Election Day, President Obama started this week, on the campaign trail, advocating for Hillary Clinton to be the next U.S. president. Republican contender Donald Trump is currently trailing in the polls. The U.S. Congress is in recess until after the 8 November elections. The House of Representatives will … Continue Reading
The U.S. Congress is in recess until after the 8 November elections. The House of Representatives will reconvene on Monday, 14 November, and the Senate the following day. The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) published its long awaited Federal Register notice on 14 October regarding the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) petition process. Petitions for duty … Continue Reading
On 12 August, a WTO dispute settlement panel confirmed that Russian import duties on paper, refrigerators and palm oil violate WTO rules. According to the panel, the import duties exceed those Russia agreed to when it joined the WTO in August 2012. This marks the first case ever decided in the WTO against Russia. The EU has initiated dispute settlement … Continue Reading
The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation has removed three Iranian companies from its list of sanctions targets listed on the EU’s anti-nuclear sanctions on Iran. The following companies have had their listings annulled as a result of Judgments of the General Court of the European Union: IRISL Club, IRISL Multimodal Transport Company and Leading Maritime PTE Ltd.… Continue Reading
The EU has removed 19 entities from its sanctions targeting Iraq, which apply to the previous government of Iraq and related people and entities covered by the freezing of funds and economic resources that were located outside Iraq on 22 May 2003. This implements a UN decision to de-list the entities from UN sanctions on 16 September 2016. Commission Implementing … Continue Reading
