U.S. Agents Raid Caterpillar Over Offshore Tax Practices

Federal agents raided three Caterpillar buildings near its Illinois headquarters on Thursday, company and law enforcement officials said, in an escalation of an inquiry into the heavy equipment manufacturer’s offshore tax practices. [HIROKO TABUCHI| March 2, 2017 |New York Times] Caterpillar has been dogged by accusations that it slashed its domestic tax bill by shifting corporate profits…

What Trump Gets Right on Trade

WASHINGTON — Whatever confusion people might have about President Trump’s agenda, his position on trade and manufacturing is crystal clear. “I believe strongly in free trade, but it also has to be fair trade,” he said in his address to Congress Tuesday night. He called for corporate tax reform and export incentives, and he lashed…

Trump’s six hidden trade weapons

The Trump administration sent shockwaves through the world of trade yesterday when the Financial Times reported that it was looking for ways to bypass the World Trade Organization, the 22-year-old oversight body that adjudicates trade disputes, and which Trump has called a “disaster.” [DANNY VINIK| February 28, 2017 |Politico] Can Donald Trump just pull America out of…

TPP negotiator joins Trump White House

Trump’s new special assistant on international trade, investment and development on the National Economic Council once helped guide negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Andrew Quinn, a former deputy chief negotiator of the TPP who was hired by the agency as deputy assistant USTR in 2012, joined the council on Monday.  [Adam Behsudi| February 28, 2016 |Politico]…