Among the 51 senators who joined together on May 22 to kill an amendment to a Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) bill that would have required the United States to seek enforceable rules against currency manipulation in free trade agreements were 10 who two years ago demanded exactly that from the Obama administration. The amendment was…
The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, announced today that the goods and services deficit was $40.9 billion in April, down $9.7 billion from $50.6 billion in March, revised. April exports were $189.9 billion, $1.9 billion more than March exports. April imports were $230.8 billion, $7.8…
Reshoring has become a trend, not just anecdotal, as hardly a week goes by without an article about a company returning manufacturing to America in some news outlet. However, the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement is projected to reduce the rate of reshoring and manufacturing jobs being brought back to the U. S. Combined with the high…
WASHINGTON — The bruising battle over President Obama’s push for the power to negotiate two potentially far-reaching trade pacts will shift this week to the House, where the White House faces entrenched opposition from Democrats and the stirring of rebellion from the Republicans’ right flank. [Reposted from The New York Times | Jonathan Weisman | …
You may have seen the headlines about today’s Reuters/Ipsos poll and yesterday’s Pew poll, touted as showing public support for trade deals. A close look at the polls reveals that they did not even ask about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Fast Track, the Trans-Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA), or any other element of the controversial…
The U.S. defense industrial complex has entered a new phase of its centuries-long development, the latest characterized by globalization of supply chains and the inability of U.S. defense contractors and laboratories to drive technological change. Gone are the days when the Department of Defense could depend on American industry to provide it with high-tech components…
Some readers of this blog may be interested in seeking appointment to one of the Department of Commerce’s District Export Councils. See the official notice below. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration District Export Council Nomination Opportunity AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of opportunity for appointment to serve as a District …
China is weighing membership in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), President Obama said Wednesday, a move that raises the stakes for the president’s signature trade deal. [Reposted from The Hill | Ben Kamisar | June 3, 2015] Obama added that the deal would help provide a check on China, regardless of whether or not Beijing joins.…
BEIJING — China intends to project naval power in the open ocean in coming years, and not just defend the country’s coastal waters, according to a strategy paper released on Tuesday. [by Andrew Jacobs | May 26, 2015 | NY Times] The paper, the first policy document issued by the Chinese military in two…
Last week, President Obama’s credibility on trade policy took another punch in the neck. [Reposted from the Huffington Post | Stan Sorscher | June 1, 2015] For months, arguments in favor of the huge new trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership have fallen flat with the public. His “hit parade of failed arguments” gives the deal…