U.S. industry is increasingly uncompetitive in global markets and the consequences of fast-growing trade imbalances could be troublesome for the American economy and the international financial system, according to analyst Ernest Preeg of the Manufacturers Alliance / MAPI. [by Richard McCormack | April 28, 2015 | M&T News] In a stunning report outlining the…

If you want to hear the details of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal the Obama administration is hoping to pass, you’ve got to be a member of Congress, and you’ve got to go to classified briefings and leave your staff and cellphone at the door. [Reposted from Politico  |  Edward Isaac Dovere  |  May 4,…

The Trans-Pacific Partnership, until recently background noise for many Americans, is about to become another field of battle in Washington. As of last week, when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe concluded an unusually long state visit, we’re on notice: This pact is probably in trouble. [Reposted from The Fiscal Times  |  Patrick Smith  |  May…

Friday, the Commerce Department is expected to report the March deficit on international trade in goods and services was $42 billion, up from $37.8 billion in February. [Reposted from the blog of Peter Morici  |  Peter Morici  |  May 4, 2015] Trade with Japan, Germany, South Korea, and China account for most of the trade…

  Even in these days of light-speed communication, some information still travels just about as slowly as in the medieval era. [Eamonn Fingleton | May 3, 2015 | Forbes] Take, for instance, the history of global manufacturing since World War II. In the Anglophone world, many if not most of the more prominent commentators have…

President Obama’s strategy in pursuing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has been altogether characteristic of his Administration’s attitude: “My way or the highway. [Reposted from Breitbart  |  Kevin Kearns  |  May 1, 2015] So what were 26 freshmen Republican House members thinking when they recently signed a letter promising to work with the president on Trade…

Last week’s congressional committee votes to give President Obama “Fast Track” negotiating power may go down in economic history as among the most self-destructive ever.  The leaders of the Republican Party betrayed their voters, may have destroyed their own political careers, and may have even destroyed America’s economic future. [Reposted from American Thinker  |  Howard…

  To persuade Congress to give him authority for concluding negotiation of a proposed Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement, President Obama is emphasizing that such an undertaking is essential to national security. [by Clyde Prestowitz | April 29, 2015 | The Hill] The appeal to patriotism is always powerful, but in this instance…

  Ty Cobb was a famous baseball player. Infamous, really. He set 90 Major League baseball records, some of which continue today. He was skillful but also mean; he had a reputation for playing dirty. Cobb was known for spiking other players: sharpening his cleats and sliding into them. Nobody much liked playing against him.…

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Democratic Senator Robert Menendez said on Monday he would strongly resist any attempt to override a human-trafficking amendment to trade legislation that some say could derail a Pacific trade pact. [Reposted from Reuters  |  Richard Cowan; Krista Hughes; Leslie Adler  |  April 28, 2015] The amendment, approved by the Senate Finance…