By Steven L. Byers, PhD, CPA Senior Economist The US international trade deficit in goods and services for April 2019 declined slightly to $50.8 billion, down $1.1 billion from $51.9 billion (revised) in March. US goods exports fell $4.4 billion, and services declined by $185 million. US goods imports declined $5.4 billion, and services fell…
Editor’s note: China will increasingly be carved out of global supply chains. Apple, already grappling with lacklustre response to its latest iPhone line-up, can ill-afford a sharp hike in import taxes [Debby Wu of Bloomberg News | December 18, 2018 |Financial Post] Apple Inc.’s suppliers will consider shifting iPhone production away from China should tariffs…
By David Morse, Tax Policy Associate Director Law 360 reported this week that US Treasury officials believe multinational companies should anticipate new formulas as a part of future taxation. This is good news for companies producing in America who are tired of paying higher tax rates than many multinational enterprises (MNE). The Organization for Economic Cooperation…
Jeff Ferry, Chief Economist Steven Byers Ph.D., Senior Economist June 2019 This Briefing Paper looks at the shortcomings of economic models of trade action, their causes, and modifications to improve the accuracy of these forecasting models. Executive Summary From the adoption of NAFTA in 1994, through the Trump administration’s 2018 tariffs, economic forecasts have consistently…
Legislation would block unaudited and state-influenced foreign companies from US capital markets Washington. The Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) today endorsed the introduction of the EQUITABLE Act (“Ensuring Quality Information and Transparency for Abroad-Based Listings on our Exchanges”). The bill, co-sponsored by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Kirsten Gillibrand…
Excerpt: “Congress must act to strengthen the Buy American Act, not weaken it, eliminate the incentives for offshoring, and provide incentives for bringing manufacturing back to America.” The Buy American Act was passed by Congress in 1933. It required the U.S. government to give preferential treatment to American producers in awarding of federal contracts. The Act…
Editors note: Senator Elizabeth Warren’s economic patriotism plan creates a split with Democrats still dedicated to cosmopolitan globalism. In some ways it is closer to President Trump’s economic nationalism. The plan is to marry industrial policy to environmentalism and transform the economy. [Matthew Yglesias | June 4, 2019 | Vox] Sen. Elizabeth Warren is out…
Excerpt: U.S. products became globally competitive, and the U.S. trade deficit shrank. In 1988, Congress passed a law requiring the Treasury Department to issue twice-yearly reports identifying countries that manipulate their currencies After a long delay, the Treasury Department just released its latest semi-annual report on global currency exchange policies. The congressionally mandated report provides an assessment of…
Excerpt: “In President Xi’s mind, China is riding the great arch of history to a place where it makes the rules, and supplicants like the Europeans, Americans and Asian neighbors adhere to its vision.” President Trump enjoys bipartisan support for his tough stand on China but Democrats and farm state Republicans indicate they could desert…
Editors note: This is Senator Elizabeth Warren‘s “economic patriotism” platform in her own words. It shows that many of the ideas on exchange rates, globalization and jobs are bipartisan. I come from a patriotic family. All three of my brothers joined the military. And I’m deeply grateful for the opportunities America has given me. But…