International trade and commerce Books

Book SynopsisThese are the WTO's authorized and paginated reports in English. They are an essential addition to the library of all practising trade lawyers and a useful tool for students and academics worldwide working in the field of international economic or trade law. The form of citation for this volume recommended by the WTO is DSR 2019: IIITable of ContentsUnited States – Measures Concerning the Importation, Marketing and Sale of Tuna and Tuna Products (WT/DS381); Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU by the United States; Second Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU by Mexico.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThese are the WTO's authorized and paginated reports in English. They are an essential addition to the library of all practising trade lawyers and a useful tool for students and academics worldwide working in the field of international economic or trade law. The form of citation for this volume recommended by the WTO is DSR 2019: IVTable of ContentsUnited States – Measures Affecting Trade in Large Civil Aircraft (Second Complaint); Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU by the European Union (WT/DS353); Cumulative List of Published Disputes.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn pharmaceutical patent law, the problem of lack of policy direction and inappropriate legal framework is widespread - particularly among jurisdictions with little to no pharmaceutical research or manufacturing. This book aims to inform public policy and influence debate through a comprehensive review of Hong Kong''s pharmaceutical patent law. By demonstrating the need for a holistic review of pharmaceutical patent laws and evaluating Hong Kong''s system in light of health policy, economic and social factors, Bryan Mercurio recommends changes to the legal framework and constructs a more efficient and effective system for Hong Kong. He thoroughly evaluates the international framework and best practice models to offer a global perspective to each issue before providing local context in the analysis. While the focus of the book is Hong Kong, the analysis on pharmaceutical patent law and policy extends to other jurisdictions facing issues on reforming their national system.Trade Review'Bryan Mercurio's book breaks new ground in making the link between international legal obligations and domestic policymaking in the field of pharmaceutical patent law. Demonstrating a solid understanding of the fundamentals and nuances of these complex areas, Mercurio's clearly written book offers expert analysis and recommendations which will garner attention from both scholars and policymakers. With the publication of this book, Professor Mercurio further cements his place as the world's leading international economic law scholar researching on intellectual property rights.' Lorand Bartels, University of Cambridge'Professor Bryan Mercurio once again demonstrates his expertise in both international economic law and intellectual property law in his forthcoming book on pharmaceuticals, patents and policy in Hong Kong. The book is a must-read for any scholar interested in this important topic, and in general. The book is innovative in approach, significantly advances the literature and should be engaged with not only by the academic community but also by policymakers in Hong Kong and elsewhere. Page after page, the book demonstrates how few, if any, scholars possess Professor Mercurio's ability to expertly understand the details of the patent regime and the pharmaceutical industry, and with it offering clear and practical recommendations as a way forward in this important area of the law and policy … I deeply enjoyed [the book] and found it to a superb piece of scholarship and one that is much needed in the legal literature.' Irene Calboli, Singapore Management University'This timely, well-written and carefully analysed book provides a definitive study of the pharmaceutical patent system in Hong Kong. More broadly, it reveals the far-reaching impacts new international trade and intellectual property standards can have on local health systems. The book strikes a rare but appropriate balance between a global perspective and local contextual analyses. It is a must-read for anybody interested in intellectual property, public health and international trade.' Peter K. Yu, Director, Center for Law and Intellectual Property, Texas A&M University'Professor Mercurio has written the definitive book on this important topic. Innovative, well researched and argued, it will have a significant impact on policy not only in Hong Kong but internationally. It is a must read for academics, policymakers and practitioners involved in the area.' Andrew Mitchell, University of Melbourne'Like previous works by Professor Mercurio, this book is engaging and easy to read and is a welcome contribution to the study of pharmaceutical patent law and policy. It is highly recommended to scholars, policymakers and industry practitioners. Undoubtedly, this book deserves to be viewed as a model to understand and assess policy objectives in patent law and should be considered as a template for best practices in addressing pharmaceutical patenting in emerging and developing economies.' Pratyush Nath Upreti, Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice'[T]he book makes a substantial contribution to this conundrum by drawing widely from patent law and practice variations in other jurisdictions (including Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States). As such, the book builds a clear picture of policy options available to Hong Kong but also with lessons of wider applicability worldwide. For this, and for its profound depth and breadth of knowledge of international and national patent law and practice, the book is highly recommended.' Duncan Matthews, International Review of Intellectual Property and Competition LawTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. The contextual framework of Hong Kong's pharmaceutical patent laws and policy; 3. Standards of patentability; 4. Extension of patent terms for pharmaceutical products; 5. Exceptions to exclusive rights; 6. Test data exclusivity; 7. Patent linkage; 8. Conclusion.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThese are the WTO's authorized and paginated reports in English. They are an essential addition to the library of all practising trade lawyers and a useful tool for students and academics worldwide working in the field of international economic or trade law. The form of citation for this volume recommended by the WTO is DSR 2019: VITable of ContentsChina – Domestic Support for Agricultural Producers (WT/DS511); Cumulative List of Published Disputes.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book provides a detailed overview of recent and likely future developments in bilateral trade of agricultural commodities between the United States and Canada. Factors affecting trade flows of agricultural commodities are examined and their effects on US agriculture are analysed. In addition, external factors, such as the Uruguay Round Agreement of the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade (GATT), concluded in 1994, the value of the US dollar against the Canadian currency, and farm subsidies, are discussed. An important secondary goal of this book is to discuss new developments in agribusiness industries in the two countries under CUSTA and implications for trade flows of agricultural commodities and products. Also, concerns are raised about ongoing bilateral trade disputes.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhile some may dispute that economics is the driving force behind much of history, nobody can argue that trade is not a significant factor in international relations. In an increasingly globalised world, products are perpetually crossing borders, leading to both political and fiscal conflicts. Businesses have to face diverse markets and regions while worrying about protectionist government initiatives that hamper free trade. Even the ostensible champion of free markets, America, has its own streak of inhibiting the flow of goods; witness the recent steel tariffs which have angered European partners. No society, therefore, is immune to the pressures of world trade and the need to balance the free movement of products with the desire to preserve domestic industries. This book assembles a collection of articles examining some of the most current and divisive issues in the international trade arena. They range from the tensions between the United States and Mexico in NAFTA to the war-fuelled trade in diamonds in Africa. With such a broad range of issues discussed, this book serves as a needed tool for understanding the most important contemporary economic subjects.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhile some may dispute that economics is the driving force behind much of history, nobody can argue that trade is not a significant factor in international relations. In an increasingly globalised world, products are perpetually crossing borders, leading to both political and fiscal conflicts. Businesses have to face diverse markets and regions while worrying about protectionist government initiatives that hamper free trade. Even the ostensible champion of free markets, America, has its own streak of inhibiting the flow of goods; witness the recent steel tariffs which have angered European partners. No society, therefore, is immune to the pressures of world trade and the need to balance the free movement of products with the desire to preserve domestic industries. This book assembles a collection of articles examining some of the most current and divisive issues in the international trade arena. They range from the tensions between the United States and Mexico in NAFTA to the war-fuelled trade in diamonds in Africa. With such a broad range of issues discussed, this book serves as a needed tool for understanding the most important contemporary economic subjects.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThere is a fast change observed in the world markets resulting into the new emerging markets across the countries. In this century China, India and Latin America and the emerging market based economies in Eastern Europe promise new opportunities for global trade. The European Union provided an outlet, initially for unskilled-labour intensive products of Central and Eastern European countries and more recently for skilled-labour intensive and technology-based products. Knowledge-intensive imports from the European Union have also contributed to industrial realignment in the Central European countries. The growing trade agreements in the countries indicate some likelihood of success because when the level of tariff and non-tariff barriers is already low, a preferential agreement is more likely to have an adverse impact than a beneficial one. However, the reduction in the tariff barriers, duties and liberalisation process worldwide has further given a stimulus to the international marketing across regional boundaries. This book discusses a research analysis based on extensive survey of literature and statistical analysis of the data available from secondary sources and argues the strategic partnership model developed by analysing the functional gap-map in reference to the political, economic, legal and trade related factors. The analysis emphasises the evolution of productivity and exports, and discusses factors variability in the transitional economies and emerging markets on the basis of spatial and temporal data. The research study analysed in the book discusses economic integration between two economies, distinctively one central, with a large local market, and the other peripheral, with a small local market.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade policies and agreements are a powerful weapon in the Era of Globalization. Most countries'' strategy is to pursue multiple market-opening initiatives on a global, regional and bilateral basis, establishing models of success that can be used throughout all negotiations. This book presents some trade policies and agreements of the United States.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe United States and Canada maintain the world''s largest trading relationship, one that has been strengthened during the past fifteen years by the approval of two multilateral free trade agreements. Although commercial disputes may not be quite as prominent now as they have been in the past, the two countries in recent years have engaged in difficult negotiations over items in several trade sectors, including natural resources, agricultural commodities, and the cultural/entertainment industry. However, these disputes affect but a small percentage of the total goods and services exchanged. Also, the United States and Canada work together closely on environmental matters, including monitoring solid waste transfers, and protecting and maintaining the quality of border waterways. This new book explores specific issues related to trade between these two countries.

Read more less

Book SynopsisUnfair foreign pricing and government subsidies distort the free flow of goods and adversely affect American business in the global marketplace. Import Administration, within the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce, enforces laws and agreements to protect U.S. businesses from unfair competition within the U.S. resulting from unfair pricing by foreign companies and unfair subsidies to foreign companies by their governments. Dumping occurs when a foreign producer sells a product in the United States at a price that is below that producer''s sales price in the country of origin ("home market"), or at a price that is lower than the cost of production. The difference between the price (or cost) in the foreign market and the price in the U.S. market is called the dumping margin. Unless the conduct falls within the legal definition of dumping as specified in U.S. law, a foreign producer selling imports at prices below those of American products is not necessarily dumping. Foreign governments subsidise industries when they provide financial assistance to benefit the production, manufacture or exportation of goods. Subsidies can take many forms, such as direct cash payments, credits against taxes, and loans at terms that do not reflect market conditions. The statute and regulations establish standards for determining when an unfair subsidy has been conferred. The amount of subsidies the foreign producer receives from the government is the basis for the subsidy rate by which the subsidy is offset, or "countervailed", through higher import duties. If a U.S. industry believes that it is being injured by unfair competition through dumping or subsidisation of a foreign product, it may request the imposition of antidumping or countervailing duties by filing a petition with both Import Administration and the United States International Trade Commission. Import Administration investigates foreign producers and governments to determine whether dumping or subsidisation has occurred and calculates the amount of dumping or subsidies.

Read more less

Book SynopsisUnderstanding exporting in the small and micro firm presents an SOR model that owners/managers and public policy makers can use to help them develop effective strategies to improve the export propensity of small firms, especially those from small, developing economies. A formal scientific treatment of exporting from these into small, developing economies hitherto, was missing from the academic and policy discourse in these economies. This book interrogates the issue by focusing on the question: Why, of the population of small and micro locally-owned firms, some choose to sell a portion of their sales abroad while seemingly similar others, facing similar market conditions, remain focused on their domestic market? The book presents a conceptual model that is used to explain why some small firms export a portion of their sales abroad while others do not. This model will serve as an important tool that export policy makers in the public sector can use to develop profiles of firms that are suitable to receive government assistance for export market entry. It will also help export promotion organisations to better target firms for export assistance and thus prevent wastage of limited resources which is a feature of most small economies. The book also presents case studies on the challenges that small exporters and non-exporters face in developing an internationally competitive business. These cases can serve as good learning tools for managers in the small firm.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book focuses on U.S. trade building with developing countries; a heterogeneous group of low and middle-income countries that have become an increasingly significant factor in U.S. trade flows and trade policy over the last two or more decades. The growth of developing countries'' economies and foreign trade presents the United States with opportunities and challenges. The imports from many developing economies provide U.S. consumers with an ever widening range of choices of products at lower prices, raising real incomes and contributing to a higher U.S. standard of living. A number of the developing countries have also become robust markets for U.S. exports because of rapid economic growth and trade liberalisation. This book describes trade with developing countries, which also raises a set of virtually unique issues regarding labour rights, environment protection and intellectual property rights that have become fixtures on the U.S. trade agenda. This book also describes trade capacity building and discusses the history of Trade Capacity Building (TCB)in foreign assistance. There is also a discussion of legislation affecting TCB, including appropriations and legislative restrictions on foreign assistance.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA major issue on the agenda of the ongoing Doha Round of multilateral negotiations by members of the World Trade Organization concerns how and to what extent policies that affect agricultural trade should be liberalised. This book reviews the current status of agricultural negotiations for domestic support, market access, and export subsidies, and their potential implications for U.S. agriculture. This book gives a more complete presentation of the numerical results as well as additional explanation concerning their interpretation.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisSeveral emerging market economies have experienced large and persistent trade deficits following the liberalisation reforms of the late 80s and early 90s. The Argentine experience has endorsed the extent to which trade imbalances in the 1990s resulted from income and relative price movements were associated with structural changes from shifts in foreign trade elasticity during the reforms period. One of the studies on Latin American trade issues emphasises that openness involves more than just trade liberalisation. The increasing importance of international capital flows and especially foreign direct investment (FDI) seems to be another relevant component of outward oriented policies. This book will encompass these matters and bring light to the trade relations current status.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book presents and discusses the economic and trade relations between the United States, Canada and Mexico. Topics discussed include Canada-U.S. relations; the United States-Canada trade and economic relationship; NAFTA and the future of commercial trucking across the Mexican border and the Cuban migration to the United States.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisU.S. exporters are hitting their stride in the global economy, with record exports making an increasingly important contribution to overall U.S. economic growth. The prospects for U.S. exports are better than any time in recent memory across sectors and for U.S. companies large and small, due to the rapid growth of foreign markets and favourable terms of trade. The services sector continues to make an outsized contribution to growth in exports and improvements in the trade balance. American firms are maintaining their innovative and competitive edge in the world while developing their own new culture of exporting. This book explores the U.S. export strategy as it now relates to not only local Main Street USA, but the access to the new global Main Street.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn the last few years, the U.S. has considered bilateral and regional free trade areas (FTAs) with a number of trading partners. FTAs could raise some important policy issues if the 111th Congress considers implementing legislation as it monitors ongoing negotiations as part of its oversight responsibilities. This book examines the complex issues of trade policy in a rapidly changing economic landscape, the issues that the 111th Congress faces in the political and economic context in which these issues are being debated, and the future form and role of trade policy.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAlthough the United States has complied with adverse rulings in many past World Trade Organization (WTO) disputes, there are currently 10 cases in which rulings have not yet been implemented or the United States has taken action and the dispute has not been fully resolved. Under WTO dispute settlement rules, a WTO Member will generally be given a reasonable period of time to comply with an adverse WTO decision. While the Member is expected to remove the offending measure by the end of this period, compensation and temporary retaliation are available if the Member has not acted or taken sufficient action by this time. This book provides an overview of WTO dispute settlement procedures, focusing on the compliance phase of the process, followed by a discussion of U.S. laws relating to WTO dispute proceedings; and then lists pending WTO disputes in the compliance phase with a discussion of major issues and the U.S. compliance history in each.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe United States has a long history of employing various types of trade incentives to encourage specific trade activities. Motivated by commercial, political, and security interests at times, the U.S. Congress has created multiple unilateral trade preference programs that promote developing-country exports, but are often structured so as to limit the negative economic effects on U.S. producers and workers. Over time, bilateral, regional, and multilateral trade agreements have come to eclipse the importance of many preference arrangements, a trend that a review of these developments will show has been particularly visible in the Caribbean Basin. This book reviews unilateral preference programs for the Caribbean, and discusses how they have been affected by free trade agreements (FTAs) in the region.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a proposed regional free trade agreement (FTA) currently under negotiation between Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, and Vietnam. The negotiating partners have expressed an interest in allowing this proposed "living agreement" to cover new trade topics and to include new members that are willing to adopt the proposed agreement''s high standards. This book provides a comparative economic analysis of the (TPP) countries and their economic relations with the United States. It suggests that the TPP negotiating partners encompass great diversity in population, economic development, and trade and investment patterns with the United States. This economic diversity and inclusion of fast-growing emerging markets presents both opportunities and challenges for the United States in achieving a comprehensive and high standard regional FTA among TPP countries.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book provides an overview of the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) which covers a wide range of bilateral economic activities, including trade in manufactured goods, agricultural products and services; foreign investment; government procurement; intellectual property rights; and worker rights and environmental protection. The United States and South Korea entered into the KORUS FTA as a means to further solidify an already strong economic relationship by reducing barriers to trade and investment between them and to resolve long-standing troublesome economic issues. The United States specifically sought increased access to South Korean markets for agricultural products, services, and foreign investment. For South Korean leaders, the KORUS FTA is a mechanism to promote reform in its own economy and also to gain a competitive advantage in the U.S. markets for autos and other manufactured goods.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOn 5 August 2004, the United States entered into the Dominican Republic-Central American-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Congress passed the implementing bill on July 28th, 2005, and CAFTA-DR entered into force with El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, thereafter. This permanent, comprehensive, and reciprocal trade agreement eliminates tariff and non-tariff barriers to two-way trade, building on unilateral trade preferences begun under the 1983 Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI). It enhances rules and other standards for services, intellectual property rights, government procurements, investment, and other disciplines. It also reinforces Congress''s historical support for trade as a foundation of broader foreign economic, political, and security policies in the region. This book provides an analysis of the trade and investment trends since CAFTA-DR entered into being.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book provides an overview of the concerns of U.S. companies, farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers, who increasingly encounter non-tariff trade barriers in the form of product standards, testing requirements, and other technical requirements as they seek to sell products and services around the world. As tariff barriers to industrial and agricultural trade have fallen, standards-related measures of this kind have emerged as a key concern. Governments, market participants, and other entities can use standards-related measures as an effective and efficient means of achieving legitimate commercial and policy objectives. But when standards-related measures are outdated, overly burdensome, discriminatory, or otherwise inappropriate, these measures can reduce competition, stifle innovation, and create unnecessary technical barriers to trade.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book provides an overview of the National Export Strategy and U.S. government agencies that are involved in export promotion. The National Export Initiative (NEI)lays out ambitious new plans of the Federal Government, including partnering with metropolitan areas and improving outreach and service delivery to small businesses. It also examines the targeting of infrastructure projects and global markets in such regions as Asia and Africa, and the support for the work of SelectUSA to attract and retain more investment and the new Interagency Trade Enforcement Center to identify and address unfair trade practices. Thanks to America''s strong reputation for innovation, quality, and safety, U.S. goods and services remain the gold standard. For its part, the Federal Government is committed to helping U.S. businesses build things here and sell them everywhere, with the NEI complementing other Administration initiatives on advanced manufacturing, innovation, and protection of intellectual property.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe origin of the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers program can be traced back to a 2000 Department of Labor report recommending that a separate program be enacted "to assist agricultural producers and workers affected adversely by imports" if the objective is to assist them to remain in their current occupations. The report described the existing trade adjustment assistance (TAA) programs that provided (1) limited technical assistance to help business firms (including some that produced agricultural and food products) regain economic competitiveness or to shift into producing other goods, and (2) training assistance to workers (including those employed by some agricultural firms) to facilitate their transition into other occupations. It noted that the provision of direct financial assistance (such as income supplements) to farmers, or efforts to financially enable them to continue producing the commodity adversely affected by imports rather than help them adjust to employment in other sectors, would be inconsistent with the objectives of the then-existing TAA programs. Observers stated that farmers and ranchers typically did not qualify for the TAA workers program because they were self-employed (and thus rarely were eligible for unemployment benefits) and were less likely to want to be retrained for a new occupation (particularly if earning income from producing other crops or from non-farm sources). This book examines the TAA programs elements and effectiveness.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe United States has been the world''s largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) since 2006. Every day, foreign companies establish new operations in the United States or provide additional capital to established businesses. With the world''s largest consumer market, skilled and productive workers, a highly innovative environment, appropriate legal protections, a predictable regulatory environment, and a growing energy sector, the United States offers an attractive investment climate for firms across the globe. This book focuses on the foreign direct investment in the United States. It provides an economic analysis of foreign direct investment in the United States, discusses federal statutory restrictions, analyses economic considerations on foreign investment and national security, and finally, focuses on the committee on foreign investment in the United States.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom automobiles, electronics, and plastics, to software development or clothing, many goods and services today are provided via global supply chains. Instead of carrying out everything from research and development (R&D) to delivery and retail within a single country, many industries are dividing this process into stages or tasks (or "fragments") that are then undertaken in many countries. Global supply chains have spread widely across both industries and countries. The global restructuring of production has led to faster growth in trade, new patterns of trade, and new benefits from trade. This book examines the evolution, and the effect of global supply chains on the U.S. The book also describes how U.S. manufacturers in the 21st century are taking advantage of services in new and innovative ways to manage global supply chains, cut costs, improve efficiency, and strengthen customer relationships.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book discusses developments in the United States'' exports and imports of professional services, with a focus on education, healthcare, and legal services. The United States continues to be a world leader in professional services, which generated a cross-border trade surplus of nearly $50 billion in 2011. The expansion of professional services trade in recent years has been driven by a number of factors. Globalisation, including businesses setting up operations in foreign markets, has created trade opportunities for diverse professional services providers, such as legal and management consulting professionals. This book focuses on United States trend reports from 2012 and 2013.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe European Union (EU) is a political and economic partnership, built through a series of binding treaties, that represents a unique form of co-operation among sovereign countries. The EU is composed of 28 member states, including most of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and has helped to promote peace, stability, and economic prosperity throughout the European continent. The United States and the EU have a dynamic political partnership and share a huge trade and investment relationship. This book catalogues trade-related barriers that U.S. small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) perceive as disproportionately affecting their exports to the European Union (EU) relative to large exporters to the EU. This book also serves as a primer on the EU and provides a brief description of U.S.-EU relations that may be of interest to Congress.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisHigh-frequency trading (HFT) is a broad term without a precise legal or regulatory definition. It is used to describe what many characterise as a subset of algorithmic trading that involves very rapid placement of orders, in the realm of tiny fractions of a second. This book provides an overview of HFT in the equities and derivatives markets regulated by the SEC and the CFTC. It also examines the Flash Crash of 2010 and the role that HFT may have played, as well as recent regulatory developments.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade capacity building (TCB) is a form of development assistance provided by the United States and other countries to help developing countries participate in and benefit from global trade. Congress and the executive branch have identified TCB assistance as an important tool for U.S. trade and development policy based on evidence of the effectiveness of trade in reducing poverty and generating economic development and growth. From 2005 to 2010, 24 U.S. agencies provided more than $9 billion in trade capacity building assistance to help more than 100 countries reduce poverty, increase economic growth, and achieve stability through trade. This book discusses the extent to which U.S. Agency for International Development''s (USAID) 2003 strategy guides USAID''s TCB activities; and describes methods USAID uses to coordinate TCB efforts with other U.S. government agencies at home and abroad.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPartner countries of free trade agreements (FTA) that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) selected -- the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) and the FTAs with Colombia, Oman, and Peru -- have taken steps to implement labour provisions and other initiatives to strengthen labour rights. This book examines steps that selected partner countries have taken, and U.S. assistance they have received, to implement these provisions and other labour initiatives and the reported results of such steps; submissions regarding possible violations of FTA labour provisions that DOL has accepted and any problems related to the submission process; and the extent to which U.S. agencies monitor and enforce implementation of FTA labour provisions and report results to Congress.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFiscal policy is an important factor influencing the growth performance of countries. However, compared to the large empirical literature on the effects of monetary policy on economic activity, fiscal policy has received less attention. In this book, the authors present current research in the study of fiscal policy and the macroeconomy as well as the challenges of fiscal policy in the current global environment. The book brings a global perspective to the practice of fiscal policy by presenting case studies from the United States, the European Union, and the Caribbean. Topics discussed in the book include international dimensions of fiscal policy, public debt and the economy, austerity versus stimulus and economic growth, the correction of economic imbalances in Europe, the long term impact of fiscal devaluation, the cyclicality of fiscal policy, the appropriate debt ceilings for small states, lessons from the banking union framework in the Euro Area, fiscal policy and competitiveness, policy lessons from debt restructuring in Jamaica, estimating the structural fiscal balance in small islands and fiscal policy rules and fiscal performance.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade, particularly exports, is critical to the vitality of American agriculture. On average, foreign markets absorb about one-fifth of U.S. agricultural production, thus contributing significantly to the health of the farm economy. The positive economic effects of trade in farm products are felt well beyond the farm gate. Farm product exports make up about 10% of total U.S. exports and contribute positively to the U.S. balance of trade. The economic benefits of agricultural exports also extend across rural communities, while overseas farm sales help to buoy a wide array of industries linked to agriculture, including transportation, processing, and farm input suppliers. Moreover, most of the future growth in food demand is expected to occur in developing countries. This book discusses major agricultural trade issues in the 114th Congress, as well as provides the reader with a background and issues of agricultural exports and the 2014 Farm Bill programs. It concludes with alternative policies to agricultural export taxes that are less market distorting.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Evaluation of the Impact of Natural Monopolies on the National Economy and Competitiveness provides an original approach and develops an original model for analyzing and evaluating the impact of energy market liberalization on competitiveness of Lithuania. The main scientific objective of this monograph is to develop a model for the assessment of impact of natural monopolies on competitiveness and apply this model in the energy sector. It is the hope of the author to define the best measures for mitigating negative impacts of monopolies in the energy sector. The structure of the monograph is determined by its objectives and consists of four chapters. Chapter One is dedicated to setting the theoretical background and explain the relationship between natural monopolies and countries'' competitiveness, analyzing concept, features of natural monopolies and reasons for their regulation, as well as its relation to economic subjects in the country. Chapter Two presents the broad review of the Lithuanian energy sector and natural monopolies in electricity, natural gas and district heat sectors; it discusses their liberalization processes and stages of market opening. Chapter Three analyses and systematizes results of studies dealing with the impacts of the energy market opening on energy prices and competiveness. Chapter Four presents the model for multi-criteria assessments of the impact of energy market liberalization on competitiveness of Lithuania and its empirical testing on the Lithuanian power sector.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the early 1980s, China entered into an age of rural-urban migration. Millions of farmers have flooded into cities and towns for work and significantly reshaped the character of Chinese society. This book is the first to examine the social exclusion of rural migrant workers from the perspective of institutionalism. It integrates several disciplinary areas institutionalism, international business and HRM in one study through combining both the process and variance approaches. It contributes to the literature of institutionalism and institutional analysis, as well as the scarce research on the strategic responses of MNEs to the institutional characteristics of host countries at the subsidiary level. The findings of this study have implications for HRM research, workforce diversity management, MNEs'' legitimacy management and the improvement of employment governance in China.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAccording to Department of Energy (DOE) and industry expectations, in the next few years the United States is expected to change from a net importer of natural gas to a net exporter, with those exports destined for different regions of the world, especially Asia. More than 30 companies have received approval from DOE for large-scale exports of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) -- natural gas cooled for transportation -- beginning in 2015 or 2016 via specialized LNG carriers. Congress is considering whether to propose legislative language that would require U.S. LNG be exported via U.S.-built-and-flagged carriers with the goal of supporting U.S. shipbuilders and mariners. This book discusses DOE and industry expectations for the market for U.S. LNG exports and how the proposed requirement could affect jobs in the U.S. maritime industry and the broader U.S. economy.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less