International Economic Law and Policy

1. Would Public Ownership Push Us Towards AI Sovereignty? And Will We Ever Get Sensible AI Regulation?

   Todd Tucker, my long-time sparring partner on international economic policy issues, has a new piece with his colleague Elizabeth Wilkins called "How Public Equity Can Promote a Revived American Democracy."

2. Guest Post: Make the Forced Labor 301 Tariffs a Win for Workers

   “I had to store my friend’s dead body in the freezer.” A fisher shared this with me and my colleagues at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) through an interpreter.

3. Questions for Japan About Its Trade/Investment Deals with the Trump Administration

   One of the many useful things that happens at the WTO is the Trade Policy Reviews carried out for each WTO Member, and Japan's latest review includes some questions/answers on the framework trade agreement with the Trump administration.

4. Where To Focus With the Issue of Trade Imbalances: Exchange Rates vs. Domestic Economic Policies

   The Economist has a piece by a group of economists on trade imbalances, explaining that there is too much focus on the undervalued yuan. In my view, lots of people are getting things on wrong on trade imbalances, and it's nice to see these folks getting things right.

5. Can Brazil's WTO Complaint on the Section 301 Tariffs Avoid Being Undermined by an "Appeal into the Void"?

   Amidst the flurry of recent tariff news was a USTR notice of action earlier this month in the Section 301 investigation of Brazil’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Digital Trade and Electronic Payment Services; Unfair, Preferential Tariffs; Anti-Corruption Enforcement; Intellectual Property Protection; Ethanol Market Access; and