The European Union (EU), comprised of 15 member states (countries), is one of the United States’ chief agricultural trading partners and also a major competitor in world markets. Both heavily support their agricultural sectors, with a large share of such support concentrated on wheat, feed grains, cotton, oilseeds, sugar, dairy, and tobacco. However, the EU provides more extensive support to a broader range of farm and food products. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the EU and United States in 2001 together accounted for nearly two-thirds of all government support to agriculture among the major developed economies. However, EU agricultural spending generally is much higher than in the United States. Information comparing how the U.S. and EU governments support their producers is expected to be of interest to policymakers while negotiations are underway among world trading partners to further reform agricultural trade.

The European Union’s (EU’s) Emissions Trading System (ETS) is a cornerstone of the EU’s efforts to meet its obligation under the Kyoto Protocol. It covers more than 11,500 energy intensive facilities across the 25 EU member countries, including oil refineries, power plants over 20 megawatts (MW) in capacity, coke ovens, and iron and steel plants, along with cement, glass, lime, brick, ceramics, and pulp and paper installations. Covered entities emit about 45% of the EU’s carbon dioxide emissions. The trading program does not cover emissions of non-CO2 greenhouse gases, which account for about 20% of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions. A final consideration for the ETS is its suitability for directing long-term investment toward a low-carbon future — the ultimate goal of any climate change program.

This report discusses the background of the G-20 (an international forum for discussing and coordinating economic policies) and some of the issues that it has addressed. It includes historic background on the work of the G-20, information about how the group operates, overviews of G-20 summits, major issues that the group is likely to address and the likely effectiveness of the G-20 in the near future. The members of the G-20 include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.

Letter from A. H. Blackshear to Daniel W. Kempner informing him of the possible settlement of an ongoing strike and the productiveness of the cotton business.

Letter from A. H. Blackshear to Daniel W. Kempner updating him on business affairs while he is out of the country.

Copy of a letter from A. H. Blackshear to Daniel W. Kempner updating him on business affairs while he is out of the country. Included on the page are handwritten notes by Mr. Kempner after he received the letter.

Letter from A. H. Blackshear, Jr. to Daniel W. Kempner enclosing a herewith scale showing the labor rates between Galveston. Overall, he stated that there was an 8 cent increase.

Letter from D. W. Kempner to Emile Frankl thanking for the Christmas card and wishes. Informs that it is a very doubtful to be able to go to France this summer due to health issues.

Letter from D. W. Kempner to Sam Litvin thanking for the Christmas card and good wishes. Also informing that the plan to go to France is very doubtful due to health issues.

Letter from Daniel W. Kemper to Sam Litvin confirming terms of service mentioned in a previous letter and noting that Hélène died the previous December.

Letter from Daniel W. Kempner to Georges Marin discussing a request for the same room he usually stays in at the Hotel Plaza-Athenee.

Letter from Daniel W. Kempner to Pierre Chardine informing that he has returned safely to France and mentioned that the photographs that were referred were out of cotton farms.

Letter from Daniel W. Kempner to Pierre Chardine asking if he will send to Revillon 4,645 francs.

Letter from Daniel W. Kempner to Pierre Chardine asking him to be on the lookout for someone to replace his gardener at his house in Galveston and providing some details of the job.

Letter from H. Kempner to Ike discussing when Ike finishes at Lexington H. Kempner desires that Ike will travel to Germany, until he has learned to speak German, then travel to France, to learn French and Spanish.

Letter from Harris L. Kempner to David asking them to make three shirts for him and send them in gift wrap.

Letter from Harris L. Kempner to J. L. Turslow discussing travel plans for a guest.

Letter from Harris L. Kempner to Jean Fauchille informing him that while he likely won't be traveling to Europe in the spring his aunt and uncle Daniel and Jeane Kempner will be.

Letter from Harris L. Kempner to Jacques Roederer discussing a previous letter and his reaction and hope for better conditions.

Letter from Harris Leon Kempner to Mary Jean Kempner about reporting non-delivery to the Western Union and discussing about family member's whereabouts.

Letter from I. H. Kempner to Harris K. Weston requesting for signatures on the Waiver of Notice and discussing about their trip to Lake Placid.

Letter to Cecile from her father about family matters, investment bonds, the taxes on the bonds, international relations, and Texas primaries.

Letter from Jeane B. Kempner to Miss Lee Guth discussing the updated size of her dog box, her plans to return from her trip to Europe whenever she can get reservations, and the present plans she has in mind for her travels for Guth to use in writing her itinerary.

Letter from Jeane B. Kempner to Mr. Andre Poujol discussing her delight that Poujil will meet her for her scheduled arrival to Paris from New York on the morning of August 9th for her trip to Europe.