Trade Primer: Qs and As on Trade Concepts, Performance, and Policy (open access)

Trade Primer: Qs and As on Trade Concepts, Performance, and Policy

The 112th Congress has a full legislative and oversight agenda on international trade. The agenda may include considering legislation to implement pending free trade agreements with Panama, South Korea, and Colombia, enhanced enforcement of U.S. trade agreements, as well as oversight of the World Trade Organization's Doha Round and trade relations with China. This report provides information and context for many of these topics. The report is divided into four sections in a question-and-answer format: trade concepts, U.S. trade performance, formulation of U.S. trade policy, and trade and investment issues.
Date: January 5, 2011
Creator: Ahearn, Raymond J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Trade Primer: Qs and As on Trade Concepts, Performance, and Policy (open access)

Trade Primer: Qs and As on Trade Concepts, Performance, and Policy

This report is divided into four sections in a question-and-answer format: trade concepts, U.S. trade performance, formulation of U.S. trade policy, and trade and investment issues. The first section on "Trade Concepts" deals with why countries trade, the consequences of trade expansion, and the relationship between globalization and trade. The second section, on trade performance, focuses on the U.S. trade deficit and its impact on industries. The third section deals with the roles played by the Executive Branch, Congress, the private sector, and the Judiciary in the formulation of U.S. trade policy. The fourth section, on U.S. trade and investment policy, asks questions related to trade negotiations and agreements and to imports, exports, and investments.
Date: December 8, 2010
Creator: Ahearn, Raymond J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Transatlantic Regulatory Cooperation: Background and Analysis (open access)

Transatlantic Regulatory Cooperation: Background and Analysis

This report discusses commercial ties between the United States and the 27-member European Union. These ties are substantial, growing, and mutually beneficial, but differences in regulatory approaches limit an even more integrated marketplace from developing. This report is intended to serve as an introduction and primer on this complicated, broad, and often highly technical set of issues.
Date: March 7, 2011
Creator: Ahearn, Raymond J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Transatlantic Regulatory Cooperation: Background and Analysis (open access)

Transatlantic Regulatory Cooperation: Background and Analysis

This report discusses commercial ties between the United States and the 27-member European Union. While ties between the U.S. and EU are substantial, growing, and mutually beneficial, differences in regulatory approaches limit an even more integrated marketplace from developing. To deal with this situation, a variety of government-to-government efforts have been created to dismantle existing regulatory barriers and to prevent new ones from emerging.
Date: January 21, 2010
Creator: Ahearn, Raymond J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-EU Trade and Economic Relations: Key Policy Issues for the 112th Congress (open access)

U.S.-EU Trade and Economic Relations: Key Policy Issues for the 112th Congress

This report examines the trade relations between the United States, the European Union, and China.
Date: February 17, 2011
Creator: Ahearn, Raymond J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
World Trade Organization (WTO): Issues in the Debate on Continued U.S. Participation (open access)

World Trade Organization (WTO): Issues in the Debate on Continued U.S. Participation

Following World War II, the United States led efforts to establish an open and nondiscriminatory trading system with the expressed goal of raising the economic well-being of all countries and bolstering world peace. These efforts culminated in the creation of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in 1948, a provisional agreement on tariffs and trade rules that governed world trade for 47 years. The World Trade Organization (WTO) succeeded the GATT in 1995 and today serves as a permanent body that administers the rules and agreements negotiated and signed by 153 participating parties, as well as a forum for dispute settlement and negotiations. The purpose of this report is to analyze some of the main issues in any debate on U.S. participation in the WTO and to address some of the criticisms leveled at the organization. Academic studies indicate that the United States benefits from broad reductions in trade barriers worldwide, but some workers and industries might not share in those gains. Decisions in the WTO are made by member governments, which determine their negotiating positions, file dispute challenges, and implement their decisions. However, some argue that smaller countries are left out of decision-making and that governments tend …
Date: June 16, 2010
Creator: Ahearn, Raymond J. & Fergusson, Ian F.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Transatlantic Regulatory Cooperation: A Possible Role for Congress (open access)

Transatlantic Regulatory Cooperation: A Possible Role for Congress

This report focuses on the creation of the Transatlantic Economic Council; the role of legislatures in the regulatory process; and the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue and its new role as an advisor to transatlantic regulatory efforts.
Date: January 4, 2010
Creator: Ahearn, Raymond J. & Morelli, Vincent
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Wills Road Map: Practical Considerations in Will Drafting (open access)

Wills Road Map: Practical Considerations in Will Drafting

From introduction: "The purpose of Wills Road Map is to pull together legal concepts from various areas that impact the preparation of wills, including wills, probate, and trust law. While it features a very basic discussion of estate tax planning, the primary focus is on the various state law issues [...] to provide practical help, so the emphasis is on addressing principles that can affect the will beyond the language used in the will itself" (p. xiii).
Date: 2014
Creator: Akers, Steve R.; Jones, Bernard E. & Watts, R. J., II
Object Type: Book
System: The Portal to Texas History
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation: Background and Legislative Issues (open access)

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation: Background and Legislative Issues

This report provides: (1) a background on Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) origins and program operations; (2) discussion of the international development finance context; and (3) analysis of key issues for Congress related to OPIC.
Date: September 25, 2013
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah I.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ex-Im Bank: No Quorum, No Problem? (open access)

Ex-Im Bank: No Quorum, No Problem?

This report discusses the operation on a limited basis of the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) despite a renewal of its general statutory charter through FY2019 (P.L. 114-94,
Date: September 15, 2016
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ex-Im Bank's General Statutory Authority Expires (open access)

Ex-Im Bank's General Statutory Authority Expires

This report discusses the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank), a wholly owned federal government corporation which seeks to provide direct loans, loan guarantees, and export credit insurance to: (1) support exports that the private sector is unwilling or unable to finance alone at commercially viable terms; and/or (2) counter government-backed financing offered by foreign countries through their export credit agency (ECA).
Date: July 1, 2015
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) Reauthorization (open access)

Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) Reauthorization

None
Date: December 23, 2014
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) Reauthorization (open access)

Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) Reauthorization

None
Date: September 2, 2014
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Export-Import Bank: Overview and Reauthorization Issues (open access)

Export-Import Bank: Overview and Reauthorization Issues

This report provides: (1) a general background of Ex-Im Bank; (2) a discussion of the international context of the Bank; (3) analysis of key issues that Congress may consider in a reauthorization debate; and (4) the congressional outlook on Ex-Im Bank.
Date: June 3, 2014
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Export-Import Bank: Overview and Reauthorization Issues (open access)

Export-Import Bank: Overview and Reauthorization Issues

This report provides: (1) a general background of Ex-Im Bank; (2) a discussion of the international context of the Bank; (3) analysis of key issues that Congress may consider in a reauthorization debate; and (4) the congressional outlook on Ex-Im Bank.
Date: June 30, 2014
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Export-Import Bank: Overview and Reauthorization Issues (open access)

Export-Import Bank: Overview and Reauthorization Issues

This report provides: a general background of Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank; a discussion of the international context of the Bank; analysis of key issues that Congress may consider in a reauthorization debate; and the congressional outlook on Ex-Im Bank.
Date: March 25, 2015
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Debate (open access)

Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Debate

This report discusses the ongoing debate regarding the Export-Import Bank of the United States, a federal government corporation which is the the official export credit agency (ECA) of the U.S. Government. The bank's statutory charter expires on September 30, 2014, meaning that its authority to obligations generally would cease and a wind-down of operations would be required. The report gives four possible scenarios for approaches Congress could take in regards to approaching the bank's future authorization status.
Date: August 18, 2014
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Proposed U.S.-EU Trade Negotiations: Hitting Pause on a Trade War? (open access)

Proposed U.S.-EU Trade Negotiations: Hitting Pause on a Trade War?

This report discusses the announcement by the United States and European Union (EU) that they are at a "new phase" in their relationship for "freer, fairer, and more reciprocal trade." The announcement came on July 25, 2018 at a challenging time for transatlantic trade relations.
Date: August 9, 2018
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Trade Reorganization: Overview and Issues for Congress (open access)

Trade Reorganization: Overview and Issues for Congress

Report that discusses: President Obama's trade reorganization proposal; the context of the trade reorganization debate; key issues that Congress may face related to the debate; potential policy options for Congress; and the outlook for trade reorganization.
Date: June 6, 2013
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-EU Trade and Economic Issues (open access)

U.S.-EU Trade and Economic Issues

This report discusses U.S.-EU trade and economic relations, which currently face heightened tension, particularly due to the Trump Administration's trade policy, which is focusing on unilateral tariff measures under U.S. trade law and taking a critical view of the U.S. role in international economic cooperation. Given U.S.-EU historical joint leadership on global trade and economic issues, these developments could have implications for the rules-based international trading system, a foundation of the global economic order that has contributed to global economic growth and stability in the post-World War II era.
Date: August 1, 2018
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-EU Trade and Economic Issues (open access)

U.S.-EU Trade and Economic Issues

This report discusses U.S.-EU trade and economic relations, which currently face heightened tension, particularly due to the Trump Administration's trade policy, which is focusing on unilateral tariff measures under U.S. trade law and taking a critical view of the U.S. role in international economic cooperation. Given U.S.-EU historical joint leadership on global trade and economic issues, these developments could have implications for the rules-based international trading system, a foundation of the global economic order that has contributed to global economic growth and stability in the post-World War II era.
Date: July 20, 2018
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-EU Trade and Investment Ties: Magnitude and Scope (open access)

U.S.-EU Trade and Investment Ties: Magnitude and Scope

This report provides background information and analysis on the trade and investment relationship between the United States and the European Union. It also discusses the EU economy and issues for Congress.
Date: July 20, 2018
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-U.K. Free Trade Agreement: Prospects and Issues for Congress (open access)

U.S.-U.K. Free Trade Agreement: Prospects and Issues for Congress

This report discuses the prospects of a free trade agreement between the U.K. and the U.S. after Brexit and potential issues that might be addressed in such an agreement. Congress's role in free trade agreements is also discussed.
Date: April 14, 2017
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP): In Brief (open access)

Proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP): In Brief

This report provides a brief overview of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP), and discusses the congressional interest, market access, regulatory issues, and trade-related rules.
Date: June 11, 2014
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias & Jones, Vivian C.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library