Resource Type

Proposed Keystone XL Pipeline: Legal Issues (open access)

Proposed Keystone XL Pipeline: Legal Issues

This report reviews those legal issues. First, it suggests that legislation related to cross-border facility permitting is unlikely to raise significant constitutional questions, despite the fact that such permits have traditionally been handled by the executive branch alone pursuant to its constitutional "foreign affairs" authority. Next, it observes generally that state oversight of pipeline siting decisions does not appear to violate existing federal law or the Constitution. Finally, the report suggests that State Department's implementation of the existing authority to issue presidential permits appears to allow for judicial review of its National Environmental Policy Act determinations.
Date: January 23, 2012
Creator: Vann, Adam; Alexander, Kristina; Burrows, Vanessa K. & Thomas, Kenneth R.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Why Certain Trade Agreements Are Approved as Congressional-Executive Agreements Rather Than as Treaties (open access)

Why Certain Trade Agreements Are Approved as Congressional-Executive Agreements Rather Than as Treaties

U.S. trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), World Trade Organization agreements, and bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) have been approved by majority vote of each house rather than by two-thirds vote of the Senate - that is, they have been treated as congressional-executive agreements rather than as treaties. The congressional-executive agreement has been the vehicle for implementing Congress's long-standing policy of seeking trade benefits for the United States through reciprocal trade negotiations. This report discusses this topic in brief.
Date: January 19, 2011
Creator: Grimmett, Jeanne J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement: Background and Key Issues (open access)

The Proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement: Background and Key Issues

The proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is a new agreement for combating intellectual property rights (IPR) infringement. The ACTA negotiation concluded in October 2010, nearly three years after it began, and negotiating parties released a final text of the agreement in May 2011. Negotiated by the United States, Australia, Canada, the European Union and its 27 member states, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, and Switzerland, the ACTA is intended to build on the IPR protection and enforcement obligations set forth in the 1995 World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement).
Date: March 1, 2012
Creator: Ilias, Shayerah
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling (open access)

Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling

This report covers the dispute between the U.S with its neighbors Canada and Mexico, who say that the recent country-of-origin labeling (COOL) system implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is unfair and does not meet its original objectives. This dispute was brought before the WTO dispute panel and found to be valid. The report ends with a discussion of options for the U.S. in regards to modifying COOL to follow WTO rulings.
Date: July 3, 2012
Creator: Jurenas, Remy & Greene, Joel L.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (open access)

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

This report provides a background of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) financial crisis and the issues for Congress.
Date: July 27, 2012
Creator: Jackson, James K.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The G-20 and International Economic Cooperation: Background and Implications for Congress (open access)

The G-20 and International Economic Cooperation: Background and Implications for Congress

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.
Date: March 31, 2011
Creator: Nelson, Rebecca M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling (open access)

Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling

Report that covers the dispute between the U.S with its neighbors Canada and Mexico, who say that the recent country-of-origin labeling (COOL) system implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is unfair and does not meet its original objectives.
Date: July 22, 2013
Creator: Jurenas, Remy & Greene, Joel L.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling (open access)

Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling

This report covers the dispute between the U.S with its neighbors Canada and Mexico, who say that the recent country-of-origin labeling (COOL) system implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is unfair and does not meet its original objectives. This dispute was brought before the WTO dispute panel and found to be valid. The report ends with a discussion of options for the U.S. in regards to modifying COOL to follow WTO rulings.
Date: September 16, 2013
Creator: Jurenas, Remy & Greene, Joel L.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The G-20 and International Economic Cooperation: Background and Implications for Congress (open access)

The G-20 and International Economic Cooperation: Background and Implications for Congress

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.
Date: October 23, 2013
Creator: Nelson, Rebecca M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling (open access)

Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling

This report covers the dispute between the U.S with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, who say that the recent country-of-origin labeling (COOL) system implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is unfair and does not meet its original objectives. This dispute was brought before the WTO dispute panel and found to be valid. The report ends with a discussion of options for the U.S. in regards to modifying COOL to follow WTO rulings.
Date: January 28, 2014
Creator: Jurenas, Remy & Greene, Joel L.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Airport Privatization: Issues and Options for Congress (open access)

Airport Privatization: Issues and Options for Congress

This report discusses airport privatization, particularly the low participation in the Airport Privatization Pilot Program (APPP) and the policy changes that would be required to encourage more airports to privatize. It provides background on privatization in general, the APPP and reasons why it has not stimulated privatization, privatization in Europe and Canada, and related issues and options.
Date: May 12, 2014
Creator: Tang, Rachel Y.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
NAFTA at 20: Overview and Trade Effects (open access)

NAFTA at 20: Overview and Trade Effects

This report provides andoverview of North American Free Trade Agreement provisions and discusses trade trends and economic effects, as well other issues for Congress.
Date: April 28, 2014
Creator: Villarreal, M. A. & Fergusson, Ian F.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Canada-U.S. Relations (open access)

Canada-U.S. Relations

This report provides an overview of Canada's political scene, economic conditions, security and foreign policy, and environmental initiatives, focusing particularly on issues that may be relevant to U.S. policymakers. This country survey is followed by several summaries of current bilateral issues in the political, international security, trade, and environmental arenas. The questions following each summary are designed as potential inquiries to Canadian officials to promote thought and discussion among policymakers.
Date: June 3, 2014
Creator: Fergusson, Ian F. & Mix, Derek E.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The G-20 and International Economic Cooperation: Background and Implications for Congress (open access)

The G-20 and International Economic Cooperation: Background and Implications for Congress

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.
Date: August 10, 2010
Creator: Nelson, Rebecca M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling (open access)

Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling

This report covers the dispute between the U.S with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, who say that the recent country-of-origin labeling (COOL) system implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is unfair and does not meet its original objectives. This dispute was brought before the WTO dispute panel and found to be valid. The report ends with a discussion of options for the U.S. in regards to modifying COOL to follow WTO rulings.
Date: January 29, 2015
Creator: Greene, Joel L.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America: An Overview and Selected Issues (open access)

Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America: An Overview and Selected Issues

This report discusses the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP), which was a trilateral initiative that was launched in March 2005 by Canada, Mexico, and the United States to increase cooperation and information sharing for the purpose of increasing and enhancing security and prosperity in North America.
Date: January 22, 2010
Creator: Villarreal, M. Angeles & Lake, Jennifer E.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (open access)

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

This report provides an overview of North American trade liberalization before NAFTA, an overview of NAFTA provisions, the economic effects of NAFTA, and policy considerations.
Date: April 16, 2015
Creator: Villarreal, M. Angeles & Fergusson, Ian F.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Obama Administration Rejects Keystone XL Pipeline Permit Request: Could Congress Nevertheless Approve It? (open access)

Obama Administration Rejects Keystone XL Pipeline Permit Request: Could Congress Nevertheless Approve It?

This legal sidebar discusses the rejection by Obama administration of TransCanada's application for the Keystone XL pipeline.
Date: November 9, 2015
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Columbia River Treaty Review (open access)

Columbia River Treaty Review

This report provides a brief overview of the Columbia River Treaty review. It includes background on the history of the basin and consideration of the treaty, as well as a brief summary of studies and analyses of the Columbia River Treaty review process to date.
Date: May 1, 2015
Creator: Stern, Charles V.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oil Sands and the Keystone XL Pipeline: Background and Selected Environmental Issues (open access)

Oil Sands and the Keystone XL Pipeline: Background and Selected Environmental Issues

This report focuses on selected environmental concerns raised in conjunction with the proposed pipeline and the oil sands crude it will transport. As such, the environmental issues discussed in this report do not represent an exhaustive list of concerns and issues. Moreover, many of the environmental concerns are not unique to oil sands. One could compose analogous lists for all forms of energy: coal, natural gas, nuclear, biofuels, conventional crude oil. Therefore, the oil sands/pipeline issues discussed in this report, when practicable, will be compared to other energy sources, particularly conventional crude oil development.
Date: April 14, 2014
Creator: Ramseur, Jonathan L.; Lattanzio, Richard K.; Luther, Linda; Parfomak, Paul W. & Carter, Nicole T.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau's State Visit, March 2016 (open access)

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau's State Visit, March 2016

This report briefly discusses Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's scheduled visit to the United States on March,10 2016. It will be the first state visit by a Canadian leader since 1997, when then-President Clinton hosted then-Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.
Date: March 7, 2016
Creator: Meyer, Peter J. & Fergusson, Ian F.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Open Skies Treaty: Issues in the Current Debate (open access)

The Open Skies Treaty: Issues in the Current Debate

This report discusses the current debate surrounding the Treaty on Open Skies, which the United States, Canada, and 22 European nations signed on March 24, 1992. The treaty entered into force on January 1, 2002, and now has 34 member states. Each participant must permit unarmed observation aircraft to fly over its entire territory to observe military forces and activities.
Date: June 10, 2016
Creator: Woolf, Amy F.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
North American Leaders' Summit (open access)

North American Leaders' Summit

This report discusses the North American Leaders' Summits (NALS), a trilateral summit that meets in effort to increase cooperation on broader economic and security issues between the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Date: June 16, 2016
Creator: Villarreal, M. Angeles
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
North American Leaders' Summit (open access)

North American Leaders' Summit

This report discusses the 10th annual North American Leaders' Summit (NALS), in which Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hosted President Barack Obama and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Date: July 5, 2016
Creator: Villarreal, M. A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library