Congressional Research Service Reports - 214 Matching Results

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Iraq: Compliance, Sanctions, and U.S. Policy
No Description Available.
The Middle East Peace Talks
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Agriculture and Fast Track or Trade Promotion Authority
This report considers the issue of new "fast track" or trade promotion authority (APA) legislation in the 107th Congress. Moreover, the report summarizes the agricultural debates on the issue.
Agriculture and Fast Track or Trade Promotion Authority
New “fast track” (or, trade promotion) authority (TPA) is at issue in the 107th Congress. Such authority could enable the Administration to submit negotiated foreign trade agreements to Congress for consideration under expedited procedures. Efforts to renew this authority, which expired in 1994, have not succeeded since then. Many agricultural and food industry interests are among the export-oriented enterprises that support TPA, arguing that foreign trading partners will not seriously negotiate with an Administration that lacks it. However, some farm groups argue that fast track ultimately will lead to new agreements that could have adverse effects on U.S. producers, at least in some commodity sectors.
Drug Certification Requirements and Congressional Modifications in 2001
This report provides a brief summary of the existing drug certification requirements for drug producing and drug-transit countries, background on the experience, criticisms, and reform efforts under these provisions; a summary of early congressional options and proposals advanced in 2001, with possible advantages and disadvantages; a summary of later initiatives with legislative activity; and (5) a tracking of legislative action on the major initiatives.
NAFTA Labor Side Agreement: Lessons for the Workers Rights and Fast-Track Debate
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Africa and the War on Terrorism
African countries overwhelmingly expressed their support for the U.S.-led efforts on the war against terrorism shortly after the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. Some African countries are reportedly sharing intelligence and are coordinating with Washington to fight terrorism in Africa. Administration officials believe that Africa is a potential breeding ground for terrorism. Some African officials are concerned that despite the strong support African governments have provided to the anti-terror campaign, they are not seen as real coalition partners in the fight against terrorism. African officials note that cooperation between the United States and Africa in the fight against terrorism should also include extraditing and apprehending members of African terrorist and extremist groups active in Europe and the United States. They argue that these groups are raising funds and organizing in the west, often unhindered by western governments.
China and the World Trade Organization
China has sought over the past several years to become a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the international agency that administers multilateral trade rules. China’s WTO membership (as well as that of Taiwan’s) was formally approved at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar in November 2001. On December 11, 2001, China officially became a WTO member. WTO membership will require China to significantly liberalize its trade and investment regimes, which could produce significant new commercial opportunities for U.S. businesses. A main concern for Congress is to ensure that China fully complies with its WTO commitments.
Nuclear Arms Control: The U.S.-Russian Agenda
No Description Available.
Trade and the Americas
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Trade Promotion Authority (Fast-Track Authority for Trade Agreements): Background and Developments in the 107th Congress
No Description Available.
Trade Promotion Authority (Fast-Track): Labor Issues (Including H.R. 3005 and H.R. 3019)
No Description Available.
North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Program
No Description Available.
Export Tax Benefits and the WTO: Foreign Sales Corporations and the Extraterritorial Replacement Provisions
The U.S. tax code’s Foreign Sales Corporation (FSC) provisions provided a tax benefit for U.S. exporters. However, the European Union (EU) in 1997 charged that the provision was an export subsidy and thus contravened the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements. A WTO ruling upheld the EU complaint, and to avoid WTO sanctioned retaliatory tariffs, U.S. legislation in November 2000 replaced FSC with the “extraterritorial income” (ETI) provisions, consisting of a redesigned export tax benefit of the same magnitude as FSC. The EU maintained that the new provisions are also not WTO-compliant and asked the WTO to rule on the matter.
The Middle East Peace Talks
No Description Available.
Abu Sayyaf: Target of Philippine-U.S. Anti-Terrorism Cooperation
This report provides an overview and policy analysis of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in the Philippines and the recently announced Philippine-U.S. program of military cooperation against it. It examines the origins and operations of Abu Sayyaf, the efforts of the Philippine government and military to eliminate it, and the implications of a greater U.S. military role in attempts to suppress it. The report will be updated periodically.
Palestinians and Middle East Peace: Issues for the United States
No Description Available.
Suits Against Terrorist States
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Sudan: Humanitarian Crisis, Peace Talks, Terrorism, and U.S. Policy
No Description Available.
Bioterrorism: Legislation to Improve Public Health Preparedness and Response Capacity
This report shows that while lawmakers work towards final passage of new authorizing legislation, Congress has appropriated more than $3 billion to the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) to increase bioterrorism preparedness at the federal, state, and local levels. HHS anti-bioterrorism funding was included in the FY2002 Labor-HHSEducation appropriations bill and in the $20 billion emergency spending package that was attached to the FY2002 Defense appropriations bill. Until the new authorizing legislation is enacted, HHS is dispersing the funds according to existing authorities and the broad parameters set out in the appropriations bills.
Recovery from Terrorist Attacks: A Catalog of Selected Federal Assistance Programs
No Description Available.
State and Local Preparedness for Terrorism: Policy Issues and Options
No Description Available.
India and Pakistan: Current U.S. Economic Sanctions
This report mainly discusses about the Current U.S. Economic Sanctions between India and Pakistan where United states imposes no economic sanctions against the governments of India and Pakistan. United stats prohibited aid to Pakistan when the country fell into areas in serving its debt.
The U.S. Postal Service Response to the Threat of Bioterrorism Through the Mail
No Description Available.
Terrorism: Near Eastern Groups and State Sponsors, 2002
No Description Available.
Taiwan and the World Trade Organization
No Description Available.
Trade Promotion Authority (Fast-Track Authority for Trade Agreements): Background and Developments in the 107th Congress
No Description Available.
Terrorism, the Future, and U.S. Foreign Policy
No Description Available.
Iraq: Compliance, Sanctions, and U.S. Policy
No Description Available.
Exempting Food and Agriculture Products from U.S. Economic Sanctions: Status and Implementation
Falling agricultural exports and declining commodity prices led farm groups and agribusiness firms to urge the 106th Congress to pass legislation exempting foods and agricultural commodities from U.S. economic sanctions against certain countries. In completing action on the FY2001 agriculture appropriations bill, Congress codified the lifting of unilateral sanctions on commercial sales of food, agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical products to Iran, Libya, North Korea, and Sudan, and extended this policy to apply to Cuba (Title IX of H.R. 5426, as enacted by P.L. 106-387; Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000). Related provisions place financing and licensing conditions on sales to these countries. Those that apply to Cuba, though, are permanent and more restrictive than for the other countries. Other provisions give Congress the authority in the future to veto a President's proposal to impose a sanction on the sale of agricultural or medical products.
U.S.-European Union Trade Relations: Issues and Policy Challenges
No Description Available.
North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Program
No Description Available.
Trade and the Americas
No Description Available.
Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Terrorist Threat
The continuing possibility of terrorist attacks using nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons is an ongoing concern in the national security policy arena in the face of a clear trend among terrorists to inflict greater numbers of casualties. Until the anthrax attacks targeted at selected individuals in the Congress and the media, it was thought that the terrorists most likely to attempt attacks with weapons of mass destruction (WMD) were extremist religious groups and smallsplinter terrorist cells. Though incomplete, the investigation into the anthrax attacks has begun to suggest that a domestic “lone wolf” with professional biotechnical expertise may be responsible.
Global Climate Change: U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Status, Trends, and Projections
This report discusses greenhouse gas emissions and baselines in the U.S. and various aspects of future projections.
Trafficking in Women and Children: The U.S. and International Response
This report analyzes the statistics of human trafficking victims across the world. The report discusses the efforts of the United States to prevent trafficking and assisting victims from the Bush Administration to present day.
Cyprus: Status of U.N. Negotiations
Cyprus has been divided since 1974. Greek Cypriots, nearly 80% of the population, live in the southern two thirds of the island. Turkish Cypriots live in the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (recognized only by Turkey), with about 30,000 Turkish troops providing security. U.N. peacekeeping forces maintain a buffer zone between the two. Members of Congress have urged the Administration to be more active, although they have not proposed an alternative to the U.N.-sponsored talks.
Palestinians and Middle East Peace: Issues for the United States
No Description Available.
Sudan: Humanitarian Crisis, Peace Talks, Terrorism, and U.S. Policy
No Description Available.
Nuclear Weapons: Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
No Description Available.
The Middle East Peace Talks
No Description Available.
Terrorism, the Future, and U.S. Foreign Policy
No Description Available.
Trade Policymaking in the European Union: Institutional Framework
No Description Available.
U.S.-European Union Trade Relations: Issues and Policy Challenges
No Description Available.
Terrorism: The New Occupational Hazard
No Description Available.
The Law of the Sea Convention and U.S. Policy
No Description Available.
China and the World Trade Organization
China has sought over the past several years to become a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the international agency that administers multilateral trade rules. China’s WTO membership (as well as that of Taiwan’s) was formally approved at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar in November 2001. On December 11, 2001, China officially became a WTO member. WTO membership will require China to significantly liberalize its trade and investment regimes, which could produce significant new commercial opportunities for U.S. businesses. A main concern for Congress is to ensure that China fully complies with its WTO commitments.
Iraq: Compliance, Sanctions, and U.S. Policy
No Description Available.
The Middle East Peace Talks
No Description Available.
North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Program
No Description Available.
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