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Environment and the World Trade Organization (WTO) at Seattle: Issues and Concerns

Description: This meeting of the decision making body of the WTO was expected to make decisions that would lead to another round of negotiations on a wide variety of trade rules and related issues. Although the United States continues to assert the necessity of pursuing the twin goals of free trade and environmental protection and to argue that these need not be in conflict, controversy remains over how the multilateral trading system should address the specifics of environmental issues.
Date: December 21, 1999
Creator: Fletcher, Susan R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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IMF and World Bank: U.S. Contributions and Agency Budgets

Description: This paper shows how much the United States has contributed to these international agencies in recent years. It also shows how much the international agencies budget (and the source of those funds) for their administrative expenses and their operational budgets. This report will be updated periodically.
Date: December 9, 1999
Creator: Sanford, Jonathan E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The World Trade Organization (WTO) Seattle Ministerial Conference

Description: On November 30th to December 3rd, 1999, the highest decision-making body of the World Trade Organization (WTO), called the Ministerial Conference, will meet in Seattle to make broad policy decisions. The key issue for the trade ministers attending the meeting will be to decide on the structure and topics for the agenda of a new round of multilateral trade negotiations. Countries have committed to discuss agriculture and services trade in the new round. Other items that have been proposed for in… more
Date: November 19, 1999
Creator: Sek, Lenore
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Economic Sanctions to Achieve U.S. Foreign Policy Goals: Discussion and Guide to Current Law

Description: This report provides background on foreign policy sanctions. It addresses the following questions: Why do we apply sanctions? What objectives does the U.S. government seek to achieve when it imposes sanctions? Who imposes sanctions? What tools are available? How likely is it that sanctions will achieve the stated goal? What secondary consequences might sanctions have? What change is required for the sanctions to be lifted? Would multilateral sanctions be more desirable and achievable? The repor… more
Date: November 1, 1999
Creator: Rennack, Dianne E. & Shuey, Robert
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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CBI/NAFTA Parity Proposals: A Comparison

Description: The tariff and quota treatment of U.S. imports from Mexico under the North American Free Trade Agreement has resulted in a distinct and increasing competitive disadvantage for imports from the beneficiary countries of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA). To eliminate this disadvantage, proposals have been made to extend to imports from Caribbean Basin countries preferential treatment equivalent to that accorded imports of identical goods from Mexico. This report compares the provi… more
Date: October 8, 1999
Creator: Pregelj, Vladimir N.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Country Applicability of the U.S. Most-Favored-Nation Status

Description: The United States accords permanent most-favored-nation (MFN) treatment to all its trading partners except six countries to which it is denied by law and 14 countries whose MFN status is temporary and subject to the conditions of Title IV of the Trade Act of 1974.
Date: July 1, 1999
Creator: Pregelj, Vladimir N.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Drug Certification of Mexico in 1999: Arguments For and Against Congressional Resolutions of Disapproval

Description: This report presents arguments for and against congressional resolutions to disapprove President Clinton’s February 26, 1999 certification of Mexico as a fully cooperative country in efforts to control illicit narcotics.1 These resolutions (H.J.Res. 35--Bachus, and H.J.Res. 43--Mica and Gilman) would disapprove the President’s certification, but would permit him to avoid withholding of assistance to Mexico if he determined that vital national interests required such assistance.
Date: March 30, 1999
Creator: Storrs, K. Larry
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Caribbean Basin Enhancement Legislation

Description: Legislation provides Caribbean countries similar tariff benefits as Mexico under the Caribbean and Central American Relief and Economic Stabilization Act. A senate bill provides relief to the hurricane affected countries of Central America. The senate bill is more restrictive than the House bill in the scope of tariff benefits offered.
Date: March 26, 1999
Creator: Ahearn, Raymond
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Waste Trade and the Basel Convention: Background and Update

Description: The United States played a major role in developing the 1989 United Nations-sponsored Basel Convention on the Control of the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, a key purpose of which is to protect countries from receiving unwanted shipments of wastes. The Convention entered into force in 1992, and by mid-1998, 121 countries (but not the United States) had ratified it. In 1991, the Bush Administration transmitted the Convention to the Senate for advice and consent to … more
Date: December 30, 1998
Creator: Tiemann, Mary
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Russian Missile Technology and Nuclear Reactor Transfers to Iran

Description: Many in Congress and the Clinton Administration charge that Russian entities are assisting Iran in developing ballistic missiles. Russia is also building a nuclear power station and is finishing other nuclear services to, Iran. Congress has passed legislation requiring the President to impose sanctions for missile technology transfers, arms sales, nuclear technology transfers, and large-scale investments in Iran. H.R 2709, which includes the "Iran Missile Proliferation Sanctions Act of 1997," i… more
Date: December 14, 1998
Creator: Goldman, Stuart D.; Katzman, Kenneth; Shuey, Robert & Behrens, Carl E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S.-European Agricultural Trade: Food Safety and Biotechnology Issues

Description: The European Union (EU) is the second largest market for U.S. agricultural exports. The EU's ban on meat produced using growth-promoting hormones is a food safety issue that has been particularly contentious in U.S.-EU agricultural trade relations. EU policy on bio-engineered products has also been an issue. A World Trade Organization dispute settlement panel has ruled that the ban contravenes the EU's international obligations under the WTO, but left open the option to the EU to conduct a risk… more
Date: October 21, 1998
Creator: Hanrahan, Charles E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Fast-Track Trade Negotiating Authority: A Comparison of 105th Congress Legislative Proposals

Description: This report provides a side-by-side comparison of H.R. 2621 and S. 2400, as reported, 105th Congress bills that would provide the President with trade negotiating authority and accord certain resulting agreements and implementing bills expedited -- or "fast-track" -- legislative consideration.
Date: September 15, 1998
Creator: Grimmett, Jeanne J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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China: Possible Missile Technology Transfers from U.S. Satellite Export Policy - Background and Chronology

Description: Members of Congress are concerned about whether U.S. firms have provided technology or expertise to China for use in its ballistic missile program and whether a series of decisions by the Clinton Administration on satellite exports have facilitated legal or illegal transfers of missile-related technology to China. The New York Times reported in April 1998 that the Justice Department is conducting an ongoing criminal investigation into whether Loral Space and Communications (of New York), and Hu… more
Date: August 13, 1998
Creator: Kan, Shirley A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Veterans and Smoking-Related Illnesses: Congress Enacts Limits to Compensation

Description: With enactment of P.L. 105-178 (H.R. 2400), the Transportation Equity Act for the 21 Century (TEA-21), Congress limited authority of the Department of Veterans st Affairs (VA) to grant service-connected compensation to veterans who, after the enactment date, claim that their smoking-related illnesses are traceable to tobacco use that began during their military service. P.L. 105-178's prohibition on most smokingrelated VA claims is the resolution of an issue with potentially explosive federal c… more
Date: August 13, 1998
Creator: Snook, Dennis W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S. Agriculture and the International Monetary Fund

Description: Congress is considering legislation to provide supplemental resources to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to strengthen its ability to deal with future financial crises like those currently in Asia and in 1994-95 in Mexico. many in U.S.
Date: July 6, 1998
Creator: Hanrahan, Charles E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Fast-Track Trade Negotiating Authority: A Comparison of 105th Congress Legislative Proposals

Description: This report provides a side-by-side comparison of the reported versions of H.R.2621 and S. 1269, 105th Congress bills that would provide the President with trade negotiating authority and accord certain resulting agreements and implementing bills expedited legislative consideration.
Date: July 2, 1998
Creator: Grimmett, Jeanne J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Fast-Track Trade Negotiating Authority: A Comparison of 105th Congress Legislative Proposals

Description: This report provides a side-by-side comparison of the reported versions of H.R. 2621 and S. 1269, 105 Congress bills that would provide the President with trade negotiating authority and accord certain resulting agreements and implementing bills expedited -- or “fast-track” -- legislative consideration.
Date: July 2, 1998
Creator: Grimmett, Jeanne J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Trade Agreements: Renewing the Negotiating and Fast-Track Implementing Authority

Description: Legislation authorizing the negotiation and, where required, fast-track implementation of trade agreements expired in early 1994. Action in the 104th Congress to renew the authority, prompted in part by the near-term prospect of the negotiation of a free-trade agreement with Chile, which might later be followed by other agreements, reached an impasse in late 1995 because of a disagreement between Congress and the Administration as to the inclusion of labor and environmental issues in agreements… more
Date: June 30, 1998
Creator: Pregelj, Vladimir N.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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