Search Results

open access

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)

Description: This report discusses the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) comprising nine members, two ex officio members, and other members as appointed by the President representing major departments and agencies within the federal executive branch. While the group generally has operated in relative obscurity, the proposed acquisition of commercial operations at six U.S. ports by Dubai Ports World in 2006 placed the group's operations under intense scrutiny by Members of Congress… more
Date: February 19, 2016
Creator: Jackson, James K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Brazil: Background and U.S. Relations

Description: This report discusses the current political and economic situation in Brazil and examines the U.S.'s commercial relationship with the country. The United States traditionally has enjoyed robust economic and political relations with Brazil on issues ranging from international development to climate change.
Date: February 11, 2016
Creator: Meyer, Peter J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): In Brief

Description: This report briefly summarizes some of the key controversial issues of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), including select market access issues (such as on dairy and other agricultural products, autos, and textiles and apparel) as well as the level of intellectual property protection, the scope and enforcement of environment and worker rights provisions, investor-state dispute settlement, access to government procurement, and the potential inclusion of provisions on currency valuation and exc… more
Date: February 9, 2016
Creator: Fergusson, Ian F.; McMinimy, Mark A. & Williams, Brock R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations

Description: This report discusses the kingdom of Saudi Arabia's relations with the United States; its stability, and its future trajectory are subjects of continuing congressional interest.
Date: February 5, 2016
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Trans-Pacific Partnership: Strategic Implications

Description: This report discusses selected strategic arguments related to the proposed 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations. The potential impacts of the agreement may be an active area of debate during the second session of the 114th Congress.
Date: February 3, 2016
Creator: Williams, Brock R.; Dolven, Ben; Fergusson, Ian F.; Manyin, Mark E.; Martin, Michael F. & Morrison, Wayne M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) Negotiations: Overview and Issues for Congress

Description: The purpose of the ongoing Trade in Services (TiSA) negotiations is to build on those rules by further increasing liberalization among the 23 negotiating parties, including the United States and European Union (EU), to open markets to foreign service providers and enhance rules governing services trade. This report provides a brief overview of U.S. trade in services, background on services in U.S. trade agreements, and an in-depth discussion of the ongoing TiSA negotiations.
Date: January 28, 2016
Creator: Fefer, Rachel F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

[Not Over 'Til It's Over: TransCanada Denial of Keystone XL Permit]

Description: This report discusses the TransCanada announcement that they planned to sue the United States under NAFTA agreements for rejecting the permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline. It also describes a suit in U.S. District Court regarding its view that the executive branch and the President don't have power over cross-border petroleum trade since Congress has passed general legislation regarding such matters as well as legislation approving the Keystone XL Pipeline which was vetoed by the President.
Date: January 19, 2016
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Iran, Gulf Security, and U.S. Policy

Description: This report discusses issues regarding Iran's political history and structure. It also takes a look at economic and defense policy responses for Congress, specifically focusing on Iran's nuclear capabilities.
Date: January 14, 2016
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

American Agriculture and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement

Description: This report identifies four considerations about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement that are particularly relevant for U.S. food and agriculture. It includes a partial snapshot of some of the higher-profile improvements in market access for agricultural products in the agreement, a summary of selected provisions beyond market access that are of interest to food and agriculture, a brief overview of industry reactions to the agreement, and a review of what would need to occur for the a… more
Date: January 8, 2016
Creator: McMinimy, Mark A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): In Brief

Description: This report briefly summarizes some of the key provisions listed in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) that are seen as controversial. The TPP is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) among 12 Asia-Pacific countries, which the Obama Administration casts as comprehensive, with economic and strategic significance for the United States. These controversial issues include select market access (such as on dairy and other agricultural products, autos, and textiles and apparel) as well as the level o… more
Date: January 8, 2016
Creator: Fergusson, Ian F.; McMinimy, Mark A. & Williams, Brock R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Arms Sales: Congressional Review Process

Description: This report reviews the process and procedures that currently apply to congressional consideration of foreign arms sales proposed by the President. This includes consideration of proposals to sell major defense equipment, defense articles and services, or the re-transfer to third party nations of such military items.
Date: January 7, 2016
Creator: Kerr, Paul K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The WTO Nairobi Ministerial

Description: This report briefly discusses a limited set of deliverables agreed upon by trade ministers and their senior representatives in Nairobi at the 10th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Date: January 4, 2016
Creator: Fefer, Rachel F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

U.S. Trade Concepts, Performance, and Policy: Frequently Asked Questions

Description: This report discusses trade issues relevant to Congress. It 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: November 5, 2015
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M.; Bolle, Mary Jane; Jackson, James K.; Jones, Vivian C.; Villarreal, M. Angeles & Fefer, Rachel F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

U.S. Trade in Services: Trends and Policy Issues

Description: This report provides background information and analysis on U.S. international trade in services, as well as policy issues before the United States. The report also examines emerging issues and current negotiations, including the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA), the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP).
Date: November 3, 2015
Creator: Fefer, Rachel F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Cargo Preferences for U.S.-Flag Shipping

Description: This report explains the motivation behind cargo preference law, discusses issues concerning the cost-effectiveness of the program, and reviews attempts to apply cargo preference to the nation's oil trade. The report also identifies several disparate bills reflecting wide disagreement on the future direction of cargo preference policy.
Date: October 29, 2015
Creator: Frittelli, John
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

U.S. Natural Gas Exports and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement

Description: On October 5, 2015, President Obama announced the conclusion of negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a free trade agreement (FTA) among the United States and 11 other Asia-Pacific nations - Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. This report briefly discusses the agreement and its potential effects.
Date: October 15, 2015
Creator: Parfomak, Paul W. & Ratner, Michael
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

U.S. Agricultural Trade with Cuba: Current Limitations and Future Prospects

Description: This report reviews the current state of agricultural trade between the United States and Cuba, identifies key impediments to expanding bilateral trade in agricultural products and key provisions in the law to which these obstacles are anchored. It also summarizes several of the bills introduced in the 114th Congress that propose to remove specific restrictions that impede trade in agricultural goods or that seek to lift the embargo on Cuba entirely.
Date: October 1, 2015
Creator: McMinimy, Mark A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Emerging Markets: Is Slower Growth Temporary?

Description: This report discusses the growing vulnerabilities Emerging market (EM) countries are facing due to declining global trade, depreciating currencies, sharply lower commodity prices, volatile equity markets, and deeper economic reforms.
Date: September 29, 2015
Creator: Jackson, James K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

U.S. Trade in Services: Trends and Policy Issues

Description: This report provides background information and analysis on U.S. international trade in services. It analyzes policy issues before the United States, especially relating to negotiating international disciplines on trade in services and dealing complexities in measuring trade in services. The report also examines emerging issues and current negotiations.
Date: September 22, 2015
Creator: Fefer, Rachel F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations

Description: This report discusses the current state of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its relationship with the United States, and future initiatives to further develop U.S.-Saudi relations. The kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ruled by the Al Saud family since its founding in 1932, wields significant global political and economic influence. Close U.S.-Saudi official relations have survived a series of challenges since the 1940s, and, in recent years, shared concerns over Sunni Islamist extremist terrorism and Irani… more
Date: September 8, 2015
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Softwood Lumber Imports From Canada: Current Issues

Description: This report examines the status and current issues surrounding Canadian softwood lumber imports since 2006. After providing background information on what constitutes softwood lumber, the stakeholders in the dispute, and the history of the dispute, the report introduces the 2006 SLA and analyzes its impacts on the U.S. lumber industry as well as on the trade relationship between the United States and Canada. Finally, the report discusses the potential issues Congress may consider when the agree… more
Date: August 27, 2015
Creator: Hoover, Katie & Fergusson, Ian F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Brazil: Background and U.S. Relations

Description: This report discusses the current political and economic situation in Brazil, and examines the U.S.'s commercial relationship with the country. The United States traditionally has enjoyed robust economic and political relations with Brazil, which is the seventh-largest economy in the world and is recognized by the Obama Administration as a "major global player" and an "indispensable partner" on issues ranging from international development to climate change.
Date: August 20, 2015
Creator: Meyer, Peter J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Back to Top of Screen