Congressional Research Service Reports - 566 Matching Results
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- U.S. Tariff Policy: Overview
- This report provides a brief overview of United States tariff policy. A tariff is a customs duty levied on imported and exported goods and services, typically used to protect domestic industries or as leverage in trade negotiations and disputes.
- United States and Saudi Arabia Energy Relations
- This report provides an overview of the U.S.-Saudi Arabia energy relationship that dates back to at least 1933. Since then, this relationship has witnessed the creation of the Arabian American Oil Company (Aramco), nationalization and ownership transfer of Aramco to Saudi Arabia (renamed Saudi Aramco), a Saudi-supported embargo of crude oil shipments to the United States, and various periods of energy cooperation. Today, the U.S.-Saudi energy relationship includes interests within three general categories: (1) energy trade, (2) business operations, and (3) global petroleum prices.
- U.S.-India Trade Relations
- This report discusses trade relations between the United States and India. Many observers believe bilateral commercial ties could be more extensive if trade and investment barriers were addressed.
- U.S.-Japan Announce New Limited Trade Negotiations
- This report discusses announced plans for bilateral negotiations for a trade agreement between the United States and Japan.
- The "National Security Exception" and the World Trade Organization
- This report examines the meaning of the national security exception in Article XXI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)--a provision also implicated in a recent World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute between Russia and Ukraine; a blockade of Qatar by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates; and a few other disputes.
- Section 232 Investigations: Overview and Issues for Congress
- This report provides an overview of Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, analyzes the Trump Administration's Section 232 investigations and actions, and considers potential policy and economic implications and issues for Congress. To provide context for the current debate, the report also includes a discussion of previous Section 232 investigations and a brief legislative history of the statute.
- World Trade Organization: Overview and Future Direction
- This report provides background history of the World Trade Organization (WTO), its organization, and current status of negotiations. It also explores concerns regarding the WTO's future direction and key policy issues for Congress.
- Arms Sales: Congressional Review Process
- 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 states of such military items.
- Effects of U.S. Tariff Action on U.S. Aluminum Manufacturing
- This report discusses the aluminum tariffs put in effect by the U.S. in March 2018. The United States has assessed duties of 10% or more on certain imports of aluminum on national security grounds. The duties are controversial, with some Members of Congress questioning whether the duties will encourage domestic aluminum production and whether they could adversely affect U.S. industries that use aluminum.
- Agriculture in the WTO: Rules and Limits on U.S. Domestic Support
- This report provides a brief overview of the World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments that are most relevant for U.S. domestic farm policy. It includes a discussion regarding how WTO commitments may influence policies and questions for evaluating WTO compliance of domestic farm spending..
- NAFTA and the Preliminary U.S.-Mexico Agreement
- This report outlines the key provisions of the agreement between the U.S. and Mexico that is set to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
- WTO Disciplines on U.S. Domestic Support for Agriculture
- This report outlines the rules and disciplines the United States has committed to abide by as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
- Escalating Tariffs: Potential Impacts
- This report examines the potential impacts of U.S. trade actions on steel and aluminium tariffs and tariffs against China.
- Trade Promotion Authority (TPA): Frequently Asked Questions
- This report discusses the Trade Promotion Authority program which allows the President to request an expedited procedure for an international trade deal that meets certain requirements. The report answers a variety of frequently asked questions regarding TPA's functions and purpose and Congressional power over it.
- Labor Enforcement Issues in U.S. FTAs
- This report discusses labor enforcement in free trade agreements (FTAs), U.S. labor disputes, and issues for Congress to consider.
- U.S. Trade Debates: Select Disputes and Actions
- This report discusses a number of significant trade disputes involving the United States over the past 100 years. It is a response to the 271 active trade disputes currently being addressed in the World Trade Organization (WTO) that involve the United States.
- International Law and Agreements: Their Effect upon U.S. Law
- This report provides an introduction to the roles that international law and agreements play in the United States. This includes the role of different branches of government play in navigating such laws.
- CFIUS Reform: Foreign Investment National Security Reviews
- This report discusses recent legislation, known as the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA) of 2018. The legislation amends the current process for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to review -- on behalf of the President -- the national security implications of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States.
- Buy America and the Electric Bus Market
- This report discusses a current controversy over how Buy America (which requires that federally-funded highway, public transportation, aviation, and intercity passenger rail projects use U.S.-made manufactured goods) applies to battery-powered buses. This controversy illustrates the challenges in determining whether or not a product is made in the United States.
- Costs of Government Interventions in Response to the Financial Crisis: A Retrospective
- This report summarizes government assistance programs and presents how much the programs ultimately cost (or benefit) the taxpayers based on straightforward cash accounting as reported by the various agencies.
- 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.
- Potential WTO Implications of USDA's Proposed Response to Trade-Retaliation
- This report briefly discusses the World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments that are relevant to U.S. domestic support programs and how the newly-announced U.S. trade retaliation assistance program may or may not comply with those WTO commitments.
- Section 232 Investigations: Overview and Issues for Congress
- This report provides an overview of Section 232, which relates to trade barriers and other foreign practices. It analyzes the Trump Administration's Section 232 investigations and actions and considers potential policy and economic implications and issues for Congress. To provide context for the current debate, the report also includes a discussion of previous Section 232 investigations and a brief legislative history of the statute.
- Overview of U.S.-South Korea Agricultural Trade
- This report provides an overview of U.S.-South Korea agricultural trade, including details of key agricultural products and issues affecting U.S. exports.
- Section 232 Investigations: Overview and Issues for Congress
- This report provides an overview of Section 232, analyzes the Trump Administration's Section 232 investigations and actions, and considers potential policy and economic implications and issues for Congress. To provide context for the current debate, the report also includes a discussion of previous Section 232 investigations and a brief legislative history of the statute.
- Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers and the TAA Reauthorization Act of 2015
- After a brief discussion of the program's purpose and most recent reauthorization, this report describes TAA as reauthorized by the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2015 (TAARA, Title IV of P.L. 114-27).
- The World Trade Organization (WTO): U.S. Participation at Risk?
- This report discusses the possibility that the U.S. will withdraw from the World Trade Organization (WTO), after the Trump Administration expressed doubt over its value to the U.S. economy.
- 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.
- U.S.-China Trade Issues
- This report provides background and analysis of U.S.-China commercial ties, including history, trends, issues, and outlook.
- China-U.S. Trade Issues
- This report provides an overview of U.S.-China commercial ties, identifies major issues of contention, describes the Trump Administration's trade policies toward China, and reviews possible outcomes.
- NAFTA Renegotiation and Modernization
- This report provides a brief overview of NAFTA and the role of Congress in the renegotiation process; it discusses key issues related to the negotiations. It also provides a discussion of policy implications for Congress going forward.
- NATO's 2018 Brussels Summit
- This report discusses the meeting of leaders from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO's) 29 member states, scheduled to take place on hold a summit at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on July 11-12, 2018. Despite the heightened U.S.-European tensions, NATO officials say they expect the allies to announce new NATO initiatives in six main areas at the summit: enhancing collective defense and deterrence, defense spending and burdensharing, countering terrorism, enhancing NATO cooperation with the European Union, and NATO enlargement.
- The U.S. Trade Deficit: An Overview
- This report provides an overview of the U.S. trade deficit, which is the numerical difference between a country's exports and imports of goods and services. Topics include the source of the trade deficit, trade agreements, unemployment, and issues for Congress.
- Escalating Tariffs: Timeline and Potential Impact
- This report provides a timeline of key events related to U.S. trade actions on steel and aluminium tariffs and tariffs against China.
- 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.
- U.S.-China Trade Issues
- This report provides a summary of U.S.-China commercial ties, including history, trends, issues, and outlook.
- 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.
- Section 232 Investigations: Overview and Issues for Congress
- This report provides an overview of Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which provides the President with the ability to impose restrictions on certain imports based on an affirmative determination by the U.S. Department of Commerce that the product under investigation "is being imported into the United States in such quantities or under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security." It also analyzes the Trump Administration's Section 232 investigations and actions, and considers potential policy and economic implications and issues for Congress.
- China-U.S. Trade Issues
- This report provides background and analysis of U.S.-China commercial ties, including history, trends, issues, and outlook.
- Trade Deficits and U.S. Trade Policy
- This report examines the components of the U.S. trade deficit in terms of the merchandise trade account and the broader current account. It also assesses the relationship between the trade deficit and U.S. free trade agreements, perceived unfair treatment in trading relationships, the trade deficit and U.S. rates of unemployment, and the impact of tariffs on the U.S. trade deficit, as well as raises issues for potential congressional consideration.
- China's Retaliatory Tariffs on Selected U.S. Agricultural Products
- This report discusses China's retaliatory tariffs on many U.S. agricultural products in response to the U.S. tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminium imports.
- Shining a Light on the Solar Trade: Investigation Leads to Tariffs on Solar-Related Imports (Part 1)
- This report is part one of a report discussing the implementation of a tariff-rate quota on solar-energy related imports for four years beginning February 7, 2018. The announcement was triggered by the results of a U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) investigation into potential harm to U.S. industries from the importation of solar-panel related parts. The process of an ITC investigation is described in this part of the the report.
- Section 201 Safeguards on Solar Products and Washing Machines
- This report discusses new U.S. tariffs on solar energy related products and certain large residential washing machines which are intended to safeguard American businesses from foreign competition temporarily while they adjust production levels and methods.
- Threats to National Security Foiled? A Wrap Up of New Tariffs on Steel and Aluminium.
- This report discusses the new tariffs on steel and aluminium imports which go into effect on March 23, 2018. Possible effects of the tariff on the American market and reactions to the tariffs by other countries are also discussed.
- Tricks of the Trade: Section 301 Investigation of Chinese Intellectual Property Practices Concludes (Part 2)
- This report is the part two of two of a report on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) recently concluded its investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 (the "Section 301 Investigation") "to determine whether acts, policies, and practices of the Government of China related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict U.S. commerce." This part of the report applies the general legal framework to this specific Section 301 Investigation, providing background on the investigation, describing the USTR's findings and the President's directives, and concluding by addressing what legal issues lie ahead.
- NAFTA Renegotiation and Modernization
- This report discusses the NAFTA renegotiation process and major topics of interest in the agreement as well as Congress's role in the negotiation and approval process.
- Nuclear Cooperation with Other Countries: A Primer
- This report discusses the United States's nuclear cooperation with other countries and requirements for export agreements for civilian nuclear parts with other countries.
- Softwood Lumber Imports from Canada: Current Issues
- This report discusses current issues and developments in "Lumber V", a dispute between Canada and the U.S. over the pricing and quantity of softwood lumber imports from Canada to the U.S., which has been a source of friction between the two countries for decades.
- China-U.S. Trade Issues
- This report provides background and analysis of U.S.-China commercial ties, including history, trends, issues, and outlook.
- China--U.S. Trade Issues
- This report provides background and analysis of U.S.-China commercial ties, including history, trends, issues, and outlook.