Congressional Research Service Reports - 33 Matching Results
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- Intellectual Property Rights and International Trade
- This report provides background on intellectual property rights (IPR) and discusses the role of U.S. international trade policy in enhancing IPR protection and enforcement abroad.
- U.S. Trade Policy and the Caribbean: From Trade Preferences to Free Trade Agreements
- This report reviews unilateral preference programs for the Caribbean, discusses how they have been affected by FTAs in the region, and considers trade policy options for dealing with countries still relying on trade preferences and that may be considering whether to negotiate an FTA with the United States.
- Ecuador: Political and Economic Situation and U.S. Relations
- This report provides information about the Political and Economic Situation and U.S. Relations on Ecuador. Ecuador is an oil-producing country has experienced ten years of political and economic stability.
- Trade Preferences for Developing Countries and the World Trade Organization (WTO)
- World Trade Organization (WTO) Members must grant immediate and unconditional most-favored-nation (MFN) treatment to the products of other Members regarding tariffs and other trade-related measures. Programs such as the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), under which developed countries grant preferential tariff rates to developing country goods, are facially inconsistent with this obligation because they accord goods of some countries more favorable tariff treatment than that accorded to goods of other WTO Members. This report discusses various issues regarding such trade preferences.
- France: Factors Shaping Foreign Policy, and Issues in U.S.-French Relations
- This report examines the key factors that shape French foreign policy. From that context, it analyzes some of the reasons for the tensions in and the accomplishments of U.S.-French relations. The report is illustrative, rather than exhaustive. Instead, the report reviews issues selected because they exemplify some of the essential features of the U.S.-French relationship. Some issues, such as the effort by the United States and the EU-3 (France, Britain, and Germany) to curb Iran's military nuclear program are analyzed more extensively elsewhere by CRS.
- U.S. Taxation of Overseas Investment and Income: Background and Issues
- This report analyzes how the current U.S. tax system applies to foreign investment undertaken by U.S. firms abroad, and how that application was changed by recent legislation. It also assesses the impact of the tax system and legislation, and concludes by discussing a variety of issues in international taxation that Congress may face in 2008 and beyond. It begins with a brief examination of the data on international investment.
- Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) Renewal: Core Labor Standards Issues: A Brief Overview
- This report is a brief overview of key issues addressed in CRS Report RL33864, Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) Renewal: Core Labor Standards Issues. This report (1) identifies key labor provisions in the current TPA law and how they have translated into free trade agreements negotiated under it; (2) presents some legislative options, and summarizes arguments for and against listing enforceable core labor standards as a principal negotiating objective; and (3) looks at possible outcomes and implications of the legislative options.
- Agriculture in the U.S.-Dominican RepublicCentral American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA)
- This report considers the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). Specifically, the report explores sugar imports, phasing out tariffs and quotas, and how the U.S. can protect the market from an overflow of imported products.
- China-U.S. Trade Issues
- This report discusses The United States' trade relations with China, including information about trade issues and trade legislation
- China-U.S. Trade Issues
- U.S.-China economic ties have expanded substantially over the past several years. China is now the third largest U.S. trading partner, its second largest source of imports, and its fourth largest export market. However, U.S.-China commercial ties have been strained by a number of issues, including a surging U.S. trade deficit with China, China's refusal to float its currency, and failure to fully comply with its World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments, especially its failure to provide protection for U.S. intellectual property rights (IPR). This report explores these issues in detail, especially concerning the lack of protection for U.S. IPR.
- The Exon-Florio National Security Test for Foreign Investment
- The proposed acquisition of major operations in six major U.S. ports by Dubai Ports World and of Unocal by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation sparked intense concerns among some Members of Congress and the public and has reignited the debate over what role foreign acquisitions play in U.S. national security. The United States actively promotes internationally the national treatment of foreign firms. Several Members of Congress have introduced various measures during the 2nd Session of the 109th Congress that can be grouped into four major areas: those that deal specifically with the proposed Dubai Ports World acquisition; those that focus more generally on foreign ownership of U.S. ports; those that would amend the CFIUS process; and those that would amend the Exon-Florio process.
- Taiwan: Major U.S. Arms Sales Since 1990
- No Description Available.
- Trade Negotiations During the 109th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Intellectual Property and the Free Trade Agreements: Innovation Policy Issues
- This report discusses Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with Australia, Chile, Singapore, and other trading partners in respect to copyrights, data protection, patents, trademarks, and other forms of intellectual property.
- Iraq: Oil-For-Food Program, Illicit Trade, and Investigations
- This report discusses the "oil-for-food" program (OFFP) as the centerpiece of a long-standing U.N. Security Council effort to alleviate human suffering in Iraq while maintaining key elements of the 1991 Gulf war-related sanctions regime. The program, in operation from December 1996 until March 2003, is detailed.
- Taiwan: Major U.S. Arms Sales Since 1990
- This report, updated as warranted, discusses U.S. security assistance to Taiwan, or the Republic of China (ROC), including policy issues for Congress and legislation. The Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), P.L. 96-8, has governed U.S. arms sales to Taiwan since 1979 when the United States recognized the People’s Republic of China (PRC) instead of the ROC. Two other relevant parts of the “one China” policy are the August 17, 1982, U.S.-PRC Joint Communique and the “Six Assurances” made to Taiwan. (Also see CRS Report RL30341, China/Taiwan: Evolution of the “One China” Policy — Key Statements from Washington, Beijing, and Taipei, by Shirley Kan.)
- Agricultural Biotechnology: The U.S.-EU Dispute
- This report focuses on a conflict between the European Union (EU) and the United States, Canada, and Argentina. The United States suggests that the European Union's moratorium costs the U.S. 300 million dollars in exports to the EU annually. Moreover, the report highlights other concerns the U.S. has with the EU's biotechnology policies.
- Free Trade Agreements with Singapore and Chile: Labor Issues
- This report discusses the United States free trade agreements with Singapore and Chile that include labor provisions.
- Free Trade Agreements with Singapore and Chile: Labor Issues
- This report discusses the United States free trade agreements with Singapore and Chile that include labor provisions.
- Space Launch Vehicles: Government Activities, Commercial Competition, and Satellite Exports
- No Description Available.
- U.S.-Japan Economic Ties: Status and Outlook
- No Description Available.
- U.S.-European Union Trade Relations: Issues and Policy Challenges
- No Description Available.
- Financial Privacy Laws Affecting Sharing of Customer Information Among Affiliated Institutions
- This report provides an analysis of the current federal law and a brief description of state laws that appear to provide more consumer protection with respect to the issue of information sharing among affiliates.
- Cambodia: Background and U.S. Relations
- From Summary: This report provides a background and analysis regarding U.S. policies and interests toward Cambodia, including foreign aid restrictions, trade, the bilateral textile agreement, human trafficking, illegal drugs, and HIV/AIDS.
- Sudan: Economic Sanctions
- No Description Available.
- U.S.-EU Trade Tensions: Causes, Consequences, and Possible Cures
- No Description Available.
- U.S.-European Union Trade Relations: Issues and Policy Challenges
- No Description Available.
- South Korea-U.S. Economic Relations: Cooperation, Friction, and Future Prospects
- No Description Available.
- The Andean Trade Preference Act: Background and Issues for Reauthorization
- On December 4, 1991, President George Bush signed into law the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) to counter illicit drug production and trade in Latin America. For ten years, it has provided preferential, mostly duty-free, treatment of selected U.S. imports from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The goal of ATPA is to encourage increased exports, thereby promoting development and providing an incentive for Andean farmers and other workers to pursue economic alternatives to the drug trade. This report discusses the ATPA, its background, and issues regarding its potential reauthorization.
- A Free Trade Area of the Americas: Status of Negotiations and Major Policy Issues
- At the second Summit of the Americas in Santiago, Chile (April 1998), 34 Western Hemisphere nations agreed to initiate formal negotiations to create a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) by 2005. The negotiating groups completed a draft agreement in January 2001, which was presented at the third Summit of the Americas held in Quebec City on April 20-22, 2001. President Bush expressed strong support for the FTAA and concrete progress has been made in moving it forward. Yet, differences in priorities among the countries are becoming increasingly evident, suggesting that the FTAA faces many policy hurdles in both the U.S. Congress and the hemisphere.
- Caribbean Basin Interim Trade Program: CBI/NAFTA Parity
- The entry into force, on January 1, 1994, of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has eliminated the advantage that the beneficiaries of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) and related provisions of the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) had enjoyed in trade with the United States relative to Mexico, and gave Mexico an increasingly significant competitive edge over the CBERA countries. The scheduled further implementation of the NAFTA would have resulted in a substantial advantage to Mexico over the CBERA countries and vitiate in part the purpose of the CBERA.
- U.S.-Japan Economic Ties: Status and Outlook
- The U.S.-Japan relationship is a long-term one involving mutually accepted principles -- regional economic and political stability; market-driven economies; and democratic systems of government. The relationship is also complex, encompassing many factors.
- China and the WTO: Labor Issues
- This report discusses China's prospective membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the issues it raises for U.S. workers and organized labor.