Congressional Research Service Reports - 89 Matching Results

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Cuba Sanctions: Legislative Restrictions Limiting the Normalization of Relations

Description: This report provides information on legislative provisions restricting relations with Cuba. It lists the various provisions of law comprising economic sanctions on Cuba, including key laws that are the statutory basis of the embargo, and provides information on the authority to lift or waive these restrictions.
Date: February 13, 2015
Creator: Rennack, Dianne E. & Sullivan, Mark P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Defense: FY2015 Authorization and Appropriations

Description: This report examines the issues related to the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the state and substance of the negotiations (to the degree that the information is publicly available), the specific areas under negotiation, the policy and economic contexts in which the TPP would fit, and the issues for Congress that the TPP presents.
Date: January 30, 2015
Creator: Fergusson, Ian F.; McMinimy, Mark A. & Williams, Brock R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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International Trade and Finance: Key Policy Issues for the 114th Congress

Description: This report covers policy issues in areas such as: U.S. trade negotiations; U.S. trade and economic relations with regions and countries; international trade institutions; tariff and nontariff barriers; worker dislocation from trade liberalization; trade remedy laws; import and export policies; international investment; economic sanctions; and trade policy functions of the federal government.
Date: January 2, 2015
Creator: Irace, Mary A. & Williams, Brock R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S. Trade Concepts, Performance, and Policy: Frequently Asked Questions

Description: This report discusses trade issues relevant to Congress. The report 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: January 30, 2015
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M.; Bolle, Mary Jane; Elwell, Craig K.; Jackson, James K.; Jones, Vivian C. & Villarreal, M. A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S.-EU Poultry Dispute on the Use of Pathogen Reduction Treatments (PRTs)

Description: This report highlights the dispute between the U.S. and EU over the use of Pathogen Reduction Treatments (PRTs) during the processing of poultry products. PRT's are antimicrobial rinses--including chlorine dioxide, acidified sodium chlorite, trisodium phosphate, and peroxyacids, among others--that have been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for use in poultry processing to reduce the amount of microbes on meat.
Date: January 15, 2015
Creator: Johnson, Renée
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The U.S.-EU Beef Hormone Dispute

Description: This report discusses the long-standing and acrimonious trade dispute between the United States and the European Union (EU) over the EU's decision to ban hormone-treated meat.
Date: January 14, 2015
Creator: Johnson, Renée
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S.-Mexico Economic Relations: Trends, Issues, and Implications

Description: This report provides an overview of U.S.-Mexico economic relations, trade trends, the Mexican economy, NAFTA, and trade issues between the United States and Mexico.
Date: February 10, 2015
Creator: Villarreal, M. Angeles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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China-U.S. Trade Issues

Description: This report provides an overview of U.S.-China commercial relations, including major trade disputes.
Date: March 9, 2015
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses

Description: This report discusses the reasons that Iran is considered a threat to U.S. security, including Iran's nuclear program, involvement with terrorist organizations, and involvement with neighboring countries' local governments. It also discusses ways in which the U.S. hopes to modify Iran's behavior with sanctions, and the effectiveness of these sanctions.
Date: March 18, 2015
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S. Natural Gas Exports: New Opportunities, Uncertain Outcomes

Description: This report examines what has changed in the U.S. natural gas market and the prospects and implications of the United States becoming a larger net exporter of natural gas. Bills to expedite and expand liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports have been introduced in the 114th Congress, including the LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act (H.R. 351 and S. 33), the American Job Creation and Strategic Alliances LNG Act (H.R. 287), the Crude Oil Export Act (H.R. 156), the Domestic Prosperity and … more
Date: January 28, 2015
Creator: Ratner, Michael; Parfomak, Paul W.; Luther, Linda & Fergusson, Ian F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms: Economic, Program, and Policy Issues

Description: This report discusses the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs, which were authorized by Congress in the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to help workers and firms adjust to import competition and dislocation caused by trade liberalization. It provides information about TAAF program and policy issues, as well as legislation to reauthorize the TAAF program.
Date: January 30, 2015
Creator: Bolle, Mary Jane
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling

Description: This report covers the dispute between the U.S with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, who say that the recent country-of-origin labeling (COOL) system implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is unfair and does not meet its original objectives. This dispute was brought before the WTO dispute panel and found to be valid. The report ends with a discussion of options for the U.S. in regards to modifying COOL to follow WTO rulings.
Date: January 29, 2015
Creator: Greene, Joel L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and the Role of Congress in Trade Policy

Description: This report presents background and analysis on the development of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which expired on July 1, 2007. The report also includes a summary of the major provisions under the recently expired authority and a discussion of the issues that have arisen in the debate over TPA renewal, as well as policy options available to Congress.
Date: January 23, 2015
Creator: Fergusson, Ian F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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International Law and Agreements: Their Effect upon U.S. Law

Description: 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.
Date: February 18, 2015
Creator: Garcia, Michael J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Trade Promotion Authority (TPA): Frequently Asked Questions

Description: This report addresses a number of frequently asked questions regarding the reauthorization of the Trade Promotion Authority and pending legislation.
Date: April 20, 2015
Creator: Fergusson, Ian F. & Beth, Richard S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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China-U.S. Trade Issues

Description: Economic and trade reforms begun in 1979 have helped transform China into one of the world's fastest-growing economies. This report provides an overview of U.S.-China commercial relations, including major trade disputes.
Date: March 17, 2015
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

U.S.-Mexico Economic Relations: Trends, Issues, and Implications

Description: This report provides an overview of U.S.-Mexico trade and economic trends, the Mexican economy, the effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and major trade issues between the United States and Mexico.
Date: April 20, 2015
Creator: Villarreal, M. Angeles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

Description: This report provides an overview of North American trade liberalization before NAFTA, an overview of NAFTA provisions, the economic effects of NAFTA, and policy considerations.
Date: April 16, 2015
Creator: Villarreal, M. Angeles & Fergusson, Ian F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Conflict Minerals and Resource Extraction: Dodd-Frank, SEC Regulations, and Legal Challenges

Description: This report discusses the two sections of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Protection Act (Dodd-Frank) that require the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC or Commission) to issue regulations to make public the involvement of U.S. companies in conflict minerals and in resource extraction payments.
Date: April 2, 2015
Creator: Seitzinger, Michael V. & Ruane, Kathleen Ann
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Negotiations and Issues for Congress

Description: This report examines the issues related to the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the state and substance of the negotiations (to the degree that the information is publicly available), the specific areas under negotiation, the policy and economic contexts in which the TPP would fit, and the issues for Congress that the TPP presents.
Date: March 20, 2015
Creator: Fergusson, Ian F.; McMinimy, Mark A. & Williams, Brock R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy

Description: This report discusses the open economy and society of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), provides a general description of the UAE's government and political structure, and outlines the effects of the recent global economic downturn on the UAE in general and on the city of Dubai in particular. It also describes U.S. concern over the proliferation of advanced technology in relation to a recently-signed U.S.-UAE civilian nuclear agreement, due to the UAE economy and the UAE's lax export controls.
Date: March 23, 2015
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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An Analysis of the Regulatory Burden on Small Banks

Description: This report explains the concept of regulatory burden and the different ways it can be manifested. It analyzes whether small banks are relatively more burdened by regulation than big banks. To help answer that question, the report looks at the relative treatment of small and large banks in recent major regulatory proposals.
Date: April 22, 2015
Creator: Hoskins, Sean M. & Labonte, Marc
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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2014 Farm Bill Provisions and WTO Compliance

Description: This report briefly describes the relevant World Trade Organization (WTO) rules governing domestic support programs under the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) and the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM). The report then reviews the current U.S. farm safety net programs in light of their potential for compliance with the AoA and SCM and their potential to affect the success of the current Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations.
Date: April 22, 2015
Creator: Schnepf, Randy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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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.
Date: May 19, 2015
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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