The Archives

The collection of all scholarly commentary on law, economics, and more

Showing archive for:  “International Trade”

The Federal Circuit Misapplies Chevron Deference (and Risks a Future “Supreme Scolding”) in Suprema Inc. v. ITC

On August 10, in Suprema, Inc. v. ITC, the en banc Federal Circuit granted Chevron deference to a U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) statutory interpretation in holding that goods that do not directly infringe a U.S. patent at the time they are imported nevertheless may be excluded from entry by the ITC if they are ... The Federal Circuit Misapplies Chevron Deference (and Risks a Future “Supreme Scolding”) in Suprema Inc. v. ITC

Let’s Inject Antitrust Principles into Antidumping Law

In a Heritage Foundation paper released today, I argue that U.S. antidumping law should be reformed to incorporate principles drawn from the antitrust analysis of predatory pricing.  A brief summary of my paper follows.  Such a change would transform antidumping law from a special interest cronyist tool that harms U.S. consumers into a sensible procompetitive ... Let’s Inject Antitrust Principles into Antidumping Law

Greek Crisis Underscores the Importance of Regulatory Reform – in Greece and Around the World

The Heritage Foundation continues to do path-breaking work on the burden overregulation imposes on the American economy, and to promote comprehensive reform measures to reduce regulatory costs.  Overregulation, unfortunately, is a global problem, and one that is related to the problem of anticompetitive market distortions (ACMDs) – government-supported cronyist restrictions that weaken the competitive process, ... Greek Crisis Underscores the Importance of Regulatory Reform – in Greece and Around the World

The Good, Bad, and the Ugly of the EU’s Proposed Data Protection Regulation

Nearly all economists from across the political spectrum agree: free trade is good. Yet free trade agreements are not always the same thing as free trade. Whether we’re talking about the Trans-Pacific Partnership or the European Union’s Digital Single Market (DSM) initiative, the question is always whether the agreement in question is reducing barriers to ... The Good, Bad, and the Ugly of the EU’s Proposed Data Protection Regulation

More than New International Trade Deals are Needed to Liberalize International Trade and Promote Economic Freedom

During the recent debate over whether to grant the Obama Administration “trade promotion authority” (TPA or fast track) to enter into major international trade agreements (such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP), little attention has been directed to the problem of remaining anticompetitive governmental regulatory obstacles to liberalized trade and free markets.  Those remaining obstacles, ... More than New International Trade Deals are Needed to Liberalize International Trade and Promote Economic Freedom

Mandated “fair use” language has no place in trade promotion authority

Earlier this week Senators Orrin Hatch and Ron Wyden and Representative Paul Ryan introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation, the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (otherwise known as Trade Promotion Authority or “fast track” negotiating authority). The bill would enable the Administration to negotiate free trade agreements subject to appropriate Congressional review. Nothing ... Mandated “fair use” language has no place in trade promotion authority

Undermining Investment in Standard Setting by Weakening Patents: How a Recent Justice Department Business Review Letter Gets Things Wrong

As I explained in a recent Heritage Foundation Legal Memorandum, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ (IEEE) New Patent Policy (NPP) threatens to devalue patents that cover standards; discourage involvement by innovative companies in IEEE standard setting; and undermine support for strong patents, which are critical to economic growth and innovation.  The Legal Memorandum ... Undermining Investment in Standard Setting by Weakening Patents: How a Recent Justice Department Business Review Letter Gets Things Wrong

ICLE White Paper: Broad fair use exceptions could discourage innovation worldwide

Today, the International Center for Law & Economics released a white paper, co-authored by Executive Director Geoffrey Manne and Senior Fellow Julian Morris, entitled Dangerous Exception: The detrimental effects of including “fair use” copyright exceptions in free trade agreements. Dangerous Exception explores the relationship between copyright, creativity and economic development in a networked global marketplace. ... ICLE White Paper: Broad fair use exceptions could discourage innovation worldwide

Transatlantic Trade Negotiations: Keeping Regulation in Check

Last week, the George Washington University Center for Regulatory Studies convened a Conference (GW Conference) on the Status of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) Negotiations between the European Union (EU) and the United States (U.S.), which were launched in 2013 and will continue for an indefinite period of time. In launching TTIP, the Obama ... Transatlantic Trade Negotiations: Keeping Regulation in Check

Enterprise Cities, Competition, and Economic Growth

Shanker Singham of the Babson Global Institute (formerly a leading international trade lawyer and author of the most comprehensive one-volume work on the interplay between competition and international trade policy) has published a short article introducing the concept of “enterprise cities.”  This article, which outlines an incentives-based, market-oriented approach to spurring economic development, is well ... Enterprise Cities, Competition, and Economic Growth

Crony Capitalism Revisited

There were several letters in today’s Wall Street Journal commenting on my recent op-ed with my son Joe on second best arguments for various forms of crony capitalism. Overall, these articles are critical of our position, but I do not disagree with them. Our original article was at best a weak defense, with terms like ... Crony Capitalism Revisited

A Reply to the Rubins on Crony Capitalism

Paul H. Rubin and Joseph S. Rubin advance the provocative position that some crony capitalism may be welfare enhancing. With all due respect, I am not convinced by their defense of government-business cronyism.  “Second best correction” arguments can be made with respect to ANY inefficient government rule.  In reality, it is almost impossible to calibrate the ... A Reply to the Rubins on Crony Capitalism