By K. William Watson
In an op-ed posted yesterday on Forbes, I praised a decision by the World Trade Organization’s Appellate Body for recognizing the true nature of federal regulations that define what kind of tuna can be called dolphin-safe. In one part of the ocean where the Mexican fishing fleet operates the rules are very strict, but everywhere [...]
Protectionism in a Can of Tuna is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog
By Daniel Ikenson
What is the proper role of government in a free society? That is not an unreasonable question to debate in the public square – and to revisit with great frequency. …
PPI Considers Ex-Im Debate ‘Senseless’ is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog
By David Boaz
The Obama administration has acted to protect Americans from cheap access to solar energy, imposing tariffs of 31 percent and even 250 percent on solar cells and panels imported from China. As I noted previously, this case echoes one of the most famous documents in the history of free-trade literature, Bastiat‘s famous ”Candlemakers’ Petition.” In that parody, the French [...]
Next, the Sun is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog
By Daniel Ikenson
Later today the U.S. Department of Commerce is expected to announce preliminary antidumping duties on solar panels from China. This case might normally be met with an exasperated sigh and chalked up as just another example of myopic, self-flagellating, capricious U.S. antidumping policy toward China. But in this instance the absurdity is magnified by the [...]
Solar Panels Trade Case Mocks Washington’s Ways is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog
By Alex Nowrasteh
Yesterday Professor Giovanni Peri presented an immigration reform plan that would auction work visas to employers. As I wrote yesterday, Peri’s plan would diminish the misallocation of current visas but not do much to increase the quantity of work visas. Since the real problem with America’s immigration system is a lack of work visas and [...]
Selling Work Visas: Auctions or a Tariff? is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog
By Sallie James
In a blog post I wrote about two years ago, I said “Usually when I hear that a policy proposal has bipartisan support, I instinctively check for my wallet.” At that time I was lauding a bipartisan proposal to shut the USDA’s market access program (although it seems that idea didn’t get much traction) under the heading [...]
When Bipartisanship Is A Dirty Word is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog
By Alex Nowrasteh
Professor Giovanni Peri today made an interesting proposal to auction work visas to the highest bidding employer. His reform is similar to an auction proposal made by Gary Becker, but more specific. His idea is innovative and deals with transitioning from the current maze of quotas, visa categories, and other barriers to a more open [...]
Selling Work Visas is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog
By K. William Watson
Rum subsidies in U.S. Caribbean islands have sparked an internal trade war and are inviting a World Trade Organization (WTO) challenge from ill-affected countries in the region. According to an envoy representing a number of Caribbean countries that recently came to Washington, the U.S. government is unwittingly funding industrial policy in the U.S. Virgin Islands [...]
Caribbean Trade Dispute Gives the U.S. a Rum for Its Money is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog
By Alex Nowrasteh
Alabama’s state level immigration law is probably the worst in the United States. Next Wednesday the Alabama Senate is going debate some minor changes that would soften some parts. But there is some disagreement over how to reform it. Senator Scott Beason (R-Gardendale) and Representative Micky Hammon (R-Decatur), the co-sponsors of the original bill, differ [...]
Alabama Business Death Penalty is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog
By Daniel Ikenson
If you harbor any doubts that the parameters of U.S. trade policy are defined by a few politically-important domestic industries, take a look at the debate over whether Japan should be allowed to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiations. Did you miss it? That’s because there really hasn’t been much debate; there has been near-unanimous [...]
The TPP Trade Negotiations Need More Japan and Less Detroit is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog
