Monthly Archives: January 2013

Obama and Kerry — Foreign Policy and Economic Policy — Focus on More Rules and Free Markets?

     President Obama in his Inaugural speech declared that we must engage multilateral institutions and that we all, individuals, corporations and countries have rights and obligations. President Obama’s 2013 Inaugural Speech. He argues that all free markets need rules.      At … Continue reading

Posted in Global Trade Relations | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Trade Taxation and Trade Statistics — Both Need an Upgrade.

          Due to rapid advances in trade spurred on by globalization, the information technology revolution, and by pressures unleashed by the 2008 global financial crisis,  discussions on reforming global trade taxation and traditional trade statistics are now significantly increasing, rapidly. …..  There is … Continue reading

Posted in Global Trade Relations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Global Shipping and Local Economic Development — Post-Panamax Ships.

     Global shipping and global trade is confronting a historical change when the Panama Canal expansion is completed next year and the new post-Panamax ships will be looking for ports that can accommodate them.       This potential change in shipping … Continue reading

Posted in Global Trade Relations | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Commercial Diplomacy, Foreign Policy and National Interests — Legacy of Hilary Clinton’s State Dept.

The commercial diplomacy of Hilary Clinton’s State Dept. may in fact become the greatest legacy of her four years, although  this is not generally recognized yet.  She has made commercial diplomacy and trade promotion integral to American foreign policy, partially at the expense of … Continue reading

Posted in Global Trade Relations | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

International Law and Overseas Military Contractors — Corporate Liability for Torture? — About Time.

       Engility Holdings, a military contractor, recently settled a case which alleged torture by its contractors in Iraq in violation of international law.  It was a case brought by former detainees. Previous conflicting federal court rulings, in 2009, had left the general issue of … Continue reading

Posted in Global Trade Relations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Book — “Global Trade and International Law” — Many Issues and Many Approaches.

     My new book GLOBAL TRADE AND INTERNATIONAL LAW has just been published by William S. Hein and Company (January 2013). This utilizes a multidisciplinary approach in assessing a broad range of international legal and global trade issues. These are … Continue reading

Posted in Global Trade Relations | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

International Organizations and International Transactions — Can Global Agreements Help Resolve Conflict Over Sovereign Debt Restructurings and Investments by State-Owned Enterprises?

Two international economic areas have been in the news recently as wrought with conflict and need of a better mechanism to resolve disputes. The first is sovereign debt restructuring as evidenced by Argentina and Greece. The second is the conduct … Continue reading

Posted in Global Trade Relations | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Two New Actions — Communications Satellites and GITMO — A More Assertive President?

                                                                            Two very interesting legal developments seem to have been lost in passage and signing of the legislation avoiding the financial cliff, “The American Tax Payers Relief Act of 2012.”       Almost immediately after signing the fiscal cliff … Continue reading

Posted in Global Trade Relations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment