............ U.S & Global Trade Politics (Fall 2008) ............................... U.S & Global Trade Politics (Fall 2008) ............................... U.S & Global Trade Politics (Fall 2008) ...................   ............ U.S & Global Trade Politics (Fall 2008) ................... ............ U.S & Global Trade Politics (Fall 2008) ...................                                                                

                                                       SEMINAR ON U.S. & GLOBAL TRADE POLITICS

                                        Requirements, Outline of Course, Suggested Research Topics.

                                                                 Stuart S. Malawer J.D., Ph.D.

"American voters certainly deserve a more serious discussion about trade." "Some Truth about Trade," New York Times (Lead Editorial -- April 6, 2008)

     This seminar examines a broad range of global trade issues from the perspective of U.S. politics and national interests.  In particular, the seminar assesses global trade in terms of domestic interest groups, corporate strategies, foreign policy implications, domestic and international legal rules.  This assessment includes both foreign and global dimensions.  This course utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to understand the legal, political, business, economic and national security aspects of global trade.  Specific topics to be assessed may include, among others:

·         congressional and executive organization of trade policy;

·         bipartisan and partisan nature of U.S. trade politics;

·         unilateral and multilateral approaches to trade;

·         bilateral trade agreements & domestic politics;

·         statutory and treaty basis of U.S. trade relations;

·         trade policies and national security concerns (“War on Terrorism”);

·         trade controls (export controls and trade sanctions) & U.S. competitiveness;

·         regulation of sovereign wealth funds and foreign direct investment;

·         foreign direct investment and local economic development;

·         international harmonization of national trade regulations;

·         re-regulation of public markets & protectionism;

·         trade dispute resolution and national sovereignty;

·         immigration policy and trade politics;

·         labor and environment in trade politics and trade relations;

·         trade politics and traditional trading partners (EC, Japan, Mexico, Canada);

·         foreign investment into foreign agricultural lands;

·         Accommodating newer trade & financial powers (India, China, Russia, UAE, Brazil).

·         foreign policy and trade policy -- case study of Russia after “Georgia”;

·         rules governing foreign policy and trade policy making in the U.S.;

·         legacy of the Bush Administration in trade policy;

·         U.S. trade policy after the “failure” of Doha;

·         unilateral enforcement beyond WTO sanctions;

·         Republican and Democratic trade positions within context of globalization challenges;

·         history of U.S. trade policy 1934 – 2008 – any lessons;

·         “Safeguards” as a safeguard against harshness of globalization;

·         foreign corporate participation in U.S. defense contracts;

·         encouraging export promotion and direct investment for economic development;

·         national & state restriction of outsourcing;

·         assessing a particular issue (intellectual property rights, services, agriculture) in context of global trade politics;

·         extraterritoriality of economic legislation as a trade issue (e.g., Sarbanes-Oxley);

·         competing regulatory regimes as a trade issue – for example,  U.S. accounting standards [US GAAP] and International Financial Reporting Standards [IFRS];

·         international trade theory & international relations theory – any meaningful convergence?

·         U.S. presidential elections and recent U.S. trade relations with China in the WTO;

·      energy and trade -- U.S. biofuels exports to the EU -- transatlantic dispute; 

·     bilateral trade agreements -- promoting trade & financial liberalization;

·     comparison of  regulation and deregulation of national financial sectors as a global trade issue;

·     corporate governance of multinationals (including Sarbanes-Oxley) and trade relations; 

·    corporate governance proposals and the OECD; 

·   liberalization, financial capitalism and free trade / market policies. 

·    global transactions & multi-jurisdictional world. 

·   New global financial architecture for global transactions -- Impact on global trade negotiations; 

 ·   impact of the proposed Canada - EU free trade agreement on U.S. and multilateral system. 

     Two research essays per student are required.  Each student will make one presentation to the class. Each presentation is to have an accompanying PowerPoint presentation. The second research essay and PowerPoint will be submitted to the instructor at the end of the semester. Each class involves a basic introduction and a trade update by the instructor. This is then followed by a presentation and discussion of the research papers (two or three per session). There is a final exam which is openbook. This examination is based upon the various presentations and reading throughout the semester. All PowerPoint presentations will be uploaded to this website.

     The presentations shall start during the fourth class session.  Sessions 1-3  will be an overview of the global trading system, the particular issues confronting the United States, legacy of the Bush Administration, U.S. trade history and Constitutional dimensions of trade.  In particular, there is an assessment of the various positions of the political parties and interest groups in the United States.  This will include a focus on the political and policy debates during this presidential election season. 

     The format for each research essay is the following:

• Overview.
• Provide an overview of the trade topic under consideration.  Identify the major issues involved and the positions of the various “stakeholders.”
• U.S. national interest, policy and politics.  
• Identify what are the U.S. national interests, U.S.  policies involved and recent political pronouncements if any by the U.S. presidential candidates.
• One Issue.
• Select one particular problem. [This is the heart of your presentation.]
• Why is it a problem? What are the issues and parties involved?
• Policy Proposal.
• Develop and suggest a policy proposal concerning the issue you are discussing.
• Indicate the impact of your proposal on both U.S. trade policy and the trading system.  
• Indicate the pros and cons of your proposal and then fully support your proposal.

      List of online readings for each presentation is to be e-mailed to the class members by Monday at 5 p.m. prior to the presentation.  At the time of the presentation a hard copy of the PowerPoint shall be distributed to the class with four slides per pages.  A copy of two-slides per page shall be given to the instructor. The written presentation should not be more than 15 pages. (This need not be distributed.)

                                                                      E-Mail --   StuartMalawer@msn.com