Trade Policy

Renegotiating NAFTA in the Era of Trump: Keeping the Trade Liberalization In and the Protectionism Out

The United States, Canada, and Mexico are about to begin an historic renegotiation of NAFTA. And while the proposal to renegotiate NAFTA may have been motivated by protectionist objectives, there is potential to minimize or even avert protectionist outcomes. A new working paper from Simon Lester, Inu Manak, and Daniel J. Ikenson argues that renegotiation presents the opportunity to modernize, fix, and expand the rules of NAFTA, and produce a “freer” free trade agreement, which would be good for the North American economy.

Cybersecurity or Protectionism? Defusing the Most Volatile Issue in the U.S.–China Relationship

For more than a decade, the United States and China have been engaged in a low-profile trade war that has been conducted in the name of protecting critical economic and national security infrastructure from cyber malfeasance. But in a new paper, Cato scholar Daniel J. Ikenson argues that the trade restrictions and subsidies suggest that the objectives of both governments have less to do with cybersecurity than they do with industrial policy and protectionism.

It’s Time to Negotiate a New Economic Relationship with China

As China’s economic power has increased, so has criticism of its market-distorting economic practices. The U.S. government has brought international trade complaints against China and used unilateral actions and threats, but U.S. businesses are unsatisfied with the results. In a new paper, Cato scholars Simon Lester and Huan Zhu argue that an overly aggressive approach runs the risk of a serious U.S.-China trade war, and instead, the United States should initiate formal negotiations on a trade agreement with China.

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Of Special Note

It’s Time to Negotiate a New Economic Relationship with China

It’s Time to Negotiate a New Economic Relationship with China

As China’s economic power has increased, so has criticism of its market-distorting economic practices. The U.S. government has brought international trade complaints against China and used unilateral actions and threats, but U.S. businesses are unsatisfied with the results. In a new paper, Cato scholars Simon Lester and Huan Zhu argue that an overly aggressive approach runs the risk of a serious U.S.-China trade war, and instead, the United States should initiate formal negotiations on a trade agreement with China.

Trade Politics

Withdrawing from TPP Was a Senseless Act of Wanton Destruction

Demonstrating his preference for action over reason, President Trump signed an executive order to officially withdraw the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. On the one hand, it’s refreshing to witness the rare act of a politician fulfilling a campaign pledge. On the other hand, there is nothing else good about it.

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From the Cato Institute’s Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, the Cato Trade Newsletter is a periodic email featuring trade policy news, commentary, and resources from a free-trade perspective.

Free Trade, Free Markets: Rating the Congress

Free Trade, Free Markets: Rating the Congress

This interactive web site allows users to examine how Congress and its individual members have voted over the years on bills and amendments affecting the freedom of Americans to trade and invest in the global economy. The web site includes votes previously examined in a series of Cato studies published from 1999 through 2005, as well as more recent votes.