President Trump has released his first National Security Strategy (NSS), a statutorily mandated document that sets forth how the president intends to put his national security vision into practice on behalf of the United States. The strategy identifies four vital national interests, or “four pillars”: (1) Protect the American people, the homeland, and the American
December 2017
USTR Lighthizer Criticizes WTO at Opening of its 11th Ministerial Conference
At the introductory session for the 11th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ambassador Robert Lighthizer acknowledged that the WTO is an important institution but then proceeded in his opening statement to criticize the organization and its focus. He stated that the WTO is “losing its essential focus on negotiation and becoming a…
WTO Issues Annual Report on Trade-Related Developments
The Trade Policy Review Body of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has released its annual report, Overview of Developments in the International Trading Environment, that covers the implementation of trade-related measures across the WTO membership in the last 12 months (from mid-October 2016 to mid-October 2017). WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo stated that “the Report…