Trumping Trade Orthodoxy
Wed, 25 January, 2017
9:00am - 4:00pm
Friday, February 3rd, 2017
9:00AM – 4:00PM
Elliott School of International Affairs
1957 E Street, NW
Lindner Commons, 6th Floor
The conference will feature leading lawyers, economists, and trade practitioners who will focus on what President-elect Trump can, and cannot, do to fundamentally reorient trade policy without congressional action or new administrative powers.
This conference is hosted by the Institute for International Economic Policy at George Washington University. For more of our research on trade, please visit our webpage at http://www.gwu.edu/~iiep
Panels will include:
8:15 AM – 9:00 AM: Registration and Breakfast
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM: Opening Remarks and Introduction, Michael Moore (George Washington University)
9:15 AM – 10:15 AM: Trade Remedies
The President has substantial leeway for initiating various trade remedy actions (antidumping, countervailing duty, and safeguards). U.S. trade law practice and procedure may limit the scope of imposing duties under these provisions.
- Matt Nolan, Arent Fox LLP
- Michael Moore, George Washington University
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM: China as a ‘Currency Manipulator’
The U.S. Treasury may determine that a country manipulates its currency but only under certain statutory conditions. Would China qualify under those provisions? What consequences might it face if China is declared a “currency manipulator”?
- Steve Charnovitz, George Washington University
- Jay Shambaugh, George Washington University
11:15 AM – 11:30 AM: Coffee Break
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Renegotiating/Leaving Existing Trade Agreements
U.S. trade agreements such as NAFTA allow for either Party to announce a withdrawal with six months’ notice. Can President Trump do so without congressional approval? What would be the impact on U.S. trade and investment flows if he were to follow through with such threats?
- Joel Trachtman, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
- Thomas Prusa, Rutgers University
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM: Lunch
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Tax Policy, Investment Agreements, & Foreign Direct Investment
President Trump has suggested imposing 35 percent tariffs on individual U.S. firms that offshore manufacturing jobs. Can the Administration single out individual companies in this way? How might such threats increase uncertainty on inward and outward U.S. foreign investment?
- Michael Smart, Rock Creek Global Advisors
- Maggie Chen, George Washington University
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM: Possible WTO Disputes
An aggressive new U.S. trade policy may result in formal disputes with WTO members. What are the most likely cases that might arise? How might the U.S. economy be affected if the WTO rules in favor of those who contest new U.S. approaches in trade policy?
- James Mendenhall, Sidley Austin LLP
- Chad Bown, Peterson Institute for International Economics
3:45 PM – 4:00 PM: Concluding Remarks