Trade

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: USTR Tai’s Week on Capitol Hill 

Executive Summary  Introduction  On March 23rd and 24th, United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai testified in front of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee, respectively. Ambassador Tai provided her annual congressional testimony focused on the Biden Administration’s trade agenda and ongoing trade pursuits. In almost seven hours of questioning, … Continue reading

Europe / Trade

Wine and Cheese: Europe’s Grating Support of Geographical Indications 

Executive Summary  Introduction  “Like a fine cheese, this case has matured and is ripe for our review,” stated the judges of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in their decision of an extensive legal battle between European cheese producers and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The court ruled this month against the Swiss … Continue reading

Regulation

The Potential Revision of NEPA Could Lead to Millions of Dollars Saved on Federal Projects 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY  INTRODUCTION  On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, The House Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing to discuss the “Building United States Infrastructure through Limited Delays and Efficient Reviews (BUILDER) Act of 2023”. The BUILDER Act aims to increase efficiency through permitting reform by reducing repetitive and lengthy processes while focusing on environmental protection … Continue reading

Europe / Foreign Policy / Trade

The Windsor Framework: Tackling “Troubles” in post-Brexit Trade in Northern Ireland

Executive Summary  Introduction  Three years after Brexit, United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced the Windsor Framework. The plan would modify the Northern Ireland Protocol, the current trade rules that were agreed upon in the Brexit withdrawal agreement. The Protocol established EU compliant custom checks for products … Continue reading