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
Monthly Archives: March 2023
The EPA is Pushing Regulations on PFAS to the Limit
Executive Summary • The cost to get levels of PFAS to adhere to proposed regulations could be astronomical, leading to costs falling on consumers. • States and rural areas with limited resources would be forced to push infrastructure objectives further on their backlog to adhere to drinking water regulations. • Water providers … Continue reading
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
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
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