A Tariff Cut Can Boost U.S. Output
The Federal Reserve recently cut its forecast for economic growth in the United States. That’s a problem. We need higher growth to create jobs and… Read More
America Needs a New Balanced Tariff Structure
Where does America get its shoes? Today, 99 percent of shoes sold in America come from overseas. Imported shoes are taxed at an average rate… Read More
Back to School: The Secret Costs Hiding in Your Child’s Backpack
It’s that time of year again, and back-to-school sales are in full swing. But before parents eagerly snap up every on-sale item, they might do… Read More
Expiration of Trade Preference Program Means Higher Prices
On July 31, the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) expired. GSP is a program that waives tariffs on thousands of products that Americans import from… Read More
Why Don’t We Have Free Trade with Every Country?
With a July 31 expiration date fast approaching, both the House and Senate last week introduced legislation that would extend free trade preferences to developing… Read More
“Everyday High Prices” Should Not Be Trade Agency’s Slogan
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations are taking place this week in Malaysia. Here’s a modest suggestion to help new U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman bring… Read More
A Conservative Agenda for Trade: Eliminate the Threat of Tariffs
When it comes to trade, the ultimate objective for conservatives should be to eliminate tariffs—not just reduce some or all, but take them completely off… Read More
Pacific Alliance: Decreasing Trade Barriers and Increasing Economic Growth
The presidents of the “Pacific Alliance” (Chile, Colombia, México, and Perú) met last week in Cali, Colombia, to sign an agreement removing tariffs on 90… Read More
President Obama, Bangladesh Has Faced Enough Tragedy, Don’t Take Away Jobs, Too
Since late last year, workers in Bangladesh have been beset by tragedy after tragedy. First there was a factory fire that killed over 100 garment… Read More
Unsweetening Cronyism
The law of supply and demand cannot be revoked. But it is being amended slightly, and we’re all paying the price. In this case, for… Read More
Protectionist Japan? Check the Numbers
A recent news report was headlined: “Lawmakers, business groups balk at trade deal with protectionist Japan.” A more accurate title would have been: “Protectionist U.S…. Read More
The Best Plan for Farmers and Ranchers: Free Trade
Congress is currently fighting over the future of U.S. farm programs. In 2011, taxpayers subsidized farmers to the tune of $10.4 billion in government payments…. Read More
Free Trade: Bringing Ireland to Your St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
Today, millions of people around the world will put on some green, watch a hurling or rugby match, enjoy a Guinness stout, and praise St…. Read More
Shoe Shopping? Legislation Could Make Shoes Cheaper and Create Jobs
If Congress wants to create more jobs this holiday shopping season, it can start by eliminating many Depression-era tariffs on shoes. According to the Bureau… Read More
Looking for Black Friday Deals?
Would it surprise you to know that many of the Black Friday items for sale that cause so much frenzy are highly overpriced due to… Read More
U.S.–Panama Free Trade Agreement Coming into Force—Five Years Later
On October 31, nearly five years after being signed by both nations, a free trade agreement between the United States and Panama will finally be… Read More
Debate on Trade: It Isn’t Just About How Many Cases You Bring to the WTO
Trade policy with China was again front and center in last night’s presidential debate, with President Obama defending his Administration’s trade policies. In particular, the… Read More
Morning Bell: 5 Issues That Haven’t Come Up in the Debates
Tonight’s presidential debate is the last one that will include questions on domestic policy. The previous presidential and vice presidential debates covered a host of… Read More
Morning Bell: 10 Questions for the Vice Presidential Debate
Tonight’s debate between Vice President Joe Biden and Representative Paul Ryan is supposed to cover both domestic and foreign policy. The Heritage Foundation’s policy experts… Read More
What Does the Obama Administration Have Against Cheap Vegetables?
The Obama Administration’s Commerce Department recently took a preliminary position in favor of ending a 16-year-old trade agreement governing tomatoes imported from Mexico. The Florida… Read More
DOJ Bullies Gibson into Submission: Will Congress Allow This to Happen Again?
The Heritage Foundation has been writing about the problems that Gibson Guitar has faced for a long while now. Sadly, Gibson has bowed out of… Read More
Gibson Guitar: Settling Away Bad Publicity
It’s another August in Washington. It’s hot and humid. Most people not already at the beach are indoors watching the Olympics or in the water… Read More
Time to Safeguard Ourselves from Rising Protectionism
Last week, Pascal Lamy, chief of the World Trade Organization (WTO), gave a stark warning that rising protectionism is a serious threat to global economic… Read More
End the U.S. Sugar Program
The Depression-era sugar program was supposed to end in 1940. Instead, the Senate may soon vote on whether to extend it to 2017. The sugar… Read More
Chart of the Week: Crony Capitalism Leads to Higher Sugar Prices
Sugar producers contribute only a small percentage of value to overall U.S. crop production, yet the industry continues to reap the rewards from government thanks… Read More
President Obama’s Year-End Trade Policy Blunder
President Obama concluded 2011 by accomplishing the remarkable feat of making the United States look worse than Communist China when it comes to promoting global… Read More
Dealing with China-U.S. Tariff Law
A federal court this week barred the simultaneous application of anti-dumping and countervailing duties to imports from China, a practice begun by the Department of… Read More
Feed-in Tariffs: Just Another Renewable Energy Subsidy
Another day, another new subsidy for renewable energy. This time it’s a feed-in tariff, as Senator Dianne Feinstein (D–CA) recently inserted language supporting feed-in tariffs… Read More
U.S. Tariffs Penalize Back-to-School Shoppers
Though parents might be rejoicing that the time has come for their kids to head back to school, their happiness could be tempered by a… Read More
Smoot–Hawley Anniversary Serves as Reminder of Protectionism’s Damage
Today marks the 81st anniversary of the passage of the Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act. Actor and economist Ben Stein famously explained this legislation in Ferris Bueller’s… Read More
