Freedom Is the Cure for U.S. Economic Woes
President Obama recently lectured Americans on economics during a campaign stop in Osawatomie, Kansas. The New York Times congratulated President Obama’s speech as a potent… Read More
Huntsman Visit and a U.S.-Taiwan FTA
Former Governor Jon Huntsman (R–UT) was at The Heritage Foundation this week answering policy questions. In his talk, he emphasized budget discipline, tax reform, and… Read More
Labor Department May Sink Another $14 Million into Solyndra
Taxpayers will likely shell out another $14.3 million in federal aid to the 1,100 people formerly employed by defunct solar company Solyndra. The Labor Department… Read More
Strong National Security–the Prerequisite for Peaceful Commerce
The slogan “War breeds war. Peace breeds prosperity” has become a favorite idea of the anti-war faction on the right. Unlike their anti-war allies on… Read More
Trade Policies from Down Under: A Good Example for the United States
With the World Trade Organization’s Doha Round of trade talks at a standstill, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard is taking action by giving poor nations… Read More
Don’t Do Business With Poor People? New York Times Readers Disagree
A recent New York Times online report suggested that Americans should quit buying products made by poor people—because when people in the United States buy… Read More
Freer Trade, Greater Prosperity
Some critics of free trade say that trade agreements just help the “rich” get richer while making the “poor” poorer, but in fact, free trade… Read More
In Pictures: What Are the Benefits of Free Trade?
Now that Congress has passed free trade agreements with Columbia, Panama and South Korea, it’s a good time to ask why the United States should… Read More
Morning Bell: Free Trade Agreements Are A Win for Prosperity
Free trade agreements (FTAs) have economically benefited nations the world over since their inception. Poverty rates in countries with low trade barriers are significantly lower,… Read More
India and China Enhance Economic Ties Amidst Growing Maritime Tension
The most recent reminder of the complex relationship dynamics between India and China was the first “Strategic Economic Dialogue” that took place last week. The… Read More
Trade Deficit Decrease May Reflect Weak Economy
Today the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced that the trade deficit for July fell by $6.8 billion. Exports increased by $6.2 billion and imports… Read More
The Philippines and China: The Elephant in the Room
President Benigno Aquino of the Philippines arrived in Beijing today to commence a five-day state visit to China. The trip has been slated as a… Read More
Foreign Investment Creates Jobs in the United States
America’s bleak jobs picture would be even worse if not for foreign direct investment (FDI) in the U.S. economy. FDI in U.S. factories and property… Read More
How Free Trade Helps Employment and the Economy
Since 1989, the United States has enacted numerous free trade agreements with countries around the world. These agreements have increased trade, improved international relations, and… Read More
Argentina: Cristina Ramps Up Protectionism
Milton Friedman once said that “there is no alternative way, so far discovered, of improving the lot of the ordinary people that can hold a… Read More
Free Markets Are Good for China—and Us, Too
Is open trade and investment good for China but bad for the U.S.? The Heritage Foundation’s China Global Investment Tracker has just been updated. Through… Read More
Top 10 Reads: July 13, 2011
Catching you up on clips, commentary and news of the day. Sign up for the daily email update from Scribe. Economy Needs Tax Reform, Not Tax… Read More
Federal Spending and the Trade Deficit
In 1987, President Ronald Reagan explained the relationship between federal spending and the U.S. trade deficit: “Here in the United States, we must restrain government… 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
Monthly Trade Statistics Report: Misleading and Dangerous
The U.S. Commerce Department today announced that the trade deficit for April was $43.7 billion. This number is misleading because it implies a “deficit” in… Read More
Trade Deficit: Made in the USA?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis just announced that the trade deficit for March increased to $48.2 billion. The federal budget deficit plays a major… Read More
Political Leaders’ Latest Scheme: Big Taxes on U.S. Exports
Several U.S. political leaders have recently reiterated their desire to punish countries that undervalue their currencies. News flash: Since June 7, 2010, the value of… Read More
Donald Trump Has A Lot to Learn About China
This is how Donald Trump recently described China: “They’re making all our products. They’re taking all our jobs. And then they loan the money back… Read More
KORUS Trade Pact Keeps Pressure on North Korea
By further cementing the positive relationship between South Korea and the United States, the pending South Korea–United States (KORUS) free trade agreement will further weaken… Read More
Is the Democratic Blockade of Trade Really Over?
This time about three years ago, a California Democrat exercised legislative power to do something unprecedented in America’s international trade policymaking. Effectively ending more than… Read More
Spoonful of Sugar Needed to Stomach U.S. Trade Policy
Early American colonists, no strangers to the perils of intrusive government, protested the Molasses Act of 1733, which imposed taxes on imported sugar, rum, and… Read More
Government Borrowing v. U.S. Exporters
Some of the stiffest competition facing U.S. exporters does not come from Europe—or even China—but the U. S. Treasury Department. Yesterday, the U.S. Bureau of… Read More
China-Japan Tiff: A Trade Lesson for the U.S.
China and Japan had a diplomatic disagreement this past week. Of the many facets to this dispute, at least one has implications for the U.S.:… Read More
Goolsbee Appointment Good News for Global Trade
President Obama reportedly plans to name Austan Goolsbee to head his Council of Economic Advisers. This appointment is good news for advocates of expanded international… Read More
Trade Deficit Reality Check
Consider these recent print headlines: Economic Growth Slowed by Trade Gap; Economic Growth Cut Sharply Due to Trade Gap; and Economy Slows to 1.6 Percent… Read More
