"If we increase the number of H-1B visas that are available to U.S. companies, employment of U.S. nationals would likely grow as well. For instance, Microsoft has found that for every H-1B hire we make, we add on average four additional employees to support them in various capacities."
Bill Gates,
Testimony before the Committee on Science and Technology, US House of Representatives,
March 12, 2008.
by Daniel Ikenson
National Review Online, July 31, 2008
Considering the disposition of the 110th Congress, it’s probably just as well that the Doha World Trade negotiations failed to produce any new agreements. Litigation and enforcement — not cooperation or negotiation — are in vogue with the trade leadership on Capitol Hill. [more]
Protectionists fail to win White House despite worries about trade's impact
by Daniel Griswold
Detroit News, July 30, 2008
Republican John McCain's recent free-trade tour to Mexico and Colombia highlights the stark differences on international trade between the two major-party presidential candidates. While expanding trade would be best for America, there is resistance in states like Michigan and from Democratic hopeful Barack Obama. [more]
by Daniel Ikenson
Wall Street Journal, July 30, 2008
The Doha trade round died a thousand deaths long before this week. But outside the bureaucracies in Geneva, Brussels and Washington, few are grieving because the world economy has moved on.
As Doha negotiations sputtered for seven years, the WTO reports that annual global trade flows have increased 70%, to $14 trillion. UNCTAD reports that annual foreign direct investment flows are up 25%, to $1.5 trillion. And the IMF notes that the global economy has expanded by 30%, to $54.4 trillion. These positive trends should continue if governments unilaterally ramp up their own "trade facilitation" efforts. Trade facilitation is about streamlining the administrative and physical procedures involved in actually moving goods across borders. These sorts of reforms have contributed heavily to the increase in global trade, investment and output. [more]
Doha Is Dead, Liberalization Lives, featuring Daniel J. Ikenson, 07/31/2008 (MP3 
)
July 26, 2008
Economic Times, India -- "There's no evidence that foreign investors, whether it be private investors or state-owned enterprises or sovereign wealth funds, pursue anything other than economic objectives when they invest. If we scare them away we will regret it because we really need access to international capital."
July 20, 2008 MediaGlobal, NY -- "In Africa tariff barriers remain high against agricultural products and manufactured goods such as clothes and shoes. These barriers remain not only in rich countries, but in African countries as well."
DesMoinesRegister.com, IA -- The negotiations may well be doomed before they start because of the reluctance of countries like India to open their markets and the resistance of U.S. and European farmers to cut subsidies. "Unfortunately, the commodity groups don't have much to worry about."
Despite Doha collapse, free trade is marching on
Bad Trade
Expanding trade is a key to winning presidency
Greasing the World Economy Without Doha
Sound Advice from Bill Clinton's Trade Rep
by Daniel Griswold
August 4, 2008
Trade-Blog-Posts-At-Dawn
by Sallie James
August 4, 2008
EPI Gets Trade and Jobs Story Wrong Again
by Daniel Griswold
July 30, 2008
All Pretenses Abandoned
by Sallie James
July 30, 2008
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