Greg Mastel

In 2002, Congress passed the most far-reaching reform and expansion of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) since the program was established more than 40 years ago. Now, two years later, it is time to ask, how successfully have these changes been implemented and how effective is TAA in addressing the needs of workers and communities facing severe dislocations as a result of changes in international trade and investment?

The Trade Adjustment Assistance Coalition is a non-profit 501(c)(3) public policy organization, housed… more

In 2002, after a nearly decade-long deadlock, Congress passed the most sweeping international trade legislation in 15 years.

By giving the president authority to negotiate new trade agreements, the United States has begun negotiating free-trade agreements with more than a dozen countries. President Bush has already signed free-trade agreements with Chile and Singapore, and he expects to sign at least two more this year.

In exchange for trade negotiating authority, Congress and the administration committed to assist those… more

The Bush administration has a strong record of working to establish democracy abroad. The invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq were motivated by several factors, but in both cases an authoritarian regime was toppled and a foundation laid for a new democratic government.

This record made it all the more striking when President Bush recently seemed to side with the authoritarian Chinese government over the democratic Taiwan. The president's statements discouraged Taiwan from moving toward independence and even indicated displeasure with Taiwan's… more

On the just completed trip of Treasury Secretary Snow to China, the focus was not upon human rights, North Korea, or any of the topics that have become the core of U.S.-China relations. Rather the discussion was on China's currency -- the reminimbi or Yuan -- and its peg or government set exchange rate with the U.S. dollar.

This may sound like the dry minutiae only of interest to bankers and Treasury officials, but the peg is an important reason for… more

The United States and Canada have been locked in a protracted battle over softwood lumber subsidies for two decades. With newly elected governments in both countries, … more

At his recent meeting with Asian leaders, President Clinton made news by meeting with China's president and once again calling for a rapid conclusion of China's long … more

Although the issue has not gotten as much attention as tax cuts and Social Security reform, the 2000 elections present voters with a sharp contrast on the future … more

In the recent Senate debate on extending permanent normal trade relations, or PNTR, to China, passage was often portrayed as the solution to everything from U.S. … more

Canadian provincial governments have a long-standing policy of subsidizing their lumber mills, to the detriment of the U.S. lumber industry, U.S. landowners and the environment. Recently, a coalition of Canadian lumber companies, some lumber consumers, and others have aimed to change the longstanding U.S. policy of combating those subsidies. Under the veil of protecting consumers, this group aims to terminate the current U.S.- Canada agreement, which contains the damage from Canada’s forestry regime, and ensure that no action is taken… more