"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.
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September 16, 2008 Featuring the author Razeen Sally, European Center for International Political Economy with comments by Carlos Primo Braga, World Bank. Moderated by Daniel Griswold, Cato Institute. The collapse of WTO negotiations and the upcoming presidential election have deepened doubts about the future of free trade and the global economy. In an illuminating new book, Dr. Razeen Sally of the London School of Economics argues forcefully that trade policy has become disconnected from 21st-century business and consumer realities. As trade agreements yield diminishing returns, the world's fastest-growing economies in Asia have embraced freer trade and global integration unilaterally. The author renews the argument for free trade, warns of the imminent dangers of protectionism, and charts a new way forward for trade liberalization in the United States and globally. A top international economist at the World Bank will comment. New Frontiers in Free Trade: Globalization's Future and Asia's Rising Role is available at the Cato Bookstore. |
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July 25, 2008 Featuring U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, Ed Gresser, Progressive Policy Institute, and William Hawkins, U.S. Business and Industry Council. Among the highest remaining U.S. tariffs are those imposed on imported shoes, with the highest duties applying to the cheapest shoes. Critics of the tariffs contend that they fall most heavily on the poorest American households while “saving” few domestic jobs. Defenders argue that the tariffs provide revenue for the federal government, have little impact on consumer prices, and steer trade to our free-trade partners at the expense of China. A bill in Congress to eliminate certain shoe tariffs, the Affordable Footwear Act, currently has more than 140 co-sponsors in the House and may be attached to the upcoming Miscellaneous Tariff Bill.
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July 15, 2008 Featuring Sallie James, Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute, Dan Mitchell, Cato Institute, and Christian Weller, Center for American Progress. After an extended primary season, the 2008 presidential campaign is finally under way and the candidates are presenting—at least in some areas—starkly different economic policy proposals. Sen. John McCain is a career-long free trader, consistently voting against trade barriers and subsidies. Sen. Barack Obama, although possessing a shorter voting record, puts greater restrictions on his support for free trade and favors a time-out on new trade agreements and extensive review—and possible renegotiation—of existing ones. On fiscal policy, Sen. McCain wants lower taxes while Sen. Obama proposes to shift the tax burden to wealthier Americans. According to the National Taxpayers Union, Sen. McCain has endorsed $68 billion of additional government spending per year and Sen. Obama has called for nearly $344 billion of bigger government. How would these policies strengthen the U.S. economy or damage it? If Obama is elected, would Congress simply rubber-stamp his proposals? If McCain wins, would Congress approve his agenda?
Publication presented at the event:
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July 11, 2008 B-339 Rayburn House Office Building Featuring Simeon Djankov, World Bank and Daniel J. Ikenson, Cato Institute. Improving the international trading system does not depend solely on new, comprehensive multilateral agreements. Countries can realize significant gains in commercial flows by undertaking trade facilitation—reforms that decrease administrative and physical impediments to transporting goods and services across borders. According to recent studies from several international economic institutions and a new Cato paper, trade facilitation reforms could increase global trade flows even more than further reductions in tariff rates and are primarily and substantially in the interest of the country implementing reform. Please join Cato trade scholar Daniel Ikenson and World Bank economist Simeon Djankov to discuss how to expand international commerce even without new multilateral trade agreements.
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June 26, 2008 Featuring Steve Creskoff, Trade Lawyer, Creskoff and Doram LLP; J. Michael Finger, Initial World Bank Coordinator for the Integrated Framework; Bill Lane, Caterpillar, Inc.; and John Wilson, Lead Economist, World Bank. Moderated by Daniel J. Ikenson, Cato Institute. As the Doha Round lies in a cryogenic state, it is important to recognize that comprehensive, multilateral agreement to reduce trade barriers is not the only way to improve the international trading system. In fact, according to recent studies from the World Bank and other international economic institutions— a new study published by the Cato Institute —“trade facilitation” reforms could do more to increase global trade flows than further reductions in tariff rates. In broad terms, trade facilitation includes reforms aimed at improving the chain of administrative and physical procedures involved in the transport of goods and services across international borders. Countries with inadequate trade infrastructure, burdensome administrative processes, or limited competition in trade logistics services are less capable of benefiting from the opportunities of expanding global trade. And that goes for rich countries as well as developing countries. By streamlining and reforming bureaucratic procedures and encouraging competition in communications and transportation services, governments have been helping increase trade, investment, and growth in their economies. And these reforms have not required international consensus to implement.
Publication presented at the event:
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June 18, 2008 Featuring the author, Jason L. Riley, Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, with comments by Michael Barone, U.S. News & World Report. Moderated by Daniel Griswold, Cato Institute. In a provocative new book, Jason Riley makes the case for welcoming more legal immigrants to the United States. Drawing on history, scholarly studies and first-hand reporting, Riley argues that today’s newcomers are fueling America’s prosperity and dynamism. He challenges the prevailing views on talk radio and cable TV that immigrants are overpopulating the country, stealing jobs, depressing wages, bankrupting social services, filling prisons, resisting assimilation and promoting big government. Comments will be provided by one of the nation’s leading political analysts.
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May 29, 2008 B-339 Rayburn House Office Building Featuring James A. Dorn, Cato Institute and Daniel J. Ikenson, Cato Institute. The U.S.-China economic relationship has been enormously beneficial to workers, producers, consumers, and investors in both countries. Yet the relationship has its share of skeptics. One rationale for U.S. economic engagement with China was that it would facilitate economic liberalization, which should promote political reform and improve China’s human rights record. Does the United States need to reexamine that premise? Is China’s rise a threat to U.S. “economic sovereignty,” as some critics contend? Should the United States penalize China for “currency manipulation”? Is China’s sovereign wealth fund a threat to U.S. national security? Please join Cato scholars Daniel Ikenson and James Dorn for a discussion of these and other issues affecting U.S.-China economic relations. |
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April 11, 2008 B-369 Rayburn House Office Building Featuring Daniel Griswold, Director, Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute, and Sallie James, Trade Policy Analyst, Cato Institute. In May 2007, congressional leaders agreed to consider free trade agreements (FTAs) with Colombia, Korea, Panama, and Peru if they were accompanied by additional labor and environmental standards. In the wake of the December 2007 U.S.-Peru FTA passage, key congressional leaders now demand substantial expansion in the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program before considering the other three FTAs. But can TAA expansion ensure enactment of the other agreements? Is it a trade-off worth making? And why are these particular bilateral trade agreements important to American interests? Finally, should the White House use the fast-track rules to force Congress to vote? Please join Cato Institute trade scholars Daniel Griswold and Sallie James for a discussion about why expansions of free trade should not be held hostage to a domestic welfare program. Publications presented at the event:
April 17, 2008 G11 Dirksen Senate Office Building Featuring Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) and Daniel Griswold, Director, Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute. In the modern global economy, highly skilled workers are increasingly important to continued growth and prosperity. Yet despite the dramatically increasing demand for foreign skilled labor, Congress has failed to increase the number of H-1B visas. As a result, U.S. immigration laws permit only a fraction of willing, skilled workers to add their talents to our society, reducing the welfare of both domestic workers and those who were denied access. Please join Senator Judd Gregg and Cato scholar Daniel Griswold for a discussion of reforming U.S. immigration policy to improve economic growth, expand individual choice, and maintain America's competitive advantage in innovation. Publications presented at the event:
February 14, 2008 385 Russell Senate Office Building Featuring Sen. Richard Lugar, (R-IN), and Daniel Griswold, Director, Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute. Which members of Congress most consistently support the freedom of Americans to trade and invest in the global economy -- free of market-distorting subsidies and barriers? A dynamic new Cato web feature, "Free Trade, Free Markets," will allow users to search more than a decade of votes to answer that and other questions about how members have voted on trade. Cato trade scholar Daniel Griswold will demonstrate the new trade tool and reveal who in Congress deserves the title of "Free Trader." Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN), one of the Senate's most distinguished and consistent supporters of free trade, will offer remarks on the prospects for trade legislation in the 110th Congress and beyond. Publications presented at the event:
Trade-Offs: Why the Columbia FTA Should Pass Regardless of TAA
CAPITOL HILL BRIEFING
Watch the Event in Real Video 
Download a Podcast of the Event (MP3)
Highly Skilled Immigrants: Opening the Doors to Prosperity
CAPITOL HILL BRIEFINGDownload a Podcast of the Event (MP3)
12:00 p.m.
Who Are the Real Free Traders in Congress?
CAPITOL HILL BRIEFINGDownload a Podcast of the Event (MP3)
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Cato Institute events calendar
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Despite Doha collapse, free trade is marching on
Bad Trade
Expanding trade is a key to winning presidency
All That and a 30-cent Mojito
by Jason Kuznicki
October 7, 2008
Punish Goverments, Not People
by Juan Carlos Hidalgo
October 6, 2008
HRW's Deafening Denunciation of Hugo Chávez
by Juan Carlos Hidalgo
September 19, 2008
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