Free Trade Archives - Page 6 of 12 - Foreign Policy In Focus

Militarism and U.S. Trade Policy

by Erik Leaver, David Ranney | Dec 15, 2006

It is rare to think about the links between militarism and U.S. “trade” policy. But in recent decades, U.S. global economic policies have increasingly driven U.S. military policy. And under the Presidency of George W. Bush and the “war on terrorism” the trend has rapidly and dangerously accelerated. The results have generated a militarism that is beyond the reach of democratic processes both in the United States and abroad. For this reason, activists who oppose the Iraq War and U.S. militarism generally and those promoting global economic and environmental justice must develop a common agenda.

Curing AIDS Policy of Greed and Dogma

by John Feffer, Yifat Susskind | Nov 30, 2006

A whole generation into the AIDS pandemic, we now have significant (though still insufficient) knowledge of how to combat the disease. But while the world’s collective understanding is gradually advancing, U.S. AIDS policy remains mired in a right-wing economic and social vision that is curtailing progress and costing lives.

Garca’s First 100 Days

by John Feffer, Ronald Bruce St John | Nov 21, 2006

Inaugurated last July, Peruvian President Alan García Perez completed the first 100 days of his second administration in early November. Winning a run-off in the June elections with 52% of the vote, García inherited a country torn by divisive socioeconomic and political issues. His first three months in office have been marked by a combination of policy innovation and continuity as he seeks to find workable solutions to difficult problems.

Congress Approves Flawed Oman Trade Pact

by Emily Schwartz Greco, Stephen Zunes | Jul 27, 2006

One of the sub-plots in last year’s critically acclaimed film Syriana tells the story of two young Pakistani Âguest workersÂ in an unnamed Persian Gulf nation who, after years of resentment over miserable living conditions, are taken in by a radical cleric and recruited to be suicide bombers. The film is an all too accurate portrayal of the exploitation of Âguest workersÂ in many Gulf countries, and how these conditions can cause instability.

Trading on Terror to Profit a Few

by Antonia Juhasz | Jul 13, 2006

Even as Congress has finally begun a serious debate about whether U.S. troops should be withdrawn from Iraq, another part of President Bush’s "war on terror" is advancing with far less public fanfare. Last month, the Senate Finance Committee approved the implementation of the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement and cleared the way for its consideration by Congress.

Free trade fails Latin America

by Nadia Martinez | Feb 27, 2006

Costa Rica is famous for sandy beaches and lush rainforests that make it a popular destination for U.S. tourists. But this month the small Central American country is making headlines for something else: a dead-heat election.

Kicking Away the Ladder: The “Real” History of Free Trade

by Ha-Joon Chang, John Gershman | Dec 30, 2003

Central to the neoliberal discourse on globalization is the conviction that free trade, more than free movements of capital or labor, is the key to global prosperity. Even many of those who are not enthusiastic about all aspects of globalization–ranging from the free-trade economist, Jagdish Bhagwati, advocating capital control to some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) accusing the developed countries for not opening up their agricultural markets–seem to agree that free trade is the most benign, or at least a less problematic, element in the progress of globalization.