All of the US Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) signed in the past 20 years have required trading partners to enact stronger intellectual property (IP) laws than those stipulated by the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement), provisions commonly referred to as “TRIPS-Plus.” This includes trade agreements made […]
By Michael Palmedo All United States Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) signed in the past 20 years have required trading partners to enact intellectual property (IP) laws that are stronger than those required by the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). In pharmaceutical markets, these “TRIPS-Plus” rules enhance the […]
By Rachel Thrasher and Özlem Ömer As a recent policy brief by the Boston University Global Development Policy Center shows, more must be done to ensure a rapid, equitable and global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccine rollout is underway in every region of the world. 500 million doses have been given worldwide, with almost 100 […]
The United States has free trade agreements (FTAs) with about 20 countries, including Mexico, Canada, Colombia, South Korea, Morocco and others. Negotiations for a new US FTA with Kenya are currently underway, with talks beginning in July 2020 and scheduled to conclude by the end of 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the […]
By Henrik Selin and Rebecca Dunn If international shipping were a country, it would be the world’s seventh largest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually. Despite this, CO2 emissions from international shipping are not currently covered by international treaties or domestic policies. This means that these CO2 emissions are largely left outside collective efforts […]
International ships carry roughly 90 percent of global trade by volume and produce more CO2 emissions annually than Saudi Arabia, at two percent of of global emissions. Despite this, neither international treaties nor domestic policies control CO2 emissions from international maritime shipping. The industry also does not lend itself to easy governance, as it is […]
Free trade agreements (FTAs) are often signed by the developing countries in the hope of increasing their market access, improving their balance of trade (BOT) and reviving their economic growth by generating additional output and employment in their countries. However, if FTAs worsen the BOT or net exports, they can adversely impact Gross Domestic Product […]
The development of multiple viable vaccines to eradicate the COVID-19 pandemic in less than a year was an incredible scientific achievement, which is now undermined by severe vaccine inequality. An inequitable vaccination program could prolong the pandemic for many years through cycles of mutation, resistance, and reinfection and will cost the global economy an estimated […]
Editor’s note: This piece was originally published by the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment at Columbia University on Jan. 25, 2021. By Rachel Thrasher Science and society speak loud and clear on climate change. Time is running out, and a massive transformation is needed to align our economic lives with the world’s climate needs. Countries […]
Eight months into COVID-19, what is the status of the international investment regime and access to essential medicines? The GDP Center’s Working Group on Trade and Access to Medicines will host a panel discussion on trade, investment regime, and access to essential medicines. The event is co-sponsored by the South Centre, the intergovernmental organization of […]