In The News

Asia Throws a New Challenge to Washington

Michael Richardson June 25, 2003
Burma's repression of democracy advocates like Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has won the country infamy in the international human rights community. Even after allowing a free election a decade ago, the military junta that runs Burma ignored the results and refused to give up power. Another brutal crackdown on opposition just weeks ago has brought the country back into the international...

Europe Set to Begin Digital Tax

Bob Tedeschi June 23, 2003
Unlike traditional trade transaction, e-commerce conducted online across national borders creates new tax issues that can be confusing. As Europe's number of internet users grows and overtakes the US and Canada, the European Union (EU) is scheduled to begin a new value-added tax plan, which will levy taxes on all imported goods and services purchased over the Internet. Foreign companies,...

Europe Snubs World's Poor

June 23, 2003
The European Union’s (EU) continued reluctance to reform its agricultural subsidies is criticized in this New York Times editorial. After a host of high-profile summit meetings and private conferences, it says, reform plans for Europe's agricultural policies will be "watered down as to virtually meaningless." One of the proposed plans is to reform the subsidy on Europe's cows...

Talks Collapse on U.S. Efforts to Open Europe to Biotech Food

David Leonhardt June 20, 2003
While the US thinks it is perfectly acceptable for the American people to consume genetically modified (GM) food, Europe remains adamant, unwilling to compromise consumer safety for consumer choice since the long term effects on human health of GM food are still unknown. The US has lodged formal complaints against the European Union with the World Trade Organization (WTO) alleging protectionism...

EU Immigration Plans Arouse Debate in Germany

Carola Schlagheck June 20, 2003
Immigration policy is dividing Germany and temporarily stalling the ratification of the European Union’s constitution. Though German Chancellor Schröder supports the draft, his government is deeply divided over two immigration-related proposals – the Greek plan to harmonize immigration and asylum within the EU and the transition to majority voting on certain issues. Opponents of the plan like...

Not Leading the World but Following It

Laurence R. Helfer June 18, 2003
On the issue of gay and lesbian rights, the US is behind the times, says legal scholar Laurence Helfer. While laws banning homosexual sex and preventing same-sex marriages are still upheld across the US, the recognition of gay and lesbian rights as human rights is increasingly part of a common global culture. Countries around the world – developed and developing, from Canada to Namibia – are...

Deja-vu All Over Again

Tobias Buck June 16, 2003
At Doha-level trade meetings, the EU’s policies on agriculture are seen as hampering world trade liberalization. To ensure that Europe might have some influence at the next world trade talks, the EU farm commissioner has been pushing to reform widely its position on agriculture. But after yet another round of EU talks, this article argues, it can be expected that it will be an “uphill struggle”...