Blog

Striking a Balance on Local Content Requirements in Trade Agreements: The Case of the Energy Sector

| 15 March 2024
Trade, Blog | Tags: Energy, Global Value Chains, Renewables
The new trade agreement between India and EFTA States includes commitments on an important yet often overlooked form of trade restrictions: local content requirements. ... continue reading

Why a Deal in the WTO Negotiations on E-Commerce is a “Must-Have” for MC13

and | 13 February 2024
Trade, Blog | Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, WTO
The internet is fundamentally dependent on openness to cross-border data flows. But many governments are regulating to constrain international data transfers - including under a banner of data sovereignty. ... continue reading

Rationalizing the Use of Tax Expenditures – The Role of Parliamentarians

| 31 January 2024
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Tax Expenditures
The role of parliaments is vital with regard to the monitoring and control of tax expenditures, both as part of the regular budget cycle and ad hoc, if required. ... continue reading

Advancing Scrutiny: 55 Year of Tax Expenditures Reporting in the United States

| 14 December 2023
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Tax Expenditures, United States
The normal baseline currently used to define tax expenditures by the US Treasury remains fairly close to an economic measure of income, but with some differences. Tax expenditures include employee fringe benefits and imputed income on rents on owner-occupied housing, but not free financial services. ... continue reading

Balancing Export Pricing Commitments in FTAs: Towards Affordable, Secure, and Clean Energy

| 6 November 2023
Trade, Blog | Tags: Commodities, Critical Minerals, Energy, Global Value Chains, Renewables
The minerals, metals, and products necessary to build renewable energy systems face an increasing number of export restrictions. This has been fueling fears of further disruptive policies down the road. ... continue reading