Leverage Is Everything: Understanding the Trump Administration\u27s Linkage between Trade Agreements and Unilateral Import Restrictions

This paper offers an understanding of the Trump administration\u27s (Administration) often-perplexing approach to international trade policy and, in particular, the Administration\u27s repeated threats to withdraw from or renegotiate bilateral, regional and multilateral trade agreements. The central premise offered here is that all Administration trade actions--including both its approach to trade agreements and its threats or use of unilateral import restrictions--must be seen in terms of two fundamental goals. The first is to eliminate U.S. trade deficits with foreign countries (individually or collectively). The second is to restore the U.S. manufacturing sector by limiting imports and by bringing back to the U.S. manufacturing that had been moved to other countries. Renegotiation of trade agreements and imposition of import restrictions are closely integrated tactics used to accomplish these goals. Thus, neither should be seen as an end in itself, but rather as leverage toward achieving whatever specific goal the Administration seeks at the time. In one situation, import restrictions (or threat thereof) may serve as leverage in a trade agreement negotiation. In another situation, a trade negotiation may be conducted in a manner that provides leverage to obtain a limitation of imports. In analyzing this approach to trade, this paper addresses the following: A brief summary of the Trump Administration\u27s trade policy and objectives; specific examples of the Administration\u27s leverage-based strategy in action; and more detailed discussions of the Administration\u27s leverage strategies in the three most important areas of U.S. trade today: US-China trade, the effort either to change or withdraw from the World Trade Organization, and the attempt to reshape the structure of North America by renegotiating or withdrawing from the North American Free Trade Agreement

Evaluation of experimental teaching approaches for use with above and below average burley tobacco production groups in Greene County, Tennessee

The purpose of this study was to evaluate two separate Extension teaching approaches (based on intensive survey of the tobacco growers and their practices) as evidenced by changes in knowledge and practice use by two different Extension audiences, namely above average tobacco growers, referred to hereafter as Group A, and below average tobacco growers, referred to as Group B in the study

Empowering bioscience students to develop employability skills through volunteering – voices of experience

Gaining employment is a priority for the majority of students (CBI 2009) particularly with the downturn in the economy and saturated job markets for both graduates and experienced workers, candidates have to find new ways to distinguish themselves to potential employers. The change in employer focus from good degrees to good degrees plus additional, softer skills and attributes, means that Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are having to review their provision to students. Many HEIs have a diverse range of students from both the UK and overseas, all with varying needs and looking for careers in a range of sectors. With each career sector having its own individual expectations and requirements, developing a flexible yet structured approach to employability is pivotal to sustained success for all HEIs. With students recognising the competition in the workplace the desire to develop skills and gain practical experience is increasing. With limited placement positions this paper considers volunteering as a recognised as way to help to develop practical work experience and gain a step on the career ladder