FAS

A Primer on US Trade Policy, and More from CRS

04.05.18 | 1 min read | Text by Steven Aftergood

As Trump Administration trade policies generate national and global repercussions, the fundamentals of trade are presented in a new report from the Congressional Research Service to help understand what is happening and what is at stake.

The report explains basic economic concepts, such as why countries trade, it provides data on U.S. trade relationships, and it describes how trade policy is formulated. See U.S. Trade Policy Primer: Frequently Asked Questions, April 2, 2018.

Other new and updated CRS reports include the following.

China-U.S. Trade Issues, updated April 2, 2018

Tricks of the Trade: Section 301 Investigation of Chinese Intellectual Property Practices Concludes (Part I)CRS Legal Sidebar, March 29, 2018

Overview of the Federal Tax System in 2018, March 29, 2018

Afghanistan: Background and U.S. Policy In Brief, updated April 3, 2018

Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress, updated March 30, 2018

Can Aliens in Immigration Proceedings Be Detained Indefinitely? High Court Rules on Statutory, but not Constitutional AuthorityCRS Legal Sidebar, April 3, 2018

District Court Decision May Help Pave the Way for Trump Administration’s Border Wall PlansCRS Legal Sidebar, April 2, 2018

publications
See all publications
Clean Energy
Blog
Fixing a Broken Market: A Plan for Cheaper Freight, Cleaner Air, and American Truck Leadership

Americans are paying too much for almost everything, because the United States has long treated its trucking industry as an artifact to be preserved rather than as an opportunity for innovation.

06.16.26 | 9 min read
read more
Emerging Technology
Report
SOURCE CODE: A Policy Agenda for Fostering Trust and Fairness in AI

These ideas aim to advance the detailed policy solutions needed to foster public trust and implement fairness in the adoption of AI across diverse domains, from healthcare and government benefits to rural access, education, and worker protections.

06.11.26 | 17 min read
read more
Emerging Technology
day one project
Policy Memo
Move Algorithmic-Driven Pay and Scheduling Systems From Surveillance Pay to Fair Wages

The evidence is clear: algorithmic pay-setting is established in app-based work, and payroll/timekeeping failures show how software can produce systemic wage harm at scale

06.11.26 | 15 min read
read more
Emerging Technology
day one project
Policy Memo
How State Leaders Can Put People First in AI Decision-Making

While a few states have taken steps to implement decision-making mechanisms for certain AI systems, too many leaders are simply accepting narratives about AI’s purported public benefit at face value – jumping to the “how” of AI implementation before thoroughly vetting potential systems and deciding whether they are appropriate to use at all.

06.11.26 | 17 min read
read more