Trade and Economics

The United States is pouring massive resources and risking precious lives of its soldiers in its efforts to stabilize Afghanistan, a part of the world most Americans could not identify on a map before 9/11. President Barack Obama has already increased the U.S. force presence considerably and is deliberating further increases in what may be the most portentous decision of his presidency.

In 2007, a series of high-profile scandals involving contaminated blood thinner, toxic toothpaste, and melamine-laced pet food demonstrated the threat that unsafe food and drug imports pose to U.S. public health and international trade. Contaminated and adulterated products have sickened and killed U.S. consumers, fueled protectionism, raised business costs, and destabilized markets.

At a time of mounting population pressures, environmental declines, and growing demand for water, the Paul H.

For the United States and Korea, the global economic crisis was not just a sea change, but a tsunami. Nations riveted just weeks earlier by issues like terrorism and proliferation were consumed by talk of economic collapse and unprecedented fiscal and monetary actions seeking to avoid a second Great Depression.

ASEAN Secretariat: Dr.  Surin Pitsuwan (SIR-in PIT-soo-ahn)

Australia:  Kevin Rudd

Brunei:  His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddualah  (Sul-tan BOWL-kee-ah) or simply (Sultan of  BREW-nigh)

Canada:  Stephen Harper

Chile: Michelle Bachelet (Mee-shell Bah-shell-let (hard L))

President Obama makes his first trip to Asia to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Singapore this month. The president will begin his trip in Tokyo on November 12 and 13 and then travel to Singapore for the APEC meeting that runs from the 13th to 15th. From Singapore he will travel to China from the 15th to the 18th and finally visit Seoul on the 18th and 19th.

Q1: What is the importance of APEC in the global economy?

President Obama is headed to Asia in a week.  It is imperative that he begin to lay the groundwork for passage of the KORUS FTA.  The agreement signed by the Bush administration in June 2007, still awaits passage of implementing legislation by the Congress.  The administration has not supported the agreement because of concerns over trade issues regarding beef and automobiles.&nb