Cato Events Podcast

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is currently being renegotiated by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump promised to get a better deal, or walk away entirely from NAFTA if necessary. Amidst the air of uncertainty surrounding the talks, a productive discussion surrounding the prospects and challenges to modernizing NAFTA has emerged. Though NAFTA was a cutting–edge trade deal in 1994, international trade has transformed significantly since then, most notably with the advent of the digital economy. This full–day conference explores both the politics and reality of the NAFTA negotiations, and puts forward ideas for what a modern NAFTA could look like.

SESSION II: THE DEBATE OVER NAFTA

Marta Bengoa, City College of New York

Steve Charnovitz, George Washington University Law School

Dan Griswold, Mercatus Center

Alvaro Santos, Georgetown University Law Center

Todd Tucker, Roosevelt Institute

Christopher Wilson, Wilson Center

Moderator: Dan Ikenson, Director, Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is currently being renegotiated by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump promised to get a better deal, or walk away entirely from NAFTA if necessary. Amidst the air of uncertainty surrounding the talks, a productive discussion surrounding the prospects and challenges to modernizing NAFTA has emerged. Though NAFTA was a cutting–edge trade deal in 1994, international trade has transformed significantly since then, most notably with the advent of the digital economy. This full–day conference explores both the politics and reality of the NAFTA negotiations, and puts forward ideas for what a modern NAFTA could look like.

WELCOMING REMARKS

Simon Lester, Trade Policy Analyst, Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute

SESSION I: NAFTA'S ORIGIN & PURPOSE

John Weekes, Bennett Jones

Rufus Yerxa, National Foreign Trade Council

Ricardo Ramirez, Appellate Body Member, World Trade Organization

Moderator: Jim Bacchus, Former Chairman of the WTO Appellate Body

Republicans are pushing ahead with major tax reforms after they agreed to a framework of individual and corporate cuts in September. The plan would simplify the individual rate structure, reduce the top tax rate on small businesses, and double the standard deduction. It would also boost America’s competitiveness by cutting the corporate tax rate, changing the rules on foreign income, and allowing expensing of capital equipment. If the House and Senate agree on an overall budget plan in the coming weeks, it will pave the way for the first major tax overhaul in years.

Join our panel of experts, who will discuss the economics and politics of tax reform as well as the policy alternatives facing legislators as a tax bill winds its way through Congress.

In the past decade and a half, the government of Venezuela received over $1 trillion in oil revenues, and yet the country is now suffering from a deep humanitarian crisis with its population struggling to feed itself. As a correspondent for Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal, Raúl Gallegos witnessed first-hand how the mismanagement of oil riches during the rule of Hugo Chávez led to Venezuela's current misery. Gallegos will explain how mismanaged oil has created perverse incentives in the political system, the business community, and among ordinary Venezuelans. Gustavo Coronel will offer his insights on what should be the future of the oil sector in a democratic Venezuela. Please join us for a timely discussion.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the past decade and a half, the government of Venezuela received over $1 trillion in oil revenues, and yet the country is now suffering from a deep humanitarian crisis with its population struggling to feed itself. As a correspondent for Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal, Raúl Gallegos witnessed first-hand how the mismanagement of oil riches during the rule of Hugo Chávez led to Venezuela's current misery. Gallegos will explain how mismanaged oil has created perverse incentives in the political system, the business community, and among ordinary Venezuelans. Gustavo Coronel will offer his insights on what should be the future of the oil sector in a democratic Venezuela. Please join us for a timely discussion.

Before the outbreak of World War I, government spending as a share of gross domestic product in the developed world averaged 13 percent and the role of public officials in the lives of the citizenry was restricted to a few core functions, including justice and national defense. At the dawn of the 21st century, average government spending among rich countries stood at 44 percent of gross domestic product and the scope of government had grown immensely. Please join us as our panel looks at the influence of the Bolshevik Revolution on intellectuals, policymakers, and the public debate in the West concerning the proper role of government and its subsequent growth.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before the outbreak of World War I, government spending as a share of gross domestic product in the developed world averaged 13 percent and the role of public officials in the lives of the citizenry was restricted to a few core functions, including justice and national defense. At the dawn of the 21st century, average government spending among rich countries stood at 44 percent of gross domestic product and the scope of government had grown immensely. Please join us as our panel looks at the influence of the Bolshevik Revolution on intellectuals, policymakers, and the public debate in the West concerning the proper role of government and its subsequent growth.

The first months of the Trump administration have confirmed that criminal justice will remain a contentious issue for the foreseeable future. Trump's "law and order" rhetoric on the campaign trail has led to significant changes in federal criminal justice policy. At the state and local levels, lawmakers are struggling with the opioid epidemic, overincarceration, and how to work with new federal enforcement goals.

In the current environment, how should legislators tackle the most serious and enduring criminal justice issues? What policies should be implemented? What should officials' priorities be? To answer these and other questions, experts from courtrooms, universities, law enforcement agencies, and think tanks will gather at the Cato Institute for its third annual criminal justice conference, Criminal Justice at a Crossroads. We hope that you will join us.
 

Keynote

Kevin Sharp Nashville Managing Partner, Sanford Heisler Sharp, and former Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee

Closing Remarks

Clark Neily, Vice President for Criminal Justice, Cato Institute

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first months of the Trump administration have confirmed that criminal justice will remain a contentious issue for the foreseeable future. Trump's "law and order" rhetoric on the campaign trail has led to significant changes in federal criminal justice policy. At the state and local levels, lawmakers are struggling with the opioid epidemic, overincarceration, and how to work with new federal enforcement goals.

In the current environment, how should legislators tackle the most serious and enduring criminal justice issues? What policies should be implemented? What should officials' priorities be? To answer these and other questions, experts from courtrooms, universities, law enforcement agencies, and think tanks will gather at the Cato Institute for its third annual criminal justice conference, Criminal Justice at a Crossroads. We hope that you will join us.
 

Panel 4: The Drug War and the Opioid Crisis: Approaches and Remedies

Leo Beletsky, professor, School of Law & Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University
Jeffrey Miron, director of economic studies at the Cato Institute and senior lecturer on economics and director of undergraduate studies at Harvard University
Zachary Bolitho, Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General
Moderated by Mike Riggs, reporter, Reason

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first months of the Trump administration have confirmed that criminal justice will remain a contentious issue for the foreseeable future. Trump's "law and order" rhetoric on the campaign trail has led to significant changes in federal criminal justice policy. At the state and local levels, lawmakers are struggling with the opioid epidemic, overincarceration, and how to work with new federal enforcement goals.

In the current environment, how should legislators tackle the most serious and enduring criminal justice issues? What policies should be implemented? What should officials' priorities be? To answer these and other questions, experts from courtrooms, universities, law enforcement agencies, and think tanks will gather at the Cato Institute for its third annual criminal justice conference, Criminal Justice at a Crossroads. We hope that you will join us.
 

Flash Talk

William R. Kelly, professor of sociology and director of the Center for Criminology and Criminal Justice Research at the University of Texas at Austin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.