The CPA is Washington’s leading organization fighting for a new trade policy to deliver balanced trade, restored health for American industries, broadly-shared economic growth, and more jobs for American workers. Learn about the key trade issues impacting the US economy that must be solved. Research by CPA staff takes a deeper look at these issues and which policy changes can lead to dramatic improvement.
CPA Research
Tax Strategy
OECD Proposal Fails to Help Domestic US Manufacturers
October 09, 2019
Many in Washington look at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris to help with pressing business concerns in the global community. And recently, the OECD promised to tackle cumbersome issues related to international corporate taxation. Unfortunately, it appears that the OECD isn’t positioned to provide a...
US Trade Deficit with EU Triples in 10 Years
October 05, 2019
By Jeff Ferry and Steven Byers
The US goods deficit with the European Union (EU) is on track to triple in a decade.
US Trade Deficit Increases Slightly in August
October 04, 2019
Overall trade deficit on track to exceed 2018 total, but China deficit narrowing
By Steven L. Byers, PhD, CPA Senior Economist
The US trade deficit in goods and services increased by 1.6 percent in August, to $54.9 billion, up $0.9 billion from $54.0 billion (revised) in July.
Tax Strategy
Top 3 Tax Proposals by Democratic Candidates...and How They Affect Domestic Companies
September 30, 2019
After an initial review of the various 2020 Democratic presidential contenders’ tax proposals, the CPA tax committee noted a lack of progress on corporate tax reform. Committee members subsequently voted on the remaining corporate tax proposals.
By David Morse, Tax Policy Director
Apple Staying in Texas Due to US Tariff and Industrial Strategy
September 24, 2019
By Jeff Ferry, CPA Chief Economist On Sept. 23rd, Apple announced that its Mac Pro computer will continue to be manufactured in Texas, rather than China, Taiwan, or southeast Asia, as the company was previously planning. The Mac Pro is currently the only Apple product assembled in the United States....
US Trade Deficit Shrinks in July
September 04, 2019
Goods deficit with China declines 10% from last year
By Steven L. Byers, PhD, CPA Senior Economist
The US trade deficit in goods and services for July 2019 decreased by 2.7 percent, to $54.0 billion, down $0.2 billion from $55.5 billion (revised) in June.
Why We Need Baldwin-Hawley Currency Reform Now
August 21, 2019
By Jeff Ferry, CPA Chief Economist In his recent article, How Not to Restore American Industry, commentator David P. Goldman criticizes the Baldwin-Hawley bill, also known as the Competitive Dollar for Jobs and Prosperity Act, which was introduced into the Senate earlier this month. The bill would provide the Federal...
Currency Misalignment
Regulating Capital Inflows To Realign The Dollar Exchange Rate
August 19, 2019
By Steven L. Byers, PhD U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) recently introduced a bipartisan bill (Senate Bill S.2357) to realign the US dollar exchange rate to make U.S. exports more competitive, boost American manufacturers and farmers, and reduce our trade deficit. The Competitive Dollar for Jobs and...
Working Paper: Manufacturing Jobs and Income Decline
August 15, 2019
After the year 2000, US manufacturing employment experienced a rapid, unprecedented decline with the loss of some six million manufacturing jobs. Many commentators have described this as a normal, even healthy evolution, with workers allegedly moving into “jobs of the future” in the service sector. By Jeff Ferry, CPA Chief...
Clinton USTR official, Jennifer Hillman, is Still Wrong on China
August 13, 2019
By Michael Stumo Jennifer Hillman, a former Clinton trade official, recently wrote a misleading opinion article in the New York Times entitled “How to Stop Trump’s Trade War Madness.” Not only did Hillman work in the Clinton’s Office of the US Trade Representative, but she was USTR General Counsel and...
It's Time to Rethink our Close Economic Relationship with the Totalitarian State of China
August 07, 2019
By David J. Lynn, Ph.D. China has become increasingly integrated into America's economy with a wide range of industrial and consumer goods being imported from China including electronics, clothing, furniture, drugs, food products, machinery and many high-technology components that are essential for our national defense. In fact, in the US, it...
June Report Shows Little Change in US Trade Deficit
August 02, 2019
By Steven L. Byers, PhD, CPA Senior Economist The US trade deficit in goods and services for June 2019 decreased by 0.3 percent, to $55.2 billion, down $0.2 billion from $55.3 billion (revised) in May. The decrease is due to a decline in the goods deficit of $0.8 billion along...
Tide of Multinationals Leaving China Turns Into a Flood
July 29, 2019
By Jeff Ferry, CPA Chief Economist
It took 20 years for China to disrupt global supply chains and build up the world’s largest manufacturing base. In the process they decimated US manufacturing sectors like computers, telecommunications, and furniture.
Tax Strategy
Top 5 Tax Proposals by Democratic Candidates...and How They Affect Domestic Companies
July 25, 2019
Among the various Democratic presidential contenders, there are a number of proposals for corporate tax reform. After reviewing all the candidates’ plans, we’ve identified the ‘Top 5 Democratic Tax Reform Proposals.’
By David Morse, Tax Policy Director
Working Paper Update: Across-the-Board Tariffs on China with Retaliation & Federal Spending Create Over 1 Million Jobs in Five Years
July 23, 2019
This Working Paper presents the results of a CPA econometric model showing that a permanent tariff on Chinese imports would stimulate the US economy.
by Jeff Ferry (Chief Economist) and Steven Byers (Senior Economist)
Tax Strategy
US Should Reject Tax Loopholes that China Favors
July 08, 2019
By David Morse, Tax Policy Director The US and domestic companies should be alarmed by China’s desire to preserve corporate tax avoidance strategies in the world. Many countries have had enough of corporate tax avoidance, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is currently considering solutions to restrict...
US Trade Deficit Leaps to $55.5B in May, But China Deficit Down in 2019
July 03, 2019
By Jeff Ferry, CPA Chief Economist The US trade deficit jumped 8.4 percent in May, to $55.5 billion, as compared to April’s $51.2 billion, according to data published today by the Department of Commerce. On a year-on-year basis, the jump was even larger, up 25.2 percent over the May 2018...
Report to CPA Members: CPA Testifies on Section 301 China Tariffs
July 03, 2019
Editor’s note: CPA’s Chief Economist Jeff Ferry testified on Friday June 21st at the International Trade Commission in support of expanding Section 301 tariffs against China. This is CPA’s written testimony. On June 21st, at the US International Trade Commission headquarters, I testified on behalf of CPA in favor of...
We Need An American Alternative to Huawei
July 02, 2019
By Jeff Ferry, Chief Economist
President Trump’s decision over the weekend to allow US component and chip companies to sell to Chinese network builder Huawei was a questionable decision.
Comments on Proposed Modification of Regulations Regarding Benefit and Specificity in Countervailing Duty Proceedings
June 27, 2019
Editor’s note: CPA submitted the following comments supporting a recent Department of Commerce proposal to classify currency manipulation as a countervailable subsidy under US trade laws. CPA has long supported legislation on this topic, but now Commerce intends to achieve this end through regulation. Modification of Regulations Regarding Benefit and Specificity in...
