KEI Contributor – Phil Eskeland

By Phil Eskeland Earlier today, the Foreign Trade Division of the U.S. Census Bureau released the latest statistics on U.S. international trade data.  While the overall U.S. trade deficit in merchandise goods with the world increased by $1.9 billion or 0.4 percent, the bilateral trade deficit between the U.S. and South Korea declined by $647…

This is the second in a two part series looking at the potential questions senators should ask Trump Administration officials on policy that will affect Korea during their confirmation hearings. The first part on the Trump Administration’s State and Defense nominees can be found here. By Phil Eskeland On Thursday morning, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for…

By Phil Eskeland Unlike past U.S. elections, President-elect Donald Trump has made trade a centerpiece of his campaign.  In many appearances, he severely criticized what he characterized as “disastrous trade deals” made over the past two decades.  In fact, his closing argument included pictures of padlocked factory gates and abandoned machinery on the shop floor…

By Phil Eskeland International trade has become a top-tier political issue during this U.S. election cycle, in part, because many divergent factors, including diminished work opportunities for those without a college education, have come together to create a “perfect storm” for candidates at all levels in both political parties.  Many people in the United States…