Research Strategy

Select a commodity

Choose a commodity that is under investigation by the ITC or by NAFTA. Click on the links to the left to view a list of some of the commodities involved in trade disputes within the last three years.

Choose a commodity based on the commodity itself or based on the country involved. During the course of your research, you will develop a solid understanding of both the economics of the particular commodity market as well as the economies of the corresponding countries. If you know nothing about a particular country or commodity, this is a great opportunity to learn about them.

After deciding on a commodity, visit the library to pick up a hard copy of the report or download it online from the ITC's web site. Before making a final decision about a commodity, it is important to look through the report to ensure that there is a substantial dispute with sufficient material to analyze. If you are looking at an antidumping or countervailing duty investigation that was handled by the ITC, you should also see what information regarding the dumping margins and countervailing duties is available on the ITA's web site.

Learn about the case

Think about the commodity. What factors make the exporting country a supplier? What factors create demand in the importing country? Who buys the commodity? Who is affected by free international trade and how? Who is affected by the suspension of free trade and how? What are the bigger domestic and international markets that the players are participating in? Who is the regulating body (ITC/NAFTA)?

Learn about the decision

Your fundamental task is to break down the legalese of the official report and to assess the economics behind it. Using background about the case as a tool, evaluate the decision. Does it make economic sense? Who benefits from it? Extend the models learned in class to your particular commodity. Read the arguments and justify why or why not you think they are correct. Critique the report and make a recommendation about a future course of action. This project is proof that what you learn in class is applicable to the real world!

Any part of the report is game for further research and analysis. While many data tables and references may be too cumbersome to include in your study, further investigation into particular graphs, charts, companies or trade associations mentioned can often yield valuable results. For example, a government agency mentioned in the text of the report might have additional data or related publications online if you choose to extend your research.

Insight from the parties involved and opinions of those affected/ invested in the dispute can be helpful. For example, if you are studying the import of broom-corn brooms from Mexico, a member of the broom-corn brooms' trade association or a Congressman whose district is particularly affected (because broom-corn brooms are manufactured there) may be good resources. If you look for information about a particular organization online, or contact individuals whom you think may be able to provide insight on the dispute, remember to briefly introduce yourself and your project. This will allow you to obtain more streamlined information.

Present your analysis

Based on the framework provided, write your report. Remember to focus on the key economic issues at hand. The best arguments are concise, articulate, and successfully integrate commodity- and country-specific research with the fundamental economics of the case to present the full picture.

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