U.S. Security, Trade, and Development, Pt. I
A 2-part series, Sponsored by
THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY, USAID, AND
THE LSU LAW CENTER
Lawyers with an international law practice, or with clients that operate in foreign countries, realize the relationship among U.S. Security and trade between developing and developed countries. Yet more general policy discussion of trade agreements often fails to consider the connection between trade and U.S. security. The U.S. has an interest in having allies that are strong and economically healthy, rather than weak and poor. Our two-part program will consider what internal legal reforms are necessary for both U.S. companies and its trading partners to benefit more fully from increased trade with the U.S.
We will focus on the need and prospects for commercial law reform in developing countries that are, or may become, parties to trade agreements with the U.S. In entering into trade agreements, the U.S. requires certain legal changes from the other contracting parties and also encourages commercial law reforms to make the other countries more competitive.
The four panels, over two days, were organized around USAID's "Four Pillars" of commercial law reform: 1. Property Rights; 2. Contract Rights, specifically the need for laws governing secured transactions; 3. Business organization and de-regulation; and 4. Commercial conflict resolution, including the courts and arbitration.
The conference had both a global perspective and a particular focus on Latin America. While the particulars differ from country to country and region to region, the issues to be discussed are the basic ones common to almost all developing nations.
Part I
10:30 a.m.
Keynote Address 
- Ambassador John R. Bolton, American Enterprise Institute
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Panel Discussion on Property Rights
- Mr. Thomas N. Jersild, Senior Counsel, Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw
- Mr. Octavio Sanchez, former Minister of Culture, Honduras; and Fellow, National Law Center For Inter-American Free Trade
- Ms. Anne Simmons-Benton, Booz Allen Hamilton; and formerly with the United States Agency for International Development
- Prof. John S. Baker, Jr., Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center--Moderator
12:45 - 2:30 p.m.
Panel Discussion on Contract Rights -- Secured Transactions
- Mr. Emil Arca, Dewey Ballantine
- Mr. Wade Channell, United States Agency for International Development, Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade; and formerly with Booz Allen Hamilton
- Prof. Dale B. Furnish, Professor of Law, Emeritus, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Arizona State University and Fellow, National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade
- Prof. John S. Baker, Jr., Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center--Moderator
Thursday, April 26, 2007
National Press Club
Washington, D.C.
Part II - NO AUDIO AVAILABLE
Keynote Address by William Kristol, The Weekly Standard
Panel Discussion on Business Organization and De-regulation
Panel Discussion on Commercial Conflict Resolution: Courts and Alternative Dispute Resolution
Sidley Austin LLP
1501 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005
