Information on U.S. foreign policy and international relations, including treaties, trade practices, international aid, and visas.
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Foreign
Policy and International Affairs
Overview
Historic
Documents
- The Marshall Plan:
Investment in Peace
An overview of the U.S. program of assistance to the countries of Europe in the aftermath of World War II.
- The Monroe Doctrine
In Monroe's message to Congress on December 2, 1823 he delivered a doctrine which informed the powers of the Old World that the American continents were no longer open to European colonization.
- The Truman Doctrine
The delivery of this doctrine is often referenced as the start of the Cold War. As a result of this Doctrine the U.S. engaged in Proxy Wars with Communist powers.
International
Treaties and Agreements
- The U.S. and NATO: An Alliance of Purpose
This issue of U.S. Foreign Policy Agenda examines the newly expanded NATO Alliance through a range of perspectives in articles, commentary, and references from national security experts within the administration, the Congress, and the public research and academic sectors.
- Addressing
the Challenges of International Bribery and Fair
Competition
This report reviews the progress of signatory countries in implementing the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions (Antibribery Convention).
- NAFTA:
A Decade of Strengthening a Dynamic Relationship
This brochure highlights the North American Free Trade Agreement's (NAFTA) record on expanding trade, creating jobs, and increasing foreign direct investment in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
- Report
to Congress on the Operation of the Caribbean
Basin Economic Recovery Act
This report describes the Caribbean Basin Initiative. Also featured are statistics on U.S. trade with the Caribbean Basin countries, as well as brief reports assessing the performance of 15 countries in complying with eligibility criteria reflecting key U.S. policy objectives.
- Report
to Congress on the Operation of the Andean Trade
Preference Act as Amended
The objective of the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), as amended by the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication, is to promote broad-based economic development, diversify exports, consolidate democracy, and defeat the scourge of drug trafficking by providing sustainable economic alternatives. This report shows that the ATPA/ATPDEA continues to achieve this goal.
- The
Impact of the Andean Trade Preference Act
This document reports on the impact of the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) on U.S. industries and consumers.
- Coordination, Reporting
and Publication of International Agreements
Guidelines for coordinating, reporting on, and publishing international agreements from the Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Department of State.
- Treaties in Force
A list of treaties and other international agreements of the United States.
- Biological Weapons Treaties
Text overview of the Biological Weapons (BW) projects.
- The Comprehensive
Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty
Text of the treaty in its entirety
- Protocol to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty
Includes general provisions, seismological monitoring, radionuclide monitoring, hydroacoustic monitoring, iInfrasound monitoring, and the functions of the International Data Centre.
- Today's Nuclear Equation
This electronic journal, "Today's Nuclear Equation," is published in advance of the conference to offer the U.S. position on critical treaty-related issues as well as a range of expert opinion on the thorniest current issues in nuclear nonproliferation.
- Kyoto
Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change
Text of the document.
- The
Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change: A Fact Sheet
Kyoto Protocol fact sheet
- Global
Climate Change: The Kyoto Protocol
Text report with background on the Kyoto Protocol.
- United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Full text of the convention.
- Protocols
to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on Accession
of Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic
Full text of the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949.
- Berne
Convention for the Protection of Literary and
Artistic Works
Full text of the resolution outlining the protection of literature and art.
- World
Intellectual Property Organization: Performances
and Phonograms Treaty
Full text of the Performances and Phonograms Treaty from the World Intellectual Property Organization.
- World
Intellectual Property Organization: Copyright
Treaty
Full text of the document of the Copyright Treaty from the World Intellectual Property Organization.
- Universal
Copyright Convention
Full text of the Universal Copyright Convention.
- Researching
International Legal Issues
A guide on resources and strategies for researching international legal issues. Provided courtesy of Joan Sherer.
- Treaties
Pathfinder
State Department guide to researching treaties.
- The
Digital Freedom Initiative Annual Report
This document reports on the progress of the Digital Freedom Initiative (DFI) whose goal is to promote economic growth by transferring the benefits of information and communication technology to entrepreneurs, small businesses, and supporting institutions.
International
Trade
- Foreign
Trade and Global Economic Policies
An overview of Foreign Trade and Global Economic Policies from the Department of State
- The
Pros and Cons of Pursuing Free-Trade Agreements
Article from the U.S. Congressional Budget Office that briefly presents reasons for and against the pursuit of free-trade agreements.
- Unleashing
the Trade Winds: A Building-Block Approach
Article about the U.S. commitment to a free-trade policy.
- Trade
Negotiations During the 109th Congress
This report presents the status of the U.S. government's international trade negotiations.
- The
Year in Trade: Operation of the Trade Agreements
Program
This report is one of the principal means by which the U.S. International Trade Commission provides Congress with factual information on trade policy and its administration.
- The
National Export Strategy: The Administration's
Trade Promotion Agenda
This report from the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC) outlines the Administration's trade promotion policy.
- The
National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade
Barriers
This report surveys significant foreign barriers to U.S. exports. It also provides, where feasible, quantitative estimates of the impact of these foreign practices on the value of U.S. exports.
- Trade Policy Agenda
and Annual Report of the President of the United
States on the Trade Agreements Program
This report outlines the Administration's guiding trade principles and priorities, and reviews the major trade policy developments. It also chronicles U.S. activities in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other multilateral forums, regional and bilateral trade negotiations, and trade law enforcement.
- U.S.
Trade and Investment with Sub-Saharan Africa
This report documents U.S.-sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) trade and investment flows.
- Comprehensive
Report on U.S. Trade and Investment Policy Toward
Sub-Saharan Africa and Implementation of the
African Growth and Opportunity Act
This report discusses U.S. trade and investment policy toward sub-Saharan Africa, including the implementation of
the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the designation of AGOA beneficiary countries, the impact that AGOA has had on U.S. trade and investment with sub-Saharan Africa, and information on reforms being undertaken by AGOA beneficiary countries.
- U.S.
International Trade: Data and Forecasts
This report analyzes U.S. trade balances and provides comparative trade statistics. It also discusses recent developments in, and forecasts for, U.S. merchandise.
- International
Electronic Commerce: Definitions and Policy Implications
This report provides information on emerging issues regarding international electronic commerce (IEC).
- North
American Free Trade Agreement between the Government
of Canada, the Government of the United Mexican
States, and the Government of the United States
of America
Table of contents for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that provides links to the full text.
- World Trade Agreement
(GATT)
Full text of the World Trade Agreement of 1994, which established the World Trade Organization, and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
- An Overview of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement)
A comprehensive text overview of the TRIPS Agreement.
International
Aid and Development
- International Development Goals Moving Forward
This journal provides a glance at some of the individual U.S. development projects throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America that seek to address the key objectives of the Millennium Declaration: eradicating extreme poverty and hunger; achieving universal primary education; promoting gender equality and empowering women; reducing child mortality and improving maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases; ensuring environmental sustainability; and developing a global partnership for development.
- Improving Lives: Military Humanitarian and Assistance Programs
This report describes the historical evolution of military foreign assistance training and humanitarian assistance programs, and the purpose they play in fostering regional and national security while enhancing global relations.
- Protecting Lives, Restoring Livelihoods: The U.S. Program To Remove Landmines
This issue of U.S. Foreign Policy Agenda illustrates the challenges of global mine action, and highlights America's extensive record of cooperation, consensus-building, and leadership in the international effort to end the landmine tragedy.
- Transforming the Culture of Corruption
This issue of eJournal USA highlights the important roles that the public sector, private sector, and non-governmental organizations play in eradicating corruption worldwide.
- Foreign
Aid: An Introductory Overview of U.S. Programs
and Policy
This report provides an overview of the U.S. foreign aid program by addressing a number of the more frequently asked questions regarding
the subject.
- Foreign
Commerce and Aid
This report presents data on the flow of goods, services, and capital between the United States and other countries; changes in official reserve assets of the United States; international investments; and foreign assistance programs.
- The
Strategic Plan of the Department of State and
the United States Agency for International Development
This strategic plan sets forth the Secretary of State’s direction and priorities for both the U.S. Department of State and the Agency for International Development (USAID). It supports the policy positions set forth by the President and presents how the Department of State and USAID will implement U.S. foreign policy and development assistance.
- U.S.
Overseas Loans and Grants: Obligations and Loan
Authorizations
The “U.S. Overseas Loans and Grants”, informally known as the “Greenbook”, contains summary data of the U.S. Government foreign assistance since 1945 and detailed annual data
for the last four fiscal years. Foreign assistance is categorized as either economic assistance or military assistance. Non-concessional support is also presented.
- Millennium
Challenge Account: A New Compact for Global Development
Provides links to articles, commentary, facts and figures, and information resources regarding the Millenium Challenge Account.
- The
Millennium Challenge Corporation
A short description of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and its role to administer the money earmarked for the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) – in which development assistance would be provided to those countries that rule justly, invest in their people, and encourage economic freedom.
- Foreign
Aid in the National Interest: Promoting Freedom,
Security and Opportunity
This report discusses foreign assistance as a key instrument of U.S. foreign policy. It addresses six issues of development assistance: promoting democratic governance, driving economic growth, improving people’s health, mitigating conflict, providing humanitarian aid, and accounting for private foreign aid.
Visas
- Obtaining
a Visa
Links to the steps to be completed in order to obtain a student visa.
- Obtaining
a U.S. Visa: A step-by-step outline of today's
U.S. visa application procedures
A step-by-step outline of U.S. visa application procedures, published by the Department of State.
- US-VISIT
Program
A brief explanation of the new security procedures for arrivals and departures in the U.S. for travelers requiring visas to visit the U.S.
- Visa
Types for Temporary Visitors
A selection of various visitor and nonimmigrant visas and how to renew them
- Border
Crossing Card (BCC)
Information on the Border Crossing Card and Border Biometrics Program.
- Classes
of Aliens Ineligible to Receive Visas
Information regarding the classes of aliens ineligible to receive Visas.
- Visa
Denials
Question and answers with regards to visa denials.
- Visa
Waiver Program (VWP)
Information on the Visa Waiver Program.
- Visa
Waiver Program – How a Country Qualifies
Information on how a country qualifies for the Visa Waiver Program.
- Visitor
Visas - Business and Pleasure
Information regarding visitor visas.
- Coming
to America – Getting Your Visitors Visa
Information on acquiring you visitors visa.
- Visa Application
Forms
A list of visa application forms.
- Nonimmigrant
Visa Photo Requirements
Instructions for meeting the nonimmigrant visa photo requirements
- Fees
for Visa Services
A chart that lists fees for visa application and other types of processing fees collected by the Department of State.
- Duration & Extension
of Stay in the U.S. - How the Visa Expiration
Date is Different
An explanation of the difference between the visa expiration date and the length of time you have permission to remain in the United States.
- Exclusion
from Automatic Re-Entry with Valid Form I-94
Information on the Exclusion from Automatic Re-Entry with Valid Form I-94.
- Exchange
Visitor (J) Visas
Information regarding exchange visitor visas.
- Temporary
Religious Workers
Information about the nonimmigrant visa category for aliens proceeding to the United States to work in a religious capacity.
- Temporary
Workers Overview
Information regarding the visa categories available for temporary workers.
- Mexican
and Canadian NAFTA Professional Worker
Information on TN visas.
- Treaty
Traders & Treaty Investors
Information for treaty traders and investors about the requirements and application process for a nonimmigrant visa status.
- Student
Visas
Information for student visa applicants.
- Legal
Requirements for F-1 Foreign Students in Public
Schools
Information on the legal requirements for F-1 foreign students in public schools.
- The
Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program
(Walsh Visa Program)
Information on The Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998 (Walsh Visa Program)
.
- Waiver of
the J Visa Two-Year Foreign Residence Requirement,
212(e)
Information on the waiver of the J Visa two-year foreign residence requirement.
- What
Consuls Look For - Student Visas
An overview of what consular officers look for from a student visa applicant.
- Revalidating
(or Renewing) Diplomatic, International Organization
and NATO Visas in the U.S.
Information on renewing diplomatic visas while in the U.S.
- Discontinuation
of Visa Renewal/Revalidation in U.S.
Information on renewals and revalidations of E,H,I,L,O and P visas.
- Foreign
Military Stationed in the United States
Visa information for foreign military stationed in the United States.
- Replacement
of a Damaged, Lost, or Stolen Visa
Information on replacing a damaged, lost, or stolen visa.
- Withdrawing
a Visa Revalidation Application
Information on withdrawing a visa revalidation application.
- Visa
Types for Immigrants
Information about immigrant visa types.
- Visa
News
The visa news bulletin.
- Foreign
Media, Press, and Radio
This webpage answers questions about the Media (l) Visa which is a nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily and who are representatives of the foreign media traveling to the United States, engaging in their profession, and having their home office in a foreign country.
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