Foreign Policy and International Affairs

Overview

• Foreign Policy Roles of the President and Congress
  This document outlines the role both the President and Congress play in making foreign policy.
  
  
• U.S. Foreign Affairs Manual - Treaties and Other International Agreements
  Links to general guidance on the procedures for the negotiation, signature, publication and registration of treaties and other international agreements.
  
  
• Treaties and Other International Agreements: The Role of the U.S. Senate
  Text report that summarizes the history of the treaty making provisions of the Constitution and international and domestic law on treaties and other international agreements.
  
  
• The Case-Zablocki Act of August 12, 1972 - 1 USC 112B
  Text of the Case-Zablocki Act that requires international agreements be transmitted to Congress.
  

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.
  

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.
  
  
• 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-11th Report 2004
  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
  Narrative, full text and signatory list of the "Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction."
  
  
• 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
  Report issued by Congressional Research Service providing background and major provisions of the Kyoto Protocol.
  
  
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
  Full text of the convention.
  
  
• North Atlantic Treaty of 1949
  Full Text of North Atlantic Treaty Organization of 1949 (NATO) signed in Washington, D.C. April 4, 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.
  
  
• 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).
  
  
• 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.
  
  

International Trade

• Foreign Trade and Global Economic Policies
  An overview of Foreign Trade and Global Economic Policies from the U.S. 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.
  
  
• 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 Organization (WTO)
  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.
  
  
• Responses to Human Trafficking
  The articles in this electronic journal explain the scope of human trafficking -- an estimated 800,000 to 900,000 people every year across the globe.
  
  
• Ending Abusive Child Labor
  An electronic journal that describes the commitments being made by governments, nongovernmental organizations, and industry to eradicate the worst forms of child labor with a special emphasis on eliminating child labor in mining.
  
  
• The Role of Think Tanks in U.S. Foreign Policy
  This issue of the electronic journal U.S. Foreign Policy Agenda examines the unique role played by public policy research organizations, or "think tanks," in the formulation of U.S. policy.
  
  
• American Internationalism
  This electronic journal contains articles on the U.S.'s goal of promoting freedom, democracy, free trade and development throughout the world.
  
  

Visas

(Visas requirements change quickly. Go to http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/visapolicy/index.html for the most up-to-date information)

• 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, March 2006
  Information regarding exchange visitor visas.
  
  
• Temporary Religious Workers, March 2006
  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, March 2006
  Information for treaty traders and investors about the requirements and application process for a nonimmigrant visa status.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Student Visas, June 2006
  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.
  
  
• Revalidating (or Renewing) Diplomatic, International Organization and NATO Visas in the U.S., June 2005
  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.
  
  
• Visa Types for Immigrants
  Information about immigrant visa types.
  
  
• Visa News
  Internet link to current visa news.