Think of the importance of trade in your life. Look simply at what you're wearing today. When you shop, do you look for the "Made in the USA" label? Perhaps you believe we might be better off as a nation economically if we produced more goods in the attempt to become more self-supportive. Perhaps you believe we should increase the amount of goods traded internationally. Opinions and speculation vary as much as the number of economists that predict economic climate. Having said this, as a nation, simply put, we trade. With that activity come many rules and regulations to try and ensure our best interests are protected. Based on this:

• How is international trade regulated? Log on to World Trade Organization and click the "Trade Topics" tab to learn about the scope of trade agreements and trade controversies. What is involved in "trade agreements"?
• Log on to Bureau of Economic Analysis and view the "international" tab, then "trade in Goods and Services". What is the current balance of trade for the United States? Has this balance been increasing or decreasing? Based on the current economic conditions, how do you think this balance will move in the near future, and why?