Influence of Internal and External Stakeholders
A political agenda is a set of policies and topics under discussion put forward by different political groups, and discussed by a governmental executive, or a government cabinet. Political parties shape and set political agenda when they want to promote its polices, obtain news coverage and increase the support. Nowadays every single day “people are affected, directly and indirectly, obviously and subtly, by an extensive array of public policies” (Anderson, 2015). Public police is a system of regulatory measures, laws, actions and funding priorities related to a certain topic declared and developed by governmental bodies and officials or its representatives. Public policy always includes efforts of competing interest groups, which influence policy makers in their favor. Policies usually “emerge in response to policy demands, or those claims for action or inaction on some public issue made by other actors—private citizens, group representatives, or legislators and other public officials—upon government officials and agencies” (Anderson, 2015). Public policy decisions are often decided by a group of individuals with different beliefs and interests (Norwich University, 2014). Nowadays many people get irritated about the laws and politics around the world, but what separates good from bad public policies? The policy may be called good when it produces a positive outcome and good politics occurs when no one is criticizing the policy or individuals behind it. There are following steps to make an agenda real and successful: to define the problem and the issue, to gather evidence, to define causes, to chose and develop best solution and to evaluate the policy. Nowadays “ policy analysts help in planning, budgeting, program evaluation, program design, program management, public relations, and other functions” (Bardach, 2016) . Today various theories to study national and local policymaking have been implemented and “many of these focus on local power structures, democratic accountabilities, business-government relations, and policy impacts and distribution effects” (Liu, X., Lindquist, E., Vedlitz, A, 2010).
The U.S.A. Policy Agendas Projects are international cooperation of researchers interested in these questions, and at all levels governments in the United States are very active in developing public policies. U.S.A. public policy pays attention to making a stronger economy, improving education and job situation, reducing budget deficit, crime and health cost, defending the country against terrorism, making a financially sound social security and medic care, helping the poor. In general the most important U.S.A. policy issues are Climate change, Healthcare, Medicare, Energy, Jobs, Social security, Taxation and International trade. Some may matter a lot to an individual, some may not matter at all, but they still gain a lot of attention of national lawmakers.
International policy of U.S.A. sets standards and defines how to interact with other countries. America’s foreign policy has been a case for many debates and criticism nationally and abroad. The most prominent foreign policies for U.S.A. are following: export, control of nuclear technology and nuclear hardware, business abroad, interaction with foreign nations international agreements and education.
Foreign trade of the United States consists of international imports and exports and is the world's most considerable economic market. The country trades with different countries, but mostly with Europe and Asia, as those markets are dominant. Trade policy in America varied widely through various historical periods, nowadays largest trading partner is China.
One of the most important Policy Agenda this year for America is the Trade policy agenda. Key points of the agenda are bilateral and multilateral trade relationships, support of high-paying jobs, strengthening of trade and investment relationships with countries and partners around the world. The agenda is mainly focused on supporting U.S. jobs and raising wages, on opening largest and growing markets to America exports, to raise international trade standards and trade rights, to promote economic growth, strengthen the middle class. The efforts are to compete global economy.
United States Trade Representative is responsible for the development and implementation of Trade Policy Agenda. The policy wants to promote development and growth, serves workers, farmers, innovators and businesses of all sizes. The plan is to remove foreign taxes on export, enforce trade rights, bolster partners, and promote development.
Trade and Policy Programs staff is to maximize gains and benefits of open markets, help to development globally, resolve disputes, improve access to national goods from abroad, promote food safety and innovation.
Many international and external stakeholders influence American trade policies. When speaking about the internal influence, following should be point out: office of economic affairs and office of trade and development.
The Office of Economic Affairs plays the consulting function in the economic sphere of the country: provide statistical and analytical materials, analytical support for the development of the trade, review of outside materials, and analytical support for the development of the trade. It also supports negotiating activities with statistical inputs, evaluates economic benefits for the partners, formulates investigation requests to the International Trade Commission.
The Trade and Development office’s main goal is to improve trade-related development worldwide, to develop economic growth programs, to increase funding. The growth programs are related to the WTO, TIFAs, and free trade agreements. The office represents programs at the OECD, WTO, World Bank, UNCTAD etc.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership - a new trade agreement - is a central part of the strategy, as it protects innovation, raises wages, makes economy larger protects workers, the environment. TPP has many advantages for the country: it cuts foreign taxes on manufactured in America products, promotes nontariff barriers to trade fully, opens markets, organizes strong intellectual property rules, promotes creativity and innovation, sets high labor standards. It also disciplines State-owned enterprises, supports small business exporters, titors good governance and fair competition, TPP strengthens middle class and helps ranchers, manufacturers, innovators and small businesses to compete their interests overseas.
The Transatlantic Economic Council stimulates transatlantic economic ties. The TEC is the EU-US forum of high level and the only one in its nature, where economic issues are discussed. The council organizes and provides a platform discussing strategic global questions and a platform for development and guidance. The TEC brings together those who carry the political responsibility for closer economic convergence.
After the World War II a new era came and after a great growth of international trade based on open economies has been seen. The United States by the way has been at the forefront of these changes. Nowadays Trade Policy and Programs open new export opportunities for American businesses and play a key role in the development and implementation of Free Trade Agreements
References
Anderson, J. E. Public policymaking: An introduction. Boston: Houghton. 2003.
“Characteristics of Successful Public Policy". Norwich University. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
Bardach, E., Patashnik, E. M. A practical guide for policy analysis: The eightfold path to more effective problem solving (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: CQ Press. 2016.
Liu, X., Lindquist, E., Vedlitz, A., & Vincent, K. Understanding local policymaking: Policy elites' perceptions of local agenda setting and alternative policy selection. Policy Studies Journal. 2010.
Bureau of Budget and Planning". Retrieved 18 February 2015.
