The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
The Next Phase of USMCA
English Summary
The USMCA renewal process has triggered a full renegotiation cycle, driven by political disagreement and unresolved sectoral disputes among the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Key negotiation points include establishing a 'Fortress North America' to protect against Chinese overcapacity and tightening Rules of Origin (ROO), particularly for autos. These efforts signal a strategic shift toward coordinated regional trade defense rather than simple market liberalization. The primary implication is prolonged uncertainty, which will likely cause businesses to pause long-term investment while the three nations attempt to align their economic policies.
中文摘要
USMCA的續約程序已引發全面性的重新談判週期，其驅動因素來自美國、墨西哥和加拿大之間在政治上的分歧以及未解決的部門爭議。主要的談判議題包括建立「北美堡壘」，以防範中國產能過剩帶來的衝擊，並收緊原產地規則（ROO），特別是針對汽車產業。這些努力顯示了戰略轉向：從單純的市場自由化，轉變為協調性的區域貿易防禦。其主要影響是長期不確定性增加，這可能會導致企業暫停長期投資，直到三個國家成功協調一致其經濟政策。
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