Professor Geist's regular Toronto Star Law Bytes columns (Toronto Star version, HTML backup article, homepage version) focuses on the growing importance of trade agreements to the formulation of copyright policy. The column notes that the U.S. has begun to export its copyright policy through a push for stronger copyright protections in its bi-lateral trade agreements. Developing countries readily agree as the inclusion of stronger copyright protections is seen as a costless choice, while developed countries are willing to treat copyright protection as little more than a bargaining chip as part of a broader negotiation.