In The News

EU Finds Trade Barriers Rising Since Global Crisis

Stephen Castle November 11, 2009
A new report by the EU’s trade commissioner states that many countries have instituted trade restrictions on European exporters amid the global economic crisis. The report expects some countries to maintain these trade restrictions once the crisis is over. Interestingly, there appears to be a link between membership in the World Trade Organization and countries with restrictive trade measures:...

Banyan: Having it Both Ways

November 11, 2009
China claims it plans to stay in Afghanistan much longer than the United States. While it has no military presence there, it does have a major investment: a copper mine that should bring billions of dollars in profit. But this investment is in some ways possible only because of the security provided by US military forces. China thus benefits from the US military presence to help it expand its...

Black And White

Nayan Chanda November 10, 2009
China’s rising presence in Africa has received increasing notice in the press and increasing concern from the West. Such contact is not a new phenomenon as trade between the Middle Kingdom and the continent first occurred as far back as six centuries ago. Today, raw materials trade continues but it is not all one way – China invests directly in the region through mines, construction, and...

Awaiting Climate Accord, Governments Toy With Dubious Measures

Doaa Abdel Motaal November 6, 2009
In the lead up to the Copenhagen Climate Summit in December, developed and developing nations are already preparing themselves for the outcome, a multilateral deal or not. This approach is bound to harm the prospects for reversing global warming, for fostering free trade, and for ensuring competition, according to World Trade Organization Counselor Doaa Abdel Motaal. Many countries plan to enact...

Outsourcing Progress

Nayan Chanda October 28, 2009
If you thought outsourcing would take a hit from the financial crisis, think again. While certain sectors have seen double digit declines, other end markets are growing. What the final tally for the year might be is unknown, but the results thus far are somewhat counter-intuitive. Outsourcing’s resilience in the face of such financial and political strain – lawmakers across the globe have often...

The Future Path for an East Asian Community

Kavi Chongkittavorn October 26, 2009
Southeast Asian countries known as ASEAN have agreed on the need to form a broader East Asian community and increase regional cooperation, despite the many challenges that such integration faces. Among these is the disagreement over how to deal with human rights violations, the differences in economic development and political systems of member states, diverging opinions on US involvement, and...

Dollars Without Borders

Dilip Ratha October 20, 2009
For many countries, a significant source of national income comes from remittances sent by family members working abroad. Remittances play a crucial role in the economic health of poor countries, providing funds for social services and capital for new businesses and investments. While the global economic crisis and high levels of unemployment are forcing many migrant workers to remain in the host...