In The News

China in Africa: Soft Power, Hard Results

Loro Horta November 13, 2009
The recent second China-Africa summit in Egypt and Beijing’s pledge of $10 billion in loans to the continent has brought into focus China’s growing investment in Africa, The responses have been diverse, not only from international observers, but also from individuals in the region. Building upon interviews from a broad range of Africans, Visiting Fellow at Nanyang Technological Unversity Loro...

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...

Globalization Boosts Europe’s Gangsters

Leigh Phillips October 28, 2009
Reduced trade barriers and ease of transportation brought about by globalization are also helping transnational criminal networks succeed in the European Union. A new report from the EU’s criminal intelligence agency says drug dealing, human trafficking, and trade in counterfeit luxury goods are on the rise. Criminal organizations are taking advantage of trade liberalization and low-cost airlines...