In The News

Spiegel: Germany Prepares for Coming Tax Battle

Christian Reiermann February 15, 2017
The United States and the United Kingdom – intent on attracting foreign investment and jobs – may “begin stretching, undermining or completely redefining the internationally established tax framework,” reports Christian Reiermann for Spiegel Online. Finance ministers of the world’s 20 largest economies meet in March, and German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble wants to lead a fight against tax...

BBC News: US National Security Adviser Resigns

February 14, 2017
Sloppy procedures from the US commander in chief’s security team combined with ongoing Russian interference are triggering anxiety. Michael Flynn, the US national security adviser, resigned after serving for less than one month over allegations he discussed US sanctions with the Russia ambassador before Donald Trump took office – and then misled his supervisors despite surveillance transcripts of...

The Diplomat: Australia Keeps TPP Alive

Anthony Fensom February 13, 2017
Leaders of Japan and the United States, the leading economies that had negotiated the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, announced plans to pursue stronger bilateral ties. “Importantly, the joint statement also allowed for Japan to continue pursuing the TPP, even after [Donald] Trump’s January 23 decision to withdraw,” reports Anthony Fensom for the Diplomat, adding that Japan has invested more...

Bloomberg: Trump Drops Taiwan Gambit, a Relief for China’s Xi and Asia

February 11, 2017
Shortly after being elected US president, Donald Trump toyed with the idea of discarding the longstanding One China policy, a move that would destabilize the Asia Pacific region. “Three weeks into his presidency, the threat to upend U.S. policy on Taiwan – a breakaway province in China’s eyes – is off the table,” reports Bloomberg News. “The White House said Trump agreed in a phone call Thursday...

Times of India: Soothing Balm

Nayan Chanda February 11, 2017
The Trump administration has shown a pattern on foreign policy – blunt statements that upend long-held policies followed by members of his cabinet and other representatives hurrying to backtrack and reassure global partners. Before entering office, Donald Trump mentioned that the One-China policy might be a bargaining chip, annoying China, before walking that back. Analysts expect China to test...

The Economist: As America and Russia Talk, Ukraine Fights

February 4, 2017
Conflict in eastern Ukraine was frozen for two years but has “flared up with renewed force” soon after Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, presidents of the United States and Russia, spoke by telephone, reports the Economist. “Following the flare-up, the American ambassador to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which monitors the ceasefire, blamed ‘combined Russian-separatist...

Why Trump’s Policies May Increase Terrorism

Daniel Byman January 31, 2017
An executive order that restricts visa-holders from seven Muslim-majority from entering the United States and blocks refugees temporarily, Syrians indefinitely, threatens security on many levels. Allies in the Middle East will struggle to cooperate with the United States. The order signals a general mistrust for Muslims, holding them to higher standards than those for other citizens. Successful...