In The News

Fentanyl Fuels Cartel: Associated Press

February 14, 2019
Despite the conviction of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, the US demand for illegal drugs has not subsided. The Sinaloa drug cartel is under new leadership, less flamboyant and violent, and still maintains an international network bringing in product from places near and far, whether Colombia or Malaysia. “Those heaping bags of fentanyl – sourced in China – and plastic tubs of crystal meth, heroin...

Chaos and US Standing: Times of India

Nayan Chanda February 11, 2019
Donald Trump blasted policies of his predecessors as foolish. Yet the president fuels uncertainty by abruptly changing longstanding policies and obsessing on quick fixes, ranging from support for a coal industry and rejection of climate change as a threat to blaming illegal immigration for crime and supporting a border wall. The president carried through on a threat to shut down the US federal...

China, Japan, Asian Century: China Economic Review

Tomoo Kikuchi and Masaya Sakuragawa February 8, 2019
Asia’s contributions continue to gain weight in the global economy. China and Japan are the world’s second and third largest economies, respectively. India, South Korea and ASEAN members also provide substantial contributions. All benefit from free trade, explain Tomoo Kikuchi and Masaya Sakuragawa, but trade and growth have slowed. “China and Japan should pursue greater cooperation on a number...

Foreign Policy: Trump’s State of the Union

Robbie Gramer and Amy Mackinnon February 6, 2019
In his state of the union address, Donald Trump quickly reviewed foreign policies. Trade talks with China are underway, and the president described previous deals as “calamitous.” He focused on southern border security and need for a wall although undocumented immigrants in the US are at low levels. He plans a second summit with North Korea’s dictator, claiming these talks prevent war – even...

Foreign Policy: China’s Slowing Economy

Keith Johnson February 4, 2019
China injected a record $83 billion stimulus package in January, highlighting the world’s second-largest economy’s desire to jumpstart growth in the new year after scoring a 28-year low in its rate of growth for 2018. Even though the Chinese government posted a 6.6 percent growth last year, experts question the accuracy of official data. So what is the true extent of China’s economic slowdown?...

Project Syndicate: Global Trade Cycle Warnings

Stephen S. Roach January 29, 2019
Growth in global trade has slowed since the 2008 debt crisis, and the trade cycle confronts many uncertainties in 2019, including Brexit, a US-China trade war and military conflicts that could ignite at any time. The International Monetary Fund has already revised its forecasts for global economic growth, from 3.7 to 3.5 percent. Stephen Roach, an economist and senior fellow at at Yale’s Jackson...

New York Times: Screws for iPhones Assembled in US

Jack Nicas January 28, 2019
Companies from around the world contribute parts for complex products like the Apple iPhone. China is the center for the supply chains, with teams orchestrating delivery of thousands of parts, some requiring custom work. Such a supply-chain infrastructure prevents fast relocation of assembly operations other nations. Donald Trump, early in his presidency, questioned why Apple and other computer...