In The News

Project Syndicate: Global Trade System Could Break Down

Anne O. Krueger September 20, 2018
The global rules-based trading system promotes global security. After World War II, the United States led in creating the World Trade Organization, which has contributed to global economic growth, contends economist Anne O. Krueger. Yet the Trump administration is “trying to undermine the institution both in letter and in spirit.” She explains WTO rules: “international trading firms are subject...

The Diplomat: China’s Great Property Wall

Bonnie Girard September 19, 2018
China restricts foreign purchases of homes and other property. “The contrast between what Chinese real estate investors can access in the United States, and what American and other foreign buyers can access in China, is stark,” explains Bonnie Girard for the Diplomat. “Non-Chinese nationals cannot buy property in China unless they live in China under resident visas. Even then, a foreigner in most...

African Business: Integrating Smallholder Farmers Into Supply Chain

Tom Collins September 13, 2018
About 70 percent of Africans rely on agriculture for their livelihoods, and growth in the sector reduces poverty. Some small farmers struggle to find markets and hesitate to expand, and business leaders suggest connections with larger supply chains. “Yet this is easier said than done,” explains Tom Collins for African Business. “Although large producers build smallholder capacity to secure crop,...

Caixin: China Trade Surplus With US Grows Despite Tariffs

Wu Gang September 11, 2018
Despite tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, China’s trade surplus with the United States continue to swell. “Exports to the U.S. grew 13.2% in August from a year earlier to $44.39 billion, with the growth rate accelerating from 11.2% in July,” reports Wu Gang for Caixin, adding that China’s growth worldwide slowed for the month. “The Trump administration began levying a 25% tariff on $34...

Stratfor: Brazil's Farming Lobby Wields Growing Power

August 31, 2018
Brazil is a leading agriculture producer after the United States, China and India and a major exporter. The country’s agriculture sector supports trade, which increases agriculture’s political heft and influence over foreign policies, whereas the sector in the United States and the European Union is more protectionist. “With such influence, the farm lobby has forced the government to reduce tax...

China-US Focus: US Miscalculation on a Chinese Debt Crisis

Vasilis Trigkas and Qian Feng August 30, 2018
US leaders may misunderstand Chinese economic fundamentals by assuming that a trade war will trigger a debt crisis that threatens China’s government. Vasilis Trigkas and Qian Feng of Tsinghua University point to three China-specific economic characteristics that could prevent an economic crash. The Chinese Communist Party controls the nation’s information infrastructure which gives regulators...

Financial Times: The Fatal Attraction of a No-Deal Brexit

Gideon Rachman August 28, 2018
Great Britain’s deadline for arranging a deal with the European Union is March 29 and analysts anticipate disruptions including shortages of certain foods and supplies as well as new tariffs and confusion over regulations. Gideon Rachman describes three groups for the Financial Times: Hardliners relishing the notion of self-reliance regardless of costs, Remainers hoping for chaos that prompts...