In The News

Think Continental

Gamal Nkrumah June 10, 2005
Amidst controversy over the arguably paltry US aid offerings to Africa, many countries on that continent are meeting at this week's Cairo African Trade Conference to discuss regional and continental trade as an independent path to prosperity. African nations are interested in forming a unified front at WTO negotiations to increase their trade power and improve their disadvantaged position...

Chinese Shoe Sales Strain EU Trade Ties

Tobias Buck June 9, 2005
China's shoe exports to Europe have increased nearly seven-fold since the beginning of January, when trade quotas limiting its textile and clothing output were abandoned. Low-priced and abundant, Chinese-manufactured footwear has skyrocketed in market share, panicking European shoemakers who fear that their jobs and sales are threatened. Many are calling on Brussels to adopt anti-dumping...

Bush Touts Trade, but US Bid to Empower OAS Stalls

Pablo Bachelet June 7, 2005
Concerned over political turmoil and threats to free trade emerging from many Latin American states, President Bush emphasized on Monday that democracy and trade liberalization will put troubled OAS member states on the path to greater prosperity. But the nature of recent difficulties in countries like Bolivia and Venezuela underscore the many problems with the US approach. Both countries and...

The Globalization of Absurdity

Richard S. Ehrlich June 6, 2005
Cheaply produced knick-knacks are a feature of tourist traps around the globe. Recently, those in the market for something unusual have been purchasing Osama bin Laden action figures, al-Qaida video games and other products which either glorify or condemn the elusive terrorist, most of which are manufactured by nebulous Chinese firms and shipped worldwide. Many of the products' buyers are...

Nationalism Ignites EU Rebellion

Daniel Williams June 5, 2005
Last week's French and Dutch referendums on the EU constitution are believed to be popular expressions of unease over the pace and nature of European integration. While most Europeans have benefited from 50 years of developments that have brought about a common currency, convenient travel and easier trade, many citizens are anxious about future unification measures that threaten to impinge...

Next for the West Are Cars "Made in China"

Geoff Dyer June 1, 2005
Automakers may see China as a growing market, but soon they may face unexpected competition from a number of manufacturers who are seeking to export to the West, as well. Several Chinese companies have already begun a trial run in the Middle East to prepare for the US market, the goal of more than two decades of attempts to build a competitive car industry. The Chinese companies will encounter...

A Retreat from Great Europe? – Part I

Shada Islam May 31, 2005
The highly anticipated French referendum on the EU constitution arrived this weekend: The vote was a resounding "Non." Voters signaled their distaste for the proposed constitution, as well as their opposition to the economic consequences of integrating new members. And as the Netherlands prepares for a similar vote, observers, both European and worldwide, now wonder what lies ahead...