In The News

U.S. Boycott Being Felt, French Say

Robert J. McCartney April 16, 2003
French exports to the US, totaling almost $30 billion in 2002, may be off quite sharply this year, if the last two months are any indication. A major French industry group says that American imports of French wine are down dramatically, as 'Francophobia' has afflicted Americans unhappy with the France's failure to support the US-led war in Iraq. The boycott of wine and other...

US retailers back import ban on Burma

Edward Alden April 15, 2003
International agencies such as the International Labor Organization have long advocated sanctions against Burma to protest its record of human rights violations and "disregard for democracy." In spite of a United States government ban on US investments in Burma, the US remains one of the country’s largest trading partners. However, US clothing manufacturers and retailers recently...

Collateral Damage

Jeffrey E. Garten April 11, 2003
In the months leading up to the war in Iraq, and in the weeks since the coalition to remove the Saddam Hussein regime began military action, many analysts predicted a backlash against US foreign policy in other regions. But in this article for YaleGlobal, Jeffrey Garten suggests that American businesses may be the real losers. Garten writes that if current rhetoric of boycotting all things...

Kedah to Boost Fish Exports Via Genetics Project

Leslie Lau April 8, 2003
The world's fish market is huge, and Malaysia aims to take a piece of the profit pie. Working together with the World Fish Centre, the government in Kuala Lumpur is closely controlling breeding practices to boost its commercial production of the tilapia fish. The Malaysian project might match the 85% size increase recently achieved in the Philippines, but it will need to emphasize taste to...

The Cost of an Empire

Jeffrey E. Garten April 2, 2003
In this article, Jeffrey Garten, Dean of the Yale School of Management, warns of the mismatch between America's economic policies and its “mushrooming overseas commitments.” In order to finance the global fight against terrorism and the arduous process of nation-building in places like Afghanistan and Iraq, Washington will have to drastically alter its current economic policies, says Garten...

Doha Round in Deadlock

April 1, 2003
The latest failure of the WTO's Doha round centered on a predictable culprit – agricultural subsidies. This editorial in the Financial Times argues that the failure of discussions on agricultural protection could not only be the death knell of the Doha round, but, worse still, could provoke member countries to actually increase protectionist barriers. "By removing pressure on WTO...

Using Tariffs to Discourage Movie Production Outside US

Bernard Simon March 29, 2003
Following the lead of American manufacturers, American moviemakers are moving their operations abroad in search of cheaper labor. Canada, especially, has become a hotspot for filming, offering attractive tax incentives and a cheap dollar. United States film crews – and the governor of California – are increasingly alarmed at the growing trend, however. Fed up, members of the American film...