In The News

In Africa, Obama Hot on Xi’s Trail

Zachary Keck July 9, 2013
As US President Barack Obama embarked on his first trip to Africa as president, the specter of China loomed large. The trip, which took the president to Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania, was officially described as reinforcing “the importance that the United States places on our deep and growing ties with countries in sub-Saharan Africa.” However, the struggle for influence between the US and...

Kimberly-Clark Comes to Venezuela’s (Toilet Paper) Rescue

Benedict Mander July 2, 2013
Contrasting with the anti-imperialist stance of his predecessor Hugo Chavez, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro is ready to accept US investment in the country. The oil-rich nation has a troubled economy, marked by nationwide shortages of basics, including toilet paper. Kimberly-Clark, a US company that controls 15 percent of Venezuela’s market for toilet paper, is planning to invest $37...

Get Ready for the Next China

Stephen S. Roach July 2, 2013
Foreign investors and governments must prepare to deal with China's new economic goals. Under new leaders, China is shifting toward a stable consumer-led growth model, away from production and rapid growth, writes Stephen S. Roach, Yale professor, author and former chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia. New policies emphasize discipline in politics and finance. Also, the country’s service sector...

Key US-EU Trade Pact Under Threat After More NSA Spying Allegations

Ian Traynor, Louise Osborne, Jamie Doward July 1, 2013
A new release of documents from Edward Snowden, a low level contract employee for the US National Security Agency, suggests that the US bugged EU offices in Washington, New York and Brussels, including one operation directed from NATO headquarters. Europe is stunned by the disclosure of intercepted phone calls and compromised fax machines of key officials, which if true, appear to have no...

Granting Snowden Asylum Could Help and Hurt Ecuador's Leader

Chris Kraul, Pablo Jaramillo Viteri June 28, 2013
Giving asylum to Edward Snowden, the former US National Security Agency systems administrator who has exposed broad surveillance programs, might have mixed results for Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa. While assisting Snowden would help boost Correa’s image as a human-rights advocate in the international arena, Ecuador may have to sacrifice its trade preferences to enter the US market – set to...

Mexico Eyes China as New Tequila Market

Wenqian Zhu June 26, 2013
A new challenge awaits Mexican tequila producers who want to export their product: studying the spirits, culture and customs of the Chinese upper middle class. China had long restricted imports of foreign liquors with more than 2 grams of methanol per liter, such as tequila, citing harmful health effects, but has since reversed that stance. During a visit to Mexico, Chinese President Xi Jinping...

Nicaragua Canal Plan Not a Joke

June 25, 2013
After denying connection to Chinese authorities or the Communist Party, Wang Jing is promising transparency in a $40 billion dollar project to build the Nicaragua canal. The only public face of the project, Wang is offering few details about himself. At a news conference in Beijing, he mentioned not wanting the Nicaragua canal to become “an international joke” or an example of “Chinese investment...