In The News

France vs EU: Bitter War of Words Escalates

June 24, 2013
A public spat between France and the EU is a potential sign of French disenchantment with the EU, reports The Local. The issue grew out of France’s position that European film and television industry be insulated from Hollywood during the upcoming US-EU trade negotiations and stems from past remarks José Manuel Barroso, EU Commission chief, regarding French protectionist positions on several...

Paris Threatens to Block EU-US Talks

Hugh Carnegy, George Parker, Peter Spiegel June 12, 2013
France is threatening to block talks on a transatlantic free-trade zone if its demands to exclude music, film and other cultural industries are not met, reports the Financial Times. France issued the ultimatum even as China and Europe are exchanging charges over unfair trade practices in solar panels and wine. The US likewise demands that all industries start on the negotiating table, pointing...

Lessons From Dhaka

Nayan Chanda June 10, 2013
More than 1100 workers lost their lives in a Dhaka building collapse, and the target for blame is widespread, suggests Nayan Chanda, YaleGlobal’s editor, in his column for Businessworld. The apparel industry has long depended on supply chains, with large corporations seeking out low-cost materials and low-wage workers – at every link, managers compete, applying pressures to reduce costs and...

Xi Strengthens Ties With Latin America

Yu Bing June 7, 2013
By 2012, China was a bigger trading partner than the US to 128 countries, while the US was ahead in 72 – a reversal from seven years ago when the US was ahead in 124 nations and China in 70. President Xi Jinping, unlike his predecessors, is broadening Chinese focus on a range of practical matters around the globe, reports Yu Bing for the Washington Post, and this includes strengthening ties with...

China Says EU Must Recognize Its Decline Amid Trade War

Kathrin Hille June 7, 2013
Editorials in official Chinese media have urged Europe to “recognize its power is declining” and to avoid retaliatory trade tactics, reports the Financial Times. “Beijing is hitting out after Brussels imposed duties this week on solar panels imported from China… the Chinese government responded by launching an anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation against European wine,” reports Kathrin...

Discovery of Rogue GMO Wheat Raises Concerns Over Controls

Carey Gillam, Julie Ingwersen June 3, 2013
Genetically modified wheat, supposed to be destroyed long ago, was found in an Oregon field and could disrupt the $8 billion US wheat export market. US consumers may shrug abut GM crops, but other countries fear accidental contamination of their crops. Japan and South Korea promptly suspended orders for US wheat. “The wheat was developed years ago by Monsanto Co to tolerate its Roundup herbicide...

The China Factor in Global Rice

Samarendu Mohanty May 31, 2013
Traces of cadmium found in Chinese rice samples are expected to boost imports. In recent years, China has been a major importer of rice despite strong domestic production. Rice expert Samarendu Mohanty offers two possible reasons in the Asia Sentinel: Foreign rice is less expensive than Chinese rice, and “the government is trying to expand rice production to keep up with demand, but the rapidly...