In The News

North Korea Makes Millions Selling Sand: CNN

Joshua Berlinger June 10, 2020
North Korea is under UN sanctions for its nuclear-weapon programs, yet researchers with the Center for Advanced Defense Studies noticed heavy ship traffic near Haeju. North Korea typically evades sanctions by transferring commodities on the high seas. Relying on satellite imagery, the researchers determined more than 250 ships – lacking required International Maritime Organization identifiers –...

China-ASEAN Trade Strengthens: Business Times

June 10, 2020
With a trade war and rising tensions between China and the United States, ASEAN members offer substitute markets for both nations. To date in 2020, ASEAN members account for about 15 percent of China’s trade volume, compared with about 14 percent with Europe and 11 percent with the US, reports DBS Group Research. ASEAN accounted for more than 15 percent of Chinese exports and the US share...

US Moves to Audit Chinese Firms: WSJ

Dave Michaels and Akane Otani May 28, 2020
Chinese companies listed on US stock exchanges have not been subjected to inspections by US regulators, and the US Senate approved legislation that would require the Chinese firms to meet US standards. “Unlike other countries, China has never given U.S. regulators routine access to audit records needed to review the quality of financial accounting, according to U.S. officials, who have sought a...

Huawei Equipment Ban: Asia Times

David Goldman May 19, 2020
Huawei Technologies held a strong lead in the world’s 5G mobile broadband race, but the Trump administration is keen to slow that rollout. The US president, in an unprecedented move, tries to block sales to Huawei of any products made with US equipment, reports David Goldman for Asia Times. The move could block Huawei’s access to needed equipment and chips. “The ban may apply not only to the...

Brexit and “Rip the Band-Aid Off”: Asian Age

Latika Bourke May 18, 2020
The clock is ticking on the Brexit transition. Negotiations continue even as public attention distracted by the Covid-19 pandemic. With a wide gap in expectations from the EU and the UK, negotiations have made little progress on contentious issues including EU access to UK fishing grounds, UK adherence to EU regulations, and agreements on becoming carbon neutral by 2050. “The UK now wants what it...

Global Food Crisis – Prices Soar, Crops Rot: WSJ

Yaroslav Trofimov and Lucy Craymer May 14, 2020
The Covid-19 pandemic combined with protectionist restrictions has disrupted food processing and transportation, resulting in waste at farms and shortages in stores. Perishable vegetables and products like milk are at high risk, while prices for wheat, rice and other staples climb. The Wall Street Journal article offers numerous examples of food-chain disruptions and worries. The world confronts...

US Colleges’ International Enrollment: Boston Globe

Deirdre Fernandes May 14, 2020
US colleges anticipate a steep drop in enrollment of international students due to the Covid-19 pandemic, travel uncertainty, global recession and job losses, anti-immigrant sentiment and visa policies. About 90 percent of US colleges and universities anticipate a decline in international students and a significant drop in revenues, reports a Institute of International Education survey. “Many...