In The News

Fentanyl Fuels Cartel: Associated Press

February 14, 2019
Despite the conviction of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, the US demand for illegal drugs has not subsided. The Sinaloa drug cartel is under new leadership, less flamboyant and violent, and still maintains an international network bringing in product from places near and far, whether Colombia or Malaysia. “Those heaping bags of fentanyl – sourced in China – and plastic tubs of crystal meth, heroin...

China, Japan, Asian Century: China Economic Review

Tomoo Kikuchi and Masaya Sakuragawa February 8, 2019
Asia’s contributions continue to gain weight in the global economy. China and Japan are the world’s second and third largest economies, respectively. India, South Korea and ASEAN members also provide substantial contributions. All benefit from free trade, explain Tomoo Kikuchi and Masaya Sakuragawa, but trade and growth have slowed. “China and Japan should pursue greater cooperation on a number...

BBC: UK Ready for No-Deal Brexit?

Chris Morris February 1, 2019
The United Kingdom, as an EU member, shares four decades of laws on trade, immigration, finance, health and safety, and more. If the EU and the UK part ways with no deal or extension for the negotiations and if the UK does not prepare replacement laws, that could pose uncertainty and serious disruption in most policy areas, reports Chris Morris for the BBC news. The report outlines progress on...

Korea Herald: South Korea Seeks Foreign Tech Firms

Shin Ji-hye January 30, 2019
South Korea will offer financial incentives and streamline regulations to attract foreign firms that can upgrade the nation’s traditional manufacturing sectors including petrochemicals, high-end manufacturing, automobiles and health care, announced the chief of investment policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The range of targets is broad: “The ministry will also focus on luring...

Project Syndicate: Global Trade Cycle Warnings

Stephen S. Roach January 29, 2019
Growth in global trade has slowed since the 2008 debt crisis, and the trade cycle confronts many uncertainties in 2019, including Brexit, a US-China trade war and military conflicts that could ignite at any time. The International Monetary Fund has already revised its forecasts for global economic growth, from 3.7 to 3.5 percent. Stephen Roach, an economist and senior fellow at at Yale’s Jackson...

New York Times: Screws for iPhones Assembled in US

Jack Nicas January 28, 2019
Companies from around the world contribute parts for complex products like the Apple iPhone. China is the center for the supply chains, with teams orchestrating delivery of thousands of parts, some requiring custom work. Such a supply-chain infrastructure prevents fast relocation of assembly operations other nations. Donald Trump, early in his presidency, questioned why Apple and other computer...

The Economist: Qatar Decides to Leave OPEC

January 20, 2019
As of January 1, Qatar is no longer a member of OPEC. Qatar, the first Arab state to join OPEC after its creation in 1960, is now the first Arab state to withdraw from the oil cartel. According to Qatar’s Minister of Energy Saas al-Kaabi, the decision was made to “focus efforts” on natural gas production. Although the Gulf nation is the world’s largest exporter of liquified gas, it is a minor...