In The News

Russia Eyes Stronger Clout In Caspian Region

Sergei Blagov July 18, 2005
Russian President Vladimir Putin used the opportunity of a Caspian security conference on July 14 to recommend a return to Moscow’s prior level of influence in the Caspian region. Recently, Russia has strengthened its Caspian military presence. Putin wants to strengthen it further, using the heightened force of Russia’s already established Caspian Sea Flotilla to right terrorism and narcotics...

Opel on the Outside, Mao on the Inside

Gerald Traufetter July 13, 2005
Lined up at the port in Antwerp, Belgium, are 200 new five-door sports utility vehicles – the first Chinese-produced cars to reach Europe. Despite their close exterior resemblance to the Opel Frontera, the imported models do not match the high quality of Western versions. It is the low price of the cars, however, that appeals to consumers. Manufactured in China, the utility vehicles cost 40...

Africa Should Follow China Online

David Bowen July 12, 2005
Although there has recently been much talk about African entrepreneurs seeking to turn their continent around, David Bowen suggests that their prospects look bleak, particularly considering the lack of African commercial activity on the internet. Africa's situation is in stark contrast to that of Asia – especially China – where traders have taken advantage of online networking opportunities...

Chinese Quotas Kill the Pain but Not the Problem

Elliot Schrage July 6, 2005
In response to US and European manufacturers' fears of their low-cost Chinese competitors, the European Commission has pressured China to re-impose quotas on clothing and textiles exports. But these measures, like the currency revaluations favored by the Bush administration, will do little to solve the problem at hand. Instead, commentator Elliot Schrage suggests that a healthy trade...

Europe's New Protectionism

June 30, 2005
The European Union has begun to acknowledge that China's growing exports pose a new challenge to its economy. However, there is a growing divide amongst EU countries as to how to deal with China and the globalizing world as a whole. One path is that espoused by Tony Blair, who advocates increasing the competitiveness and quality of European economies while retaining free trade. The other...

Name Goods in China but Brand X Elsewhere

David Barboza June 29, 2005
Chinese businesses, with the encouragement of their government, have embarked on a worldwide label buying spree, purchasing internationally well-known brand names. Chinese bids to acquire prominent American companies such as Maytag and Unocal demonstrate that China is eager to make its top companies more competitive by allowing them to access international markets as well as their domestic...

Farm Support's Deep Roots

June 24, 2005
As US sugar growers lobby against the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), EU budget talks are stalled, in part because of resistance to a proposed decrease in farm subsidies. Because of the political power of farmers in Europe and the US, however, world trade liberalization could continue to be held back by lingering agricultural subsidies. A new report reveals that little progress...