In The News

CBC News: US Opens NAFTA Talks With Focus on Trade Balance and Deficit of Facts

Chris Hall August 18, 2017
In opening talks with representatives from Canada and Mexico to renegotiate the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement, the US representative argued for a complete overhaul of the 23-year-old trade deal. “NAFTA has fundamentally failed many, many Americans,” insists Robert Lighthizer in an article by Chris Hall for CBC News. The United States has trade deficits with Canada and Mexico, but overall,...

Reuters: As Sanctions Loom, Seafood Trade Slows on China-North Korea Border

Philip Wen August 15, 2017
In response to North Korea testing two intercontinental ballistic missiles last month, the UN Security Council issued a new round of sanctions “intending to press the Asian state to renounce its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs,” reports Philip Wen for Reuters. The sanctions prohibit North Korea from exporting seafood and various minerals like iron and coal. The country earns more...

Spiegel Online: “Made in Germany” Label Badly Damaged By Car Scandal

Susanne Amann, Sven Becker, Kristina Gnirke, Peter Müller, Michaela Schießl and Gerald Traufetter August 8, 2017
US researchers discovered that Volkswagen and other automakers were intentionally manipulating software to avoid high emissions readings during test conditions. German carmakers are an economic powerhouse – with 800,000 jobs and more than €450 billion in sales – and engineering staff managed to fool European and US regulators. A proposed solution is an inexpensive software update that won’t...

Associated Press: China’s Tech-Transfer Demands May Spark Pushback From US

August 2, 2017
China orchestrates special arrangements with foreign technology firm, requiring details on proprietary technology, blocking virtual private networks from devices in China, as well as applying strict search filters to discourage distribution of criticism of Chinese practices or information about the critics themselves. The Trump administration early on showed a willingness to overlook such...

WorldPost: These Days, All Roads Lead to Beijing

Peter Frankopan August 1, 2017
China’s President Xi Jinping has made developing good ties in Central Asia and beyond a foreign policy priority. He anticipates the Silk Road Economic Belt to enhance economic ties, communications and trade across three continents, explains Peter Frankopan for WorldPost in an essay that examines old and recent history. China, positioning itself as a leader, pumps billions into the Silk Road Fund...

Caixin: Hunger for Homegrown Content Helps Chinese TV Shows Edge Past Foreign Rivals

Cai Tongxu July 11, 2017
The Chinese are eager for television shows about China, and development of new content – reality shows, game shows, gossip shows and more – attracts millions of yuan in investments. “After years of being accused of ripping off foreign television hits, Chinese variety show producers have started scripting their own templates to feed the hunger for homegrown content,” reports Cai Tongxu for Caixin...

The Wall Street Journal: Japan, European Union Strike New Trade Deal

Laurence Norman, Emre Peker and Alastair Gale July 7, 2017
Developed nations continue to organize trade deals and set new trade rules even as the United States is promoting “America first” policies. Japan and the European Union announced that they have agreed on terms of a new trade deal as the G20 summit was getting underway. “If approved, the pact would represent a significant opening of the once heavily-protected Japanese market,” reports the Wall...