In The News

Trump Vows Rapid Tariffs for Mexico: Reuters

Steve Holland and Frank Jack Daniel May 31, 2019
Donald Trump counts on tariffs as a tool for convincing other nations to do his bidding. He vows to target Mexico unless it reduces the number of undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers crossing the southern border, imposing tariffs of 10 percent as of June 10 and rising to 25 percent in October. Mexico had shifted to the top US trade partner in goods after Trump imposed tariffs on China. “...

US Blacklists Huawei: Reuters

Sijia Jiang and Michael Martina May 16, 2019
The US president signed an executive order US firms from using telecommunications equipment made by firms deemed to pose a national security threat and placed Huawei and 70 affiliates on an exports blacklist. The moves could disrupt Huawei’s march toward 5G technology and “likely ban the firm from acquiring U.S. components and technology without government approval,” reports Reuters. The firm...

The US as Economic Bully? Wall Street Journal

Gerald F. Seib May 14, 2019
The United States is the world’s largest economy in nominal terms and also the largest market. But flexing economic muscle could chase other major economies like China and the European Union to pursue their own partnerships. Under the Trump administration, the United States has applied economic leverage on China, Mexico, Canada, Europe, Iran, North Korea and Venezuela. “The weapon works, at least...

Fold or Double Down in Trade Talks? New York Times

Chris Buckley and Steven Lee Myers May 13, 2019
Trade talks between China and the United States have abruptly been put on pause as Chinese President Xi Jinping backed away from previously agreed upon terms that would reform laws constraining US businesses in China. US President Donald Trump and trade representative Robert Lighthizer responded by insisting on their demands, stalemating negotiations that otherwise might have been concluded....

US and China May Not Want a Deal: Bloomberg

David Fickling May 10, 2019
The trade war between the world’s two largest economies is escalating, even as talks continue in Washington, DC, and neither China nor the United States wants to back down. The US is raising tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports from 10 to 25 percent, and China promised to retaliate. Leaders on both sides appeal to nationalistic supporters, expressing confidence that the other side will hurt...

Trump’s Overreach on Trade: Project Syndicate

Daniel Gros March 10, 2019
The US trade strategy may be to isolate China until the nation enforces property rights and allows foreign investment without technology-sharing requirements. In negotiating post-Brexit trade agreements with the United Kingdom or the European Union, the United States expects to prevent trade partners from making deals with non-market economies, specifically China, explains Daniel Gros, writing...

Risk of Backlash With China Deal: Financial Times

James Politi and Lucy Hornby February 27, 2019
Agreement on a China-US trade deal may be near. Both nations want a deal, though few details have been released. US goods and service trade with China totaled more than $700 billion in 2017. “Yet even if a deal is more likely than not, there is reason to doubt whether it will be as comprehensive as Mr Trump is likely to depict — or even if it can deliver a lasting commercial peace between...