Trade
Global trade: Why China can’t (and won’t) come to the rescue
China has not missed the opportunity posed by the United States’ economic self-immolation to present itself as a responsible champion of the international trading system.Mid-April…
The tariff war that’s accelerating Asia’s trade transformation
The US imposition of a universal 10% tariff on all imports, along with proposed additional duties of up to 50% for trade-surplus countries, triggered renewed urgency across the…
Trump and the art of the (bad faith) deal
In the period between Trump’s thumping election win and his inauguration, I was asked to compile a set of short-term scenarios for a multinational company that was highly exposed…
The CPTPP dilemma: Economic merit versus geopolitical calculation
How far should geopolitical calculation drive trade agreements? It’s the question raised in whom to support and whom to stall for admission to the 12 nation, adjective laden…
The diminishing of US exceptionalism
The Trump administration has continued its attack on US universities and temporary immigrants last week by revoking Harvard University’s certification under the Student and…
China’s rare earth advantage isn’t just about control
The 90-day pause in the US-China trade war brought relief to global markets. But while the trade truce is good news, rare earth elements have steadily emerged as a new flashpoint…
Beyond Panama and Suez: The new trade routes in a bid to reshape global shipping
After a combined 265 years in operation, the domination of the two great artificial waterways – the Panama and Suez canals – in global trade is under threat from alternative…
Floating America’s boats
If Donald Trump hopes that looming port penalties on Chinese-built and/or owned ships will have the desired effect of reviving America’s ailing shipyards, he is certain to be…
Tariffs and terrorism are derailing China-India rapprochement
India’s nascent rapprochement with China is being derailed by two Ts: tariffs and terrorism. When both countries announced their border agreement in October last year, there were…
Economic diplomacy: Trump era transcends economics
Downgrading delicatelyIt is hard not to spare a thought for economists at the International Monetary Fund, required to produce a global economic outlook in the eye of the…