Skip to main content
The Interpreter

Interpreter - Menu Links

  • Articles
  • Debates
  • Contributors
  • About

Published daily by the Lowy Institute

  • 23 Nov 2023
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • Global Economy
    • Trade
    • United States

    Economic diplomacy: Hits and misses for Project Diversify

    Greg Earl
    India and Vietnam are the rising new trade partners as business cools on China amid new American protectionism.
  • 22 Nov 2023
    • China
    • Chinese Trade
    • Myanmar
    • Southeast Asia
    • Thailand
    • Trade and Investment in the Asia Pacific
    • Australia and Asia
    • Quad
    • Australian trade, investment & economy
    • Trade

    Why is Myanmar’s new deep-sea port such hot property?

    Shaun Cameron
    An alternative route to the Strait of Malacca offers China, and others, a safer, faster and more efficient trade route.
  • 14 Nov 2023
    • Australia
    • Maritime Security
    • Trade

    Australia needs to resource a merchant fleet

    Richard Dunley
    Virtually all Australia’s trade moves by sea, yet relies almost exclusively on foreign flagged and foreign owned vessels.
  • 9 Nov 2023
    • China
    • Australia
    • Energy
    • Trade
    • WTO
    • Climate change
    • Environment

    Economic diplomacy: Labor’s green security state rises

    Greg Earl
    From Chinese wind turbines to temporary foreign workers, Australia faces difficult intersections between domestic and foreign policy.
  • 1 Nov 2023
    • India
    • India's Economy
    • Europe
    • Europe's Economy
    • Trade
    • Middle East
    • Iran
    • Israel
    • Saudi Arabia
    • United Arab Emirates
    • United States
    • US Economy

    History repeats: A new (old) economic corridor emerges

    Ved Shinde
    Renewed connectivity between India, the Middle East and Europe shows how maps are temporary, but geography persists.
  • 30 Oct 2023
    • Australia
    • European Union
    • Trade

    Dashed hopes for Australia, Europe still has blind spots on trade

    Justin Brown
    The collapse of FTA negotiations illustrates that protectionist sentiment is still powerful in the bloc.
  • 26 Oct 2023
    • Central Asia
    • China
    • China's Economy
    • Chinese Trade
    • Caucasus
    • Trade

    Beijing’s interest in the Middle Corridor

    Genevieve Donnellon-May
    An economic gateway through Central Asia could provide China a much less messy trade route to Europe.
  • 19 Oct 2023
    • China
    • European Union
    • Energy
    • Trade

    China’s car exports pose a key question to policymakers: Compete or protect?

    Robert Walker
    How they respond will have implications for consumers and the climate.
  • 18 Oct 2023
    • China
    • China's Economy
    • Australia in the World
    • Australia's Economy
    • Australia's Trade
    • Australia-United States Relations
    • China-Australia Relations
    • Global Economy
    • Australian trade, investment & economy
    • Trade
    • United States
    • US Economy

    Australia must play the geoeconomics game, or risk being side-lined

    Naoise McDonagh
    The world is moving away from a rules-based order and towards power politics. Is Canberra ready?
  • 11 Oct 2023
    • Indonesia
    • Indonesia's Economy
    • Energy
    • Trade

    Indonesia’s “golden visa” pitch to big-wheel investors

    Warief Djajanto Basorie
    The President has a downstreaming vision and needs long-term capital to make it reality.
  • 21 Sep 2023
    • China
    • China's Economy
    • Global Economy
    • Trade

    China does not need currency manipulation to boost its exports

    Robert Walker , Roland Rajah
    A weak economy will itself increase China’s export competitiveness.
  • 15 Sep 2023
    • Australia
    • Australia's Economy
    • Energy
    • Trade
    • Technology

    Critical minerals, critical choices: Australia’s role in shaping the green revolution

    Connor O’Brien
    “Resource nationalism” only poses a threat to mining policy if the government pretends it’s not happening.
  • 14 Sep 2023
    • Asean
    • Australia
    • Trade

    Economic diplomacy: ASEAN bound, but words are not enough

    Greg Earl
    The latest Australian bid to increase economic ties with Southeast Asia provides new hopes amid old ghosts.
  • 3 Aug 2023
    • Aid & Development
    • China
    • Indonesia
    • Australia
    • Trade
    • Sustainability
    • Technology

    Economic diplomacy: Hard labour managing geo-economic fragmentation

    Greg Earl
    Australia faces tough choices from aid to energy in a new world of government intervention in trade and industry.
  • 26 Jul 2023
    • China
    • Australia
    • Trade
    • Coronavirus

    It’s no surprise Australia shrugged off China’s campaign of trade coercion

    Roland Rajah
    New modelling confirms an early Lowy Institute conclusion that Beijing’s bluster would cause minimal economic damage.
  • 26 Jul 2023
    • China
    • China's Economy
    • Global Economy
    • Free Trade
    • Geo-economics
    • Trade
    • WTO
    • United States
    • US Economy

    A return to old-school mercantilism?

    Ved Shinde
    Suspicion and economic competition are forcing states back in time, with protectionism and self-sufficiency the new norm.
  • 20 Jul 2023
    • Japan
    • Australia
    • Energy
    • Trade

    Economic diplomacy: Japan’s message in a gas bottle

    Greg Earl
    More than hot air, economics is the essence of national security in Australia’s resource deficient closest Asian partner.
  • 19 Jul 2023
    • Central Asia
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • Trade

    Why China tripled its heavy truck shipments to Central Asia: Unravelling the influence of Russia’s war in Ukraine

    Joseph Webster
    A sharp spike in overall exports to the region appears to provide Beijing a pathway to indirectly support the Kremlin’s war effort.
  • 19 Jul 2023
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • Trade
    • United Nations
    • Türkiye

    Why the Black Sea Grain Initiative must be restored

    John Denton
    The collapse of a deal integral to world food security will imperil millions of lives.
  • 17 Jul 2023
    • Trade
    • Climate change
    • Sustainability
    • United Nations

    The cost-benefit of turning “dirty” shipping clean

    Joe Lo
    The engines of global trade pump out enormous amounts of carbon and vulnerable Pacific islands are fighting for a change.
  • 6 Jul 2023
    • Indonesia
    • Australia
    • Energy
    • Trade
    • Sustainability

    Economic diplomacy: Power shifts with Jakarta

    Greg Earl
    Australia and Indonesia may be riding together in a new electric diplomatic limo, but they still have separate roadmaps.
  • 4 Jul 2023
    • Australia
    • Trade

    Reforming Australia’s trading system – a long hard slog but worth the effort

    Jenny Gordon
    Confidence in the quality of traded goods and services relies on certification that agreed standards are met. That’s a regulation challenge, too.
  • 30 Jun 2023
    • Global Economy
    • Poverty
    • Trade

    Globalisation promised growth. Now emerging economies need a new path

    Suryaputra Wijaksana
    Rising trade barriers and financial stress has upended the idea that a free and open world economy will bring prosperity.
  • 5 Jun 2023
    • India
    • Trade

    Trading up can unlock India’s industrial potential

    Srijan Shukla
    Three foundational flaws in trade policy are holding the country back from becoming the next manufacturing powerhouse.
  • 9 May 2023
    • China
    • Global Economy
    • Trade
    • Multilateral Institutions

    “Play defence” in any collective response to China’s economic coercion

    Victor Ferguson , Viking Bohman
    The cost of fighting back is unlikely to be spread evenly across any coalition, which risks undermining the effort.
  • 27 Apr 2023
    • Japan
    • Australia
    • Energy
    • Trade

    Economic diplomacy: Friends, rivals and diplomatic gaslighting

    Greg Earl
    Money still talks in a new world of tighter security alliances when Japan and China can align against Australia on energy.
  • 2 Mar 2023
    • Global Economy
    • Australian trade, investment & economy
    • IMF
    • Trade
    • WTO

    Economic diplomacy: Arming up for war and trade

    Greg Earl
    Sovereign capability is the government’s answer to an old political trade-off in the face of geoeconomic fragmentation.
  • 20 Feb 2023
    • Indonesia
    • Indonesia's Economy
    • Trade
    • WTO

    Indonesia’s uncertain climb up the nickel value chain

    Kyunghoon Kim
    Demand for EVs is driving domestic and foreign direct investment in the country’s minerals sector. But caution is needed.
  • 8 Feb 2023
    • China
    • Australia
    • Trade

    What the China thaw means for Australia’s trade diversification agenda

    Leigh Howard
    While it’s easy to say never again allow one market to dominate, the promise of premium prices will be hard to ignore.
  • 2 Feb 2023
    • China
    • Vietnam
    • Australia
    • Australia's Economy
    • IMF
    • Trade

    Economic diplomacy: Diversification is hard to do

    Greg Earl
    Treasurer Jim Chalmers should rise above outdated jibes at the IMF to justify his aims for a new values-based economy.
  • 23 Jan 2023
    • China
    • Chinese Trade
    • Australia
    • Australia's Trade
    • Trade
    • WTO

    How will China’s punitive trade restrictions against Australia end?

    Justin Brown
    Good vibes could turn into a solution – but if China demands a quid pro quo, reaching agreement will be complex.
  • 11 Jan 2023
    • Europe's Economy
    • European Union
    • Trade
    • Climate change

    Crossing the carbon border

    Stephen Minas
    International trade is skewed in favour of exporters who pay less for carbon emissions. The EU wants to change that.
  • 20 Dec 2022
    • Indonesia
    • Resource security
    • Trade

    To unchain Indonesia’s commodity reliance

    Suryaputra Wijaksana
    Riches from minerals and agriculture resources are yet to transform the local economy. Wider reforms should be the goal.
  • 15 Dec 2022
    • Australia
    • Global Economy
    • Trade
    • WTO
    • Technology

    Economic diplomacy: From pollie crises to polycrisis

    Greg Earl
    There are political bunfights, strategic challenges and wicked problems, but let’s not “overcrisify” the world.
  • 13 Dec 2022
    • Europe
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • Trade
    • Global Issues
    • Climate change
    • Coronavirus
    • Environment
    • Transnational Challenges
    • The Americas

    2022: A global turning point

    Ian Hill
    Looking at trends and contours that have coalesced this year to make international politics more contested and unpredictable.
  • 17 Nov 2022
    • Asean
    • Indonesia
    • Australia
    • Global Economy
    • Energy
    • Trade
    • Sustainability
    • Technology

    Economic diplomacy: Charging up old ties with Jakarta

    Greg Earl
    Australia has stepped up a trade diversification push despite the first moves towards reconciliation with China.
  • 15 Nov 2022
    • Asean
    • China
    • Indonesia
    • Trade

    Putting food at the heart of China-Indonesia relations

    Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
    Beijing sees Indonesia as a major contributor to its food security and this has found receptive ears in Jakarta.
  • 9 Nov 2022
    • Asean
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • Trade
    • United States

    Countdown to Asia’s summit season

    Susannah Patton
    Conflict in Myanmar and Ukraine against a backdrop of US‑China tension – a crowded agenda will unfold in coming weeks.
  • 3 Nov 2022
    • Aid & Development
    • Australia
    • Global Economy
    • Trade
    • Multilateral Institutions

    Economic diplomacy: Searching for APEC

    Greg Earl
    APEC faces some new competition as Australia considers the sovereign risks involved in reducing domestic gas prices.
  • 10 Oct 2022
    • Australia's Trade
    • European Union
    • Australian trade, investment & economy
    • Free Trade
    • Trade

    EU in the driver’s seat on Indo-Pacific trade deals

    Justin Brown
    Is the New Zealand–European Union free trade agreement an omen for Australia’s negotiations?
  • 13 Sep 2022
    • India
    • Japan
    • Australia
    • Trade
    • United States

    The Quad needs a stronger economic message

    Rena Sasaki
    Trade is the path to regional prosperity, but the four partners stand divided on how this can be achieved.
  • 11 Aug 2022
    • Australia
    • Australia's Economy
    • Defence & Security
    • Global Economy
    • Trade

    Economic diplomacy: No free lunches for national security

    Greg Earl
    New foreign investment rules, nuisance tariffs and supply chains are all under scrutiny by the Productivity Commission.
  • 28 Jul 2022
    • China
    • Australia
    • Trade
    • Pacific Islands

    Economic diplomacy: The Pacific reset needs real commercial investment

    Greg Earl
    The language of geopolitics is trickling down to unexpected corners of the economy with wide-ranging long-term impact.
  • 27 Jul 2022
    • Trade and Investment in the Asia Pacific
    • Timor-Leste
    • Asean
    • Japan
    • Australia
    • Australian trade, investment & economy
    • Trade
    • Pacific Islands

    Economic diplomacy: The Pacific beats ASEAN for nervous investors

    Greg Earl
    Abe Shinzo’s passing and the Timor oil spy case dismissal reveal new thinking about what national security means.
  • 27 Jun 2022
    • Trade

    Economic diplomacy: New supply chains to Jakarta and beyond

    Greg Earl
    Business diversification is looking more positive in Indonesia but more confusing in the broader Indo-Pacific.
  • 2 Jun 2022
    • Australia in the World
    • Trade
    • G20
    • Australia
    • Indonesia

    Economic diplomacy: New Labor ministers are facing up to old issues

    Greg Earl
    Reshaping policies on the Pacific, Indonesia and domestic manufacturing is already revealing a changing of the guard.
  • 31 May 2022
    • Trade
    • Resource security
    • Australia
    • Japan
    • Energy

    Japan-Australia: building a hydrogen supply chain

    Akimoto Daisuke
    Efforts to develop a network for cleaner energy in the Indo-Pacific marks a practical step for closer relations.
  • 26 May 2022
    • Australia
    • Australia's Trade
    • Trade

    Where to for trade policy?

    Jenny Gordon
    Australia is building the micro foundations for global cooperation.
  • 12 May 2022
    • Trade
    • Indonesia

    A flash in the pan? Indonesia’s palm oil export ban

    Johannes Nugroho
    Apparent domestic shortages appear more a case of a government stand-off with industry over pricing.
  • 5 May 2022
    • Trade
    • Australia's Trade
    • IMF
    • Asean
    • Australia

    Economic diplomacy: Trade shifts challenge a new government

    Greg Earl
    “Friendshoring” offers a half-way house between reshoring production and diversifying markets in a deglobalising world.
Pagination
  • Previous page ‹ Previous
  • Current page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Page 4
  • Next page ››

Stay informed with the latest commentary and analysis on international events from experts at the Lowy Institute and around the world.

Register

The Interpreter features in-depth analysis & expert commentary on the latest international events, published daily by the Lowy Institute.

© Copyright 2023 Lowy Institute

  • Debates
  • Contributors
  • Articles
  • About
  • Terms of Use
  • Site map
  • My Admin
  • Log In