Top Risk No. 1 — Turbulence in U.S.-Chinese relations | The Call

Posted by Matt in January 13th, 2010 | no comment

Published in Geopolitical, Afghanistan Iraq, Chinese Relations, climate change, Copenhagen, Cyber Security, Feathers, International Leadership, International Trade, Lead Role, Mantra, National Interest, Nuclear Proliferation, Obama, Policy Circles, Risk, Rules Of The Road, summit, Turbulence, United States

The problem isn’t Obama or Hu; both want to avoid ruffling feathers. But there are too many structural pressures for it to last. The United States is looking for more (and more responsible) international leadership from the Chinese — stakeholdership continues to be the mantra in policy circles. But as clearly evidenced on climate change [...]

Rice crisis may loom in Asia — Michael Richardson

Posted by Matt in December 23rd, 2009 | no comment

Published in Asia, food, Asia, Australia India, Countries, Crop Land, Crop Losses, Decades, food, Global Population, Grain Rice, International Trade, Michael Richardson, One Fifth, Philippines, Price Surge, Rice, Rice Importer, Rice Price, Verge

But Asia may be on the verge of another destabilising rice price surge following big weather-related crop losses in India, the Philippines and Australia.
India, which sustains almost 20 per cent of the global population with 3 per cent of the world’s crop land, is set to become a net rice importer for the first time [...]

The New Mercantilism

Posted by Matt in June 9th, 2009 | no comment

Published in China, Economy, American Exports, Argentina, Brazil, Distortions, Emerging Market Economies, European Union, Export Subsidies, Fiscal Stimulus, Government Procurement, India, Indonesia, International Trade, Licensing Requirements, Mercantilism, Mexican Trucks, New Mercantilism, Pledge, Retaliation, Russia, summit, Tariffs

The “new mercantilism” takes many forms. Despite their pledge at the first G-20 summit last fall, most of its members have erected new distortions to international trade. A number of major emerging-market economies (including Brazil, India and Russia) have raised tariffs. Argentina and Indonesia have imposed new licensing requirements on imports. The European Union and [...]