trade
The prominence of free trade as a guiding principle in shaping relationships between countries has steadily diminished since the end of the Cold War. Instead, geopolitics has begun to regain its influence. This shift has major implications for global economies and consumers as nations impose trade restrictions such as unilateral sanctions and export controls. […]
The Chinese economy is in trouble, and there is little hope for a recovery. Although its annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth has remained just under 5 percent over the past three years, doubts about the meaning of that figure are growing. Growth in fixed investments (machinery and equipment) has slowed considerably, from 9.9 percent […]
Negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the European Union and the Southern Common Market – known by the Spanish abbreviation Mercosur (Mercado Comun del Sur), the Portuguese Mercosul (Mercado Comum do Sul), or Nemby Nemuha in Guarani – have been ongoing since 1999. Implementation of a draft deal signed in 2019 remains stalled and […]
After its founding in 1949, the People’s Republic of China pursued a policy of economic self-reliance. Under the rule of Chairman Mao Zedong (1949-1976), it proved dramatically unsuccessful. From late 1978, the approach of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began to change. Integration in the global economy over the following decades allowed China and its […]
It has been four years since Covid-19 began, and with it, the painful shutdowns worldwide that unleashed havoc on global supply chains. Since then, while uncertainty in global trade has not disappeared and geopolitical tensions continue to ebb and flow, the cost of trade and supply-chain bottlenecks have eased and deliveries have largely returned to […]