America’s political leaders overcame political differences to enact $2 trillion in national economic support bill, while the Federal Reserve took historic steps to assure liquidity for the economy to address COVID-19. Important steps for sure, but a bigger challenge lies around the corner. This is a global pandemic causing global economic crisis; the United States … Continue Reading
President Trump tweeted out on Sunday what sounds like good news: based upon “substantial progress“ in trade negotiations with China, he was postponing a March 2 increase from ten to twenty-five percent tariffs on some $200 billion in U.S. imports from China. The President even declared expectations of further progress and a “signing summit” at … Continue Reading
We are moving into uncharted waters with the Trump Administration’s announcement that the U.S. will move forward to impose $50 billion in tariffs against a wide range of Chinese products, with the first tranche of $34 billion beginning on July 6; as well as tariffs against Canadian, Mexican, European and Japanese steel and aluminum imports. … Continue Reading
The arms race was a defining element of the Cold War between the U.S. and its allies, and the Soviet Union. President Trump’s recent proposal for $60 billion in unilateral actions against China presages a pitched 21st century battle over technological supremacy, with fateful consequences for the world order. The Trump Administration rightly sees that … Continue Reading
The latest chapter of the Greek crisis, which started with the electoral victory of the left wing Syriza party in January 2015, is reaching its close. The final deadline for reaching an agreement in principle to negotiate a new bailout has been set for Sunday, 12 July by the European Council. This last chance given … Continue Reading
The framework agreement reached at Lausanne is much more extensive than the November 2014 interim agreement, which froze Iran’s nuclear program in place, in return for modest sanctions relief (around $7 billion annually). Although it has no binding legal impact, the framework is much more detailed. It is an outline for an eventual binding agreement. … Continue Reading
While it is far away and little known, we should all be paying more attention to Indonesia, even beyond its important elections this week. It is the world’s fourth most populous country (home to one-fifth of the world’s Muslim’s) and the third largest democracy. By some accounts, Indonesia’s economy is already in the world’s top … Continue Reading
For companies concerned about further Russia sanctions, May 25 is critical. That is the date of elections in Ukraine. If those elections do not take place or if they are disrupted in the eastern part of the country, it is likely the United States would impose much stronger sanctions. To date, sanctions have had a … Continue Reading
