President Trump’s new tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods begins on Monday. The impact on the U.S. economy is expected to be less severe but still substantial.
The fact that several European countries are moving to impose restrictions on Chinese investments is noteworthy and represents a major change from just a few years ago. Yet, internal disagreements within Europe on how to approach foreign direct investments remains an impediment.
Washington and Tokyo are sending some conflicting signals regarding their policies toward China, bracing for strategic competition but also trying to strengthen cooperation in certain priority areas.
China’s strategic interests in Nigeria are deeply intertwined with the country’s complicated conflict landscape, and Chinese commercial activities have both constructive and potentially destabilizing effects on Nigeria’s peace and security.
On September 6, 2018, the inaugural “two-plus-two” dialogue will take place between the United States and India on diplomatic and defense cooperation.
If China returned to genuine neutrality on the Kashmir question between India and Pakistan, it could make it a lot easier for New Delhi to set aside its sovereignty argument on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
A recent article by Joseph Stiglitz suggests that the United States runs a current account deficit because its people save too little to fund domestic investment. In fact, he may have it backwards: Americans may save too little precisely because the United States runs a current account deficit.
Some analysts say a major and direct cause of the imbalance in bilateral trade is the high level of expenditure by American consumers.
The threat of trade conflict with Americans could be good for the Chinese economy if it encourages the government to accelerate the domestic rebalancing that has been occurring since 2012.
Europe has concerns about China’s trade policies. But the two countries may want to unite for a more rules based global trade system.