List of Trade and Economics articles
Trade and Economics
Iranians Go to the Polls to Elect a New President
All four candidates seek different approaches to curbing Western sanctions and supporting Islamist groups in the Middle East.
Key Foreign-Policy Moments From the Trump-Biden Debate
The two candidates clashed over Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas war, immigration, and America’s global image.
The Deep Roots of Kenya’s Unrest
A tax bill sparked deadly protests. But a broken financial system has plagued the country for years.
Kenya’s Ruto Concedes to Protesters’ Demands Over Finance Bill
Nairobi’s government is wrestling with a looming debt crisis and high costs of living.
Washington Fails to ‘Read the Room’ in Kenya
President Ruto is valued by the White House but much less popular at home.
The Empty Promise of Africa’s Oil and Gas Boom
The continent is awash in fossil fuel discoveries. But relying on them for development will be disastrous.
Africa’s Critical Mineral Race Heats Up
Competing railway corridors pit the United States against China; Kenya faces a violent crackdown on tax protests.
A New Era of Financial Warfare Has Begun
The West’s latest actions against Russia carry risks for the global system and could provoke China.
Relieve Debt to Protect the Environment
Debt-for-nature swaps on a grand scale could slow climate change and promote economic growth in the Global South.
Western Protectionism Needs an End Date
Reliance on tariffs to shield against superior Chinese products is a trap.
The Case Against Chiquita
A U.S. court holds the fruit company accountable for death-squad murders in Colombia.
Putin Signs Landmark Security Deal With North Korea
In retaliation, South Korea signaled its intent to consider sending arms to Ukraine.
Capitalism Is Broken. Here’s How to Fix It.
Investor Ruchir Sharma argues Washington needs to get out of the way.
Putin Heads to the Hermit Kingdom
Russia seeks more ammunition for its war in Ukraine as North Korea hopes to obtain military tech help.
The President Needs to Lead the Cold War on China
A comprehensive economic strategy can forestall Beijing.
Why Is Russia’s Economy Still Growing?
Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine have had limited impact.
What Africa Can Learn From China’s Rise
The continent’s human capital is its greatest resource.
Can China Turn Its Property Glut Into Affordable Housing?
A previous plan to build 36 million homes led to widespread corruption.
Putin Cuts Ukraine’s Power
With constant assaults on the electricity grid, Moscow is adding an explosive twist to an old playbook.
Don’t Bet Against the Dollar
U.S. competitors are pushing the limits of autonomy within a dollar-based system, but there isn’t a real global alternative—and the world is far from an inflection point.
What the West Can Learn From Singapore
Data shows that in key areas, Singapore is better at governing than the U.S. and Britain.
Why Is Xi Not Fixing China’s Economy?
Explanations from insiders range from ignorance to ideology.
Caribbean Summit Showcases the Power of Island Politics
Vulnerable nations continue to punch above their weight in global debates on climate finance and justice.
Why Mexico’s Election Matters
A vote for continuity could see further erosion of democratic institutions—with consequences for the rest of the world.
The Geopolitics of New Arctic Shipping Lanes
Turmoil in the Middle East makes the Northern route more attractive, if still treacherous.
Biden’s New Tariffs Should Raise Alarm Bells in Beijing
In the fight for economic dominance, Washington is playing the long game.
South Africa Votes in Most Competitive Election Since End of Apartheid
The ruling African National Congress faces heavy criticism for its legacy of state corruption and failed economic reforms.
Mexico’s Next Leader Has an Energy Problem
The country cannot expand and modernize its infrastructure under the primacy of two state companies.
The Philippines Needs Butter, Not Just Guns
To counter China, Washington must help its ally address economic issues.
Is Biden Deferring the Green Transition to Contain China?
Electric vehicle tariffs put geopolitics before climate change.
Why Land Reform Matters in South Africa’s Election
Even in an urbanized economy, many Black voters care deeply about the government’s unfulfilled promises when it comes to land redistribution.
Why Political Assassinations Often Succeed
The attempted killing of the Slovak prime minister is part of a recent wave.
Are U.S.-China Talks Accomplishing Anything?
Meetings on climate and AI show some progress, but tech competition still dominates the relationship.
Democracy Needs an Economic NATO
Fighting Chinese coercion requires new alliances.
Can South Africa Keep the Lights On?
Even with the suspension of power cuts, voters remain skeptical ahead of the country's general elections.
Will Elon Musk Test the South Asian Market?
As the tech billionaire markets his Starlink internet service, the region presents an opening—as well as some challenges.
Consulting Firms Have Stumbled Into a Geopolitical Minefield
The era of free-flowing information is over.
The U.S. Still Has a Lend-Leash Act for Ukraine
Washington is finding ways to get Kyiv more money—but keeps it hamstrung from actually fighting the war.
What Produced the China Miracle?
A powerful new book challenges conventional wisdom about the role of the state in Beijing’s rise.
Is the War in Gaza Turning Israel Into a Pariah State?
Possible ICC warrants are the latest indicators.
Blocking a Fair WHO Pandemic Accord Endangers Humanity
Without an equitable agreement, including wealthy nations sharing IP with poorer ones, the world is doomed to repeat its COVID-era mistakes.
The Man Who Would Help Trump Upend the Global Economy
As a potential U.S. Treasury secretary, Robert Lighthizer has more than trade policy to revolutionize.
China Tackles Housing Crisis With New State Initiatives
Beijing plans to help purchase unsold homes, slash down payments, and reduce mortgage interest rates.
How the Beyoncé Bump Affected Sweden
In some markets, the megastar creates her own economic climate system.
What Biden’s New China Tariffs Mean for World Trade
“We are very concerned,” says WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The U.S. Should Stop Playing the Victim Over China Trade
Washington can accept reality and shift strategies.
‘We Are Allied, but We Are Not Aligned’
Josep Borrell, Europe’s outgoing foreign-policy chief, on the U.S., China, Ukraine, and Gaza.
Pakistan Seeks More IMF Funding Amid Protests
The country has achieved a measure of economic stability, but it needs structural reforms—not just a bailout.
Biden Announces New Tariffs on Chinese Imports
Beijing denounced the move as the White House seeks to court key U.S. battleground states ahead of November’s presidential election.
Can the U.S. Catch Up to China on EVs?
It’s not clear if Biden’s expanded tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles will ultimately serve U.S. interests.
Europeans Need to Trump-Proof China Policy
The United States is an unpredictable ally—but Beijing isn’t a better option.
Who Is Russia’s New Defense Minister?
Putin’s appointment of economist Andrei Belousov suggests Moscow is digging in for the long haul.
Peru Learns to Read the Fine Print in China Deals
A mistaken provision has given Beijing control of a key port.
‘Fat Leonard’ Was a Crook U.S. Admirals Called Bro
In the Navy, you can do as you please.
What’s Ailing Tesla?
More people are buying electric cars, just not from Elon Musk.
Panama Picks a New President
José Raúl Mulino faces an uphill climb out of an economic and political slump.
China’s Xi Cultivates ‘Ironclad Friendship’ in Eastern Europe
The anti-Western mindset of Serbia’s and Hungary’s leaders fuels ample opportunities for Chinese investment.
Indonesia Bets Big on Electric Vehicles
Jakarta’s latest development gamble hinges on the green transition.
Get Ready for Trump Trade Wars 2.0
Past is prologue, to the chagrin of experts, economists, and allies.
Why Are More Chinese Migrants Arriving at the U.S. Southern Border?
Asylum-seekers and others are making the journey through the risky Darién Gap in the wake of the pandemic.
China Wants to ‘Divide and Conquer’ Europe
Why Xi Jinping is visiting France, Serbia, and Hungary this week.
Mexico and the United States Need to Talk About China Now
Near-simultaneous presidential elections risk putting bilateral relations on a collision course.
The Divine Marketplace Is Pretty Crowded
Religions aren’t just spiritual communities. They’re also businesses.
The Opioid High of Empire
Two new books turn a spotlight on how the colonial past lives on in unacknowledged ways.
Can Xi Win Back Europe?
The Chinese leader’s visit follows weeks of escalating tensions between China and the continent.
The Real Cost of Reimposing Sanctions on Venezuela
Sectoral sanctions are hurting the country’s democratic transition—and pushing Caracas closer to U.S. adversaries.
Without Indonesia’s Nickel, EVs Have No Future in America
The IRA and Senate opposition to a free trade deal with Jakarta are undermining the United States’ green transition.
The Very Real Limits of the Russia-China ‘No Limits’ Partnership
Intense military cooperation between Moscow and Beijing is a problem for the West. Their bilateral trade is not.
How Globalization Rose and Fell With Nord Stream
The pipeline bringing Russian gas to Europe was once seen as a triumph for borderless business—but Putin’s invasion of Ukraine put an end to that fantasy.
Where Global Governance Went Wrong—and How to Fix It
International agreements have not balanced our freedoms in the way that they should.
What a Real Civil War Would Do to the U.S. Economy
A new film focuses on politics, but the economic impact would be huge.
Xi Jinping Has Tough Economic Choices Ahead
China is likely to pick security over prosperity.
New Leaders Turn the Region’s Geopolitics on Its Head
Argentina wants to become a NATO partner—and Colombia seeks to join BRICS+.
Japan’s Big Bet on Interest Rates May Not Pay Off
A vote of confidence in the future may be undercut by a lukewarm economy.
Israel Is Desperate to Replace Palestinian Farmhands
Newly arrived Indian workers say abuse is common.
Will Washington Sanction Sudan’s RSF?
Lawmakers are calling for direct measures against the group’s leader, Hemeti.
Congressional Push for Oil Sanctions Puts Biden in a Bind
New measures to punish Iran, Venezuela, and Russia could raise crude prices and hurt Biden in an election year.
Russia’s Shadow Fleet Could Create Strange Allies
Both Greenpeace and NATO are working against off-book oil tankers.
How Much Leverage Does China Really Have Over Iran?
Washington wants Beijing to rein in Tehran, but experts say it’s not that simple.
Modi’s ‘Make in India’ Didn’t Make Jobs
India’s prime minister could win reelection without having fixed his country’s unemployment crisis.
Latin American Start-Ups Make Their Pitch
From fintech to AI, investors are enthusiastic about the region’s growth potential.
Why Arab States Haven’t Broken With Israel
Arabs across the region are angry, but regimes can’t afford to sever ties.
Forget About Chips—China Is Coming for Ships
Beijing’s grab for hegemony in a critical sector follows a familiar playbook.
U.S. and Israel Meet to Discuss Rafah Operation
The Biden administration fears an offensive would result in a high civilian death toll.
African Lending Needs a Better World Bank
The Bretton Woods institutions are due a revamp from their colonial roots.
Why Modi Is So Popular
Soon likely to win a third term, India’s prime minister has shaped the country in profound ways.
It’s Time for the World Bank to Break With Tradition
The bank must adopt a new model to alleviate extreme poverty.
The Economics of Humanitarian Aid to Gaza
Will Palestinians ever recover from the famine and destruction?
U.S. Policy on Venezuela Is Converging
Both Democrats and Republicans recognize the need for a more realist approach to Maduro’s government.
America’s Flailing Industrial Policy Can Take Lessons From China
Beijing’s experiences are a road map for both opportunities and traps.
China Won’t Change Tack on Economic Policy
Beijing’s political leadership isn’t likely to listen to friendly advice from foreign investors or criticism from foreign officials.
Russia’s Rosatom Fuels Putin’s War Machine
The nuclear company’s expanding corporate empire is an urgent target for sanctions.
Germany Doesn’t Work Like It Used To
Short-term shocks and long-term trends are strangling Germans’ cooperative economy.
Janet Yellen Has a Three-Body Problem With China
The U.S. treasury secretary blasted Beijing’s industrial overcapacity, but it’s a tough message to carry off convincingly.
The India Issue
Illiberal, democratic, and rising: How a middle power is reshaping the world order.
4 Books to Understand Modern India
Is the world’s most populous country booming or broken?
5 Charts That Explain India
From average incomes to internet usage, New Delhi is still at the point where growth could really take off—or not.