US and Taiwan agree to start talks on a trade and investment pact
According to statements released by Washington and Taipei, the United States and Taiwan have agreed to launch negotiations on a new investment and trade pact. The US-Taiwan Initiative of the 21st Century Trade was unveiled in June after US President Joe Biden excluded Taiwan from the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. The
Serbia’s gas deal with Putin has created a fresh headache for Europe
Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic announced on Sunday that Serbia has agreed to a three year gas supply deal with Gazprom, Russia’s state energy provider. In doing so, Vucic could upset the Western anti-Putin alliance and the European Union (EU). The EU has recently announced the final deal for a sixth
How Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Could Reshape Trade, Starting With Cars
The auto assembly lines going quiet in Germany, Britain and Austria are more than just another example of how fragile supply chains have become. The shutdowns may foreshadow a fundamental reordering of the global economy that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will accelerate. The conflict has underlined the risks of doing business
Trudeau vows to freeze anti-mandate protesters’ bank accounts
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has vowed to freeze the bank accounts of protestors involved in demonstrations against vaccine mandates that have caused blockades in several different Canadian cities. Trudeau stated that he would invoke the Emergencies Act to crack down on the protests. In addition, he confirmed that the
China’s trade surged in April as overseas demand heats up
Trade in China extended its impressive performance with exports accelerating and import growth hitting a decade high in April. Stalled factory production in other countries hit by coronavirus have increased demand for goods made in China. Exports surged 32.2% in terms of dollars from a year earlier. 30.6 percent growth
Coinbase to Suspend XRP Trading Following SEC Suit Against Ripple
On Tuesday, January 19 cryptocurrency trading firm Coinbase plans to fully suspend trading of XRP, the currency in which the US Securities and Exchange Commission sued Ripple Labs over last week. Coinbase first listed XRP on its retail platforms in February of this year. However, after just under a year
China Responds in Latest Sanctions Tit-for-Tat With U.S. Over Hong Kong
On Monday of this week, the US ramped up sanctions on China, placing 14 senior Chinese officials on sanctions blacklists. However, China has responded by revoking visa exemptions for US diplomatic passport holders in both Hong Kong and Macau. China also stated that it planned to impose other sanctions against
Covert Chinese Trade With North Korea Moves Into the Open
According to US officials, China is skirting around sanctions placed on North Korea and is no longer trying to hide smuggling activity. The Trump administration believes the move is representative of China trying to help Pyongyang endure the US’s pressure campaign. According to US officials, North Korean vessels have delivered
Ant IPO Postponed by Shanghai Stock Exchange
Today, the Shanghai Stock Exchange released a statement postponing the initial public offering of Ant Group Co. The restriction comes just a day after the company’s controlling seller, Jack Ma, was summoned by four regulatory agencies to attend a closed-door meeting. The undercover meeting with regulators and changing the regulatory
India Seeks Naval Edge as China Penetrates Indian Ocean
India and China have recently been battling over a disputed border in the Himalayas called the Line of Actual Control. Although the two countries have allegedly obtained peace at the border after entering into an agreement, tensions have increased as China occupies the Indian Ocean. India is looking for an