Trade Barriers

commentary

Export Controls Give ASML and the Netherlands an Opportunity to Lead by Example. Will They Take It?

Dutch tech company ASML makes the complex machines required to construct advanced microchips, and it sells many of these machines to China. Harmonization of export controls between the United States and the Netherlands could limit China's development of military technologies and its human rights abuses.

Martijn Rasser, Jason Matheny @JasonGMatheny

commentary

Russian Aircraft Keep Crashing. Could Sanctions Be the Cause?

At least six fixed-wing Russian aircraft have crashed over Russian-controlled airspace since September. Sanctions placed on Russia by the West could well be affecting Russia's ability to manufacture and maintain parts needed to keep aircraft safe.

Michael Bohnert @mbohnert

commentary

Russia's Su-35: Are Its Military Aircraft Exports Headed for a Fall?

Squeezed by sanctions and pressed to replace equipment destroyed in Ukraine, Russia's aerospace sector isn't likely to have combat aircraft to sell, even if it wants to. If purchasing countries start to change their minds and invest in drones and other less-expensive precision guided munitions, the market for Russian combat aircraft might start to rapidly decline.

Peter A. Wilson, John V. Parachini @JohnParachini

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Unblocking the Black Sea for Ukrainian Grain

As Russia has been blockading ports around Odesa, Ukrainian grain exports in May were more than 60 percent lower than a year ago. Global hunger has hit a new high while 22 million tons of grain in Ukraine could rot if not exported soon.

Bradley Martin, William Courtney @courtneywmh

blog

E-Cigarettes, 'Stand Your Ground,' Cyber Coercion: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on the planned federal ban on flavored e-cigarettes, “stand your ground” laws, understanding cyber coercion, and more.

blog

Drug Spending, Back to School, Korean Unification: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap looks at illegal drug spending, the problem of waking up early for school, possible paths toward Korean unification, and more.

commentary

Trump's Tariffs Against China Aren't Working. And There's No Quick Resolution in Sight

Washington's go-it-alone approach to its trade disputes with China is imposing a high and growing cost on the U.S. economy. It could even threaten global prosperity. What's more, there's no quick resolution in sight.

Charles P. Ries @charles_ries

commentary

The Trump-Xi Meeting at G-20: Kicking the Can Down the Road

Much was expected of the discussion at the 2018 G-20 meeting in Buenos Aires between the United States and China on their ongoing trade war. However, nothing of significance emerged. With signs of a global economic slowdown surfacing earlier than expected, the failed outcomes of this meeting could come back to haunt world leaders.

Rafiq Dossani

commentary

The U.S.-China Trade War: Different Messages

The trade war between the United States and China began with the notification of tariffs on $34 billion of traded goods on each side. Officials on both sides of the Pacific are using different messages to convey the dispute. What are the real impacts likely to be?

Rafiq Dossani

commentary

Why the EU Single Market Has Still Not Reached Its Full Potential

The EU Single Market aimed to promote intra-European trade, increase competition, create more jobs and make Europe more attractive to foreign direct investment. The economic benefits of the Single Market are clear, but closer integration requires political buy-in from individual member states and the EU.

Marco Hafner

commentary

The Snap Election, What's in It for Theresa May?

Why would Theresa May take the risk of a national election, which otherwise wouldn't be needed until 2020, and what does she expect to gain from it? Calling an election now enables May to take decisive control of her party and should strengthen her hand in the Brexit negotiations.

Charles P. Ries @charles_ries

commentary

Why Re-Establishing Border Controls in Europe Could Come at a High Cost

Reversing the Schengen agreement would come at a high economic cost, while undoing many of the positive social and political developments of the past decade.

Marco Hafner, Jirka Taylor

commentary

It's Time to Reboot Our Relationship with Russia and Iran's Neighbors

In implementing the prospective Iran nuclear agreement, the West cannot forget its engagement in the vulnerable South Caucasus. The Iran deal changes the equation for all three countries and perhaps opens new opportunities.

Denis Corboy, William Courtney @courtneywmh, et al.

commentary

The Not-So-Full-Monti: Will More 'Europe' Lead to More Trade in the Internal Market?

Even though the internal market for goods is at a relatively advanced stage, there remains an untapped potential in the longer term. More than 20 years after the establishment of the internal market, barriers and regulatory obstacles continue to hinder the free movement of goods in the EU.

Stijn Hoorens @StijnHoorens, Marco Hafner

commentary

U.S. Sanctions Against Myanmar Need to Go

Washington now has to ask itself whether its goals can best be met with these restrictions in place or whether it is time to recognize the fundamental changes that are taking place in Myanmar and forge a new relationship with its leaders based on full government-to-government relations, writes Peter Chalk.

Peter Chalk

commentary

Our Misplaced Yuan Worries

To reduce the bilateral imbalances between China and the U.S. requires more carefully crafted policies than revaluation of the yuan, else the results could be perverse, writes Charles Wolf Jr.

Charles Wolf, Jr.

commentary

Cost of Unleashing China's Currency

Cost of Unleashing China's Currency, in Christian Science Monitor.

William H. Overholt

commentary

Globalization's Unequal Discontents

Published commentary by RAND staff: Globalization's Unequal Discontents, in Washingtonpost.com.

William H. Overholt

commentary

A Sensible Solution To Beijing's Yuan Dilemma?

Published commentary by RAND staff.

Charles Wolf, Jr.

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The Falling Dollar: A Silver Lining for Pittsburgh

Published commentary by RAND staff.

Barry Balmat, Keith Crane

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Uncertain Times for Foreign Investment in China

Published commentary by RAND staff.

Charles Wolf, Jr.