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Trade Barriers

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Essay
The Economic Returns of Foreign Language Learning
If just 10 percent more students in the United Kingdom mastered Arabic, Mandarin, French, or Spanish, the economic returns could be measured in billions of British pounds. Removing the language barrier reduces trade costs.
Jul 7, 2022
Commentary
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.
Jun 15, 2022

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Commentary
Consequences of the War in Ukraine: The Economic Fallout
Before Russia invaded Ukraine, projections estimated global economic growth in 2022 would be around 5 percent. But the war in Ukraine contributed to slowed economic growth in 2022 and a slowed recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. What are the broader consequences for the global economy?
Mar 7, 2023
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.
Nov 28, 2022
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.
Nov 22, 2022
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.
Oct 20, 2022
Report
Business Community Support for U.S. Policies Toward China
Policies implemented by the Trump administration were designed to confront China over its problematic behaviors, such as theft of technology and intellectual property. U.S. businesses agreed with the policies, but questioned some of the tactics used. How can Washington address corporate concerns and still compete against China?
May 16, 2022
Journal Article
Improving Preferential Market Access Through Rules of Origin: Firm-Level Evidence from Bangladesh
This paper studies how rules of origin in potential export markets influence the export behavior of firms in least-developed countries.
Mar 23, 2021
Journal Article
Rules of Origin and Trade Preference Utilization Among Least Developed Countries
This article assesses how the utilization of trade agreements responds to rules of origin revisions that allow for more foreign content in exported products.
Mar 23, 2021
Report
Global Economic Trends and the Future of Warfare: The Changing Global Environment and Its Implications for the U.S. Air Force
This volume of the Future of Warfare series examines economic trends that could affect U.S. national security, including pressure on the global trading system, the rise of China, searches for new resources, and the decreasing power of U.S. sanctions.
May 11, 2020
Infographic
Estimating the Economic Benefits of Levant Integration: A Look at the Numbers
This infographic helps users assess values of economic integration in the Levant in a variety of ways.
Feb 24, 2020
Periodical
RAND Review: January-February 2020
Feature stories spotlight research on America's fentanyl crisis and new approaches to clinical guideline development. The Commentary column features terrorism expert Colin Clarke on the threat of white supremacists in the United States.
Jan 6, 2020
Report
Proposal for a Revised Regional Order in Post-Soviet Europe and Eurasia
Disputes over the regional order in post-Soviet Europe and Eurasia are at the core of the breakdown in relations between Russia and the West and have created major challenges for the states caught in between. A new approach to the order could boost security and prosperity in the region.
Oct 8, 2019
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.
Sep 20, 2019
Report
Potential Benefits of Economic Integration in the Levant
A comprehensive free trade agreement among six of the core Levant nations—Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey—could increase their average gross domestic product by 3 to 7 percent. It could also reduce regional unemployment rates by 8 to 18 percent.
Sep 16, 2019
Tool
The Levant Economic Integration Calculator
This online tool allows policymakers and the public to examine how a comprehensive free trade agreement among the countries of the Levant could create significant new economic opportunities, substantially reducing regional unemployment.
Sep 16, 2019
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.
Aug 23, 2019
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.
Aug 20, 2019
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.
Dec 14, 2018
Journal Article
The Impact of Trade Liberalization on Productivity: Evidence from India's Formal and Informal Manufacturing Sectors
This paper was first to consider the effects of India's tariff liberalization on the entire manufacturing industry, both small, informal firms and large, formal firms. The overall effect of the trade reforms is increased productivity in both sectors.
Sep 19, 2018
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?
Jul 20, 2018

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