Politics

Price Controls and Critical Minerals: Understanding the U.S.’s Rare Earth Economic Policies 

Executive Summary:  Introduction  On October 9th, China imposed export controls on rare earth minerals and related technologies. Since then, rare earth minerals have been dominating news headlines, with many experts espousing the importance of reducing the U.S.’s dependence on China for these minerals. The Trump administration’s policies have heavily focused on rare earth minerals too; … Continue reading

The Trade-Off Behind the Trade Deficit 
Economy / Tariffs / Trade

The Trade-Off Behind the Trade Deficit 

Executive Summary  Introduction  President Trump has long called for the U.S. to impose higher tariffs to reduce the trade deficit, which he has declared a national emergency. His administration announced unprecedented unilateral tariffs to reverse what it alleges are unfair trade practices. This strategy ignores the accounting principle known as the balance of payments: The … Continue reading

Politics

What will sector-specific tariffs cost?

Executive Summary  Introduction  Although President Trump has paused his April 2 “Liberation Day” tariffs for 90 days, he continues to threaten immanent sector-specific tariffs. The threatened sectors include pharmaceuticals, copper, lumber, semiconductors, chemicals and minerals, and energy, which combined account for roughly 20-percent of U.S. imports and include most products initially exempted from “Liberation Day” … Continue reading

How Does China Define Labor Relations in Rising Car-Hailing Services?
China / Labor Force / Politics

How Does China Define Labor Relations in Rising Car-Hailing Services?

On June 28, the Chinese Ministry of Transportation issued a new regulation declaring that online car-hailing services in China can operate lawfully, which took effect on Nov. 1. In China, strict governmental rules repeatedly trip up local and foreign internet companies. Before this new regulation, local governments in major cities restricted the registration and use … Continue reading

Reducing the Trade Deficit with China: Repealing the Crude Oil Export Ban
China / Energy / Politics

Reducing the Trade Deficit with China: Repealing the Crude Oil Export Ban

With much of the current energy conversation surrounding the Keystone XL Pipeline, many Americans have forgotten, or may not even know, about another energy issue that might just be more important: the crude oil export ban. Since the 1970’s, the U.S. government has prohibited U.S. oil producers to export crude oil internationally in order to … Continue reading

Hydraulic Fracturing Controversy:  An Opportunity for the United States to Lead and Set the Record Straight
Energy

Hydraulic Fracturing Controversy: An Opportunity for the United States to Lead and Set the Record Straight

New estimates released Friday, October 4, by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), shows the United States (U.S.) pulling ahead of both Saudi Arabia and Russia in oil and natural gas production in 2013.  There’s no doubt that this rise to the top is a result of recent development in a new drilling technique known as fracking, … Continue reading