Tag Archives: trade

“I Got a Rock”: Policy Gaps in American Critical Minerals Stockpiling 
America / National Security / Trade

“I Got a Rock”: Policy Gaps in American Critical Minerals Stockpiling 

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Executive Summary  Introduction  On April 4th, 2025, China imposed export controls on seven rare earth minerals and associated magnets in response to tariff increases by the United States. In the month these measures were formally in effect, American automakers, defense contractors, and technology firms experienced logistical delays, forced to scale back or even halt production at plants across North America. At the urging of hurt industries, the Trump Administration initiated negotiations in May, culminating in a 90-day tariff … Continue reading →

Wishing To Overhaul: American-Led WTO Reform Post-MC14 
Politics

Wishing To Overhaul: American-Led WTO Reform Post-MC14 

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Executive Summary  Introduction  On Monday, March 30th, the MC14 meeting of WTO members in Yaoundé, Cameroon, came to an end. Occurring every two years, MCs allow member states to voice their concerns, negotiate new agreements under the WTO, and guide the organization’s priorities until the next MC. Contextualized by a broken dispute settlement mechanism and inflamed international protectionism, MC14 was … Continue reading →

Pax Moo-ica: Supply Management and the USMCA
Economy / Politics / Tariffs / Trade

Pax Moo-ica: Supply Management and the USMCA

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 Executive Summary  Introduction  On December 17th, 2025, United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer outlined Washington’s objectives for the upcoming 2026 USMCA review before Congress. In what has become a predictable aim of the United States, it was Trade Representative Greer’s main agricultural grievance that drew attention from the Canadian media: the expansion of American dairy’s access to the supply-managed Canadian … Continue reading →

Mercosur: An Integration Problem 
Latin America / Tariffs / Trade

Mercosur: An Integration Problem 

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Executive Summary  Introduction   On January 17th, 2026, Mercosur—a South American customs union comprising Argentina, Bolivia (partial-member), Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay—signed a landmark free trade agreement with the European Union. The deal is slated to remove around $4.8 billion in tariffs between the two economic blocs, leading to an estimated 39 percent annual growth in EU exports to Mercosur (from $72 billion in 2024 goods export) and the elimination of EU duties … Continue reading →

Politics

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

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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 →

Money Supply and the Current Account: Testing the Predictions of the AA-DD Model
Politics

Money Supply and the Current Account: Testing the Predictions of the AA-DD Model

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Executive Summary:  As part of his rationale for increasing tariffs, President Trump has focused on the U.S.’s trade deficits. Experts have long debated whether trade deficits matter; some argue a trade deficit simply signals that the region is attractive to foreign investment and has strong consumer demand, while others have instead contended that a trade … Continue reading →

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

The Trade-Off Behind the Trade Deficit 

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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 →

The Twin Deficit Hypothesis: An Analysis of the U.S.
Debt / Economy / Fiscal policy / Trade

The Twin Deficit Hypothesis: An Analysis of the U.S.

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Executive Summary Introduction Government deficits and the trade balance have seemed to fluctuate in tandem over time. This has given rise to theories connecting the two deficits to explain their relationship. U.S. fiscal deficits have ballooned in recent years, bringing renewed attention to the twin deficit hypothesis (TDH) and applying it to advanced economies. Modeling … Continue reading →