What we are reading
Reacting to China's electric vehicles, and more
Published 08 October 2024
The EU is moving forward with tariffs on Chinese EVs, while the Biden administration is considering banning Chinese software and hardware in vehicles due to security concerns. Experts are pushing for trade rules reforms, with some advocating freer trade and some warning that a strong dollar harms the US. Meanwhile, companies are struggling to maintain subsea telecommunications cables in the geopolitically sensitive South China Sea. Check out what we've been reading.
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Reining in China’s EV dominance | Rethinking international trade rules | The port strike that wasn’t…for now | Geopolitics is disrupting telecommunications | More research from Hinrich Foundation
Reining in China’s EV dominance
Reuters reports that the EU is pressing ahead with Chinese EV tariffs. The Rhodium Group analyzes how Europe can regulate Chinese EV manufacturing investment. The US has little leverage to push back against Chinese EVs, notes Alan Beattie in the Financial Times, while the Biden Administration proposes banning Chinese software and hardware in vehicles based on national security concerns, per Reuters.
Mentioned publications
- EU presses ahead with Chinese EV tariffs after divided vote – Reuters, October 4, 2024
Reuters reports that the EU has voted to go through with its plan to raise tariffs on Chinese-made EVs. - Terms and Conditions Apply: Regulating Chinese EV Manufacturing Investment in Europe – Gregor Sebastian and Camille Boullenois, Rhodium Group, October 1, 2024
Rhodium Group explores options for future Chinese EV investments in Europe. - HF sponsored accessWhy the US can’t impose its will over global trade in electric cars – Alan Beattie, Financial Times Op-Ed, October 3, 2024
Beattie is skeptical that US efforts to rein in China’s growing EV dominance will be successful. - Biden proposes banning Chinese vehicles, 'connected car' technology from US roads – David Shepardson, Reuters, September 24, 2024
Reuters reports on a proposed US ban on Chinese software and hardware in vehicles.
Rethinking international trade rules
If international trade is dangerously imbalanced, how should economies change the rules to bring the world back into balance? Michael Pettis and Erica Hogan, for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, make the case for new rules and policies for freer trade. Peter Coy argues in the New York Times that the dollar is too strong for America’s own good, while Trump escalates his tariff threats to protect the dollar’s status, per the Financial Times. Joseph Politano in Apricitas Economics explains how universal tariffs are universally bad. Kimberly Clausing in the Financial Times calls for changes to corporate tax policies over imposing tariffs. Former USTR Michael Froman urges the next President to take a hard look at the tradeoffs in their economic policies, in Foreign Affairs.
Mentioned publications
- Trade Intervention for Freer Trade – Michael Pettis and Erica Hogan, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, October 3, 2024
Pettis and Hogan argue for a new multilateral consensus to correct existing trade imbalances. - The Dollar Is Too Strong for America’s Own Good – Peter Coy, The New York Times Op-ed, October 4, 2024
Coy describes both the need to weaken the dollar and the inherent difficulties in doing so. - HF sponsored accessDonald Trump escalates tariff threat in vow to protect dollar – James Politi, Colby Smith, Aime Williams, and Andy Bounds, Financial Times, September 10, 2024
The FT reports on Trump emphasizing the importance of the dollar as the global reserve currency. - Universal Tariffs are Universally Bad – Joseph Politano, Apricitas Economics, October 3, 2024
Politano delivers a warning about Trump’s plan for universal tariffs. - HF sponsored accessForget tariffs — fixing ‘America last’ tax policy would help more with offshoring – Kimberly Clausing, Financial Times Op-Ed, September 10, 2024
Clausing promotes a policy change that could be more effective and less disruptive than tariffs. - The Next President and the Tradeoffs in U.S. Economic Policy – Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, October 3, 2024
Froman urges policymakers to recognize the tradeoffs resulting from the trade policies they propose.
The port strike that wasn’t…for now
Politico digs into the deal to suspend the East Coast port strike, and Bloomberg examines the reasons behind the strike and its estimated costs.
Mentioned publications
- Port strike deal ends no-win dilemma for Democrats – Ry Rivard, Nick Niedzwiadek, and Lauren Egan, Politico, October 3, 2024
Politico delivers the inside scoop on how parties averted a potentially disastrous port strike. - Everything to Know About the US Port Strike – Laura Curtis and Brendan Murray, Bloomberg, October 2, 2024
Bloomberg explains why workers decided to go on strike and the implications of a prolonged strike.
Geopolitics is disrupting telecommunications
The Washington Post describes the challenges companies face in installing and maintaining vital subsea telecommunications cables that run through the South China Sea and connect key Asian economies with the rest of the world.
Mentioned publications
- Escalating contest over South China Sea disrupts international cable system – Rebecca Tan, The Washington Post, October 3, 2024
The Washington Post reports on the threat to subsea telecommunications cables.
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