ISDS Case Map
geopolitics
A China-Israel agreement could strengthen the Chinese influence in the management of the new port at Haifa. This is a scenario that keeps the Americans awake at night.
Economic complementarity, lower shipping costs and the upcoming Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will substantially expand bilateral trade between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year.
Stepping into the role that the United States could have had at the helm of TPP, Beijing has offered a deal that puts it firmly in a leadership role. Through RCEP, the future of the broader Asia-Pacific economy has a diminished role for the United States.
China’s economy is expected to grow this year, it is capable of generating the jobs and trade needed for recovery, and looks ready to lead. In contrast, the US economy is shrinking and champions of free trade and investment are lacking.
Opening a long-pending multi-modal transportation corridor via Iran will be a big boost for bilateral trade between Russia and India, but it’s not just the economy at stake. This is a bold move against the threat of US sanctions.
The Trump Administration has called on the Morrison Government to extend its "step-up" strategy in the Pacific to South-East Asia, as Washington grapples with China's rising regional influence.
The fact that China, Japan and South Korea (CJK) engaged in an agreed-upon trilateral summit framework, and bilateral dialogues on the sidelines, was no small achievement given heightened tensions between the three countries.
For New Delhi, though, RCEP is first and foremost an economic deal that could hurt its more vulnerable industries and lead to near-term pain.
Conflict over trade dominated the economic headlines in 2019, so it’s surprising that the year ended with significant progress on three trade agreements.Each tells a different story about the outlook both for the global economy and for relations between nations.
As with many other countries, Pakistan’s FTA with China has had a devastating impact on its domestic SMEs. Beijing and Islamabad have a strategic partnership, but the Chinese remain cutthroat competitors in trade.
