Trade in a Galaxy Far, Far Away
We are on the cusp of a far more complex era for outer space treaties. Failure to resolve disagreements over the ownership of resources in space like asteroid mining could result in international trade conflicts.
Pistachios: The Quirks of Agricultural Trade in a Nutshell
The history of pistachio trade reveals quirks in the broader world of global agricultural trade. The growth of America’s pistachio industry came after the U.S. imposed trade sanctions against Iran in response to the Iran Hostage Crisis and the two countries have a complicated trade history. But global global demand for pistachios is higher than production, leaving room for both American and Iranian producers.
Spanish Olives in the Pits Over U.S.-EU Trade Tensions
Ripe olives are a critical ingredient for olive oil. They’ve also been ripe with trade tension over the past two years. Spanish black olives, green olives and olive oil have all been embroiled in two recent trade disputes between the United States and the European Union (EU), resulting in higher tariffs and increased prices of Spanish olives and olive oils for U.S. consumers.
Civil War in Syria: How Conflict Erodes Trade
The civil war raging in Syria for eight years now has taken an immense physical, social and economic toll on the country. The longer conflict persists, the deeper the separation from global society, and the harder it will be to rebuild the economic mechanisms and institutions necessary to increase trade and encourage economic growth.
Peeling Away Trade Protections for Bananas
Simple in appearance, pleasantly sweet, nutritious, and nearly universal in appeal, that Cavendish bunch of bananas on your counter comes off as pretty unassuming. In reality, it has been through jungle wars and trade wars and now sits on the precipice of extinction. Growing to love more varieties could help save trade in bananas.
Renewing Rare Earth Threats, China Digs Deep for Leverage in Trade War
China is stockpiling its rare earths production. Does China think the United States is trying to contain China’s economic expansion? Threatening to withhold rare earths exports could be China’s way of digging into this trade war with the United States.
Spicy Trade: U.S. and India Turn Up the Heat
Turmeric is the new “it” spice. While things are golden for trade in turmeric, less can be said for U.S.-India trade relations as a whole. Tensions have been heating up over the past few years, culminating in the recent announcement from the White House that India could soon be terminated from the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program.
Trade Tensions Bubble Beneath the Surface of Your New Years’ Eve Champagne
Champagne is the drink of choice to celebrate many of life’s milestones and one country in particular benefits the most from this tradition: France. The European Union wants to ensure through trade agreements that only sparkling wines produced in the Champagne region of France can be labeled by law as Champagne.
Cheddar is America’s Favorite Cheese. Thanks Britain.
Few Americans associate cheddar cheese with its ancestral home: Cheddar, in Somerset County, Britain. The name Cheddar, originally designating a unique geographic location, evolved into a generic description as the cheese was produced all over the world. And therein lies the heart of a modern trade dispute over “geographical indications,” or GIs for short.
A Brush with Unfair Trade
It’s not so easy to find paint-by-number kits these days outside of the Smithsonian Museum of American History, though there’s a limited selection on Amazon. Who makes the brushes, canvases, and little tubs of plastic acrylic paints? Half of the world’s brushes and painting canvases are shipped from China. Here’s a story about how digging into the source of your favorite hobby materials can lead you on a tale of unfair trade.