China’s Belt and Road Initiative Strategic Goals/Implications

China recently announced plans to build up ports in Vanuatu, a small south Pacific Island nation off the Northeast Coast of Australia that could lead to significant duel use by Chinese merchant ships and naval vessels. Additionally, investments into Brunei, Pakistan, and Djibouti ports signify Beijing’s determination to move China’s largest infrastructure plan forward resulting in significant strategic benefits when implemented. – Adriana Ray

April 21, 2018

Chinese One Belt One Road Investment in Pakistan’s Gwadar

International excitement due to China’s One Belt One Road (BRI) Initiative has made recent strides in port city Gwadar, Pakistan, a country Beijing plans on investing $57 billion into. Construction plans include improving the deep-water port for both trading and military use, the addition of a luxury golf resort, and an airport to rival the Islamabad International Airport just finished by a Chinese company in Islamabad. – Adriana Ray

April 21, 2018

Event Brief: Reunification of the Korean Peninsula from China’s Perspective

On Tuesday, April 17th, 2018, at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington, DC, a panel of think tank experts and university faculty gathered for a conference titled China and North Korea: Past, Present, and Future. The conference is well timed. With North Korean leader Kim Jung-Un’s recent visit to the People’s Republic…

April 20, 2018

Did Trump Initiate a Trade War With China?

On January 23, 2018, President Donald Trump approved two decisions imposing tariffs and quotas on solar cells and washers. These tariffs may adversely affect U.S. consumers through increased import prices and are likely to spark retaliatory polices by many of the U.S. trading partners in Asia. This began when the current administration approved safeguard measures, pursuant…

February 25, 2018

Is the Blockchain a Game Changer for Global Trade?

The hallmarks of innovation in international trade arguably are the creation of the bill of exchange for importers and exporters in 1555 ACE[i] and the introduction of shipping containers in the 1960s. [ii] Could the next innovation in global trade be blockchain technology? And if so, how should your business prepare to utilize the blockchain?…

January 18, 2018

Myanmar Mission: Opportunities & Challenges

In the first few weeks of 2018, FAO Global conducted a business mission to Myanmar to establish a baseline professional network and gain first-hand understanding of the market environment, amidst the height of the Rohingya Refugee crisis in Myanmar’s Northern Rakhine State. This trip was a culmination of meetings with Chambers of Commerce, government officials from the Myanmar Embassy (based in Washington, DC), and discussions with non-profit researchers and human rights advocates. Additionally, FAO Global interviewed private consultants and entrepreneurs (both foreign and local) which helped frame challenges and opportunities from the “doers” on the ground. – FAO Global

January 17, 2018

Chinese Aviation and the WTO: A Brief

Chinese Aviation and the WTO: A Brief Author: Stephen Yin Editor: Brandon Hughes Date Published: November 20, 2017 Introduction This article reviews the rising competitiveness of Chinese firms in civil aircraft manufacturing. This article also addresses why Western countries, such as the United States (US), should leverage the World Trade Organization (WTO) mechanism to ensure…

November 20, 2017

Article: Staying Informed on Sustainability

Implementing Sustainability to Counter Global Events Author: Ryan MacDonald Date: November 13, 2017 Benefits of Making Your Business More Sustainable Business and the environment have an increasingly important, yet volatile relationship. Earth’s global temperature is rising, and the ensuing weather patterns will affect business environments as well as the biosphere. As climate change becomes an increasingly…

November 13, 2017

Article: China’s push for Cyber Sovereignty

Overview of China’s Newest Cyber Security Regulation and Implications Author: Kayla Blomquist Date: November 8, 2017 China’s Cyber Sovereignty On June 1, China’s newest cybersecurity and network security law came into effect allowing Chinese authorities to gain greater control over internet content. The law, first passed in November 2016 by the China’s National People’s Congress,…

November 8, 2017

DC Event: ASEAN Challenges and Opportunities

Prepared by: Brandon Hughes and Audel Shokohzadeh Location: Washington, DC Event: Discussing ASEAN Security Challenges In preparation for an upcoming site visit to Thailand and Myanmar, FAO Global attended a high-profile event with influencers and high-ranking officials from Southeast Asia. The event highlighted opportunities and challenges facing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a…

October 19, 2017