Latin America’s Critical Minerals—An Indispensable Component of Alternative Energy
December 13, 2023 | Latin Trade
In the wake of COP28, the UN Global Climate Change Conference, countries across the globe continue to advance the agenda to decarbonize the planet and increase efforts to harness alternative energy as an alternative—if not a replacement—of fossil fuels... more
The APEC Summit: Can Xi and Biden Turn Down the Temperature?
November 13, 2023 | The National Interest
The United States announced in August new visa restrictions on current and former Chinese officials for their involvement in what U.S. and U.N. officials say is the forcible assimilation of more than one million Tibetan children in government-run boarding schools. In November, China recalled its three panda “Ambassadors-in-Residence” at the National Zoo after a 50-year posting... more
A Successful Industrial Policy Requires Skilled Workers
October 20, 2023 | The National Interest
Industrial policy” has gained prominence over the last several years, occupying a prime place in the policy agendas of both political parties. It is also one of the few areas where bipartisanship is on display, as noted in the passage of the Chips and Science Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law... more
Beyond Oil: Guyana’s Emerging Potential in Ecotourism
October 5, 2023 | Latin Trade
Guyana’s burgeoning oil production is on an unstoppable trajectory to transform the nation economically and socially. As the nation expects four quarterly royalty payments totaling $225.2 million in 2023, one should note that this is only a small part of the revenues. In actuality, the vast majority will be profit sharing and total $1.63 billion this year... more
To Compete with China, Build Out American Industrial Policy
September 13, 2023 | The National Interest
Senator Barry Goldwater, the father of the modern conservative movement, declared later in life that debating the pros and cons of a welfare state was a useless activity—that instead, conservatives should focus on what kind of welfare state America should have. Much of the same can be said today surrounding the issue of industrial policy... more
Supporting Countries Under Siege that Share our Values is US Responsibility as a Great Power
August 24, 2023 | Wilson Center
In an August 10 letter from White House Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy requesting supplemental funding for Ukraine, the budget director (on behalf of the president) reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to helping Ukraine defend its sovereignty. While funding for this round is likely, future budget allocations are by no means assured... more
Guyana’s Trade Prospects: A column by Jerry Haar and Cristina Caus
July 27, 2023 | Latin Trade
A cursory view of the political, economic and social environment in South America does not instill optimism. Economic and political challenges across the region erode the confidence of both local and foreign investors, reducing the likelihood of a strong post-pandemic recovery in the region... more
Reaganomics versus Bidenomics
July 25, 2023 | The Hill
All administrations search for a slogan to mobilize support and communicate with the public. For Donald Trump it was “Make America Great Again.” For Joe Biden it is “an economic policy for the middle class” — or, in shorthand, “Bidenomics.”... more
Bureaucracy—Latin America’s Enduring Nemesis. A column by Jerry Haar
July 2023 | Latin Trade
The mid-year status of Latin America, both economically and politically, is not particularly positive; and the outlook for the next six months is not encouraging.
In the economic domain, the IMF reports that growth is projected to slow to 1.6% this year after a remarkable 4% in 2022. Underlying inflation remains stubbornly high .... more
Embracing Sustainability: Greening the Supply Chain in the United States
June 7, 2023 | The World Financial Review
The drive towards green supply chain management in the US is halfway towards achieving success. Industry leaders have made sustainability a priority, but there still exists a gap in the alignment of goals between smaller suppliers, who occasionally lack the resources make supply chains more eco-friendly.... more
North America’s Globally Competitive Landscape
June 2, 2023 | Wilson Center | Mexico Institute | Canada Institute
While North America’s competitiveness has improved over the last three decades, global challenges in the areas of economics, politics, technology and communications, and society in general have impacted producers, consumers, and the public at large in a myriad of ways.... more
The Status, Policies and Outlook for Green Supply Chains in North America
May 2023 | The Wilson Center
One must credit the global COVID-19 pandemic with elevating supply chains and logistics to a position of prominence in international business. The wake-up call began with shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly N95 face masks and ventilators. Interruptions in the supply of basic materials due to factory and port shutdowns in China, congested port operations in Valencia, Singapore and Bremerhaven, shortages of workers such as truckers, and warehouse space limitations continue to hamper global trade. Supply chain disruptions have caused widespread and deep negative impacts on production, distribution, and pricing, which has affected both producers and consumers alike.... more
America Must Close its Digital Divide
May 11, 2023 | The National Interest
The advent of ChatGPT, No-code AI, and voice cloning software only further demonstrates that digital technologies have advanced more rapidly than any innovation in mankind’s history, reaching around 50 percent of the developing world’s population in less than two decades and transforming societies. But though the United States is, as of 2021, the most digitally competitive country in the world, many often forget that not all of its citizens benefit from these advances. There exists the digital divide—the gap between those who have access to modern information technology and services, and those who don’t.... more
Modernizing Infrastructure Vital to Fulfilling Africa’s Promise
May 10, 2023 | Business Day
Africa’s demographic growth and economic transformation have created an essential task in the continent’s public agenda: accelerating and scaling up infrastructure development.
In the past, infrastructure investments have accounted for more than half the continent’s economic growth, increases in productivity, improvement in human development, and reduction of poverty, according to the African Development Bank, proving that infrastructure investments are necessary for Africa to sustain its growth.... more
Infrastructure—Latin America’s Perennial Challenge
April 24, 2023 | Latin Trade
No nation can hope to achieve, maintain and expand its competitiveness without a strong foundation—namely, infrastructure: roads, ports, airports, and transportation systems, as well as water, electricity, telecommunications, and information technology.... more
Closing the Digital Divide
April 21, 2023 | The Wilson Center
The physical infrastructure (such as bridges, roads, water supply, electricity, and telecommunication), so essential to our competitiveness and welfare have a parallel world with the introduction of technology and digital information. Some 63% of the world's total population, a total of 5 billion people, use the Internet today. Digital technologies have advanced more rapidly than any innovation in our history – reaching around 50% of the developing world's population in only two decades and transforming societies. This transformation has been made possible by large investments by governments to develop information technology capabilities of their nations... more
The Promise and Pitfalls of the Clean Energy Transition
April 20, 2023 | The Wilson Center
The growth of renewable energy in recent years -- particularly wind, solar and hydroelectric power sources -- has been dramatic. Nevertheless, as noted by the International Energy Agency, fossil fuels still account for more than 80 percent of global energy production. Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, are by far the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90% of all carbon dioxide emissions.... more
Are More Banking Crises on the Horizon?
April 7, 2023 | The National Interest
A shroud of pessimism has hung over the U.S. for nearly a decade with on signs of abatement. Politically, economically and cultural—and independent of socioeconomic class, gender, race or geography, a majority of the population lacks a positive outlook on life in general.... more
How will the US deal with its water crisis?
April 3, 2023 | The Hill
Jackson, Miss; Benton Harbor and Flint, Mich; Baltimore, Md. These locales and others serve as stark illustrations of the water crisis facing the nation. Poor access to water, contamination and decaying infrastructure impinge upon the health, safety and quality of life of those residing in those communities.... more
Latin America Must Prioritize Infrastructure to Spur Economic Growth
March 13, 2023 | The Wilson Center
The current infrastructure situation in Latin America is not favorable: the region falls short when it comes to investments. According to the World Bank, East Asia and the Pacific invest approximately 8 percent of GDP in infrastructure, while Latin America and the Caribbean invest approximately 3 percent of GDP... more
America’s Air, Sea, and Land Ports Require Investment to be Globally Competitive
March 2, 2023 | The Wilson Center’s 5G Beyond Borders
Ports—air, sea, and land—are the lifeblood of commerce, both domestic and international. Vitally important to trade, the efficiency and effectiveness of port services have a direct impact on the competitiveness of industrial sectors, industries, and entire nations... more
Can Companies Be Virtuous and Still Turn a Profit?
February 8, 2023 | The Hill
One of the hottest trends in the world of investing, ESG is an outgrowth and refinement of “corporate social responsibility (CSR)”, a business concept that has gained greater traction over the last two decades. Both ESG and CSR are rooted in the question: What should be the role of the corporation in society? Should it focus solely on making and increasing a profit (serving shareholders) or increasing social and environmental concerns into business operations (serving stakeholders)?... more
Trade Facilitation---The Missing Component of Infrastructure
January 31, 2023 | Latin Trade
Mention the term “infrastructure” and one immediately thinks of the backbone of an economy—roads, bridges, ports, transportation systems, electrical grids, water supplies, communication technologies and the like. The availability, accessibility and quality of a nation’s infrastructure are essential to its economy, health and social well-being of its citizenry. This is even more the case for trade-dependent economies. Unfortunately, however, policymaking on infrastructure rarely addresses international trade while policymaking on international trade hardly mentions infrastructure... more
Is Globalism Undermining Globalization?
January 29, 2023 | The National Interest
“Globalization,” the bête noir of isolationists, protectionists, and labor and environmental activists for nearly a decade is now considered by many reasonable, centrist-oriented individuals to be dying, if not dead already... more
Entrepreneurship, no longer just a young person’s game
January 26, 2023 | Miami Today
Mention the terms “entrepreneur” and “start-up” and one typically thinks of Millennials—young people filled with passion, optimism and confidence populating the technology hubs of the Bay Area, Seattle, Austin, Chicago, Raleigh, Boston and Miami. However, this widespread stereotype has obscured a felicitous “demographic dividend”—namely individuals in their 40s, 50s, and even 60s have the interest and ability to launch new ventures or contribute to the expansion of existing ones... more
Latin America’s Infrastructure Challenge
January 17, 2023 | Latin Trade
While Latin America is competitive in a select number of sectors such as mining and agribusiness, collectively—as a region—it lags behind Asia. The reasons for subpar performance are many, but one that continues to loom large is infrastructure... more
Will Crypto Replace National Currencies?
January 10, 2023 | The National Interest
The infamous three letters FTX will be removed from the arena that serves as home to the Miami Heat basketball team and a popular venue for musical events. The collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange has impacted many other organizations as well, such as ProPublica, the non-profit investigative news outlet, that received a $1.6 million donation from FTX. (They have indicated they intend to return it)... more