Domestic Politics, Global Repercussions: India’s Curb on Rice Exports
India’s rice ban reflects an increasingly common theme of domestically motivated restrictions of food exports leading to (sometimes unforeseen) global repercussions.
Teke-Yaka Tensions See Violence Spread to Western DRC
A longstanding sectarian conflict, fueled by disputes over land rights and customary taxes, is fomenting violence in the once peaceful regions of western DRC.
Critical Minerals: Supply Eases as US, Canada Secure Supply Lines
A concerted effort by Canada, the United States, and other Western allies is helping to secure the supply of critical minerals and easing price pressures in the process.
Protests Hit Peru Copper Exports
A protracted political crisis is threatening copper production in the world’s second-largest producer.
Backgrounder: US Military Budget 2025
The US military budget for 2025 maintains the traditional defense posture of out-spending any near-peer competitor; however, its only getting harder to keep pace.
Red Sea Shipping Crisis Fueling ‘Sticky’ Inflation
Hopes of a swift return to the low-rate environment of recent history are being dashed by the Red Sea shipping crisis.
CHIPS Act Wins the Battle, But Not the Semiconductor War
The CHIPS Act buys time for the US semiconductor industry. But if Washington and other Western allies desire a lasting victory, they will have to beat Beijing at its own game.
China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway: Better Late than Never
Twenty-seven years in the making, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is finally under construction. The route could be a game-changer in China-Europe trade; however, significant financial, technical, and geopolitical challenges remain.
Past Is Precedent as Xi Struggles to Fix China’s Economy
Beijing’s response to structural economic headwinds has been more of the same, with the oft-cited goal of consumer-driven growth as elusive as ever.
The Russian Economy Two Years into the Ukraine War
The Russian economy has proven far more resilient than many predicted at the onset of the Ukraine war. But there’s a limit to how long Moscow can spend beyond its means.