New US Industrial Policy Taking Shape? U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is exploring having the federal government take equity stakes in semiconductor firms that receive CHIPS Act funding, potentially in exchange for grants. The plan would apply beyond Intel to…
Chinese Trade War Strategy on Rare Earth Elements Risky in Long-Term China recently added seven rare-earth elements to its export control list amid rising geopolitical trade tensions, increasing its leverage because it dominates global refining and processing capacity. Although these…
Meeting to End Russian-Ukrainian War U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to end the war in Ukraine and expects a summit involving both leaders and possibly Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Putin praised U.S…
Geopolitics of US-Spain: Drifting Apart Spain has decided to replace its aging military aircraft fleet with European-made jets instead of purchasing the US F-35 fighter jet, causing tensions with Washington. This decision reflects broader strains in Spain-US defense relations, especially…
New Tariffs on India and Geopolitical Implications President Trump has threatened to impose 50% tariffs on Indian imports to the U.S. as a punishment for India’s continued purchase of discounted Russian oil, aiming to pressure Russia to end the war…
EU Planning Counter Measures if No Deal The European Union and the US are moving towards an agreement on tariffs, with a proposed 15% tariff on imports as a baseline. The EU is prepared to accept this level for various…
Strategic Trade Deal between the US and Japan On July 22, the United States and Japan announced a trade deal after several months of negotiations. The agreement marked a significant diplomatic achievement for Japan, addressing major U.S. demands on investment…
Trump is Increasing the Pressure on Putin to Negotiate On July 14, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced the resumption of Patriot air-defense missile supplies to Ukraine, but with a twist: these weapons would be purchased by European allies, not…
Fiscal and Geopolitical Implications of Big Beautiful Bill The "One Big Beautiful Bill" (BBB), a Republican tax-and-spending plan passed in early July 2025, is a complex and fiscally irresponsible legislation (unsustainable budget deficits of 6.7% of GDP) that extends deficit-financed…
Vietnam Trade Agreement: Model for Future Deals The U.S. and Vietnam reached a trade deal reducing tariffs on Vietnamese imports from 46% to 20%, with Vietnam agreeing to impose a 40% duty on goods transshipped from other countries, mainly targeting…