8th March 2017

“China must be ready to face [the] growing trend of protectionism” said its Premier Li Keqiang on March 5. Well, he should know. Time after time, whichever political parties have...

3rd February 2017

Seemingly endless January trade-related government announcements in the US and UK lacked a single detail businesses could use for planning. So did other government plans just as potentially disruptive to...

15th January 2017

Donald Trump announced on January 14 his abandonment of a central campaign pledge about China. On October 22, he promised that on his first day in office he would instruct...

11th January 2017

Though the world’s business press reported in mid-January that Chinese manufacturing costs grew sharply in December 2016, costs for Chinese apparel and textile makers grew far less. In November 2016...

11th January 2017

After years of misconceived forecasts it will soon collapse, China’s domination of global apparel exports faces a serious threat – from the Chinese government. Since about 2010, China’s apparel makers...

20th December 2016

It’s a safe bet that few readers have paid much attention to the idea of “destination-based” profit taxes. They need to start doing so: right now. Till now, an idea...

20th December 2016

Korean exports to China fell 10.9% in the first year of a free trade deal between the two countries. Chinese exports to Korea fell just 4.8%.  The graph prepared from...

6th December 2016

I think many of the alleged uncertainties observers forecast for 2017 are badly misconceived. At this time of the year, observers typically start pontificating about the challenges facing businesses in...

25th November 2016

How seriously should brands and retailers take reports that Trump will slap extra duties on Chinese imports – and China’s almost hysterical response to those reports? I think they create...