Trade

2025Opinion

What is the Strategic Significance of Greenland to the Trump Administration, and is its Rhetoric Justified?

The president said this in the Oval Office, “If you look at Greenland right now, if you look at the waterways, you have Chinese and Russian ships all over the place, and we’re not going to be able to do that.” With such a hardline position on the seizure of Greenland, the Trump administration has not ruled out the possibility of taking the territory by force. However, any action to take the island through forceful or peaceful means would likely backfire on the administration and the country as a whole. 

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Sports Business and CultureBusiness2025

The Potential for Trade War: Trump Proposes Tariffs

Late last week, Donald Trump stated that he is planning on proportioning taxes that are applied on U.S. goods by other countries, per The Associated Press. These corresponding tariffs have so far been solely addressed in statements, with no order yet made. However, the possibility of a trade war between the U.S. and its trade partners, including close allies, is greatly increasing.

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2025Climate ChangeInternational NewsAsia

Southeast Asia’s Movement Towards Nuclear Energy

Southeast Asia is taking historic action with its ambitious movement towards nuclear power to create a sustainable energy source for the region—one that has never applied nuclear power before. This movement is not the first time Southeast Asian nations have sought nuclear energy. According to The Associated Press, Southeast Asia’s only nuclear power plant was completed decades ago, about 40 miles from Manila, the capital of the Philippines. However, the plant was left idle due to fears of corruption and never even produced a single watt of nuclear energy. 

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2021November 2021FocusGlobal PariahsMiddle East

FOCUS on Pariah Leaders: Bashar al-Assad

In early October, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad received a phone call from King Abdullah II of Jordan, their first since Abdullah called for Assad to step down in 2011 during the Arab Spring, according to Al Jazeera. Jordan is not alone in normalizing relations with their estranged Arab neighbor—Egypt and the UAE have both contacted the Syrian government. Jordan and the UAE have come to agreements to improve economic ties and resume trade with Syria, despite U.S. sanctions.

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2021March 2021OpinionAmericas

Legalizing Marijuana in Mexico Creates a Power Triangle Involving Transnational Drug Companies

Mexico is positioned to become the world’s largest legal marijuana market in the world. On March 11, 2020, the lower house of Mexico’s Congress passed a bill legalizing recreational marijuana. This bill would “let users with a permit carry up to 28g and grow as many as eight plants at home for personal use,” according to BBC News. Currently, it is illegal to carry more than five grams in Mexico. This promising bill does not come without warning though, as it fails to address the violent history of Mexico’s cartel-led market.

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November 2020Opinion2020

Will Australia- China Trade Tiff Turn into a Trade War?

Australia’s relationship with China, its largest trading partner, is increasingly strained as a result of a row over new Chinese trade restrictions. Relations between the two nations have been tense for years due to a series of policy disputes. When Australia supported an international inquiry into China’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, their ties officially began to sour.

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September 2020Opinion2020

Where Has Free Trade Gone? 

Tariffs have led to devastating results throughout history. Alexander Hamilton’s tariffs attempted to protect fledgling American businesses from British competition, resulting in higher domestic prices, inefficient business models, and finally the War of 1812. Another example is the 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff; duties on all goods were raised to a whopping 60 percent. According to PRI, it just so happens that the highest tariff in history was implemented on the eve of the Great Depression. They simply cause economic pain. 

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