China: Slowdown Just Beginning

25 October 2018 We all know China's economy is slowing. Indeed, markets and pundits agonise when GDP results fractionally dip below expectations, as highlighted by the spike in market volatility following the recent news  Chinese output advanced "only" 6.5% during Q2 2018 (compared to the 6.6% forecast). To be sure, such results seem disappointing, as [...]

After USMCA, Taking Aim at China?

11 October 2018 After years of describing NAFTA as "the worst trade deal in history", the Trump Administration along with Canada and Mexico signed the US Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA). The White House, naturally, hails the accord as a historic triumph for American workers and farmers. Critics view the deal as a simple rebranding of [...]

US-China Trade: Three Sides to Every Story

17 April 2018 As with any disputed relationship, there are three sides to every story: my version, their version, and the truth.  So it is with the deepening Sino-American bilateral trade conflict.  In order to reach a workable resolution to the current dispute (which I fully expect), policymakers on both sides need to consider the [...]

Q2 Global Strategy: Iran, Korea, China & Russia Hold the Key

4 April 2018 Enjoy the podcast in which I review how well our 2018 strategic themes are playing out, and take a look athe the rest of the year. Inflation, populism, and protectionism were the key Q1 market drivers, even as the US tax reform boosted American corporate earnings significantly. Personnel changes at the White [...]