TRADE in ACTION – February 9, 2017

This week in TRADEinACTION: IMF’s Christine Lagarde visits Atlantic Council, President Trump to meet with Japan’s PM Abe in Washington, DC on February 10, with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on February 13, and the IMF releases its country report on Greece.


SPOTLIGHT

On February 8, IMF Managing Director Mme. Christine Lagarde visited the Atlantic Council to speak about transparency, the rise of populism, the winners/losers of trade, Greek debt, and corruption. In her address, Lagarde said that the IMF plays four key roles—trusted adviser, global watchdog, fitness coach, and firefighter. Transparency, she said, “allows us to wear all these different hats for the benefit of our global membership.” Recent developments pose some pressing questions: How can multilateral institutions adjust to address populist concerns? What is the IMF’s response to Greek debt? What is the IMF’s role in fighting global corruption? Atlantic Council’s Ashish Kumar Sen has these answers and more insight. 

TRADE
Opinion: In Talks With Trump, Japan’s Shinzo Abe Will Seek To Smooth Economic Tensions, Elise Hu, NPR
News: Trump to Meet Canada’s PM amid Tensions over Trade, Immigration, David Ljunggren, Reuters
News: Australia, China Vow to Deepen Ties on Trade, Kristen Gelineau, ABC News
Opinion: The TPP Is Dead. Spare the TTIP, Simon Lester, Real Clear Politics
News: Psst, Europe’s Economy is Doing Well, Johanna Treek, Politico Europe
News: Angela Merkel Says EU should ‘Move Forward’ on Free Trade, Financial Times
Speech: Building Bridges: Strengthening EU-China Trade and Investment Relations, Cecilia Malmström
Opinion: The US Should Negotiate Trade Agreements with Both the UK and the EU, Simon Lester, Cato
Analysis: The Places in America Most Exposed to a Trade War, Swanson Mellnik Cameron, Washington Post
Opinion Brexit: USA for Sale? British Firms Target America After Brexit Bruises the Pound, Silvia Amaro, CNBC
Video: What is “Dumping”, and How Can it Affect International Trade? The Economist
IMF Country Report: Greece

TWEET/FACTOID OF THE WEEK
tweet of the week 1 February 9 2017
Did you know…?
…that the traditionally Japanese Kobe beef is an (although small) long-standing part of US- Japanese trade relations? It originally comes from the Tajima strain of Wagyu cattle raised in the Hyogo Prefecture of Japan and is only sold in a handful of restaurants in the US. The cows must be raised in accordance with strict regulations as defined by the Kobe Beef Marketing and Distribution Promotion Association. The price often ranges around $150 per pound! (CNN Money)

GLOBALIZATION
Blog Entry: The Fruits of Growth: Economic Reforms and Lower Inequality, Christine Lagarde, IMFDirect
Opinion: The High Costs of Protectionism, Joshua Meltzer and Mireya Solis, Brookings
News: France’s Le Pen Launches Election Bid with Vow to Fight Globalization, Ingrid Melander, Reuters
Column: How the Backlansh to Globalization Could Hurt the Middle Class, Vikram Mansharamani, PBS Newshour
Opinion: ‘Jack MA: If Trade Stops, War Starts’, Tony Yoo, Business Insider 

WHAT WE ARE READING
Fun Analysis: Survivor: Special EU Edition, David M. Herszenhorn, Politico
Opinion: A Year Full of Challenges (and Opportunities) for the EU, Anthony Earl Wayne, New Atlanticist
Op-Ed: Eurozone Economy Quietly Outshines the US, Financial Times
Op-Ed: Frexit Would ‘Impoverish’ France Warns ECB’s Cœuré, Financial Times

UPCOMING
MEETINGS
February 9-10: EU High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini travels to Washington, DC
February 10: Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, meets Trump at the White House and Mar-a-Lago
February 10: EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström meets with with Mr. Joerg Wuttke, President of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China
February 13: President Trump meets with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 
February 17: EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström meets with Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Japan

EVENTS
February 10: A Conversation with H.E. Federica Mogherini at the Atlantic Council (Washington, DC)


Your Newsletter Team:
Marie Kasperek, Associate Director, Global Business & Economics, Atlantic Council
John Butler, Program Intern

Please send us suggested news stories, opinion pieces, publications, and upcoming events that you would like us to highlight! Email mkasperek@AtlanticCouncil.org with your ideas and suggestions.
The views expressed in this newsletter and linked external articles and content do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Atlantic Council, its staff, or its sponsors.

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