Sunday, November 24

Author: Patti Mohr

Patti Mohr is a U.S.-based journalist. She writes about global diplomacy, economics, and infringements on individual freedom. Patti is the founder of the Global Economic Report. Her goal is to elevate journalistic principles and share the pursuit of truth in concert with others.
NOTABLE QUOTABLE: “If you are spending more than you are producing, that means you will have a trade deficit…. America is spending more than you are producing.”
Global Trade, Types of News: Quotes

NOTABLE QUOTABLE: “If you are spending more than you are producing, that means you will have a trade deficit…. America is spending more than you are producing.”

Little Sympathy for U.S. Trade Deficit in Singapore June 12, 2018--Speaking to reporters in Singapore, U.S. President Donald Trump complained that the United States "has lost $800 billion" due to its trade deficit with the rest of the world over the last couple years. While that message may appeal to Trump supporters in the United States, it doesn't carry much weight abroad. Lee summed up the U.S. trade-deficit situation quite simply. "If you are spending more than you are producing, that means you will have a trade deficit; if you're spending less than you're producing, that means you will save money or run a trade surplus. So America is spending more than you are producing. Why are you able to do that? Because you are the most powerful country in the world, and everybody else wan...
Trump, Kim Meet in Singapore, Agree to Establish U.S.-North Korean Relations
Diplomacy, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

Trump, Kim Meet in Singapore, Agree to Establish U.S.-North Korean Relations

June 12--U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-Un sign a statement of intentions to establish relations and to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula after meeting in Singapore. According to the non-binding statement, posted on the White House website, the United States and North Korea (DPRK) agree to the following: To establish new U.S.–DPRK relations in accordance with the desire of the peoples of the two countries for peace and prosperity. To join their efforts to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. To work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, as outlined in the April 27, 2018 Panmunjom Declaration. To recover POW/MIA remains, including the immediate repatriation of those already identified. It was...
What’s Ahead for the Global Economic Order After G7 Summit?
Global Economics, Global Trade, International Law, Legal Battles, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, Types of News: Analysis

What’s Ahead for the Global Economic Order After G7 Summit?

June 11, 2018--Before exiting early from the G7 Summit in Canada and withdrawing his endorsement for the joint communique, U.S. President Donald Trump negotiated an edit that has a major impact on the global economy. Specifically, Trump's team insisted on changing the phrase "the rules-based international order" to "a rules-based international trading system." While the edit may seem small, it may represent one of the most significant geopolitical shifts in 70 years. The change from "the" to "a" indicates that Trump -- and now also the other six signers of the 2018 communique -- no longer support the rules-based international order that the United States and its allies put in place in the post-World War II world. Instead, they now support a theoretical system, however abstract or ...
G7 Summit Ends in Insults And Injury to Global Trade, Western Alliance
Diplomacy, Global Trade, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, Types of News: Brief

G7 Summit Ends in Insults And Injury to Global Trade, Western Alliance

June 10, 2018--Just hours after appearing to sign a G7 Joint Communique with the heads of state of six leading Western democracies on Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump reversed course by posting on Twitter that he would not endorse the statement. It was a significant setback for relations among the Western democracies, which have struggled to find a common voice since President Trump threatened to raise trade tariffs on its top trading partners. The Communiqué The 28-point statement includes language on "free, fair and mutually beneficial trade and investment," "a rules-based international trading system," and opposition to protectionism. It also declares joint opposition to tax evasion and shared support for education and equal opportunity to take part in the global econo...
Trump-Kim Jong-Un Meeting Called Off
Diplomacy, Sanctions

Trump-Kim Jong-Un Meeting Called Off

May 24--After a series of diplomatic setbacks, the prospective meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Un for June 12 in Singapore is now cancelled. In a letter to Kim posted on the White House, Trump wrote, "Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting." Earlier in the day, North Korean Vice-Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui issued an angry response to a Fox News interview by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, in which Pence referenced a comparison by U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton of North Korea to Libya. Libya underwent a revolution and loss of leadership years after its government agreed to dismantle its nuclear ...
In 2018, Russian Economy Carried On Amid Sanctions
Global Trade, Globalization, Global Disintegration, Sanctions, Types of News: Analysis

In 2018, Russian Economy Carried On Amid Sanctions

March 23, 2018-Despite four years of sanctions, the Russian economy appears stronger and more immune to sanctions from the United States and the European Union. As tensions continue to rise and new sanctions go into effect, many Russians who adapted to trade restrictions with the West appear to shrug off the threat of new measures. The economy now grows at a rate of 1.7 percent, having fully recovered from its recession. It is worth asking, what effect the sanctions are having on the Russian economy? In the following article, the Global Economic Report looks at the ways the country overcame sanctions to resume economic growth. Four Years of Sanctions Since Russia annexed the Crimea from the Ukraine in 2014, it has faced sanctions from the European Union and the United States. In March of...
Putin Calls for Unity Following Landslide Reelection Win
Domestic Politics, Types of News: Brief

Putin Calls for Unity Following Landslide Reelection Win

March 19-A day after easily winning another six-year term in office, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for cohesion in domestic politics and constructive dialogue in international relations. It was a landslide victory for Putin, as expected. He won 75 percent of the vote, securing his place in office through 2024. While Putin is popular in Russia, and considered to be a strong leader, the election itself was not competitive. Furthermore, observers are complaining about large-scale violations, including ballot-box stuffing and voting that was compelled by employers at state-owned companies. The main opposition leader, Aleksei Navalny, was not able to run due to a financial-crimes conviction he says was made up by the government. The other candidates, considered by most observ...
Merkel Wins 4th Term as German Chancellor
Democracy, Europe, EU, Eurozone, Types of News: Brief

Merkel Wins 4th Term as German Chancellor

March 14-After months of uncertainty over the leadership of Europe's largest economy, the German Bundestag voted 364-315 in favor of giving Angela Merkel a fourth term as chancellor. A coalition of her own Christian Democratic Union and the Social Democratic Party elected her today after a standoff among six parties won support in the general election in September. Since Merkel first won the position in 2005, she has wielded a great deal of influence over European Union policy. She advocated for open intra-European borders and migration from abroad, against criticism from far-right nationalists in Germany and Europe. During Merkel's last major policy speech in January, she called on Europe to take its own destiny within its hands in regards to the digital economy, defense and fore...
Trump Adds ‘Human Rights’ to Foreign Policy Agenda
Democracy, Diplomacy, Human rights, Types of News: Analysis

Trump Adds ‘Human Rights’ to Foreign Policy Agenda

March 13-In an apparent shift in strategy, U.S. President Donald Trump now views human rights as an essential part of its "American First" foreign policy, a White House release said on Monday. The statement carefully interposed the idea of human rights between respect for national sovereignty and American values. "As a corollary, governments have a responsibility to their citizens," the White House statement asserted, while referencing Trump's speech before the UN General Assembly last September. "In other words, legitimate national sovereignty must begin with a respect for human rights." While the United States government has traditionally included democracy promotion and human rights as part of its foreign policy umbrella, Trump differentiated himself by putting forward a differ...
Trump Fires Top U.S. Diplomat Rex Tillerson
Diplomacy, Types of News: Brief, United States

Trump Fires Top U.S. Diplomat Rex Tillerson

March 13-With a simple tweet, U.S. President Donald Trump announced he is replacing his top diplomat with a former congressman and the current head of the Central Intelligence Agency. CIA Director Mike Pompeo will replace Rex Tillerson as the Secretary of State, Trump posted on Twitter this morning. Meanwhile, he is appointing an intelligence officer named Gina Haspel, known for running a "black site" facility in Thailand for the U.S. government, as the new CIA director. Both Pompeo and Haspel would need to clear the Senate confirmation process to take office. Pompeo is a former congressman from Kansas who served on the House intelligence and energy committees. A tea party affiliate, Pompeo is considered a hard-line Republican and Trump loyalist. Prior to serving in Congress,...

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