Category: Regional blocks
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Are We Witnessing the End of FTAs and the Rise of Bilateralism?
For decades, free trade agreements (FTAs) and large regional trade blocs have been the hallmark of global economic integration. From the European Union’s single market to NAFTA (now USMCA), from ASEAN’s free trade framework to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the dominant narrative was clear: bigger is better…
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Chip Shockwaves: How Semiconductor Tariffs Threaten India’s Manufacturing Ecosystem and Consumer Economy
The recent announcement of a proposed 100% tariff on imported semiconductors by former U.S. President Donald Trump has triggered alarm bells across the global supply chain—and India is no exception. Although aimed primarily at curbing dependency on foreign chipmakers and bringing manufacturing back to the U.S., the ripple effects of…
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EU-Japan Competitiveness Alliance: A New Power Bloc in a Divided Global Economy
In a significant geopolitical and economic move, the European Union and Japan have formally launched a “Competitiveness Alliance” aimed at bolstering cooperation across trade, defense, and technology. This partnership, announced during the 30th EU-Japan Summit in Tokyo, is not merely symbolic—it reflects deepening anxieties over the evolving world order, particularly…
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Global Economy Distribution 2025: A Deepening Imbalance Between Population and GDP
In 2025, the global economy remains starkly unbalanced when examined through the lens of population versus GDP distribution. The following offers a compelling snapshot of how economic power continues to be concentrated in regions with smaller population shares, raising critical questions about equity, global development, and economic sustainability. The Population-Economy…
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Transatlantic Trade on the Brink: The Looming US-EU Tariff War
The world is once again witnessing escalating trade tensions, this time between two of the largest economic powers—the United States and the European Union (EU). At the heart of the standoff lies a potentially devastating tariff war, triggered by President Trump’s recent announcement that a 30% tariff on all EU…
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How U.S. and EU De-risking Policies Are Reshaping Global Supply Chain Dynamics
The evolving global trade landscape is witnessing a fundamental shift as the United States and European Union adopt de-risking policies aimed at minimizing critical dependencies without abandoning open markets. These policies, often misunderstood as decoupling, focus instead on selective diversification, resilience-building, and risk mitigation—particularly in sectors deemed vital for national…
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Reigniting Growth in Europe and Central Asia: A Blueprint for Enterprise-Driven Reform
In 2025, the economies of Europe and Central Asia (ECA) are navigating turbulent waters. While growth in the region remained stable at 3.6% in 2024, excluding the Russian Federation, the broader outlook shows signs of strain, with projections slowing to 2.5% in 2025–26. Weak external demand, the fallout from geopolitical…
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Emerging Markets Outlook 2024–2025: Growth Amid Headwinds
In an increasingly uncertain global economy, emerging market economies (EMs) continue to shine as dynamic engines of growth. With developed economies facing stagnation, it is the EMs—particularly in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa—that are expected to account for nearly 60–65% of global GDP growth over the next…
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The Theory of Tariff and the Case for Cooperative Trade Policy
In recent years, the global trade landscape has witnessed increasing turbulence marked by the rise of protectionism and strategic economic coercion. Amid this, a critical message emerging from diplomatic and economic forums is clear: there are no real winners in a tariff conflict . This idea, often reiterated in international…
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