Introducting the concept of the Internet of Agreements: “Machine-readable laws and machine-readable contracts enable machine-managed supply chains.” Theorectically, using computers to manage the supply chain process, conduct due diligence, and ensure parties in a trade agreement are holding up to their agreements, would make the who process smoother and enable transparency between nations. As of now, verification of agreed upon processes along the global supply chain is a patchwork of paper forms such as payslips, bills of lading, safety certificates. Makes a lot of sense to fully digitize this.
The Trump administration’s trade strategy is dangerously outdated
The article was concluded with “without the WTO it would be the law of the jungle.” It is also addressed in the article that “the mention of section 301 implies the Trump administration might start going outside the global rules of the WTO system.”
If more and more main powers(like US, UK, France) withdraw their “transferred power” back from international organizations they’ve authorized before, it is a horrible trend. It shows distrust to current machinery of global cooperation.
Poorest countries host majority of the displaced
A recent study by the UNHCR found that a large proportion of the 3.2 million people displaced in the first half of 2016 have settled in some of the world’s poorest countries. Over half of those refugees fled the Syrian conflict and relocated to neighboring countries. As of 2016, Syrians accounted for 32 percent of the world’s refugee population. The refugee crisis in South Sudan is also of particular concern. Nearly 1 million refugees from South Sudan are putting pressure on some of the least developed countries in the world who host them, including Sudan, Kenya, and Ethiopia.
Actions by powerful and developed countries, such as Trump’s refugee ban, will only further burden poor countries who cannot properly provide the economic support and help that refugees so desperately need.
Volkswagon Emissions and Health Costs to Europe
The Volkswagon emissions scandal has wide-ranging implications not only on the environment and carbon emissions, but on health care in Europe. According to the New York Times, the 2.6 million cars in Germany that do not have emission controls alone can lead to 1,200 premature deaths and billions of Euros in healthcare costs in Europe. Neighboring countries to Germany like Poland, France, and the Czech Republic will be particularly effected. The Volkswagon emissions cheat brings larger issues about climate change into play, such enforcing emission standards and holding countries/companies responsible for environmental and humanitarian harm caused to citizens across borders.
South Korea Vows to Protect Firms Amid China Pressure Over Thaad
Under this circumstance, I think it’s unwise for Beijing to put pressure on South Korea government by using “economic tool”. The deciding factor made South Korea agree to deploy THAAD is endless provocations from North Korea. While in the eye of Chinese decision-maker, whether Kim dynasty is a evil regime may not be so important. Beijing decides to remain Kim dynasty because it could pose threats to “West bloc” led by the US.
The vote that could wreck the European Union
In this case, the destiny of an international organization–the EU may rely on the election outcome of France. Either Emmanuel Macron who embraces globalization revitalize the EU, or Marine Le Pen who blasts globalization wreck it.
The root cause is international organizations get power from sovereign nations’ authorization. This limit determines why sometimes international organizations may become powerless or ineffective
North Korea launches more missiles; 3 land in Japanese waters
It appears that the UN sanctions and the reprimand of the UN Security Council had proven fruitless in their efforts to stop North Korea. This latest missile launching coincides with US- South Korea joint military exercises and the opening of the National People’s Congress in China. Initially it was thought that one of the missiles was an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of hitting the U.S. Three of the missiles has landed in Japanese territory.
The new Trump administration and the US-South Korean military exercise have provoked North Korea. “North Korea “will never remain a passive onlooker to the new U.S. administration overtly revealing its intention to put military pressure on [North Korea] and invade it while crying out for ‘peace by dint of strength,’ ” the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported in a statement it attributed to the Foreign Ministry.”
It seems there is no good way to stop North Korea. The Security Council’s warnings and sanctions is ineffective as North Korea is just escalating their testing and at a higher frequency. China, the only country with any pull with North Korea, with their coal import ban only instigated this action.
The need for urgent humanitarian assistance in Cameroon
The Humanitarian Fallout from Cameroon’s Struggle Against Boko Haram
1.6 million people in the Far North of Cameroon are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. The government is focusing military efforts on fighting Boko Haram and offering little support to the impoverished population and refugees affected by the conflict. Several international institutions and agencies have stepped up to help provide aid to thousands of refugees displaced by Boko Haram, including 60,000 Nigerian refugees at the Minawao camp. Minawao camp, which was visited by the former head of the UNHCR, benefits the most from international aid.
A lack of government experience and support as well as insufficient funding present the biggest challenges to providing humanitarian aid to both refugees and inhabitants in the Far North. Three million residents in the Far North lived below the poverty line prior to the crisis and a recent influx of refugees to the region has greatly increased the need for help.
Mayor of Calais, France bans charities from providing food to migrants
The mayor of Calais, Natacha Bouchart, signed a mayoral decree which bans refugee charities from handing out meals to migrants in the town. Bouchart argued that it poses a security threat, but it is also part of a larger effort to prevent refugees from building camps in Calais after the destruction of the “Jungle” refugee camp in late 2016. Despite the ban, several charities said that they will continue to provide food and other aid to refugees who continue to flee to Calais.
The UN supported the demolition of the “Jungle” and relocation of migrants living in the Calais camp due to poor living conditions and concerns over safety. It will be interesting to hear the UN’s response to Bouchart’s ban as European leaders struggle with how to handle the refugee crisis.
Confidential U.N. report details North Korea’s front companies in China
China was seen as taking a hard stance against North Korea when it said it would ban coal imports from the hermit kingdom. According to an unpublished UN report, North Korea “is flouting sanctions through trade in prohibited goods, with evasion techniques that are increasing in scale, scope and sophistication. The North Korean schemes are ‘combining to significantly negate the impact’ of international sanctions.”
China has served as front for North Korea’s illicit trades which undermines the U.N. sanctions that China has voiced support for. However, there is no direct evidence of China directly helping North Korea. North Korea has entities that operate in China and the U.N. report has a long running list of Chinese companies that have help North Korea evade the sanctions.
For example, North Korea would buy cheap electronics in Hong Kong and turn them into military grade radios.
“The global network consisted of individuals, companies and bank accounts in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Middle East,” the report stated.
Is there an organization that can monitor the trade or complex networks of trade and financing? The closest one is probably the WTO but are they suppose to monitor and enforce the financial restrictions when the U.N. Security council imposes sanctions? These sanctions have no effect whatsoever when one of the big powers, China in this case, is actually enabling North Korea to counteract the sanctions.