A Three-Ring Circus: Plates on the Floor, or One Rascally Rabbit

President pinned below 40 percent approval, deep bond market anxiety, sovereigntist surges, and a (possible) rabbit in the hat. Less than 30 days out from pivotal U.S. midterm elections, a potentially devastating mix of domestic pocketbook pressures and geopolitical alarm is forcing an administration and a President pinned below 40 percent approval into an aggressive,…

Summer in the rearview, no clear path ahead

Summer is nearly in the rearview, but global conflict is front and center. The flashpoints I last wrote about – from war in Iran and Ukraine to mounting trade battles – continue to test the limits of President Trump’s go to economic and military strategy of coercion.  Tehran and Beijing exemplify these limits. Despite the…

The View from North America: Elbows up, clear eyes.

If you needed proof that the late-August heat gets to everyone, look no further than the U.S.–Canada border. Just one week ago today, negotiators appeared to have a solid trade path forward—yet by Monday, the northern alliance had hit a fever pitch. Between the abrupt U.S. 50% tariff threats on steel and autos, Canadian leaders…

The U.S., Mexico and migration: Time for cooperation, not coercion.

The following opinion editorial was published recently in the San Antonio Express-New and the Austin American-Statesman: In the piece I discuss the limits of economic ‘sticks’  to forge immigration policy and the now critical need for bilateral and regional cooperation, not coercion in our relationship with Mexico. It’s time to address U.S. immigration and asylum systems,…

A sweltering summer, and market fall.

This past Monday, the Trump administration delayed the full onset of another round of tariffs against consumer goods from China through December. It was welcome news, but not enough to reverse current market trends or to keep China from promising countermeasures. By all indicators, the global economy is steadily cooling down and the United States and other major economies…

A Tariff, Gone Too Far…

Later today, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, United States Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet regarding the Trump administration’s announcement that they will apply 5 percent tariffs on all goods coming from Mexico (set to start on June 10), if Mexico does not stop migrants from reaching the United States. It’s…

Shutdown averted, USMCA and Energy Reform still big question marks.

Yesterday, President Trump appeared to back away from his threat to close the U.S.-Mexico border. The change of tone was a relief, especially for the North American business and border communities that would be paralyzed from the halted cross-border trade and movement.

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