August 13, 2010
By Michael Schuman

Looks like we're headed for another, repetitive round of U.S.-China bickering over Chinese exports. The U.S. trade deficit with China in June rose to $26 billion, the widest gap in nearly two years. Meanwhile, the reform of China's currency regime, announced by Beijing in June, has proven to be not much of a reform at all, since the value of the yuan against the greenback has barely budged since then. Lawmakers in Washington are sure to renew their calls for punitive action against China.

August 12, 2010

Even in the gloom of an international economic crisis, there is a bright spot of hope: free trade. Successful trade pacts with Panama and Colombia and a pending agreement with South Korea will serve to accelerate investment opportunities across a broad spectrum of business and industry, including agriculture, communications technology and natural resources — for Canada, that is.

August 12, 2010

One of the Obama Administration's chief stated goals is greater engagement in the Asia-Pacific region. "In every regard -- geopolitically, militarily, diplomatically, and economically -- Asia and the Pacific are indispensable to addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities of the 21st century," said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell earlier this year, in his testimony before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.