For the last two years, the conflict between the United States and China has dominated the economic and financial-market debate – with good reason. After threats and accusations that long predate US President Donald Trump’s election, rhetoric has given way to action. Over the past 17 months, the world’s two largest economies have become embroiled in the most serious tariff war since the early 1930s.

If financial sanctions are the next battlefield for China and the United States, the pain may be worse than tariffs.

Cutting ties would undoubtedly hurt both countries. But when wishful policies collide with the iron laws of economics, the latter are certain to prevail.

Pragmatic cooperation’ among the BRICS requires flexible and open multilateralism in a global system comprised of nation-states that should not meddle in the domestic affairs of other countries.

TikTok CEO Alex Zhu claims that TikTok stores all user data in Virginia-- not China.

Trashing favorable treatment for rising countries in the WTO would be unconscionable.

China’s efforts to stimulate the economy post-crisis have resulted in massive debt accumulation for local governments. Now, the central government must plan to take the steps necessary to clean up its financial mess.

This year’s Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences was awarded to Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, and Michael Kremer for their experimental approach to poverty reduction. In the Nobel Committee’s view, the economists’ use of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), a method adapted from medical sciences, to test whether specific interventions work has “considerably improved our ability to fight global poverty.”

Although many societies aspire to provide equal opportunities for everyone, that is easier said than done. People born into different economic and social statuses have unequal educational or financial starting points. This often leads to very different career and life opportunities.

As the WTO-led multilateral trading system has weakened, free trade areas are driving the process of laying down international rules.