Skip to main content
The Interpreter

Interpreter - Menu Links

  • Articles
  • Debates
  • Contributors
  • About

Published daily by the Lowy Institute

  • 30 Dec 2024
    • China
    • Australia
    • Energy
    • Free Trade
    • Trade
    • Sustainability
    • United States

    Whether EVs or solar panels, protectionism has the same distorting effect

    John Edwards
    Biden is playing election politics with tariffs on China’s electric cars, while Albanese’s solar subsidy plans might end up costing Australia.
  • 18 Dec 2024
    • Aid & Development
    • China
    • Indonesia
    • Southeast Asia
    • Taiwan
    • Russia
    • Trade
    • Climate change
    • Technology
    • Papua New Guinea
    • Solomon Islands
    • United States

    What I’ll be watching for in 2025

    Susannah Patton , Melanie Pill , Sam Roggeveen , Robert Walker , Mihai Sora , Hilman Palaon , Oliver Nobetau
    Lowy researchers gaze at their crystal balls – with questions, more than answers, for the year ahead.
  • 10 Dec 2024
    • China
    • Australia
    • Global Economy
    • Trade
    • Technology
    • United States

    China’s EV manufacturing and Australia’s connected vehicles conundrum

    Henry Storey
    Canberra faces complicated trade-offs between competing domestic and foreign policy objectives.
  • 5 Dec 2024
    • Trade
    • WTO
    • United States

    The unilateral trading system: US trade policy for Trump, again

    Stephen Moran
    Trump wants systemic changes and his recent tariff threats show that no issue is off limits.
  • 14 Nov 2024
    • Australia
    • Australia's Economy
    • Free Trade
    • Trade
    • United States
    • US Economy

    Economic diplomacy: It’s populists vs plutocrats in Trump Take 2

    Greg Earl
    Australia’s hopes of a modest economic impact from the Trump administration’s actions will require navigating the financial tensions at its heart.
  • 6 Nov 2024
    • Indonesia
    • Trade
    • Technology

    Indonesia takes a bite out of Apple, and sets itself a test for future investment

    Hilman Palaon
    The Local Content Requirement may only be a temporary setback for the tech giant, but it could raise concerns among potential foreign investors.
  • 4 Nov 2024
    • Asean
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • China's Economy
    • Chinese Trade
    • Indonesia
    • Japan
    • Malaysia
    • Thailand
    • Vietnam
    • Trade

    ASEAN countries confront Chinese export glut

    Henry Storey
    Left unchecked, a saturation of Chinese goods may complicate what has otherwise been a very compelling ASEAN growth story.
  • 11 Oct 2024
    • China
    • Global Economy
    • Trade
    • United States

    The US wakes up to China’s latest threat – big ships

    Selwyn Parker
    Hardly a day goes by that Chinese shipyards don’t book another fat contract for a commercial vessel.
  • 26 Sep 2024
    • China
    • China-Japan Relations
    • Japan
    • Trade

    Yesterday’s stick, today’s carrot? China’s removal of the Japan seafood ban

    Victor Ferguson , Darren Lim
    Talk of easing import restrictions raises questions about Beijing’s motivations at this time.
  • 18 Sep 2024
    • Trade
    • Sex and Gender

    Breaking barriers: Enhancing women’s participation in trade across the Indo-Pacific

    Sunaina Kumar
    A gender-inclusive trade agenda will help create better jobs and unlock greater economic potential.
  • 6 Sep 2024
    • Defence & Security
    • Maritime Security
    • Trade
    • Iran
    • Yemen

    Iran’s shadow hand in Houthi Red Sea attacks

    Jonathan Campbell-James
    How the Houthis and Iranians work together isn’t absolutely clear – but stopping the threat to shipping requires more than shooting down incoming missiles and extends to disrupting an intelligence and targeting system.
  • 26 Aug 2024
    • Bangladesh
    • India
    • Trade

    The benefits of connection: India’s linkages to Bangladesh withstand local unrest

    Riya Sinha
    Roads and rail are the sinews of a strong relationship. But New Delhi cannot afford to be complacent about its regional ties.
  • 22 Aug 2024
    • Indonesia
    • Indonesia's Economy
    • Australia
    • Australia's Economy
    • Trade

    Economic diplomacy: Playing defence with Prabowo

    Greg Earl
    New security cooperation with Indonesia does not make up for the slow progress in building fresh economic links.
  • 7 Aug 2024
    • China
    • Middle East Conflict
    • Trade
    • Iran
    • Israel

    China’s high-stakes diplomacy: Managing Middle Eastern turmoil

    Joseph Webster
    Will Beijing exert more effort to calm the region and protect its economic interests and credibility?
  • 30 Jul 2024
    • Global Economy
    • Global Financial Crisis
    • Trade
    • United States
    • US Economy

    Made in the USA: America’s gambit to reclaim industrial primacy

    Jack Goldsmith
    Dominance in next-generation industry relies on people and partnerships to short-circuit China’s leading edge.
  • 15 Jul 2024
    • Europe's Economy
    • European Union
    • United Kingdom
    • Australian trade, investment & economy
    • Trade
    • WTO

    What next for UK trade relations with the EU?

    Justin Brown
    The ushering in of new blood in Westminster promises less ideology on trade, but no fewer red lines.
  • 1 Jul 2024
    • China
    • China's Economy
    • Chinese Trade
    • Trade

    China’s spluttering growth engines

    Henry Storey
    The distortions of Beijing’s unbalanced growth model are coming home to roost.
  • 25 Jun 2024
    • China
    • European Union
    • Trade
    • Sustainability
    • Technology
    • United States

    Tariffs, data security and global collaboration: Navigating the geopolitics of electric vehicles

    Marina Yue Zhang
    Protectionism isn’t going to help with meeting global climate ambitions.
  • 11 Jun 2024
    • China
    • Australia
    • Energy
    • Resource security
    • Trade
    • Technology

    Rare earths vs rarer resources: Global ripples from Australia’s divestment decision

    Marina Yue Zhang
    Climate change is a challenge China and the United States are fighting together, making technological cooperation key.
  • 30 May 2024
    • Australian trade, investment & economy
    • Trade
    • WTO
    • Review

    Fibs, squibs, and trading digs

    Justin Brown
    Is it any wonder the public is often bemused about the merits of trade policy?
  • 29 May 2024
    • India
    • India's Economy
    • Australia
    • Australia's Economy
    • Trade

    A growth agenda for India-Australia economic ties

    Soumya Bhowmick , Nilanjana Das
    Recent steps forward on the trade front have also cleared the way for greater ambition in the partnership.
  • 27 May 2024
    • Aid & Development
    • China
    • Trade

    What do Biden’s big new China tariffs mean for global development?

    Roland Rajah
    Downsides abound but there’s also a path where developing nations benefit.
  • 13 May 2024
    • China
    • China's Economy
    • Chinese Trade
    • Australia in the World
    • Australia
    • Australia and Asia
    • Australia's Economy
    • Australia's Trade
    • Trade

    Made in Australia meets China’s export juggernaut

    Henry Storey
    China’s irrepressible appetite for Australian resources will severely complicate the country’s manufacturing renaissance.
  • 8 May 2024
    • China
    • Chinese Trade
    • Philippines
    • Trade

    The Philippines and the Digital Silk Road

    Julio S. Amador III , Deryk Matthew N. Baladjay
    China is shaping the emerging digital landscape in Southeast Asia, reflecting a wider competition.
  • 23 Apr 2024
    • Central Asia
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • Trade

    The Kyrgyzstan route facilitating Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

    Joseph Webster
    Russia’s military aims in Ukraine have been furthered by its trade with the Central Asian nation.
  • 18 Apr 2024
    • Australia
    • European Union
    • Trade
    • Climate change
    • Pacific Islands

    Is the EU Australia’s blind spot in the Indo-Pacific?

    Anne McNaughton , Frédéric Grare
    In region worried about militarisation, what is perceived as the EU’s weakness by Australia may be its main strength.
  • 18 Apr 2024
    • Australia
    • Global Economy
    • Australian trade, investment & economy
    • IMF
    • Trade

    Economic diplomacy: Made in Australia with new energy

    Greg Earl
    The government wants to manufacture an election winning industry policy that also sounds tough on various foreign partners.
  • 4 Apr 2024
    • Australia in the World
    • Australia
    • Australia and Asia
    • Australia's Economy
    • Australia's Trade
    • Australian trade, investment & economy
    • Free Trade
    • Trade
    • International Public Opinion
    • Public Opinion Polling

    Economic diplomacy: Hanging on in ASEAN

    Greg Earl
    Australia faces growing competition for influence among its old friends in Southeast Asia as China’s power rises.
  • 20 Mar 2024
    • China
    • Australia
    • Global Economy
    • Trade
    • Technology

    China’s dominance over critical minerals poses an unacceptable risk

    John Coyne , Justin Bassi
    The present market structure gives Beijing a whip hand – and we’ve already seen the consequences.
  • 18 Mar 2024
    • India
    • India's Economy
    • United Kingdom
    • Australian trade, investment & economy
    • Free Trade
    • Trade
    • Migration

    Reverse colonialism? India and Britain’s free trade agreements

    Aarti Betigeri
    The failure of FTA talks between New Delhi and London rings with an unmistakable tone of irony.
  • 15 Mar 2024
    • Trade
    • Review

    What price sanctions?

    John West
    When trade is made a weapon, the target isn’t always hit.
  • 15 Mar 2024
    • China
    • China's Economy
    • Chinese Trade
    • Europe
    • Germany
    • Global Economy
    • Trade
    • Climate change
    • Environment

    Shipping and the great shrinking waterways

    Selwyn Parker
    With droughts a more regular feature due to climate change, the globe needs a big rethink on supply chains.
  • 1 Mar 2024
    • Asean
    • Southeast Asia
    • Global Economy
    • Trade

    The parts within the whole: Understanding Southeast Asia’s economies

    Hannah Denson
    The diversity within the region is as important to understand as the ways ASEAN seeks to build consensus.
  • 19 Feb 2024
    • Australia
    • European Union
    • Trade
    • Environment

    Kicking up a stink: Europe’s farmers, like those in Australia, are counting costs

    Genevieve Donnellon-May
    International turmoil is having mixed political consequences both near and far.
  • 1 Feb 2024
    • Vietnam
    • Trade

    Vietnam’s ports prosper as supply chains fracture

    Selwyn Parker
    The country was seen as a winner in the US-China trade war. But the gains are quite extraordinary.
  • 18 Jan 2024
    • Australia and Asia
    • Australia's Economy
    • Australia's Trade
    • Australia-United States Relations
    • Australian trade, investment & economy
    • Free Trade
    • Trade
    • WTO

    Economic diplomacy: To market, to market, with China

    Greg Earl
    New Cabinet papers reveal the origins of trade pragmatism and the Coalition’s embrace of communism with market characteristics.
  • 16 Jan 2024
    • Development Assistance
    • Global Economy
    • Debt
    • Poverty
    • Trade
    • Coronavirus

    Global economic prospects are the worst in decades but investing in the future could be the answer

    Robert Walker
    The World Bank reports on why global growth and poverty reduction are slowing but points to investment as a way forward.
  • 7 Dec 2023
    • Australia's Economy
    • Australia's Trade
    • Global Economy
    • Australian trade, investment & economy
    • Geo-economics
    • Trade
    • WTO

    Economic diplomacy: Pulling the right global value chain

    Greg Earl
    Australia is now a big exporter of “bottleneck products” in a deglobalising world, just as it tries to rebuild manufacturing.
  • 23 Nov 2023
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • Global Economy
    • Trade
    • United States

    Economic diplomacy: Hits and misses for Project Diversify

    Greg Earl
    India and Vietnam are the rising new trade partners as business cools on China amid new American protectionism.
  • 22 Nov 2023
    • China
    • Chinese Trade
    • Myanmar
    • Southeast Asia
    • Thailand
    • Trade and Investment in the Asia Pacific
    • Australia and Asia
    • Quad
    • Australian trade, investment & economy
    • Trade

    Why is Myanmar’s new deep-sea port such hot property?

    Shaun Cameron
    An alternative route to the Strait of Malacca offers China, and others, a safer, faster and more efficient trade route.
  • 14 Nov 2023
    • Australia
    • Maritime Security
    • Trade

    Australia needs to resource a merchant fleet

    Richard Dunley
    Virtually all Australia’s trade moves by sea, yet relies almost exclusively on foreign flagged and foreign owned vessels.
  • 9 Nov 2023
    • China
    • Australia
    • Energy
    • Trade
    • WTO
    • Climate change
    • Environment

    Economic diplomacy: Labor’s green security state rises

    Greg Earl
    From Chinese wind turbines to temporary foreign workers, Australia faces difficult intersections between domestic and foreign policy.
  • 1 Nov 2023
    • India
    • India's Economy
    • Europe
    • Europe's Economy
    • Trade
    • Middle East
    • Iran
    • Israel
    • Saudi Arabia
    • United Arab Emirates
    • United States
    • US Economy

    History repeats: A new (old) economic corridor emerges

    Ved Shinde
    Renewed connectivity between India, the Middle East and Europe shows how maps are temporary, but geography persists.
  • 30 Oct 2023
    • Australia
    • European Union
    • Trade

    Dashed hopes for Australia, Europe still has blind spots on trade

    Justin Brown
    The collapse of FTA negotiations illustrates that protectionist sentiment is still powerful in the bloc.
  • 26 Oct 2023
    • Central Asia
    • China
    • China's Economy
    • Chinese Trade
    • Caucasus
    • Trade

    Beijing’s interest in the Middle Corridor

    Genevieve Donnellon-May
    An economic gateway through Central Asia could provide China a much less messy trade route to Europe.
  • 19 Oct 2023
    • China
    • European Union
    • Energy
    • Trade

    China’s car exports pose a key question to policymakers: Compete or protect?

    Robert Walker
    How they respond will have implications for consumers and the climate.
  • 18 Oct 2023
    • China
    • China's Economy
    • Australia in the World
    • Australia's Economy
    • Australia's Trade
    • Australia-United States Relations
    • China-Australia Relations
    • Global Economy
    • Australian trade, investment & economy
    • Trade
    • United States
    • US Economy

    Australia must play the geoeconomics game, or risk being side-lined

    Naoise McDonagh
    The world is moving away from a rules-based order and towards power politics. Is Canberra ready?
  • 11 Oct 2023
    • Indonesia
    • Indonesia's Economy
    • Energy
    • Trade

    Indonesia’s “golden visa” pitch to big-wheel investors

    Warief Djajanto Basorie
    The President has a downstreaming vision and needs long-term capital to make it reality.
  • 21 Sep 2023
    • China
    • China's Economy
    • Global Economy
    • Trade

    China does not need currency manipulation to boost its exports

    Robert Walker , Roland Rajah
    A weak economy will itself increase China’s export competitiveness.
  • 15 Sep 2023
    • Australia
    • Australia's Economy
    • Energy
    • Trade
    • Technology

    Critical minerals, critical choices: Australia’s role in shaping the green revolution

    Connor O’Brien
    “Resource nationalism” only poses a threat to mining policy if the government pretends it’s not happening.
Pagination
  • Previous page ‹ Previous
  • Current page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Page 4
  • Next page ››

Stay informed with the latest commentary and analysis on international events from experts at the Lowy Institute and around the world.

Register

The Interpreter features in-depth analysis & expert commentary on the latest international events, published daily by the Lowy Institute.

© Copyright 2024 Lowy Institute

  • Debates
  • Contributors
  • Articles
  • About
  • Terms of Use
  • Log In
  • My bookmarks