Global Insights

Forced labour ranked eighth among allegation types and accounted for just 4.7% of all complaints filed to USA CBP’s e-Allegations system since 2023.

Forced labour ranked eighth among allegation types and accounted for just 4.7% of all complaints filed to USA CBP's e-Allegations system since 2023. The percentage falls to 3.1% for allegations made since 2025. Puts in perspective the priority U.S. business attaches to eliminating forced labour imports. Makes me wonder what purpose is really being served...

The US tariff level barely moves as Section 122 lapses as two Section 301 duties take its place

Between 21 and 24 July 2026 the temporary Section 122 surcharge lapses and two Section 301 tariffs (on Brazil and on forced labour) take its place. The trade-weighted average US tariff barely moves, edging from 11.0% to 11.2%, but the architecture flips from a near-uniform surcharge to country-specific duties. Country tariffs move only modestly and...

Forced-Labour Section 301 Tariffs on 60 Economies Take Effect on 24 July: An Overview of the Final Action

The United States Trade Representative's final action in its 60 forced-labour Section 301 investigations took effect on 24 July 2026, imposing additional duties of 10% or 12.5% on all products of the investigated economies, with exemptions set out in two annexes. This overview explains the notice's four rate treatments and three-layer structure, and provides the...

A side-by-side comparison of the articles of the MOU between Iran and USA

A side-by-side comparison of the articles of the MOU between Iran and USA reported first by Bloomberg and the version apparently submitted to Congress can be found in the table attached. Bottom line: Weaker language on most fronts. The text submitted to Congress strengthens the ceasefire and Lebanon-related provisions but weakens or hedges the most...

Politico reports that this MOU text has been submitted by the US administration to Congress

Politico reports that this MOU text has been submitted by the US administration to Congress....

MUST WATCH for anyone worried that AI will displace humans.

Fareed Zakaria's recent Commencement Address at Bard College offers an informed, tightly-argued and eloquent case for human flourishing. Very motivating!! Skip the first 3 minutes and 10 seconds which, if I have copied the URL correctly, this should land....

Iran US MOU transcripts best effort

Somehow Bloomberg got ahold of what purports to be the text of the MOU between Iran and the USA. Screenshots were shared and I assembled the attached text from them. A couple of instances of poor drafting (noted in footnotes I have added), this is unlikely to be the polished final text. Still this version...

Guilty by USA of not enforcing forced labour laws on imports

Switzerland among 60 nations found guilty by USA of not enforcing forced labour laws on imports. Tariffs of 10-12.5% to come into effect, date uncertain. Will almost certainly replace the temporary 10% tariffs imposed after Supreme Court loss earlier in the year. One more investigation (that essentailly targets countries with trade surpluses with USA) is...

Under the October 2025 Busan Accord, China suspended its planned restrictive rare earth export regime for one year.

Under the October 2025 Busan Accord, China suspended its planned restrictive rare earth export regime for one year. With six months of export data now in, we can assess how China is wielding control over these exports. This paper documents a paradox: total Chinese supply rose, yet the volumes reaching different trading partners diverged sharply—a...