Daily News Brief

August 28, 2023

Top of the Agenda

In Beijing, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said it is “profoundly important” (FT) that the United States and China have a stable economic relationship, as she became the fourth high-ranking U.S. official to visit China this year. Days before the visit, the U.S. Commerce Department removed export controls (CNN) on twenty-seven Chinese firms. Raimondo warned that Washington would not bend on national security but has identified many opportunities to improve bilateral trade. She is expected to discuss current and future U.S. restrictions on its economic relations with China during the visit, as well as China’s crackdown on U.S. consulting firms.  

Amid U.S. efforts to limit sensitive economic ties with China, U.S. imports of Chinese goods in the first half of this year fell by 25 percent (SCMP) from the previous year, according to Commerce Department figures unadjusted for inflation.

Analysis

“[Setting up a bilateral forum on export controls is] unpopular with some back in Washington, especially Republican lawmakers. That reaction underscores the difficulty of any real change in U.S.-China relations, with a concession on either side likely to be opposed domestically,” Bloomberg’s James Mayger writes. 

“For years, we were trying to warn the Chinese that if they did not adopt more progressive, reform-oriented economic policies, it would undermine the U.S.-China economic relationship,” CFR President Michael Froman tells CNBC. “That’s exactly what’s happened.”

Pacific Rim

Tech billionaire Terry Gou said he would run as an independent (Nikkei) in the January 24 election after previously losing the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party’s nomination. He joins three other candidates in a field currently led by Vice President William Lai, according to a recent poll.

South and Central Asia

The government will temporarily restrict (Hindustan Times) exports of basmati rice that are being sold for less than $1,200 per metric ton, in an effort to curb the export of rice that is inaccurately labeled as basmati.

Pakistan: The country’s interim prime minister said the government will announce steps to reduce electricity prices (Bloomberg) after they prompted nationwide protests over the weekend. Reducing price controls on power tariffs is a key condition of Islamabad’s current bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Middle East and North Africa

One of Libya’s two prime ministers said he suspended Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush (AP) after news of her meeting with Israel’s top diplomat prompted street demonstrations. Israel has been looking to improve its ties with Arab countries.

Israel/Syria: Israeli air strikes shut down service (AFP) at the airport in the Syrian city of Aleppo today, Syrian state media reported. Israel did not immediately comment on the matter.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Nelson Chamisa said that the ruling party had allegedly committed “blatant and gigantic fraud” (WaPo) after election authorities declared incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa victorious in last week’s election with more than 52 percent of votes. Chamisa did not immediately say he would contest the results.

Sudan: The Rapid Support Forces, the rebel paramilitary group in Sudan’s civil war, said in a statement released yesterday that it is open to a sustained cease-fire with the Sudanese army (Reuters). The country is in its twentieth week of fighting. 

In this In Brief, CFR’s Mariel Ferragamo and Diana Roy detail the extent of Sudan’s humanitarian crisis.

Europe

DNA testing confirms that Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the private military company Wagner Group, was onboard a plane (FT) that crashed last week, Russian officials said. Prigozhin’s top deputy was also confirmed dead, adding to uncertainties about Wagner’s future. Moscow has denied any involvement in the crash.

This In Brief by CFR expert Steven Sestanovich explores how Prigozhin’s death explains Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

U.S./Turkey: The two countries held their largest joint military drills (Bloomberg) in at least seven years as Ankara and Washington both attempt to strengthen bilateral relations.  

Americas

The ruling Morena party will choose its candidate (Bloomberg) for the 2024 election through a nationwide survey conducted by polling companies with plans to announce a selection by September 6. The current frontrunners are former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum and former Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard.

Haiti: A gang in the capital, Port-au-Prince, killed at least seven people (NYT) when they opened fire on a church group demonstrating against gang violence. The shooting adds to Haiti’s mounting incidents of violence following President Jovenel Moïse’s assassination in 2021.

This Backgrounder by Rocio Cara Labrador and CFR’s Diana Roy explores how gang violence is contributing to instability in Haiti.

United States

The demonstrators in Washington, D.C. called for an end to systemic racism (NPR, AP), gun violence, and poverty in an event that marked the sixty-year anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are due to meet today with the organizers of the 1963 gathering. 

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