Chinese Shadows

By Ian Buruma on March 24, 2005

There are many reasons for getting tattooed. But a sense of belonging—to a group, a faith, or a person—is key. As a mark of identification a tattoo is more lasting than a passport. This is not always voluntary. In Japan, criminals used to have the word for “bad” or “dog” needled into their foreheads. Later, members of the raffish underworld in Edo and Osaka took pride in their outlaw status and sported ever more elaborate tattoos, sometimes covering the entire body, depicting Buddhist deities or folk heroes.

Nonmarket Nonsense: U.S. Antidumping Policy toward China

By Daniel Ikenson on March 7, 2005

In stark contrast to its broader restraint in the face of anti-China protectionist pressure, the Bush administration has adopted an unabashedly bellicose approach to antidumping matters. The administration should take a hard look at its antidumping policy toward China, particularly the Department of Commerce’s nonmarket economy (NME) methodology, as well as some dubious rules changes that the agency is considering. An honest assessment will lead to the conclusion that U.S. antidumping policy is undermining the otherwise laudable efforts of the administration to keep the U.S.-China trade relationship on sound footing.

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Topics: 
Economy
Politics
Keywords: 
U.S.-China Relations
Antidumping
World Trade Organization
Economic Policy
Organization: 
Cato Institute

Japan, China, and the U. S. Current Account Deficit

By Richard H. Clarida on March 1, 2005

Exchange rate protectionism is a subject much in the news these days, especially in regard to the actions of Japan and China in foreign exchange markets and in the financing of the U.S. current account deficit.

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Topics: 
Economy
Keywords: 
Exchange Rates
Protectionism
Economy
Deficit
Organization: 
Cato Institute

European Union’s Arms Control Regime and Arms Exports to China: Background and Legal Analysis

By Richard F. Grimmett, Theresa Papademetriou on March 1, 2005

In recent months, discussions have been held within the European Union (EU) on the question of lifting the embargo on arms exports to the People’s Republic of China that was imposed on China on June 27, 1989. The prospect that the EU would lift its embargo on arms exports to China has led to a number of on-going discussions between EU member states and the United States government, which strongly opposes such an action at this time on human rights and security issues grounds. This report provides detailed background and legal analysis of the nature of the current European Union embargo on arms exports to China. It also provides detailed background on the European Union’s current Code of Conduct on Arms Exports. A strengthened version of the Code would be one of the control mechanisms that would remain should the EU lift the embargo on arms exports to China. This report also gives information on recent EU arms exports authorized for China. It further summarizes U.S. concerns regarding the lifting of the arms embargo, and notes the prospective timing of EU action on the embargo issue.

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Peony Lui
Topics: 
Law
Military
Politics
Keywords: 
Embargo
European Union
Organization: 
Congressional Research Service