Working Paper Series: International Trade

The views and findings expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies or any officials of the Institute.

The Implications of Russia’s War in Ukraine on Eurozone Bank Exposure

Author: Jon Pike MAITED ’22 (August 2022)

This paper employs scenario analysis’ techniques to consider the critical uncertainties precipitated by the war in Ukraine and tethers the corresponding, foremost implications to forward-looking investment strategies considering asset allocations to Eurozone banks. Read more.

Outbound Investment Review Mechanism: A Potential Means of Countering Risks in the U.S.-China Investment Landscape

Author: Julius Moye MAITED/MANPTS ’21 (April 2022)

Foreign investment review mechanisms have taken prominence as a tool of national security strategy and framework for economic competitiveness. One of the most important innovations was the expansion of CFIUS jurisdiction and capacity in the U.S. A notable area that foreign investment review has not covered is that of outbound investments. Read more.

Sony’s Digital Distribution Gambit: Looking at the Crunchyroll Acquisition through the OLI Paradigm

Author: James Garrett MAITED ’21 (April 2022)

Digital streaming has led legacy media companies to compete in securing exclusive content in a bid to draw new subscribers to their platforms. This paper explores the most recent movements of the Sony Group in this environment, analyzing its purchase of the niche streaming platform Crunchyroll, Inc. through the OLI paradigm. Read more.

U.S. and China: New Cold War or an Overdue Negotiation

Authors: Thomas Hout and Robert A. Rogowsky (April 2022)

The worrying trajectory of U.S. economic strength relative to China signals a need to reassess the U.S.’ rules of engagement on trade and investment with our principal economic rival. China is turning more authoritarian, more focused on self-sufficiency, challenging U.S. dominance in critical technologies, and selectively honoring the market-based rules of the international trade order. Read more.

Cryptocurrency and Risks to Banks, AML,
and Sanctions Compliance: A Case Study 2.0

Author: Hannah Sutterfield MPA/MAITED ’21 (December 2021)

This case study updates and expands Dennis Gable’s April 2021 paper. It describes the potential compliance risks cryptocurrencies pose to financial institutions in addition to areas in which banks may expand digital services. This paper also looks at some of the more recent updates made by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Read more.

Cryptocurrency and Risks to Banks, AML, and Sanctions Compliance: A Case Study

Author: Dennis Gable MAITED ’20 (April 2021)

This working case study describes the potential compliance risks cryptocurrencies pose to financial institutions in addition to areas in which banks may expand digital services. Banks’ compliance requirements often come at odds with users’ appeal to privacy but are necessary for properly monitoring any transgressions or illicit behavior. Read more.

Consistency of the U.S. Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) with the WTO principles

Author: Yoichiro Kimura MAITED ’20 (March 2021)

To combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the U.S. established the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP). SIMP may violate the US obligations under the provisions of the WTO agreement because it could discriminate against imported fish and fish products. Read more.

China’s Soft Power & Digital Trade: Reshaping Global Image Through Digital Media & Entertainment

Authors: Bryan Herbert MAITED ’20, Nicole Kroeger MAIPD ’21, Li (Janet) Zhengjing MAITED ’20 (January 24, 2021)

Despite having seen unprecedented economic growth over the past 30 years, in the eyes of many, China has fallen short in terms of its soft power development as it faces challenges from western democracies. Read more.

The Politics of 5G: The Battle Over the Control of the Next Super Leverage

Author: Shakil Ahmad MAITED ’20 (December 10, 2020)

The leader in the 5G transformation will have the growth and the power to rule the world by setting technological standards. The 5G leader in the technological world can be assumed to hold the same power as the dollar holder has in the financial world. Read more.

U.S. Sanctions Against Russia: Theory, Scope, and Intended and Unintended Consequences for the Investment Behavior of Russian Business Owners

Author: Darrell Stanaford MAIPD ’20 (December 2020)

The purpose of this research paper is to explore the use of sanctions against Russian individual businessmen. It seeks to understand how the sanctioning of individuals fits into the overall policy of U.S. sanctions against Russia. Read more.

What’s the Matter with Sierra Leone?

Author: Stephanie Gaertner MAITED ’20 (December 10, 2020)

Sierra Leone neighbors the “Cotton Four” of West Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali. The country has geographical features to thrive in agriculture and cotton, but yet the population depends on subsistence agriculture. Having emerged from a civil war in 2001, why doesn’t Sierra Leone have a cotton or textile industry? Read more.

The Evolution of Auto and Labor Provisions in North American Free Trade Agreements

Author: Caroline Turkanis MAITED ’20 (April 2020)

One of the most significant events for U.S. international trade over the last few years has been the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. This paper explores the evolution of labor provisions in North American trade agreements, with particular emphasis on the auto industry. Read more.

Strategic Negotiation for WTO Accession

Authors: Brigid Callahan MAITED ’19, Karen Prodromo, Robert A. Rogowsky (April 2020)

Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) acceding to the World Trade Organization have a hard negotiation road to travel, and much to learn from previous successful accessions. While many of those negotiations were done privately, much can still be garnered by looking at the evolution of those countries’ procurement policies, tariff schedules, and commitments to trade-related aspects of intellectual priority rights. Read more.