Connecting the dots between geopolitics, macroeconomics & reality. Global Policy Director @Toyota. Views are my own.

Washington, DC
Joined December 2010
The married-couple metaphor is back, signaling Beijing’s desire for continued engagement with Washington. But in a sign of how fragile the detente is, people close to the White House say China will need to do more to get a date set for a Trump trip to China.
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As someone who likely eats my weight in pistachios each year, this is a WIN! Pistachios are a #trade success story, rising to 3rd most valuable ag export behind almonds & dairy in CA, the US’s biggest farm state. Trade Deal Saves Pistachio Growers wsj.com/economy/trade/trade-…
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Leila Aridi Afas retweeted
Congrats to our boys lax team for winning their regional title with a 14-9 victory over BCC. We now move onto the state quarterfinals Wednesday night at Whitman. Go Vikes! @WaltWhitmanMCPS
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How can you reduce #trade deficits in “the least harmful way”? “Fiscal austerity does the job with much less collateral damage than tariffs. Inflation goes down instead of up. Trading partners don’t retaliate.” ⁦@greg_ip⁩ ⁦@WSJ⁩ #tariffs wsj.com/economy/trade/budget…
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Leila Aridi Afas retweeted
No one — on either side of the border — wants to see American tariffs on Canadian goods.   I met with our Canada-U.S. Council today. We’re working hard to prevent these tariffs, but if the United States moves ahead, Canada’s ready with a forceful and immediate response.
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Leila Aridi Afas retweeted
President Biden claiming Japan's investment in an American steel company is a threat to national security is a pathetic and craven cave to special interests that will make America less prosperous and safe. I'm sorry to see him betraying our allies while abusing the law.
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Washington has “shifted from America first in digital trade to America last” over past few years. Now’s the time for “an offensive trade agenda” according to former #trade representative Zoellick
Trump needs an offensive trade agenda, not merely tariffs to defend the old order. He should foster a new type of negotiation that capitalizes on the country’s innovative spirit and technological advantages, writes Robert B. Zoellick trib.al/XdlQuwT
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Trump needs an offensive trade agenda, not merely tariffs to defend the old order. He should foster a new type of negotiation that capitalizes on the country’s innovative spirit and technological advantages, writes Robert B. Zoellick trib.al/XdlQuwT
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Leila Aridi Afas retweeted
Angela Alsobrooks will defeat former Maryland GOP Gov. Larry Hogan, CNN projects, keeping the Senate seat vacated by Ben Cardin in hands of Democrats. She'll be the first Black woman to represent Maryland in the chamber. cnn.it/40zVRIZ
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Leila Aridi Afas retweeted
📢 Nerd bookmarks 2) Watch live feed of every single vote count update we fetch from the Associated Press. Each batch of updates is considered unofficial until the state certifies results in the days and weeks after Election Day. washingtonpost.com/elections…
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A reminder that Mexico is China’s rival in the race to attract manufacturing, rather than a recipient of its FDI. President Sheinbaum’s administration wants firms to substitute imports from China, Malaysia, Vietnam &Taiwan with Mexican-made components. wsj.com/economy/trade/mexico…
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The people of Lebanon are facing an increasingly dire humanitarian situation. I am concerned about the security and well-being of civilians suffering in Lebanon and will continue working to help meet the needs of all civilians there. To that end, the United States will provide nearly $157 million in additional assistance to the people of Lebanon for essential needs such as food, shelter, water, protection, and sanitation to help those who have been displaced by the recent conflict. This additional support brings total U.S. assistance to Lebanon over the last year to over $385 million.
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Excited to share @christinemcdan @mercatus paper on a pragmatic approach to trade! “A principles-based, plurilateral approach can help protect national security while curbing protectionist tendencies, and tackle new issues such as climate action and renewable energy.”
This quoted post is unavailable.
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Leila Aridi Afas retweeted
My way-too-early impressions of Harris on econ policy based on a few calls & reporting: - Very close w/ labor. Opted out of LA hotel in solidarity with worker strike in 2023 & out of TV interview due to writers strike. Particularly allied w/ SEIU/care economy advocates - think of childcare/eldercare/homecare parts of BBB as likely priority. Has worked to cultivate ties with building trades as well - Widely seen at WH as strongly backing student debt cancelation & initiatives on medical debt. Wouldnt expect her to walk away from those commitments - In line w/ Biden on proposed safety net expansions. Key action as VP here working with states to boost Medicaid coverage of postpartum care - On trade, criticized TPP & NAFTA & was rare member to vote against USMCA. also said she was not a "protectionist" Dem. Still sort of TBD imo - Seems largely in line with Biden/median Dem otherwise on most issues? Taxing billionaires, housing supply expansion, whatever
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Leila Aridi Afas retweeted
China is shredding through export markets all around the world and, at the same time, China is deglobalizing: how is that possible? 👉The China Globalization Paradox Today's Factful Friday:(🔗linkedin.com/pulse/chinese-g…) cc: @IMD_Bschool @alanbeattie @jasonfurman @JustinWolfers @SamuelMarcLowe @martinwolf_ @MESandbu @snlester @SimonEvenett @BJavorcik @MJansenEcon @OssaRalph @NOIweala @C_Lombardelli @Trade_EU @Lucian_Cernat @TradeDiversion @TradeExperettes @TradeEconomista @lindayueh @AdamPosen @PIIE @AnaSwanson @PatcohenNYT @WorldBank @OECDtrade @OECD_Stat
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Replying to @Reuters
It is also important to know that the MD national guard was deployed to the Middle East only days ago, after the legislature thwarted a bill that attempted to refocus on their domestic mission (disaster response). xitter.cf/LivingDadJoke/status/1…
The timing of this disaster could not be worse as @JPenaMelnyk and other members of the Maryland House of Delegates just killed a @DefendTheGuard bill that would have kept the National Guard home, where they could respond to this emergency. Instead they are overseas.
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