Free Republic

In what has been called “a definite turning point,” China’s direct investment in Europe over the last couple of years has multiplied by a factor 10, according to a new study. EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht welcomed the news, saying that “we need the money.” “Our dataset shows a profound post-2008 surge,” says the new study, presented on Thursday (7 June) in Brussels by consultancy firm Rhodium Group. “From €700 million yearly 2004-2008, to roughly €2.3 billion in 2009 and 2010, to €7.4 billion in 2011.” Most of that money went to France—with more than €4.5 billion in investment...

The United States is seeking to increase the power of China and other countries within the International Monetary Fund to reflect their growing weight on the world economic stage, an effort that is being resisted by some European countries whose voices could be weakened within the organization.

GURGAON, India (Reuters) - Violence broke out for a second day in Gurgaon on the outskirts of the Indian capital, New Delhi, on Tuesday after dramatic TV images showed policemen beating hundreds of protesting Honda workers with bamboo sticks. There were also protests in parliament over the clashes in the upmarket industrial township of in the state of Haryana, which is seen as a symbol of the country's resurgent economy. Japan's ambassador to New Delhi warned that such incidents would damage India's image for investors. "This is a disadvantage for India's image as an FDI (foreign direct investment) destination and...

It's India Above China in New World OrderHBSWK Pub. Date: Jul 28, 2003 Can India overtake China? That's the title of an influential new article in Foreign Policy magazine. A Q&A with authors Yasheng Huang of MIT and Tarun Khanna of HBS. by Martha Lagace, Senior Editor, HBS Working KnowledgeComparing India and China is to embark on an old puzzle that has fascinated smart people for centuries. The newer question of economic leadership, however?Which country will overtake the other in the foreseeable future?" —is an urgent and important one, according to a provocative article in the July-August issue of...

Lately there have been indications that China is losing out to India in attracting foreign capital. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has reported that foreign direct investment (FDI) for the first five months of 2005 fell year on year for the first time in five years. A number of reasons have been cited for this, including a global shift in investment from manufacturing toward the service sector; structural faults in China's stock market, banks, state-owned companies and legal infrastructure; the Chinese government's attempt to prevent the economy from overheating; and a series of geopolitical and economic frictions between China and...

...Insourcing is what happens when foreign-headquartered multinationals operate subsidiaries in the U.S. These companies contribute both to U.S. economic growth and living standards.... Insourcing provided jobs for more than 5.4 million U.S. workers in 2002, or nearly 5% of total private-sector employment. These are good-paying jobs, too. Payroll came to more than $307 billion -- or 6% of all private-sector compensation. The average annual compensation at such companies was a tad over $56,000, or some 31% more than the average annual private U.S. compensation. The internal operations of insourcing companies also contribute to research and development and to capital investment......

Time for new thinking on China trade By Douglas B. Fuller  |  August 24, 2004 IN RECENT MONTHS the United States has claimed several victories in keeping trade with China free and fair. From China's decision to postpone indefinitely its protectionist wireless networking standard to the recent US-China semiconductor agreement, China has dropped policies favoring domestic firms in the face of US pressure. US trade officials have been quick to point to these agreements as proof that trade liberalization under the World Trade Organization rules is working. Critics of US trade policy such as Alan Tonelson have charged that China...

United States #1 Investor in France NEW YORK and PARIS, May 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States maintained its position as primary investor in France, providing 33% of the total number of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects in France in 2002. The FDI figures were announced in Paris last week by Clara Gaymard, Ambassador at Large, Special Representative of France for International Investment and Chief Executive of the Invest in France Agency (AFII). From the 143 investment projects coming from North American-based companies, 5,861 jobs were created. While this figure is down considerably from 7,959 in 2001 -- a reflection...