U.S. Tariffs on China | German Coalition in Doubt | Zimbabwe's Crowded Election

Council on Foreign Relations Newsletter If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view. June 15, 2018 Daily News Brief   TOP OF THE AGENDA U.S., China Edge Toward Trade War The United States is imposing tariffs of 25 percent on some $50 billion worth of Chinese goods, the White House said, though it did not specify when the new measure would take effect. Several rounds of talks between Washington and Beijing have failed to resolve U.S. complaints (Reuters) over its $375 billion trade deficit with China. Ahead of the Friday announcement, China’s foreign ministry said (AP) that Beijing will “take necessary measures to defend our legitimate rights and interests” and retaliate against U.S. protectionism. The White House also said it refined an earlier list of goods to which the tariffs would apply after public hearings (NYT) with business owners and trade groups last month. ANALYSIS “China is by far the biggest test. Unlike the other trade fights, U.S. business has been encouraging President Trump, hoping that the new approach might persuade Beijing to tackle the growing problems they face in China over intellectual property, forced technology transfer, and investment restrictions,” writes CFR’s Edward Alden. “The plan to proceed with tariffs has split the president’s closest advisers, some who believe they are necessary measures to force China to reform, and others who fear the fallout from a trade war and have been pushing for a negotiated solution,” Ana Swanson writes for the New York Times. “Even though econometric models suggest a trade war will not significantly cut global growth, there is a real danger that investors are underestimating the impact of those deadweight losses, and a world with vastly different rules,” Megan Greene writes for the Financial Times. PACIFIC RIM Troop Withdrawal a U.S.-South Korean Matter, Says Seoul Removing U.S. troops from South Korea is not on the table for U.S.-North Korea negotiations, as the matter is one between the United States and South Korea, a senior Blue House official said. The official also said the two countries will soon announce whether they will hold joint military drills (FT) in August. This CFR panel assessed the recent U.S.-North Korea summit in Singapore. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA Taliban Leader Reportedly Killed in U.S. Strike A U.S. drone strike killed a Pakistani Taliban chief (VOA) in Afghanistan’s Kunar Province on Wednesday, according to unnamed U.S. and Afghan sources. A U.S. military spokesperson confirmed U.S. forces carried out a strike and said the United States is abiding by a government cease-fire (Tolo) with the Afghan Taliban. INDIA: Thousands of mourners attended the funeral (Hindustan Times) of journalist Shujaat Bukhari, who was shot dead (CNN) along with his two bodyguards in Srinagar yesterday. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA UNSC Calls for Yemeni Port to Remain Open The UN Security Council is urging all forces fighting in Yemen’s Hodeidah to keep the city’s port open after Saudi and Emirati forces began an assault on the city (Al Jazeera) earlier this week. The majority of Yemen’s food and humanitarian aid comes through the port. PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: Police in Ramallah broke up a protest (Haaretz) against sanctions imposed by President Mahmoud Abbas on Gaza, using tear gas and firing shots in the air before arresting dozens of demonstrators and journalists (Amnesty). SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Nearly Two Dozen to Vie for Zimbabwe’s Presidency Twenty-three candidates have entered the country’s presidential race (Herald), the highest since the country gained independence in 1980. The July election will be the first without Robert Mugabe, who was ousted in a military coup (VOA) last year. In Foreign Affairs, John Rapley examines Zimbabwe’s post-Mugabe era. DRC: The Angolan government is in regular talks (Africa News) with Congolese President Joseph Kabila about a potential political transition in the DRC, President Joao Lourenco said. Kabila’s term was set to end in late 2016 but his government has repeatedly postponed elections. EUROPE Germany’s Merkel Challenged Over Refugee Policy The political coalition backing Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing uncertainty after the interior minister, from the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) party, said authorities should be allowed to turn away unauthorized immigrants (BBC) at the border. On Thursday, Merkel’s Christian Democrats and the CSU held separate emergency meetings (DW) on the matter. TURKEY: The brother of a ruling party lawmaker and three other people were killed in a clash (Middle East Eye) during a campaign stop in the mainly Kurdish town of Suruc. The government claims the perpetrators (Anadolu) sympathized with the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party. AMERICAS Argentina’s Lower House Backs Abortion Bill Argentine lawmakers voted 129–125 (Guardian) to allow abortion in the first fourteen weeks of pregnancy. If the bill passes in the upper house, Argentina would become the third Latin American nation, after Cuba and Uruguay, to legalize abortion. NICARAGUA: Business in the capital city of Managua effectively halted yesterday (LAHT) amid a general strike in protest of a recent crackdown on demonstrators by President Daniel Ortega’s government. UNITED STATES Thousands Protest Migrant Family Separations People in dozens of U.S. cities marched yesterday in protest of new border security policy by which migrant children are separated from their parents (NYT) and held in detention facilities. Attorney General Jeff Sessions warned in a Thursday speech that having children does not give immigrants immunity from arrest and prosecution (NBC) for illegally crossing the border. This CFR event looked at the status of U.S. immigration reform. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will visit Brazil, Ecuador, and Guatemala (AP) later this month. Pence said he will address Venezuela’s ongoing humanitarian crisis and recovery efforts in Guatemala following a recent volcanic eruption that killed scores of people.         Council on Foreign Relations — 58 East 68th Street — New York, NY 10065 CFR does not share email addresses with third parties. 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From: dailybrief@e.cfr.org

Date: June 15, 2018 at 10:05PM