Geopolitical Monitor - Economy - Geopolitical Analysis on Economic Issues Facing Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East

Dubai recently announced its partnership with China in the creation of a billion dollar investment fund. Saudi Arabia recently announced its commitment to double oil exports to China by 2010. These two announcements exemplify China’s Middle East energy strategy: to entrench itself economically in the region, even at a loss, so as to obtain the political leverage required to secure access to oil and gas.

May 15, 2008 (BBC) - The price of tortillas, a staple food in Mexico, are set to rise 18% in the next few weeks, an industry group says.

May 15, 2008 (AFP) - The United States Thursday accused China of keeping its yuan currency "substantially undervalued," but stopped short of branding Beijing a currency manipulator.

WASHINGTON May 14, 2008 (AP) - Inflation pressures eased a bit in April despite the biggest jump in food prices in 18 years.

May 12, 2008 (Martin Waller, Times Online) - Royal Dutch Shell has apparently caved into political pressure from the US in backing out of a $10 billion gas project in Iran.

May 12, 2008 (AP) - Liberia banned all food exports Monday, saying profiteers have been taking advantage of its cheap rice prices to truck the grain — already in short supply in Liberia — to neighboring countries to sell at higher prices.

May 8, 2008 (Bloomberg) - Inflation is emerging as a threat to economic stability after years of "quiescence," and officials must be wary of policies that stoke consumer prices, the International Monetary Fund's deputy chief said.

GARMSER, Afghanistan May 6, 2008 (AP) - The Marines of Bravo Company's 1st Platoon sleep beside a grove of poppies. Troops in the 2nd Platoon playfully swat at the heavy opium bulbs while walking through the fields. Afghan laborers scraping the plant's gooey resin smile and wave.

May 3, 2008 (Gary Duncan, The Times) - The US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank united yesterday to open a new front in their battle to quell the persistent money market strains that are fuelling the global credit crunch.

May 4, 2008 (London Independent) - Giant agribusinesses are enjoying soaring earnings and profits out of the world food crisis which is driving millions of people towards starvation, The Independent on Sunday can reveal. And speculation is helping to drive the prices of basic foodstuffs out of the reach of the hungry.