Basic

American and Chinese negotiators are making a final push for a deal to end the trade war with barely a week to go before a March 2 deadline. One of the big sticking points concerns a lack of trust, writes Amitrajeet A. Batabyal, an economist at the Rochester Institute of Technology. How can the Americans believe Chinese trade promises when China has a history of not living up to them? There’s a solution, Batabyal argues, but President Trump probably won’t like it.

The race is on to find a new head of the World Bank ahead of the departure of Jim Yong Kim next month following his recent shock resignation. US President Donald Trump has signaled his determination to continue in the tradition of having an American lead the bank, with his recent nomination of US Treasury Undersecretary David Malpass. John Stremlau sets out why the appointment should be opposed, pointing out that thwarting the US’s ambitions might not be as long a shot as some people think.

Egypt President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has taken over the chairmanship of the African Union, a decision that’s caused consternation among activists who point out that he’s broken several of the organisation’s rules, including running a country that is facing a human rights crisis. Ashwanee Budoo and Frans Viljoen unpack why all al-Sisi’s actions and statements while at the helm must be properly scrutinised.