APEC Study Center

We are proud to announce that the Japanese government has honored Professor David E. Weinstein, the Carl S. Shoup Professor of the Japanese Economy and Co-Director of the APEC Study Center at Columbia University, by awarding him The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon. The Order of the Rising Sun, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji, was Japan’s first award. It is conferred on behalf of the Emperor of Japan as one of the highest honors bestowed by the Japanese government on people who have rendered distinguished service to Japan.

The conferral recognizes Professor Weinstein’s significant contributions to promoting academic exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States. Professor Weinstein’s long-standing commitment to studying and understanding the Japanese economy and his dedication to research and cross-cultural exchange embody the spirit of this prestigious award. 

“I am deeply honored to receive this award and to be included among those who have made major contributions to Japan and the world,” Professor Weinstein said upon hearing the news. 

Upcoming Events

POSTPONED 
Hybrid Event  
Leftover Women - The Resurgence of Gender Inequality in China, 10th Anniversary Edition – A Book Talk by Leta Hong Fincher     
Friday, December 1, 2023 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM (ET)  

Featuring: Leta Hong Fincher, Research Associate, Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University

Moderator: Nicholas Bartlett, Assistant Professor of Contemporary Chinese Culture and Society, AMEC/EALAC, Columbia University  

Co-sponsored by the Weatherhead East Asian Institute at Columbia University

Please note this event has been postponed. We appreciate your understanding.

Geopolitical competition, globalisation and WTO reform by Bernard M. Hoekman, Robert Schuman Centre, European University Institute, Fiesole, Italy; CEPR, London, UK; Petros C. Mavroidis, Columbia Law School, New York, New York, USA; and Douglas R. Nelson, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. April 2023

Abstract:
This paper discusses options to manage spillovers of unilateral trade policies motivated by national security and other non-economic objectives on global trade and investment. Within the WTO framework, we argue a ‘specific trade concern’ mechanism is likely to be more effective than dispute settlement to address national security-motivated trade intervention. More broadly, we propose creation of a platform for governments, supported by relevant international organisations, to enhance transparency and assess the effectiveness and magnitude of the spillover effects of trade/ related policies of systemic import. This would serve to help identify efficient instruments to achieve economic and non-economic goals and inform WTO reform discussions on subsidies and discriminatory trade policies. Plurilateral cooperation among like-minded nations offers a pragmatic pathway to address spillover effects of policies to achieve security and other non-economic objectives but requires a stronger governance framework to ensure consistency with an open multilateral trading system.

To view other papers from the APEC Study Center Discussion Paper Series, visit https://business.columbia.edu/apec/discussionpapers.  

The APEC Study Center (ASC) at Columbia University maintains its support of the University's rich tradition of research, conferences, lecture programs, and teaching on the AsiaPacific region by serving as the focal point of study on issues of business and economic importance for the region for over 27 years.

Columbia University has safely and carefully reintroduced in-person classes, work, and activities across its campuses, with ASC core faculty and staff following suit. The ASC persists in its support of courses focusing on this region at Columbia Business School (CBS), the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), and across the University as a whole, and the Center actively collaborated on programs at numerous Columbia and other organizations, cosponsoring a total of 17 webinar events in the 2020-2021 academic year.

As the world continues to face challenges, we at the ASC will continue to do our part to ensure the views and goals of the Asia-Pacific continue to be represented in conversations held on issues ranging from climate change to economic security to global crises and beyond. We also look forward to APEC 2023, which will be hosted by the United States.

The ASC’s programming and research are made possible by the commitment and energy of the faculty and staff involved as well as our generous supporters. In particular, we extend our deepest gratitude to the Lotte Group of Korea, ASC’s longtime sponsor.

Merit E. Janow and David E. Weinstein

APEC Study Center at Columbia University
645 West 130th Street
Geffen Hall
6th Floor
New York, NY 10027
212-853-8595

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