Misrepresentations About International Trade: The Case of Apple’s iPhone

Posted on by Farok J. Contractor

© 2025, Farok J. Contractor, Distinguished Professor, Rutgers Business School This article is scheduled for publication in the Spring 2025 edition of the Rutgers Business Review. Abstract In  the present debates about US manufacturing and trade deficits, the case of the Apple iPhone provides several useful insights. Looking only at the US-China trade balance, the … Continue reading Misrepresentations About International Trade: The Case of Apple’s iPhone

The US-China Trade Spat: How the Public, Media, and Politicians Can Be Deceived by Data

Posted on by Farok J. Contractor

© 2018, Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers Business School   Trade Statistics Can Be Less Than Half the China Story Looking at trade statistics alone is misleading because they lack overall context. The $337 billion US deficit with China in 2017 sounds scary. But a review of other economic factors provides insight into the larger picture. 1. … Continue reading The US-China Trade Spat: How the Public, Media, and Politicians Can Be Deceived by Data

WWMS? (What Would Milton Say?)

Posted on by Farok J. Contractor

© 2018, Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers Business School The current debate about trade with China sparked by the Trump administration is uncannily reminiscent of the 1970s, when Japanese companies were deemed a threat to the United States. Phrases such as “Japanese invasion” were used by frightened journalists and fear-mongering politicians. The threat from Japanese imports … Continue reading WWMS? (What Would Milton Say?)

TEN QUICK FACTS ABOUT US TRADE: Deficits, Dumping, and Discords

Posted on by Farok J. Contractor

© 2018, Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers Business School Acting on his campaign rhetoric that China is “raping our country,”[1] Don Trump recently announced a 25 percent tariff on steel, 10 percent on aluminum, 30 percent on solar panels, and 20–50 percent on washing machines—products he alleged are being “dumped” by the Chinese[2]—and threatened a “trade … Continue reading TEN QUICK FACTS ABOUT US TRADE: Deficits, Dumping, and Discords