China in the Americas

In this episode, Rasheed talks to Bryce Barros, Nathan Kohlenberg, and Etienne Soula about their report about China’s influence over the digital information environment outside of its borders.LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:China and the Digital Informations Stack in the Global SouthCONNECT WITH BRYCE, NATHAN, AND ETIENNE:Bryce BarrosTwitter: https://twitter.com/barros_bryceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brycecbarros/Nathan KohlenbergTwitter: https://twitter.com/nkohlenbergLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathankohlenberg/Etienne SoulaTwitter: https://twitter.com/etiennesoulaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/etienne-soula/CONNECT RASHEED GRIFFITH:Twitter: https://twitter.com/rasheedguoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rasheed-griffith-cams-74b501206/

To China or the market? Why borrow from a Private lender instead of China? In this episode, Rasheed talks to Federico Sequeda about why international US-based commercial creditors invest in Caribbean bond markets.  Federico Sequeda is Head of Country Research and Portfolio Manager for the Emerging Markets Team at Eaton Vance. Eaton Vance is a part of Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Key Points Include:Fundamental Debt MetricsWhy governments may prefer private financing over concessionary loans Do Chinese loans crowd out private creditors What are the data challenges in investing in emerging markets Creditor committee views on IMF structural adjustment programs Resources Mentioned in this EpisodeThe Human Freedom Index (Fraser Economic Freedom Index, as heard in the episode)I recommend pairing this Episode 28 on the Legal Dynamics of Sovereign Debt MarketsConnect with Federico SequedaLinkedInConnect with Rasheed GriffithLinkedInTwitter: @rasheedguo

The Republic of Panama officially recognized the People's Republic of China in 2017. Ever since then, there has been a constant parade of op-eds from think tanks about the potential risk of China's advance in Central America. We are joined by Sebastian Naranjo, a PhD candidate at Renmin University in Beijing and an Asia Desk Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Panamá, to seek some truth from facts on this issue. Why did Panamá cut diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favor of the PRC?How central is the canal to politics in Panamá? What tangible projects has the PRC assisted with in Panamá? How relevant is Chinese culture in the daily lives on Panamanians? Has Panama's relations with the USA soured in any way since 2017? We discussed these questions and more! Recommendations: Panamá y China: Una relación de tres siglos (Berta Alicia Chen)La Ruta de la Seda y Panamá (Eddie Tapiero) 

IMF Structural Adjustment Programs; Private Creditor Committees; Chinese bilateral loan contracts; Activist Hedge Funds; Paris Club vs China Development Bank.In foreign policy circles there is so much talk about Chinese  bilateral loans in Latin America and the Caribbean (and globally). But there seems to be little understanding of the dynamics sovereign debt markets which have important players like private investors and the International Monetary Fund. To discuss all of this we are joined by Thomas Laryea. Thomas formerly served as Assistant General Counsel at the International Monetary Fund, where he was responsible for the IMF’s legal relations in finance and economic surveillance with each of its member countries. Since moving into private practice, Thomas has advised on several recent high-profile sovereign debt restructurings including Argentina, Belize, and Suriname.

U.S Foreign Policy in the Caribbean seldom contemplates Monetary Policy. Domestic currencies in the Caribbean pervert economic freedom. Rather than being seen as economic imperialism, the spread of United States Dollars in the Caribbean should be seen as the spread of economic freedom. I am joined by Dr. DeLisle Worrell, former Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados to discuss why all Caribbean currencies should be permanently retired in favor of adopting the USD as the sole currency throughout the region.  We also discuss the potential of Chinese RMB internationalisation in the Caribbean. Further reading: The Time Has Come to Permanently Retire All Our Caribbean Currencies by Dr. Worrell Message/Follow me on Twitter: @rasheedguo (for more information on China in the Americas topics)Music: Night Nurse by Gregory Isaacs

In this episode I am joined by Ethan Knecht (author of The China-LAC Dispatch) and Mitch Hayes (author of The China Signal) for a roundtable discussion on what we think were the top stories of 2021 as it relates to China-Latin America & the Caribbean relations. Message/Follow me on Twitter: @rasheedguo (for more information on China in the Americas topics)Music: Silver Tongue Devil by Masego ft. Shenseea