July 13, 2009Hip Hip…Hooray? Cautious Optimism for G8 Agricultural CommitmentsPosted by Jenny Aker in Aid Effectiveness, Food & Agriculture, Global Development, Regions Tags: Agriculture, Food Aid, G8, Obama Administration, OxfamLast week, the leaders of the Group of 8 pledged 20 billion dollars in agricultural aid, with the purpose of boosting agricultural productivity — especially in Africa. But will $20 billion over a three-year period help to feed many of the 1.02 billion people on earth who suffer from food insecurity? Read More… Comment »March 13, 2009Re-thinking Trade, Re-creating ConsensusPosted by Randall Soderquist in Trade Tags: Obama Administration, Ron Kirk, Trade, USTRBased on the testimony of USTR-designate Ron Kirk this week before the Senate Finance Committee – brief though it was – the Obama Administration is moving in an entirely different direction than we have seen over the last eight years. The concept of a “progressive trade agenda for America,” though as yet undefined, certainly suggests that the administration will be looking at the global economy from a very different perspective. That is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as they keep in mind the big picture links between trade and development. Read More… Comment » |