By Derek Hunter

In October 2014, China launched the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) -- an Asia-focused, and less United States-dominated, version of the IMF, or World Bank. As one might imagine, the United States was skeptical of the AIIB and viewed it as an attempt to displace American economic influence in the region. But, as the Economist reports, the AIIB would help to quench the nearly inexhaustible demand for infrastructure investment in Asia. As more of the United States’ European and Asian allies opt to join the AIIB, it appears that it will become a financial force in Asia, with or without the United States.

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April 29, 2015

By Sam Willie

Reuters reports on the effects of U.S. and EU sanctions against Russia for its actions in Ukraine. The economic sanctions have achieved their intended purpose of cutting off vital financing options for Russian banks in Western markets. Moreover, the sanctions have impeded Russian banks from accessing alternative sources of funding in the Asian markets. It is said that this difficulty is due in large part to a lack of lawyers and underwriters who are legally permitted, or generally willing, to work with the Russian banks as a result of the sanctions.

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December 08, 2014

By Craig Tarasoff 

An increase in demand from Asia and other international markets for turtles has resulted in an increase in their trade. This sharp increase is threatening the long-term survival of turtle populations across the country. CBS Miami follows the story of federal wildlife authorities seeking to put a rule in place that would require a permit to trade these threatened species.

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November 21, 2014

By Jieying Ding

As the need for wider geographical representation among lawyers continues to grow, law schools around the world, and in particular, Asia, has been trying to catch up by offering specialized postgraduate degrees.

According to New York Times, although traditional elite law schools - such as Oxford - still lead in international law education, recent disputes in Asia, including one involving the WTO and China, have led to a greater awareness of the need to invest in international law. Hong Kong University, Tsinghua University, and N.U.S. are now putting more emphasis on arbitration, and N.U.S. law school is the first Asian law school to have access to the ICJ university training program.

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October 09, 2014

By Matt Klinger

Recent moves by Asian governments show that privacy protection is not just a concern in the United States. and European Union.

For instance, just this month Japan issued a voluntary code of practice for businesses that collect and use personal data.  In addition, earlier this year, Vietnam created new sanctions for certain violations involving data privacy, while the government of Hong Kong issued a best practices guide for developing a privacy management program. 

These efforts add further complexity to the patchwork of privacy regulations and best practices companies should follow when operating in Asia.  

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April 07, 2014

By Aliza Kempner

African elephant tusks | WikiCommons

Last month, the deafening crunch of nearly six tons of ivory trumpeted in a new era for international crime fighting and conservation. The United States had seized the massive haul of ivory, illegally harvested from endangered African and Asian elephants, over several years. U.S. agents had seized the ivory from airports and cargo ships, often discovering ivory hidden in the false bottoms of suitcases and shipping crates or disguised by dark brown stain to disguise its young age.

Pursuant to an executive order from President Barack Obama, the “ivory tower” of carvings and trinkets met its demise in massive rock crushers on a sunny Colorado morning – a fate far removed from the gilded displays that many of these pieces had occupied previously. By destroying the ivory, the Obama administration hopes to send the message that the fruits of illegal poaching will not ripen in America, which had previously offered one of the world’s largest illegal ivory markets.

Ivory has long held a place in both Eastern and Western societies as a luxury good, used to fashion items like combs, piano keys, jewelry, and religious figurines. While bringing ivory into the United States is illegal, a complex loophole allows some ivory to sneak into the domestic market legally.  Meanwhile, demand is up in countries such as China due to a rapidly expanding upper class that sees ivory as a symbol of social status.

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December 07, 2013