By Kelley Chittenden 

Mark Zuckerberg’s plans to “connect the entire world” hit a speed bump the first week of February when Indian regulators blocked Free Basics, his free mobile data program. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued regulations banning differential pricing for data services in order to restrict the ability of mobile phone companies to “shape the users’ Internet experience” by offering free access to certain services. According to The Guardian, the process began in March of 2015 with a consultation paper recommending telecom operators be allowed to charge extra for third-party apps and services such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter. TRAI sought public comment on twenty questions, which led to a “spirited, pro-net-neutrality campaign” called Save The Internet and 1.1 million responses against differential pricing by late April.

Read More

March 10, 2016

By Alex Yeager

The World Trade Organization has issued a ruling concerning a dispute between the U.S. and India’s rapidly growing solar panel program.  The subsidy, which forced subsidized solar panels to use domestic parts, was struck down on Wednesday as a violation of free trade agreements.  Some maintain the ruling creates an opportunity for critics - namely environmentalists - to launch further criticism against the TPP.  Others maintain it’s actually a good thing for India, as it allows foreign competition that should benefit domestic consumers.

Read More

March 09, 2016

By Alex Yeager

In a controversial move, China unexpectedly took action in early August to devalue its currency, the Yuan.  The currency’s 3% downward adjustment was its biggest devaluation in 20 years, and helped stoke global economic slowdown concerns.  Economists have speculated that the devaluation was motivated by either anticipation of a rate hike by the United States Federal Reserve, sluggish growth indicators in Chinese GDP, or a combination of these factors.  Now nations such as India and the United States are calling for Chinese accountability for its devaluation actions, pointing to the tactic’s tendency to spark trade wars and contribution to this month’s global financial correction.  Others, however, are now lauding the move as a way to bring China closer to the free-market currency ‘float’ that experts have been pressuring the nation to move towards for years.

Read More

September 11, 2015

By Sam Willie

Bloomberg covers a much-anticipated move by India’s Prime Minister to crack down on “the Black Economy” in India through new legislation that will hit individuals who stash unreported assets in offshore accounts with big fines and even jail time. The legislation is in tune with a theme that was central to Prime Minister Modi’s election campaign: curtailing widespread tax avoidance schemes and corruption that cheats the country of tax revenue. Recently there have been similar efforts in the U.S. and the UK to solve this issue, though India’s proposed legislation appears to take a particularly tough stance, with punishment including up to 10 years in jail and as much as 300 percent fines on amounts originally owed. It has been reported that India’s unreported foreign asset problem could total as much as $2 trillion, which is more than the country’s annual gross domestic product.

Read More

March 23, 2015

By Jieying Ding

Two months after blocking an international agreement on easing trade regulations, India began initiating measures to cut red tape to expedite international trade, according to The Economic Times. A national committee will be set up on trade facilitation, and India emphasized its support. However, India just vetoed a WTO trade facilitation agreement, which sought to speed up global trade by reforming customs procedures. India, apparently aware of the irony, has allocated significant funds towards trade facilitation to show its commitment.

Read More

November 19, 2014

By Nathaniel DeLucia

The U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) recent “out-of-cycle review” of India’s IP laws is a perfect example of the tension that arises between patent laws and international treaties. The USTR launched its investigation because it believes India’s laws may be hurting products covered by US patent and copyright.  Specifically, the USTR takes issue with India’s practice of issuing compulsory licenses over the objections of the patent owners and the allegedly high rates of internet piracy.  Two international agreements, to which both the US and India are members, complicate the matter  The first is the TRIPS agreement, which outlines what the member countries feel are appropriate IP laws and which India appears to be in compliance with.  Second, is that as a WTO member, the US is supposed to settle this dispute in the WTO and not by taking unilateral action.

For a detailed discussion of how these agreements complicate the USTR investigation, see IP-Watch’s article, located here.

Read More

November 13, 2014

By Jieying Ding

India and China have announced a serious of trade deals aimed at boosting economic growth in both countries. According to the Guardian, China will invest billions in railways, industrial parks and even nuclear power over the next five years in India. Trade between India and China has increased rapidly over the last decade, reaching around $70 billion a year. However, border disputes still overshadow the economic ties between China and India.

Read More

October 15, 2014

By Kristen McCannon

Writing for Slate magazine yesterday morning, Ben Mathis-Lilley broke down the incredible economics of India’s successful orbiter launch to Mars. India’s mission to Mars at $74 million cost less than the filming of the movie Gravity. The mission also put India in history books as both the first Asian nation to reach Mars, and the first nation to successfully land an orbiter on the planet during their maiden voyage.

Read More

September 25, 2014