By Scott Kennedy — News broke late on Thursday that the United States and China have reached a “phase one” deal that would mark the beginning of the end to their long and bitter trade war. Pardon me if I…
A Fragile and Costly U.S.-China Trade Peace
India Should Simplify the Goods & Services Tax from Five to Three Rates
By Afeena Ashfaque — Status: Not Started — The current rate structure of four rates, plus a separate tax rate for gold and a zero percent rate, is overly complicated and should be simplified. High Difficulty: Regulation, No Opposition — Changes to the Goods and Services…
What’s Inside the U.S.-China Phase One Deal?
By Matthew Goodman, Scott Kennedy, William Reinsch, Stephanie Segal & Jack Caporal — On January 15, President Donald Trump and China’s Vice Premier Liu He held a long-anticipated ceremony in the East Room of the White House to sign a…
Offer Business Owners Permits from India’s Central Government in Ten Days & Single Window for Clearances
By Aman Thakker — Status: Not Started — While the Indian government has attempted to reduce the amount of time it takes to set up businesses and obtain permits from the government, it still lags behind its self-appointed goal of…
Southeast Asia in 2020: Issues to Watch, Part 1
By Amy Searight — In this two-part series, Dr. Amy Searight, senior adviser and director of the CSIS Southeast Asia Program, previews five key issues to watch in Southeast Asia in 2020. This installment addresses U.S.-ASEAN relations, climate change and…
Update on India’s States: January 15, 2020
The central government announces a North East Gas grid project affecting numerous states; Madhya Pradesh unveils plan to improve MSME landscape; Kerala hosts investor summit with big commitment from Abu Dhabi Investment Authority; Rajasthan backs down from issuing liquor licenses;…
Privatize Air India
By Raymond E. Vickery, Jr — Status: Not Started, On Agenda — Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, vowing a robust disinvestment and outright privatization program for government-owned public sector undertakings (PSUs). The flagship for this effort…
Pass India’s Major Ports Authorities Bill
By Kelli K. Clark — Status: Not Started –The Major Port Authorities Bill (MPA), 2016 was introduced in the Lok Sabha but never approved. The bill has now lapsed and must be reintroduced, passed by both houses, and signed into…
Allow Companies to Conduct Layoffs Without Government Permission
By Aman Thakker — Status: Not Started — On March 18, 2018, the Ministry of Labour relaxed rules to allow fixed-term, contract employees to work in all sectors. However, restrictions under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 remain unaddressed, and a…
Release Proposed Regulation in India with Cost-Benefit Analysis & Input from Stakeholders
By Richard Rossow — Status: Not Started — India’s business regulators use different formats for public review of draft regulations, often leaving little time for review and comments from stakeholders Medium Difficulty: With Opposition — Adopting a standardized cost-benefit analysis…
Stop Forcing Banks to Lend to India’s “Priority Sectors”
By Anit Mukherjee — Status: Not Started — Since the 1970s, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has stipulated that 40 percent of credit allocation for domestic and 32 percent for foreign commercial banks should be targeted towards agriculture, micro, small,…
Update on India’s States: January 8, 2020
Bihar plans special session to extend caste reservation for 10 years; Delhi to hold assembly election on February 8 with results on February 11; Haryana subsidizes electricity for horticulture-based industries; Maharashtra issues new rooftop solar regulations; Kerala assembly passes a…
Raise Ceiling on Foreign Institutional Investment in India’s Government Bonds
By Arun Kumar Sharma — Status: Not Started — The current limit of six percent of the outstanding stock of government securities on foreign institutional investors announced on March 27, 2019 by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) should be…