United States
Sales of iPhone 5 Could Boost U.S. Economy (report)
“Calculated using the so-called retail control method, sales of iPhone 5 could boost annualized GDP growth by $3.2 billion, or $12.8 billion at an annual rate,” he wrote.

Not only will the upcoming iPhone 5 rake in tons of cash for Apple, it could also boost the overall U.S. economy. At least that’s according to J.P. Morgan’s chief economist, Michael Feroli.
In a note to clients on Monday, Feroli said sales of the smartphone could add between 0.25% to 0.5% to fourth quarter annualized growth in the U.S., Reuters reported.
“Calculated using the so-called retail control method, sales of iPhone 5 could boost annualized GDP growth by $3.2 billion, or $12.8 billion at an annual rate,” he wrote.
Analysts at the financial services firm project that Apple will sell 8 million iPhone 5s in the fourth quarter, each with an expected sales price of around $600, according to Reuters.
With $200 in discounted import component costs, the U.S. government can include $400 per phone into its GDP for the fourth quarter, the agency said.
via Sales of iPhone 5 Could Boost U.S. Economy, Analyst Says [REPORT].
United States
What Does a Biden Presidency Mean for Southeast Asia?
Southeast Asian governments have generally not been very impressed by the Trump administration’s lack of commitment.

A Biden presidency will not erase overnight the past four years, and the deepening embedded populism in the United States, but Biden’s desire to heal the dysfunctional administration of his predecessor could introduce more coherence and fewer contradictions in the US diplomacy.
(more…)Trade
US cuts GSP trade benefits for Thailand
The US Trade Representative (USTR) announced that Washington will eliminate some tariff benefits for Thailand, saying the country has failed to allow imports of pork from US producers.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced today that President Trump is suspending $817 million in trade preferences for Thailand under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program based on its lack of sufficient progress providing the United States with equitable and reasonable market access for pork products.
(more…)China
Economic Stakes are High for US-China Tensions
US assumptions around the eventual convergence of these two systems have radically shifted, hence Trump officials believe a re-orientation of long-standing economic and political arrangements that have brought these nations closer together is now required

Geopolitical Changes are Afoot These developments coincide with a series of major speeches on US-China relations by key members of President Trump’s administration.
(more…)-
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