Dr. Wan-Hsin Liu

Analyzing the link between foreign investment and environmental costs, focusing on firms – domestic and foreign multinational enterprises operating in China

The research project studies the effects that China’s growing economic engagement has on African economies, and how China’s economic presence is perceived by African citizens. To this effect, the key dimensions of trade, investment, aid, debt, and migration flows from China to Africa (and vice versa) are analyzed.

Pursuing a European approach to international trade policy—the agenda of the Kiel Institute calls for a robust EU response to geopolitical tensions, protectionism, and economic uncertainties. China's dominance in key industries, the looming threat of U.S. tariffs under Donald Trump, and Europe’s waning competitiveness require a unified European strategy. A strengthened single market and a strategic trade policy—one that fosters openness, liberalization, and new partnerships, e.g. with Africa—are essential to bolstering Germany’s and the EU’s resilience while maintaining parity with the U.S. and China in the long term.

Dr. Wan-Hsin Liu, expert on China, international trade and investment at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, comments on the economic policy options for the EU and Germany in light of the upcoming presidential election in Taiwan:

Germany is one of the most important target countries for Chinese investors and ranks tenth among all countries in terms of Chinese FDI stock abroad. Particularly the transport sector and the technology sector in Germany received a great amount of investments from Chinese investors in recent years. Although China has recently focused more than ever on geostrategic investments in countries of the "Belt and Road Initiative," investments in Germany remain strategically important for Chinese investors to gain access to key Technologies.

For many, it is hard to imagine to start a day without coffee. But who and which countries actually have benefitted more from the global coffee production and consumption? How has global coffee trade developed over the past decades? Does global coffee trade contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals? How can coffee growing countries, of which many are developing or emerging countries, benefit more from being integrated into the global coffee value chain and from taking over more coffee processing work? What kind of support can be provided by multinational enterprises? How can policy and international cooperation help in this regard?