Author: Pacific Square
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Charting the Next Chapter of U.S.–Japan Alliance in the 21st Century
A Future-Oriented Partnership Requires Embracing the America First Agenda By Camilo Sandoval For decades, the U.S.-Japan alliance has been guided by stewards like Richard Armitage and Joseph Nye—figures who helped institutionalize a post–Cold War, liberal internationalist framework. Their contributions are acknowledged. But as Nikkei Asia recently asked, “Who will replace Armitage and Nye?”, the conversation…
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Japan’s Cybersecurity Crossroads
Inside the New Active Cyber Defense Law and What It Means for Global Security On May 16, Japan’s Upper House passed a bill introducing an active cyber defense framework, authorizing the government to collect communications metadata and take measures to prevent cyberattacks. The new law—known as the Active Cyber Defense (ACD) Law—marks a significant shift…
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The Future Won’t Wait: Cruely
How AI is Forcing Companies to Rethink Their Performance In less than 30 days, a suspended student from Columbia launched Cluely, an AI tool built to “cheat on everything,” raised millions in funding, and sparked a global debate on the future of work, education, and ethics. But here’s the real story: Cluely isn’t just a…
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Tariffs, Turbulence, and Opportunity
Turning Trade Shocks Into Strategic Advantage: How Pacific Square Helps Companies Navigate the New Era of Supply Chain Risk In an increasingly multipolar and protectionist world, the lines between trade, national security, and industrial policy are blurring fast. The recent expansion of U.S. tariffs on imported goods—impacting everything from metals and semiconductors to aerospace components—has…
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Trump administration’s tariff calculation Explained
Trump’s New Tariff Formula On April 2, 2025, President Donald Trump announced a new tariff policy, introducing a 10% universal import duty on all goods entering the United States, with higher, country-specific “reciprocal” tariffs for approximately 60 nations. Where: The official formula for calculating the “reciprocal” tariffs on countries, as published by the U.S. Trade…
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Senate Bill Prohibiting US Investments in Covered Chinese Technologies
Senate Bill Prohibiting US Investments in Covered Chinese Technologies Garners Significant Bipartisan Support Introduction: A Bipartisan Push to Counter China On March 13, 2025, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the Foreign Investment Guardrails to Help Thwart (FIGHT) China Act, a bipartisan legislative proposal aimed at restricting outbound U.S. investment in critical technologies that could strengthen…
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Nearly 50% of Japanese Executives Target U.S. Expansion
THE TRUMP EFFECT: Why Japanese Executives Are Doubling Down on U.S. Expansion In a recent survey of executives from 144 major Japanese companies, a striking trend has emerged: 30% are actively expanding operations in the United States, while another 20% are in the planning stages, exploring avenues for U.S. market entry. This momentum, sparked by…
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Trump executive order consolidates federal IT contracting under GSA
Executive Order Centralizes IT Procurement Under GSA President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to centralize the procurement of common goods and services, notably information technology, under the General Services Administration (GSA). Effective within 30 days, the GSA will assume the role of executive agent for all governmentwide acquisition contracts (GWACs) related to IT,…
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The United States Moves to Secure Its Digital Future with a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
The United States Moves to Secure Its Digital Future with a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve In a historic move, the President of the United States has issued an Executive Order establishing the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and the United States Digital Asset Stockpile. This landmark decision signals a fundamental shift in how the U.S. government approaches digital…
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Replicator Drones: The Future of U.S. Military Strategy
Elevating Military Tech: The Strategic Goals Stephen Feinberg’s nomination as Deputy Secretary of Defense under the Trump administration is significant for several reasons. Feinberg, a co-founder of Cerberus Capital Management, brings a wealth of experience from the finance sector, specifically in private equity. His nomination reflects a strategic approach to modernizing the U.S. military’s capabilities,…