By Simons Chase, guest columnist The Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act (TSRA) of 2000 launched a boom in exports from the US to Cuba that had previously been restricted since the early 1960s. US exports to Cuba rose from about $7 million in 2001 to a...
East Coast Overtaking West Coast Ports in Imports? Not So Fast
The first super-sized cargo vessels to pass through the newly expanded Panama Canal have begun arriving in ports along the East Coast – starting with the MOL Benefactor. The Mitsui O.S.K. Lines neopanamax containership made the first commercial transit through the...
A Toy Story of US Imports | Infographic
A Toy Story of US Imports FAQs: C’mon, are kids still playing with toys? Despite the fact that your child can likely run circles around you on a smartphone or tablet, kids actually still play with toys (although they seem to be more brand conscious). According to the...
Mattel vs Hasbro: Barbie and the Princesses
Mattel and Hasbro have always been rivals in the US toy market. But the Mattel vs Hasbro rivalry was across the toy store aisle, with Mattel ruling the girls’ side of the aisle, under the leadership of its star Barbie, while Hasbro worked the boys’ side with games,...
US Apparel Imports Gain in April but Continue Long-term Slide
US apparel imports posted a 1.77% gain in April over March, but were down -4.94% compared with the same month a year ago, our data shows. Hard to call April’s positive result the start of a rebound: As Sourcing Journal reports, weak demand and muted growth remain the...
Chinese CORE Steel Imports Drop 80 Percent as US Tariffs Soar
The US Department of Commerce just released its final decision in its investigations into charges of dumping and illegal government subsidization of corrosion-resistant (CORE) steel from China, India, Italy, South Korea and Taiwan. But preliminary (and slightly...
Latin American Economy’s China Syndrome
The Latin American economy’s recession could deepen if China’s economy slows much more, says the International Monetary Fund in a new report that marks down already gloomy forecasts for the region. Brazil, Latin America’s biggest economy, is a drag on the entire...
How Climate Change Impacts Trade Now: Infographic
Add climate change to the factors that shape global trade. Along with exchange rates, costs of production, availability of raw materials and market demand, a change in climate can redirect trade flows, raise the price of trade goods and create openings for new...
Pacific Alliance and Mercosur: Moving at Two Speeds?
Latin America’s economy is moving at two speeds, according to BBVA, with the Pacific Alliance gaining ground as Mercosur, the Common Market of the South, slips into reverse in 2015 and on into 2016. In its first-quarter 2016 outlook, the Spanish bank lowers its...
Why That Ice Cream Cone May Cost You (Pricey Vanilla Beans)
No fooling: if you favor plain vanilla, your ice cream cone may cost you more this summer, thanks to pricey vanilla beans. Blame it on last year’s bad crop in Madagascar. As Eater reports, demand for vanilla (among spices, second only to saffron in price) is up while...