One Year After: US-Korea FTA

Trade pact’s just not all that; EU edges out US: by Bill Armbruster. I wish I could report that the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement, which took effect on March 15, 2012, provided an immediate shot of adrenalin to US exports. But that’s not the case. In fact, US goods...

Lululemon’s Transparent Problem

Thin fabric shows flaws in yoga apparel maker’s over-stretched supply chain. Lululemon Athletica warns that there will be shortages in its women’s pants made from its “signature” black Luon fabric, a blend of 86% nylon - 14% Lycra with a trademarked brand name and a...

Building Demand

Construction equipment rolls up trade gains, but with a touch of the brakes Last month’s searches of our US import database were dominated by quests for bulldozers, excavators, backhoes and their manufacturers. Of the top dozen most sought company names, eight are...

CBP Sets Sequestration Cargo Priorities

Cuts will be made across the board, with no preference by port of arrival US Customs and Border Protection released its framework for minimizing the impact on trade of budget cuts mandated under sequestration, which became effective March 1. Key points: Companies...

Shrimp CVD Inquiry Gets Underway

… with a few course adjustments: a new deadline, more inclusive definitions The US International Trade Commission has announced some key changes in its inquiry, launched February 11, into whether seven countries – China, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand,...

Illegal Substitution

Operation Red Zone seized $13.6 million in fake NFL merchandise this season by Peter Quinter, guest columnist US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in cooperation with Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) of the US Department of...

Floor Rises under Mexican Tomatoes

Comments due Feb.11 on proposed hike in price of imports from top US source Today’s the deadline for comments on a new plan to replace a long-standing trade pact on US imported fresh tomatoes from Mexico. The old pact was challenged by Florida growers last June. The...

Werker on US-Colombia FTA: Part 3

Cameron Werker and Bill Armburster discuss the trading partner relationship Datamyne blog anchor Bill Armbruster conducted an extensive e-mail interview in January regarding the new US-Colombia free trade agreement with Cameron Werker, senior commercial officer with...

China Looks for LATAM Lift

“Latin America offers way out of demand doldrums: Official”  – China Daily China Daily’s Santiago correspondent reports that the Chinese ambassador to Chile, Yang Wanming, sees LATAM as a global region of opportunity as weakness in the world’s mature markets persists....

Werker on US-Colombia FTA: Part 2

Cameron Werker and Bill Armbruster assess remaining obstacles for exporters Datamyne blog anchor Bill Armbruster conducted an extensive e-mail interview in January regarding the new US-Colombia free trade agreement with Cameron Werker, senior commercial officer with...