Retailers face tough choices after the latest Bangladesh factory tragedy. The collapse of the New Wave Style factory near Dhaka is being compared to New York City’s Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire just over 100 years ago – a deadly industrial disaster that roused...
Sanchez on US-South Korea FTA: Part 3
In FY12, ITA’s Commercial Service network saw a 29% increase in the number of export to Korea success stories. The assistance offered exporters by the US Commercial Service, the export arm of the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA), is the...
Sanchez on US-South Korea FTA: Part 2
The administration made sure to negotiate an agreement that levels the playing field for the US automotive industry. Opportunities and risks are the focus of this second installment in Bill Armbruster’s interview of Francisco J. Sanchez, Commerce Department under...
Sanchez on US-South Korea FTA: Part 1
Agreement acted as bulwark for US exports in the face of low overall demand in Korea in 2012. Here’s the first installment of an interview of Francisco J. Sanchez, Commerce Department under secretary for international trade, by Datamyne blog anchor Bill Armbruster....
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...