Corn ethanol is cast as a culprit in rising food prices (again) A Financial Times report from the Commodity Markets Council annual meeting (this week in Palm Beach) notes that Dodd-Frank financial system reforms top the list of worries for the commodities futures...
AmericasBarometer 2010
Taking the measure of democratic values and the impact of the downturn The Americas Society/Council on the Americas (AS/COA) is hosting a discussion about the findings of the 2010 AmericasBarometer Survey, in New York City tomorrow morning from 8:30 am to 10:00 am...
Rates Over-Rated
Carriers say shippers should value service, consider commitment by Bill Armbruster, blog anchor Shippers should consider a lot more than just rates when they are choosing their ocean carriers, say carrier executives in reacting to the results of our December survey on...
On the Trail of Aid to Haiti
Miami Herald cites Datamyne stats on charitable goods that got only so far “At Haitian port, desperately needed aid sits and sits and sits …” headlines a Miami Herald investigation into why so much aid has reached so few in a country as beleaguered by bureaucratic...
Miami Briefing: FDA Impact on Imports
Expert panel to review compliance with new food import safety rules Earlier this month we took a quick look at the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. If you’re in the Miami area, you have an opportunity to get an in-depth briefing on the new FDA food safety...
Seizures & Warrants
Legitimate law enforcement tools carry risk of abuse by Peter Quinter, guest columnist The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is seizing a record number of bank accounts for money laundering. In summary, here is how it...
An End to the 16-Year Banana War?
Pending trade deal gives an edge to Latin America in the EU Well-intentioned it may have been, but the EU’s 1993 decision to slap tariffs on bananas from Latin America while allowing bananas from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries to enter its markets...
Latin American HVAC/R Looks Hot
ACR Latino America cites Datamyne in optimistic outlook on compressor exports It is no secret that much of the economic performance of Latin American countries depends on the performance of its major trading partners, which tend to be the developed economies, led by...
Sizing up the Usual Suspects
Sorting out possible causes as yet another global food crisis looms The world’s poorest are at risk of being priced out of the market for food because … we’re burning corn and other staple crops for biofuel … the rising middle classes in the BRICs and beyond are...
FTAs: Good or Bad?
Americans may have soured on free trade, but isn’t it in their best interests? by Peter Quinter, guest columnist I am still troubled by the Wall Street Journal lead article on October 4, 2010, with the headline “Recession-Weary Americans Sour on Free Trade.” I asked...