Braving the Risks

The U.S. Census Bureau profiles 288,700 exporters A profile of U.S. companies that exported to one or more countries 2007-2008 has just been released by the U.S. Census Bureau. The report provides general information on companies that braved the risks of doing...

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Plastic Bag Tug of War

First-ever countervailing duty to be imposed on Vietnam The Department of Commerce has issued final determinations of anti-dumping duties to be imposed on plastic grocery bags made in Taiwan, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Polyethylene retail carrier bags — or PRCBs — have...

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Cockeyed Optimism

The surge in imports may be a triumph of hope over reality. By Bill Armbruster Have U.S. importers been too optimistic about growth prospects in the U.S. this year? I think so — and I think that helps explain why there such was a mad scramble for container space out...

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Low Expectations

U.S. consumers are pessimistic; confidence is back in Asia, Brazil  The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index (released Feb. 23, based on a survey of 5,000 U.S. households through Feb. 17) now stands at 46.0 (1985=100), down from a relatively optimistic 56.5 in...

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As Seen on TV

Who makes this stuff? The Snuggie wearable blanket, the PedEgg foot callous file, TopsyTurvy upside down tomato planter — these and more solutions to problems you didn’t know you had until you saw the infomercial are brightening up an otherwise gloomy retail sector....

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