Are the NAFTA partners getting set to trade sanctions instead of imports and exports? The US is being urged to drop its country-of-origin labeling requirement for imported meat and livestock following the World Trade Organization’s decision in favor of the Canadian...
Can Entrepreneur Barbie Rev up Sales for Mattel?
With 150 careers under her (very tiny) belt, Barbie is becoming an entrepreneur. Outfitted with a business-savvy wardrobe and accessories, Entrepreneur Barbie is making a bid for relevance in a market whose consumers keep getting older younger and abandoning their...
Miscellaneous Tariff Bill “Noncontroversial” No More
by Bill Armbruster, blog anchor By definition, the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill is “noncontroversial.” Once enacted, the MTB suspends import duties for two to three years on a mixed bag of chemicals and components that aren’t made in the USA but are inputs for US...
Pricey Shoes Nail Italy’s Share of US Footwear Imports
Italy’s standing among the top-ranked countries of origin for US footwear imports rests on pricier, higher-end brand products, Datamyne’s bill-of-lading data shows. Almost all footwear bought by US consumers is imported, with China far and away the leading source –...
US Footwear Imports Step up; Vietnam, Indonesia Step Forward
After stumbling earlier this year, US footwear imports stepped up in May, continuing a positive growth that began in April, the trade data shows. While China remains the leading country of origin, it continues to cede share to Vietnam as shoemaking shifts to...
Not Just for Bastille Day: US Toasts French Wine & Spirits
Whether it’s a champagne toast to Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité on La Fête du 14-Juillet, or an aperitif before, a bottle of wine during, or a brandy after dinner, Americans like to fill their glasses with French imports. Indeed, France is the leading source for US...
Exporting the Brazilian Spirit, Cachaça
Is it serendipity or part of the Plano Brasil Maior to expand markets for Brazilian products? The World Cup’s opening day is also International Cachaça Day. Cachaça is Brazil’s national (distilled) spirit. And it is indeed one of the export products promoted by the...
Without a Twist: Limes in Short Supply as Cinco de Mayo Nears
It’s a textbook case in the need to diversify sources of supply: The US imports about 97% of its limes from Mexico and, right now, limes are a scarce and expensive commodity in Mexico. Disease and bad weather have combined to reduce crop yields, shortages have boosted...
Growing Trade in Palm Oil Drives Quest for Sustainability
Kellogg’s announcement that all its palm oil suppliers must source the low-trans-fat oil in a way that is “environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable” is a major win for environmentalists. Kellogg will be working through its supply chain...
Russia Sanctions: What about Vodka?
Russians have launched a retaliatory Internet campaign of tongue-in-cheek sanctions against US President Obama, Reuters reports. It includes Twitter users forbidding Obama from Russian vodka under the hashtag “MySanctions” (#МоиСанкции). There’s every chance Obama...