But unfreezing trade will take time We’ve written before on the diplomatic tit-for-tat that virtually shut down commerce between Colombia and Venezuela. After the erstwhile trading partners called it quits in July 2009, binational trade fell by more than 60%. One year...
Santa Snagged by Red Tape
Customs problems could prevent traditional, down-the-chimney deliveries by Peter Quinter, guest columnist Well, I just wanted to let you all know that Santa may not be coming this year to deliver all those wonderful holiday gifts. Because of incorrect Incoterms and...
Rates Are Running First…
… but there’s still time to weigh in on what matters most to shippers by Bill Armbruster, blog anchor “Rates are the golden fleece. It determines whether or not you will be awarded a piece of business,” comments one respondent in our survey on top considerations for...
Free Report: Fresh Grapes from Peru
Datamyne Tops in Trade Report covers a leading source for U.S. wintertime grapes As the U.S. moves into winter, imports of grapes and other fresh fruits shift into high gear. As noted in Fresh from the Southern Hemisphere, most U.S. imported fresh grapes come from...
What Shippers Want
What matters most to shippers when they choose an ocean carrier? By Bill Armbruster Below is a list of 10 criteria, in no particular order, that may affect a shipper’s choice of ocean carrier. I would like to know which you think are most important. So, please,...
Fresh from the Southern Hemisphere
South America starts shipping grapes to the winter-bound north The season has just begun, but forecasters are projecting a bumper crop of fruit exports from South America, led by grapes. Grapes are the second-ranked (by value) fruit import in the U.S. (Bananas top the...
ITA for the Chopping Block?
Billing beneficiaries for trade promotion could save $1.6 billion through 2014 Charge the beneficiaries for the cost of the International Trade Administration’s trade promotion activities -- that’s Number 36 in the list of ideas for government cost-cutting from the...
It’s Not Easy Being Green
Your eco-friendly, reusable shopping bag may be loaded with lead Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) yesterday called on federal agencies to police reusable shopping bags that contain unacceptably high levels of lead, getting out ahead of a story that’s been developing for...
Mining for Trade Answers
Miami Herald finds Datamyne delivers on toughest questions “It is really hard to find good sources of information on companies by product,” Charlotte Gallogly, president of World Trade Center Miami, tells The Miami Herald. What companies want, for example, “are the...
Americas Forum Convenes
Cross-border conference aims to boost the hemisphere’s competitiveness Representatives of 34 countries in the Western Hemisphere (including U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke) gather in Atlanta November 14 through 16 for the Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF)...