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...
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...
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...
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...
While the early rounds of US sanctions aimed at getting Russia to rethink its Crimea strategy have been confined to a small circle of government insiders and banking institutions, President Obama has signed an executive order that clears the way for sterner measures,...
Buying (or expecting) roses for Valentine’s Day? Your long-stems will be among 196 million roses produced for Valentine’s Day (according to Statistic Brain) and, odds are, they’re just off the plane from South America. There’s a small but growing chance, though, that...
Japan, the No. 2 source for autos imported by the US since the 1970s, will likely be overtaken by Mexico this year, according to a report from Bloomberg that cites IHS Automotive estimates. Mexican auto exports have quadrupled from 1993 to 2013, says Bloomberg, while...
It’s time to watch US import data for signs that new Apple products are ready for picking. The Loop reports that Apple has sent out invitations to an event on September 10 at the company’s Cupertino, Calif., headquarters. Cue the rumors that a new iPhone is about to...
Are Those Red Bottoms Really Christian Louboutins? | by Peter Quinter, guest columnist. Haven't you ever thought – Are those Tory Burch flats real? Is that Coach tag attached to an authentic Coach purse? Are those boots really UGGs? Is that Michael Kors wallet a...
US lifts ban on imports of Italian salami, pancetta, other pork products. America’s antipasti are about to get more varied and more authentic. The US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced the end of a 45-year-old ban on such pork products...
