Trends & Forecasts

America’s economy is in the vanguard of one of the most significant advances in the world’s economic history. Economic globalization is integrating national markets through international trade and investment. We are witnessing unparalleled developments in microelectronics, computers, telecommunications, transportation logistics, and finance. Combined with new global realities, these developments are changing the way we live...

The United States attracted $180 billion in foreign direct investment in 2006. This is extremely important since inbound investment creates millions of high-wage, high-skilled American jobs that support our growing standard of living. But protectionist trends could disrupt this. Global Funds Are Needed In 2006, 20 bills were introduced in Congress that, if implemented...

The increasing global nature of business and supply-chain relationships has had a tremendous impact on U.S. manufacturing over the last decade. And small and medium size manufacturers (SMMs) are adapting with favorable results. New Trends Cut Both Ways Two new trends are shaping the future of SMMs, says Jerry Jasinowski, president of the Manufacturing Institute...

Last year the United States attracted $180 billion in foreign direct investment. This is extremely important since inbound investment creates millions of high-wage, high-skilled American jobs that support our growing standard of living. But protectionist trends could disrupt this...

Latin America is experiencing strong economic growth and its social conditions are improving at a rapid pace. Incomes are rising, the middle class is expanding and consumer demand is increasing...

The Russian Federation requested membership in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, now the World Trade Organization (WTO), in June 1993. At various points along the way, accession appeared imminent. In recent months it appeared that Russia — the largest economy not yet admitted — could be given the green light in 2008...

The era of trade liberalization is dead. Yet it could get worse still. Not only have prospects for liberalization over the next few years been dashed, but Congress is considering legislation that could precipitate a retreat from the trade policies and institutions that have served U.S. interests for 60 years...

If you’ve been considering expanding into a rapidly growing Asian market, you might investigate India, a country similar to and different from China in many ways. Goldman Sachs projects that India will become the world’s third largest economy in less than 30 years and that India’s annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate will average...

If all significant trade barriers were unilaterally removed on foreign products, U.S. welfare — as defined by public and private consumption — would increase by approximately $3.7 billion annually. Additionally, U.S. gross domestic product would rise by $1.6 billion, according to a 2007 study by the United States International Trade Commission.

“Trade liberalization has a critical role to play in economic growth by directly stimulating domestic firms to become more productive,” so says the U.S. Federal Reserve. As a result, the incomes of ordinary people typically rise.

The integration of new technologies, sophisticated co-production practices (manufacturing of a product in two or more countries), improved supply chain management and advances in worldwide financing—all spawned by globalization—has transformed American manufacturing. In turn, resources have shifted to sectors with competitive advantages. And due to the American ability to adapt, innovation has flourished while productivity...

The United States and Mexico have increasingly integrated their manufacturing industries and rationalized production. In turn, the North American Free Trade Agreement partners have based plant locations on the availability and cost of inputs (labor, raw materials, energy and capital), the quality of supply chains and proximity to markets. Increasingly, however, Chinese trade and investment...

Since China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in December 2001, it has significantly opened its market. This has been accomplished, in part, by reducing tariffs by nearly 40 percent, eliminating import licenses and quotas, and relaxing ownership restrictions. In turn, China has become the world’s third largest merchandise importer. On the other hand, due..

The title of this article is the headline of a June 7, 2006 piece in The Straits Times, a Singaporean newspaper. According to a recent survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, senior U.S. executives within the six-nation Asean bloc are reported to be “positively exuberant” about operating within southeast Asia, they are […]

In May, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued its much anticipated, semiannual Report to the Congress on International Economic and Exchange Rate Policies. The report’s key conclusion, that China is not a currency manipulator, was met with incredulity on the part of a number of members of Congress, some who suggested that the Treasury’s...

Question: Globalization is affecting manufacturing. What’s the good and the bad? Answer: The integration of traditional manufacturing, new technologies, national markets, and improved supply chain management— all spawned by globalization—is transforming American manufacturing. In the process, resources have shifted to sectors with competitive advantages...

It is no secret that world opinion of the United States and its policies is unfavorable. Yet, the Bush administration—with cajoling from Congress—is exacerbating those perceptions with an astonishingly antagonistic trade policy posture. The United States has become an international trade scofflaw...

Global demographic shifts are changing the size of national markets, impacting consumer behavior and affecting investment decisions worldwide. How are they affecting your markets?

In today's extremely competitive business environment, securing foreign marketshare is essential for many companies to succeed well into the future. But to achieve this, it is imperative to first identify, assess and choose the right markets to pursue. Although market selection may seem obvious to some, selecting the wrong ones can be disastrous...

<p>Increasing economic opportunity and strengthening homeland security are the two major goals of the U.S. government. Advancing free trade is essential to reaching both of these goals. Hence, the Bush Administration and Congress should be praised for significantly advancing free trade with Australia, Morocco, Chile and Singapore. The U.S. now has an even more important [&hellip;]</p>