World

<p>Looking back 30 years, China was only just emerging from a planned economy. Its retail sector was strictly regulated, commodities were scarce, and a ration system was still in place. Coupons were issued not only for food and fuel, but also for bikes and televisions. Each coupon specified an item, quantity and sometimes a retail [&hellip;]</p>

As the United States emerges from the worst recession since the Great Depression, trade financing is not only a vital part of the export process, but also an extremely important one to the economy. In addition, export financing can be used as a tool to boost competitiveness.

U.S. unemployment, at 9.1 percent in August, is likely to remain high for years. Economic growth projections continually seem to be revised downward. And the approval ratings for President Obama and Congress, which are at the lowest levels in memory, don’t inspire confidence or encourage business investment. Although there are many reasons for pessimism...

Last year, over $1 million worth of goods crossed our northern border every minute of every day. And that doesn&#8217;t include trade in services. As a result, Canada, with a population of 34.3 million, continues to be the United States&#8217; largest trading partner. What&#8217;s more, Canada is the biggest merchandise export market for 34 American...

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the U.S.-China relationship should be brimming with good will. By that standard, 2010 was a celebration of mutual admiration and respect. As Chinese leaders were trying to cultivate an American mainstay—home-grown innovation, U.S. policymakers were singing the praises of industrial policy. In this case, only one [&hellip;]

From the Korean War to Operation Just Cause in Panama to Plan Colombia, the U.S. has expended lives and treasure to protect Colombia, Panama, and South Korea from Communist aggression, narco-violence, insurgency, and misrule. The investment has paid off.

A primary economic problem poor countries typically incur is not too much global economic integration, but rather, their lack of it. This coupled with the absence of freedom is a recipe for poor growth prospects, high unemployment, hopelessness, and ultimately, revolution. History is replete with examples.

For at least the past three years, general managers of China-based manufacturing operations have been sharply aware of tightening labor supply and rapidly increasing labor costs. Indeed, qualified labor availability and sharply increasing wage levels have risen to the top of the list of operating challenges across a wide range of industries and sectors.

After four years of stasis on the trade front, the new post-election environment is a welcome change. Removing barriers to trade—in both directions—is essential to sustained economic recovery and long-term growth.

A recent "Street Journal" headline screamed: “Americans Sour on Trade.” And why shouldn’t they? After all, the public is routinely bombarded with misleading or simplistic trade coverage that too often relies on cliché, innuendo and regurgitated conventional wisdom: it’s Team America versus the world. Without the war metaphor, trade is just a peaceful, mutually...

For both domestic and foreign companies, hiring and retaining good employees in China is difficult. In fact, this may be the biggest hurdle facing most operations there. Adding to the challenge is the entry into the workforce of China’s “Generation Y” or “80 hou,” those born in the 1980s and raised in an era of [&hellip;]

Between July 2005-July 2008, the Chinese currency, the renminbi, also known as the yuan, appreciated 21 percent against the dollar. But due to a variety of factors, the price of Chinese goods exported to the United States only rose by single digits. Today, again, the Chinese currency is on the rise, but six factors are [&hellip;]

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act (HR 4213). This bill will hurt American workers, reduce American exports, and make American companies less competitive in the international marketplace. Since the U.S. Senate has already passed companion legislation, the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act (S 3336), [&hellip;]

China’s booming economic growth continues to attract huge flows of foreign investment. And the World Expo in Shanghai is drawing still more attention. As a result of this and other factors, the economy grew a robust 11.9 percent in the first quarter of 2010, on top of 8.7 percent growth in 2009. During this same [&hellip;]

International trade theory has its roots in the 18th-century writings of Adam Smith. He argued that nations could increase their combined output if each specializes in producing goods at which it is most efficient, and then each engages in trade. Every country will be better off, he astutely claimed, in terms of the quantity...

Foreign businesses in China and their governments are becoming increasingly vocal about a “deteriorating business environment” there and attribute this mainly to Chinese protectionism. Although protectionism exists, it’s nothing new and dates back to 2002. Today, however, other factors are at work.

President Obama’s goal of creating American jobs has thrust the Chinese currency onto center stage in Washington, where an undervalued renminbi is blamed for the trade deficit with China, and in turn, the deficit is blamed for U.S. job losses. Growing acceptance of that sequence of fallacies threatens our economy, as Congress considers restrictions on...

International trade significantly contributes to American economic growth and well being. For example, in 2008 exports and imports generated nearly 30 percent of U.S. economic growth, up from 20 percent in 1990. Alone, exports contributed nearly 13 percent, measured by gross domestic product (GDP). Although these figures dropped in 2009 due to the Great Recession...

President Obama's historic visit to China is an opportunity for the U.S. to deepen its Chinese relationship and pursue a more sincere partnership. Why? The two economic superpowers are increasingly dependent on each other and will be for decades to come. The United States needs China to continue financing its debt; China needs U.S. markets...

In our ultra-competitive world of globalization, nations are increasingly teaming up to achieve higher levels of competitiveness and greater economic growth. And as the deepest and longest recession since the Great Depression recedes—creating new economic realities—this is even more important. Unfortunately, the U.S. isn’t keeping pace with other countries. In fact, it’s significantly falling behind.