Search Results for: Mexico
799 results out of 799 results found for 'Mexico'.
FORMER UNDERCOVER DEA INVESTIGATOR SAYS CULTURE SHIFTS ARE NEEDED TO PROMOTE LONG-TERM PROBES ON ML PROS
A former DEA agent who laundered money undercover to attack the Medellín and Cali cartels has called for a root-and-branch reform of AML, so that its vast resources target the most suspicious transactions and the professional launderers who facilitate them. Speaking to MLB, Robert Mazur, who offered ML services to drug kingpins such as Pablo Escobar in the 1980s and 1990s to undermine their criminal networks, said that many laundering techniques used then are still in use today.…
NON-BIG THREE MANUFACTURERS FIGHT UNIONISED WORKER ONLY EV TAX CREDIT, AS CONGRESS CONSIDERS VOTE
Opposition is mounting outside the Big Three US auto manufacturers to proposed federal tax credits for electric vehicle purchases within proposed House of Representatives and Senate versions of the Build Back Better Act.
With a House vote maybe happening this week, representatives of foreign-owned and non-union manufacturers as well as the Canadian and Mexican governments, are pushing for changes to the tax credit packages under discussion.…
FALLS IN KEY SUPPLIES AND DOMESTIC MARKET WEAKNESSES PREVENT MEXICO AUTOMAKERS FROM RECOVERING AS COVID-19 EBBS
Automotive associations and manufacturers in Mexico admit that their country’s automotive industry is registering a much slower rate of Covid-19 recovery than expected due to supplies shortages, which have especially impeded light vehicle production – cars, CUVs, SUVs and pick-ups.
In early October, the Mexican Automotive Industry Association, (Asociación Mexicana de la Industria Automotriz – AMIA) noted that light vehicle sales in September in Mexico were 76,930 units, meaning 1.1% less than the number recorded during September 2020, when the pandemic was ravaging Mexico’s economy, which lost 8.5% of its GDP last year (2020).…
EL SALVADOR CLOTHING INDUSTRY BOSS PILOTS SALVADORAN TEXTILE AND CLOTHING INDUSTRY OUT OF COVID CRISIS
The executive director of the Chamber of the Textile and Apparel Industry, of El Salvador (CAMTEX – Cámara de la Industria Textil) has told Just Style how her manufacturing hub is seizing market opportunities growing as Covid-19 ebbs.
Patricia Figueroa, who has been in her job since 2015, also highlighted the challenges the Salvadoran clothing and textile industry will tackle in 2021-22, with CAMTEX’s help.…
CANADIAN PARTS SECTOR COULD SUFFER FROM TRUMP IMMIGRATION TARIFFS ON MEXICO
THE CANADIAN auto parts sector is likely to suffer should the Trump administration go ahead with plans to impose escalating duties on Mexican exports to the USA to force Mexico to further restrict immigration into America.
With President Donald Trump yesterday (June 5) claiming talks with the Mexican government have been insufficiently productive, the US is poised to impose 5% duties on all imports from Mexico on June 10.…
HAULIER SHORTAGE POSES CHALLENGES FOR CAN INDUSTRY WORLDWIDE
The lorry driver shortage in the UK has grabbed headlines, with concerns raised that Britain’s Brexit from the European Union has worsened the problem. And while that is almost certainly true, the shortage of drivers willing and able to take on commercial haulage jobs is far from being a Britain-only challenge.…
COVID-19 DISRUPTION OFFERS AMERICAS TEXTILE COMPANIES CHANCE TO GRAB AND HOLD NEW MARKETS
The relationship between the USA textile industry and its counterparts in Latin America has never been straightforward, given the US exports fabrics and fibre to its neighbours as well as importing apparel, but the Covid-19 pandemic has increased complexity in this relationship.…
WHY DO WE FAIL WHILE OTHERS SUCCEED?
One of the world-changing impacts of the Second World War was an understanding that unfettered competition between nation states was not just undesirable, but – if taken to its logical conclusion – would lead to war. Amidst the ruins of Europe, as an exhausted continent stumbled out of conflict, new thinking emerged, that economic links between neighboring countries be deliberately forged to create interdependence that would encourage cooperation to achieve wealth.…
EL SALVADOR TEXTILE AND MANUFACTURING SECTOR RECOVERS 74.8% OF THE EXPORT VOLUME AFTER TOUGH 2020
After a Covid-disrupted 2020, the clothing manufacturing industry in El Salvador is now recovering fast, with sales pushed increasing demand in its key United States export market. Sales to the USA gathered USD1.5 billion in the first semester of 2021, USD664 million more than the same period in the previous year (+74.8%), according to data from El Salvador’s central bank (Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador).…
EL SALVADOR TEXTILE AND MANUFACTURING SECTOR RECOVERS 74.8% OF THE EXPORT VOLUME AFTER TOUGH 2020
After a Covid-disrupted 2020, the clothing manufacturing industry in El Salvador is now recovering fast, with sales pushed increasing demand in its key United States export market. Sales to the USA gathered USD1.5 billion in the first semester of 2021, USD664 million more than the same period in the previous year (+74.8%), according to data from El Salvador’s central bank (Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador).…
TBML EXPORT SAYS USA 2020 TRADE DATA SHOWS ABNORMAL PRICING THAT MIGHT REFLECT AUDACIOUS TBML
Analysed USA trade data from the professor who coined the phrase ‘trade-based money laundering’ have unveiled significant abnormal pricing in exports and imports to and from the USA, which could have been abused for ML. Prof John Zdanowicz, a business professor at the USA’s Florida International University, and long-standing TBML expert, shared analysed 2020 US trade data with MLB, and they include some eye-widening anomalous valuations.…
MEXICO AUTO SECTOR STRUGGLES TO GET PRODUCTION SURGING AS AMERICAN EXPORT MARKET RECOVERS POST-COVID
THE MEXICAN automotive industry is struggling to cope with the resurgence of demand for new vehicles, as it deals with the global shortage of microchips along with the increase in steel costs – hitting manufacturers’ bottom line – a key problem for Mexico USA-oriented export model.…
LA ARENA APPAREL INDUSTRIAL PARK IS READY TO BOOST HONDURAS MAQUILA INDUSTRY AFTER COVID-19 LOW
After completing the technical testing required, central America’s largest apparel factory is about to open in Honduras, producing sportswear for major brands such as Nike or Under Armour, an executive informed just-style.
La Arena, the Tegra Global-owned industrial park in San Pedro Sula, in the country’s north, will receive around 100 employees during the last week of August – its inauguration was delayed from January because of the Covid-19 pandemic.…
ILLEGAL DRUGS ARE STILL THE LARGEST SOURCE OF DIRTY MONEY WORLDWIDE
The narcotics trade was a prime motivator to enact global anti-money laundering regulations to curb dirty money flows. Over 30 years later, drug trafficking is still considered the largest transnational crime by international law enforcement agencies. It is worth an estimated USD344 billion-a-year, according to Interpol, followed by counterfeiting crimes (USD288 billion) and human trafficking (USD157 billion).…
MEXICO CLOTHING INDUSTRY TO IMPROVE AMERICAN TRADE RELATIONS UNDER BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
With President Joe Biden assuming office in the United States, the Mexican clothing and textile industry is hoping improved trading relations, building on the legacy left by former President Donald Trump that it regards largely positively.
The Mexican Apparel Association (CANAIVE – Cámara Nacional de la Industria del Vestido) was particularly happy with the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), now called the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement: “USMCA opened new opportunities for our industry while seeking to obtain a more solid regional integration,” said CANAIVE, in a note to just-style.…
INTEGRATING TRADE SENSOR TECH INTO CUTTING EDGE INTELLIGENCE SYSTEMS WILL BETTER FIGHT TBML
CUSTOMS forces can benefit from new sensor kit, enabling them to scan containers to ensure contents are as declared on docket – but to use these techniques to fight trade-based money laundering, they need to be integrated with accurate financial intelligence.…
EU WTO ROUND UP – PEACE BREAKS OUT IN TRANSATLANTIC FOOD AND DRINK TRADE WAR
PEACE appears to be breaking out between the European Union (EU) and the UK on one side the USA over an aircraft subsidy-prompted trade war that had led to billions of dollars of duties being levied on food and drink exported between these countries.…
ANGLO-CARIBBEAN OFFERS RIVAL CIGAR PRODUCTION TO CUBA, NICARAGUA AND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
THE REPUTATION of the Caribbean’s major cigar production centres – Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua – has dominated global markets for years. But the entire region’s balmy and moist climate and rich soils are ideal for growing cigar wrapper and filler leaf.…
BANGLADESH PUSHES FORWARD WITH OVERSEAS DENIM SALES, DESPITE COVID-19 CHALLENGES
WHILE Covid-19 dealt body blows to Bangladesh’s apparel industry last year, one fast-expanding segment fared surprisingly well: denim. While the south Asian country has been the largest exporter of jeans clothing to the European Union (including the UK) for the past few years, as per Eurostat data, last year (2020) it was the largest overseas source of denim to the USA, elbowing out Mexico, according to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).…
KNITWEAR TRADE IS VULNERABLE TO TRADE-BASED MONEY LAUNDERING CLAIM CRIME EXPERTS
THE INTERNATIONAL trade in knitwear products and inputs contains significant variations in prices that can be leveraged buy smart traders within the industry who analyse import-export data and orientate their purchasing and sales practises accordingly.
That said, knitwear traders and manufacturers need to be aware that some bargains really are too good to be true and could be an indication that certain trade flows are being exploited by money launderers seeking to move criminal proceeds from one country to another through artificial pricing – deliberate over- and under- invoicing.…
EX-FRAUDSTER SAYS DETECTING MONEY LAUNDERING IN CASH BUSINESSES IS VERY TOUGH
Much expertise of anti-money laundering is developed from the experience of victims and law enforcement, fed into techniques and systems fighting this crime. But ex-criminals, including those who launder illicit money, have a different perspective and can offer fresh insight and intelligence maybe not considered by AML officers.…
CANADIAN AUTO DEALERS LOOKING OUT FOR INCREASED PRESSURE ON PRICES AS USMCA DEAL BEDS IN
CANADIAN automobile dealers are looking out for a potential increase in the price of vehicles that they sell on account of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which came into force on July 1 (2020).
This is likely to be fuelled by the new deal insisting that Canadian (as well as American and Mexican) auto-manufacturers may have to increase their USMCA-bloc sourcing to ensure that 75% of a vehicle’s parts are made a signatory country.…
USA AUTO MAKERS JUGGLE USMCA COMPLIANCE STRATEGIES TO AVOID MARKET DEPRESSING COST INCREASES
USA automotive manufacturers are facing some tough choices when implementing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which entered into force on July 1, to avoid its pressure on costs being reflected in showroom price increases.
The new deal, which replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), requires US, Mexican and Canadian auto manufacturers to increase their USMCA-bloc sourcing to ensure that 75% of a vehicle’s parts are made in a signatory country to benefit from the free trade provisions.…
MEXICO SECTOR NEEDS TO DELAY USMCA FULL IMPLEMENTATION TO ALLOW TIME TO INVEST IN COST EFFICIENCIES
The Mexican auto industry should be able to preserve its critically important USA export sales if it implements the new labour wage and origin components of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) slowly and steadily, allowing time to invest in technological efficiencies, experts predict.…
LATIN AMERICA’S PAINT SECTOR REELS FROM COVID-19, BUT KEEPS CLOSE EYE ON POST-PANDEMIC RECOVERY
LATIN America has been hit particularly hard by the Covid-19 pandemic – with Chile, Peru, Brazil and Colombia in the top-20 of countries regarding cases per million people – and its paint and coatings market and industry has faced a similarly rough ride.…
GROWING RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR FEEDS SPECIALIST LUBRICANTS BUSINESS
Enormous forces act on renewable energy system’s mechanical parts when generating power from wind and water. Between the smooth operation and potential loss of multi-million-dollar investments stand gear lubricants. Lubricants are also needed for the hydraulics that pitch the blades a few degrees every time the wind, or the water current, changes. …
ROBOTICS AND VITRUAL TECH OFFERS MORE SAFETY IN A DECARBONISING OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY
Offshore oilfield development options enabled by new technologies can boost safety and efficiency even before The possibility off processing moving subsea becomes reality. Indeed, the idea of reducing the number of personnel on board (POB) to conduct operations, maintenance and intervention in the offshore oil and gas industry has been attracting renewed interest since the 2014–2016 oil price slump, and again in the industry fallout from the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic.…
EGMONT GROUP SHARPENS ITS TECHNOLOGICAL EDGE AS IT EXPANDS COLLABORATION BETWEEN FIUS AND EXTERNAL CRIME FIGHTERS
THE EGMONT Group, the international network of financial intelligence units (FIU), is focusing on improving how its central resources and members use and interact with new technology. Interim Egmont Group chair, Hennie Verbeek-Kusters, told MLB that the group is reviewing its IT systems, of critical importance regarding the safe and encrypted exchange between its 164 member FIUs (there were 22,538 such exchanges in 2017, the most recent available data).…
NORTH AMERICAN NONWOVENS SECTOR BENEFITS FROM COVID-19 CRISIS
THE NORTH American – especially the USA – nonwovens sector, has this year had to content with two major external impacts – the US trade war with China and the Covid-19 pandemic. New statistics from the North Carolina, USA-based Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) have revealed a sharp decline in north American exports (including those from the USA, Canada and Mexico) to China from across north America (with the USA dominating) showed a fall in exports tonnage of 18.6% respectively year-on-year between 2019 and 2018, “led by declines in trade with China”, according to a memo from the organisation.…
ENERGY COMPANIES TAKE SPECIAL CARE TO REDUCE SPREAD OF COVID-19 WITHIN THEIR FACILITIES
AS governments worldwide loosen lockdowns imposed to impede the spread of Covid-19, energy companies are assessing their health and safety policies to ensure workplaces are not new infection hotspots, protecting workers and hence production.
These changes come as energy industries downscale workloads to reflect a collapse in demand for their output.…
CANADIAN PARTS MAKERS ANTICIPATE BIG RISE IN ORDERS ONCE IMMINENT USMCA STARTS OPERATING
CANADA’S Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA) is optimistic that the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will deliver more sustained work to the country’s supply chain once the deal comes into force on July 1. It replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), in place since 1994.…
COVID-19 DISRUPTS ANTICIPATED STEADY GROWTH IN 2020 WITHIN LATIN AMERICA BEAUTY SECTOR
THE COVID-19 crisis has severely depressed sales of personal care products within Latin America and it is unclear when the market will pick up.
In Argentina, for example, a coronavirus-induced lockdown has pushed the economy deeper into recession, slashing sales of most unessential beauty and personal care products.…
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUND UP – CAOBISCO AND CIUS SOUND WARNING OVER BREXIT TALKS DELAYS
EUROPEAN sugar users’ association CIUS has warned about slow progress within the talks between the European Union (EU) and the UK over a permanent relationship after the current transitional Brexit period expires on December 31. The CIUS wants this period extended – a step that the British government is currently refusing to take.…
EUROPEAN DAIRY SECTOR ENCOURAGED BY RUSSIA LOOSENING IMPORT BAN TO COPE WITH COVID-19
Moscow’s action on 90% demineralized whey powder followed up an announcement made in March 19 by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin that from March 20 “for one month, all restrictions on the supply of essential goods, including customs, are cancelled”. This was followed up by a government plan allowing for the easing of sanctions-related restrictions – see http://static.government.ru/media/files/vBHd4YRxpULCaUNNTFLVpPSZbMCIA2Zq.pdf…
EAST ASIAN AUTO-MAKING HUBS FEEL PAIN FROM COVID-19 PANDEMIC, DESPITE VARIED GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE
EAST Asia’s auto-making hubs may have been making a better fist of dealing with the Covid-19 crisis than manufacturing centres in Europe and north America, but the pandemic has been harming the industry in the region.
Government responses have varied, however, with no major scrappage packages being announced.…
CANADIAN AUTO SECTOR PRESSES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO LAUNCH SCRAPPAGE SCHEME TO REVIVE COVID-19 DAMAGED MARKET
CANADA’S automotive industry associations are pressing the Canadian federal government to launch a scrappage scheme to help the country’s automotive market out of its Covid-19 related slump. The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA), the Global Automakers of Canada (GAC) and the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association (CVMA) have made a formal proposal that the government subsidises automotive consumers by between CAD1,500 and CAD3,000 when they trade in an old vehicle and replace it with a new model.…
CANADA GROWS DIVERSE ARTISANAL CHOCOLATE SECTOR TAPPING INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED AND GROWING MARKET
While the Canadian chocolate market is dominated by major manufacturers, such as Nestlé, Hershey, Mondelēz, Lindt, Mars and Ferrero – a diverse artisanal sector is growing towards commercial maturity, as consumers seek out premium products that are locally produced and often marketed to specific target customers.…
VATICAN’S FIU RAIDED AND IN HOT WATER – BUT IS IT THE VICTIM OF CURIA POWER POLITICS?
The suspension for alleged corruption by senior officials at a financial intelligence unit (FIU), the cornerstone of any jurisdiction’s AML work, would be shocking. But if those suspensions were at the FIU of the world’s only purely theocratic state, such reports would sound like the work of thriller fiction.…
TRADE DATA ANALYSIS INDICATES WIDE SCOPE FOR TRADE-BASED MONEY LAUNDERING MAY INVOLVE THE SHIFT OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN VALUE
GIVEN the hundreds of billions of dollars spent by banks on fighting money laundering, fears that trade-based money laundering (TBML) remains widespread, as stressed by FATF, the APG (http://www.fatf-gafi.org/publications/methodsandtrends/documents/trade-basedmoneylaunderingtypologies.html), and most recently, the European Commission (https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/supranational_risk_assessment_of_the_money_laundering_and_terrorist_financing_risks_affecting_the_union_-_annex.pdf), are of serous concern. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) said that in 2018, global merchandise exports were worth USD19.48 trillion, so there is plenty of place for laundered money to hide.…
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUNDUP – GLOBAL SWEETENERS GROUP CONCERN OVER SHARING BIOMONITORING DATA WITH EU REGULATOR
THE INTERNATIONAL Sweeteners Association (ISA) has called for clear rules on how the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) may assess biomonitoring data in the agency’s planned review of authorisations for sweeteners that are allowed in the European Union (EU). The industry body said in a public consultation on this review that it “is critical to have clear and expert protocols issued by EFSA and/or OECD to appropriately respond to… interest in reviewing ‘biomonitoring’ data, if this is to be considered in the current re-evaluation of sweeteners.”…
MEXICO EYES DIGITAL TEXTILE PRINTING AS IT SEEKS TO BOOST TROUBLED FABRIC MANUFACTURING SECTOR
Mexico’s digital textile printing industry is poised for growth as the country’s textile manufacturers bet on the technology to cut costs, meet orders faster and widen exports to Canada and the United States, efforts that have gained in importance this year as the global economy reels from the spread of the coronavirus.…
NEW TECH MAY HELP AML PROBES, BUT THEY ALSO INCREASE VULNERABILITIES FOR COMPLIANCE SYSTEMS
While new financial technologies and associated developments in machine learning and artificial intelligence offer AML/CFT solutions, anti-money laundering specialists are concerned about new risks being posed by new business and industrial innovations.
Banks are starting to adopt AI-based machine learning, but terrorists and criminals can use technology too: “It is really an AI arms race in financial crime”, said Kamer Yüksel, chief data scientist for Munich-based artificial intelligence start-up hawk:AI’s and author of more than 35 publications on AI.…
AMERICAS JURISDICTIONS BUILD WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS, BUT AT VARYING SPEEDS
THE ROLE of whistleblowers in the Americas has been given special attention in since last August, when an intelligence officer lodged a complaint with the Intelligence Community Inspector General about a phone call by President Donald Trump to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky pressuring him to open an investigation into alleged corruption by former vice-president Joe Biden.…
JANUARY SEES INCREASES IN MINIMUM WAGE RATES IN OUTSOURCING MANUFACTURIONG HUBS WORLDWIDE
NATIONAL minimum wages have been rising in clothing manufacturing outsourcing hubs around the world, with low and medium-cost manufacturing centres increasing pay rates, as their governments seek to balance the need for export competitiveness with the value of industrial peace to avoid production disruption and the ability to retain experienced staff.…
CARBON CAPTURE UTILISATION AND STORAGE PROJECTS GROW AS INDUSTRY INCREASINGLY VALUES THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO PARIS AGREEMENT GOALS
There is broad consensus among energy and environmental experts that carbon capture and storage (CCS) systems built at commercial scale must play a key role if governments are to achieve their 2015 COP21 (Paris Agreement) ambitions for limiting carbon emissions. “All credible scenario modelling shows that CCS will be essential to meeting the targets set by the Paris Agreement”, commented a report co-ordinated by the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP) for a European Gas Regulatory Forum meeting, staged last June (2019).…
ASIA REGULATORY ROUND UP – MALAYSIA DEMANDS SYSTEM BANKS BOOSTS RESERVES TO PROTECT AGAINST CRASHES
THE MALAYSIAN government has issued a Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIB) Framework, which tells financial institutions of importance to Malaysia’s wider economy to hold minimum levels of reserves to protect themselves against troubled times. Mandatory ‘higher loss absorbency’ (HLA) requirements for listed systemic banks, ranging between 0.5% to 1.0% of risk-weighted assets, will come into force from January 31, 2021.…
REGULATION DRIVES CHANGE AS US PAINT AND COATINGS INDUSTRY URGES INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
Sustainability issues are currently dominating the US paint and coatings industry with challenges and opportunities arising from stringent regulations and growing green markets, generating demand for environment-friendly business practices and sustainable consumer lifestyles. This change comes as the industry hopes for a fillip from the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), reforming North American trading arrangements, which has been hailed by the American Coatings Association (ACA) as “a win for America’s paint industry”.…
AIRBUS HIT WITH EUR3.6 BILLION IN COMBINED UK, US AND FRENCH FINES
Airbus is to pay out EUR3.6 billion (USD4 billion) under a trio of deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs) with British, French and United States authorities that were simultaneously agreed by national courts January 31 as part of a global resolution over bribes to clinch civil and military aircraft sales.…
CANADIAN AUTO SECTOR WELCOMES FINAL USMCA DEAL – WITH FINAL REVISIONS ON STEEL SUPPLIES AND LABOUR STANDARDS
The Canadian automotive industry has welcomed the final text of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade deal, which includes new flexibility over steel supplies to the North American automotive manufacturing industry.
David Adams, president, Global Automakers of Canada (which represents all Canadian auto manufacturers except for the Big Three), said the new amendments reflected Canadian government thinking and that now he expected “all three countries will work to ratify expeditiously….”,…
MEXICAN CLOTHING INDUSTRY EXPERTS HOPE FOR PROMPT RATIFICTION OF THE USMCA TRADE DEAL
MEXICAN clothing industry experts hope that the current stand-off over the ratification of the new United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) will be solved soon, given that they expect that it will cement Mexico’s position as a major apparel exporter to the USA and Canada.…
EU REBUFFS CRITICISM AT WTO OF COBALT AND TITANIUM LABELLING PLANS
Diplomats at the World Trade Organisation’s goods council have attacked the European Union (EU) over its plans to integrate titanium dioxide and cobalt into its health and safety laws, claiming this could impose unnecessary red tape restrictions on exporting certain stainless steels to the EU.…
EUROPEAN COMMISSION MAY ADD CADMIUM TO EU CRITICAL RAW MATERIAL LIST
THE EUROPEAN Commission will early next year (2020) consider whether to add cadmium to the European Union (EU) critical raw material list, with the aim of encouraging production and recycling of this mineral that widely used in batteries, potentially helping the EU economy away from fossil fuels.…
AMERICAN CLOTHING SECTOR STILL CAUTIOUS ABOUT FUTURE TRADING OPPORTUNITIES, AS CHINA-US TALKS CONTINUE
While cautious optimism on the future of global trade may be currently evident in US financial markets, notably because the United States and China are apparently nearing agreement on a new interim trade deal, representatives of the textile and apparel sectors gathered in New York for the 31st annual Apparel Importers Trade & Transportation Conference on November 7 were still expressing significant caution about future prospects.…
CANADIAN AUTO EXPORTS TO EUROPE ON THE RISE
WITH Canadian auto exports to the USA falling in 2018 and the new USMCA trade agreement between the USA, Mexico and Canada still unratified (only Mexico has done so), the Canadian auto sector has been eyeing Europe for overseas sales.
A report from the Canadian government’s chief economist released in June (2019) gave grounds for optimism as regards future EU sales.…
CHINA-US TRADE WAR MAY WORRY MARKETS – BUT NORTH AMERICAN NONWOVENS FUNDAMENTALS ARE STRONG
While the USA-China trade war currently dominates headlines, nonwovens analysts predict it will be a “relatively short-term” issue and not harm north America’s growing nonwovens market in the longer term.
With smart applications and sustainability driving the sector worldwide, the north American nonwovens market looks set to capitalise on these growth areas, aiding recovery from a past 10 years marred by economic weakness and volatile crude oil prices.…
AROUND 56 MILLION PAID BRIBES FOR PUBLIC SERVICES IN LATIN AMERICA
More than one in five or around 56 million people who accessed public services in Latin America and the Caribbean last year paid a bribe, according to the latest 18-country survey from Transparency International. The police notched up the highest bribery rate (24%), followed by other public services such as utilities (19%). …
ELECTRIFICATION OF SHIPS A KEY STEP IN DELIVERING PARIS CLIMATE COMMITMENTS
Described by environmental campaigners as “the elephant in the COP21 negotiations room” when climate change proposals were agreed in Paris during 2015, today – the electrification of shipping is moving ahead apace.
From inland ferries to cargo barges and cruise ships, vessels are being built or retrofitted with renewable power propulsion sources, curbing the shipping industry’s major emissions.…
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT PLAYS WAIT-AND-SEE ON EMISSIONS RULES, AWAITING WASHINGTON’S LEAD
THE CANADIAN government has told wardsauto that it will wait for the release of a US final rule on federal automotive emissions before making any decisions on whether to follow the lead of the Trump administration on freezing emissions limits or imposing tougher tailpipe rules for Canada.…
GLOBAL DECOMMISSIONING INDUSTRY GROWS AS OI AND GAS OFFSHORE STRUCTURES REACH END OF OPERATIONS
A WAVE of oil and gas structure decommissioning in the North Sea, a steady continuing flow in the USA’s Gulf of Mexico fields, and a similar longer-term challenge in south-east Asia are concentrating minds on the infrastructure needed to dismantle such equipment safely.…
SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTORS OFFER BRANDS DECISION-MAKING POWER – FOR PURCHASES AND SALES
The news that major American retailer Barneys New York has entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy and plans to close all but two stores is yet another warning sign for the industry that brands should not rely upon department stores to sell their product.…
CONTINUOUS DYEING MACHINES OFFER CUTTING EDGE EFFICIENCY GAINS – BUT OUTSOURCE CENTRE FINISHERS MAY NEED SUBSIDIES TO AFFORD THEM
CONTINUOUS dyeing technology is being refined and improved and offering finishers worldwide the chance to improve their output efficiency, while reducing chemical, water and energy usage. However, emerging markets finishers can struggle to find the investment costs required to install this top-line cutting edge dyeing machinery.…
EU RATIONALISES DRINKS GI REGISTER
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) has rationalised its registration of alcoholic drinks that have EU geographical indications (GI), preventing their names from being used by producers, unless the product is made in its home region according to traditional methods. Until now, GI spirits have been logged on a ‘E-Spirit-Drinks’ register, while GI wines have been listed on a separate ‘E-Bacchus’ database.…
INNOVATIVE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY STUDENT COLLABORATION SHOULD HELP DEVISE KEY PROBLEM-SOLVING SOLUTIONS FOR PRESSING GLOBAL ISSUES
STUDENTS from top Pacific Rim research universities have embarked on an innovative programme of problem solving, designed to create fresh solutions on pressing socio-economic problems that leverage leadership skills and community contacts.
The University of Oregon (UO), in Eugene, Oregon, welcomed 50 undergraduate students from 30 universities based in the Pacific Rim region, including from the USA, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Japan, Australia, and more.…
INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND MATERIALS HELP OIL AND GAS SECTOR CLEAN UP - AND SMARTEN UP - PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
As an industry much maligned for its heavy carbon footprint, the oil and gas sector is increasing its use of sustainable materials and manufacturing methods making textiles used for its protective clothing. This segment has also been focusing on improving the comfort and aesthetics of this apparel.…
LATIN AMERICA’S PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT MARKETS REMAIN IN THE DOLDRUMS AS ECONOMIES PERFORM POORLY
IT has been another subdued year for the beauty and personal care product market in Latin America, as the region’s economy underperforms yet again after six years of deceleration (and in some countries outright recession), keeping a lid on sales growth. …
CONFERENCE ASKS HOW ACADEMICS AND JOURNALISTS CAN DEFEND KNOWLEDGE ON POST-TRUTH WORLD OF POPULISM
Are universities and the media doing enough in the defence of knowledge when faced with the global rise of populism? This question has been debated at the third Worldviews International Conference on Media and Higher Education. Staged at Canada’s University of Toronto, speakers asked how can higher education and journalism counter the claims of elitism made against these institutions?…
TOBACCO COMPANIES BID TO REDUCE THEIR CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT
EVERY manufacturing and agricultural industry has an impact on climate change – and the tobacco sector is no different. Faced with long-standing criticism of the health impact of its products, the tobacco industry is now facing attacks that its work generates carbon emissions and hence climate change.…
WOLLASTONITE OFFERS GREAT POTENTIAL AS BASE FOR DEVELOPING CARBON EMISSIONS REDUCTION TECHNOLOGY
WOLLASTONITE has been described by a Canadian producer as “a white mineral for a greener world,” and it seems governments, businesses and industries agree – with wollastonite is set to see increased market growth in its traditional uses plus a new focus on its powerful qualities to help tackle climate change.…
WOLLASTONITE OFFERS GREAT POTENTIAL AS BASE FOR DEVELOPING CARBON EMISSIONS REDUCTION TECHNOLOGY
WOLLASTONITE has been described by a Canadian producer as “a white mineral for a greener world,” and it seems governments, businesses and industries agree – with wollastonite is set to see increased market growth in its traditional uses plus a new focus on its powerful qualities to help tackle climate change.…
SAE-A TRADING EYES BUILDING HIGH-TECH PLANT FOR POLYESTER YARN IN GUATEMALA
South Korea’s Sae-A Trading, one of the world’s largest apparel manufacturers and exporters, is considering building an estimated USD200 million high-tech industrial complex in Guatemala for making polyester yarns. Its goal – taking advantage of rising US demand for apparel made in Central America. …
WALMART PAYS USD282 MILLION OVER FCPA VIOLATIONS
American mega-retailer Walmart has settled charges imposed by the USA Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) that it violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by failing to operate a sufficiently robust anti-corruption compliance programme as the retailer expanded rapidly internationally. Walmart has paid over USD144 million to settle the SEC’s charges and around USD138 million to resolve parallel criminal charges laid by the US Department of Justice, with the combined total topping USD282 million.…
MONEY SERVICE BUSINESSES IN EMERGING MARKETS FACE TOUGHER COMPLIANCE AND DERISKING DEMANDS
MONEY service businesses (MSBs) are having a tougher time operating in compliance with international AMF/CFT rules, especially those in emerging market countries, where they have to deal with a double challenge of tighter controls and derisking by banking partners.
MSBs throughout the Middle East, for instance, have been hit by derisking from correspondent banks as well as designations by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).…
RUSSIA TELLS MEXICO AT THE WTO THAT ITS ANTIDUMPING DUTIES ON RUSSIAN STEEL ARE ILLEGAL AND OUTDATED
Russia has criticised Mexico at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for maintaining anti-dumping duties on Russian steel exports, which it claims are outdated, being based on pricing assessments using data from a different country.
The Mexican government used this method for past dumping calculations on Russian steel because it is permitted under WTO rules where a government dominates an economy that does not operate as a free market.…
VIETNAM SEEKS TO BOOST FABRIC PRODUCTION SO GARMENT-MAKERS CAN PROSPER FROM CPTPP DEAL
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) took effect in December 2018, incrementally bringing down import tariffs for Vietnamese garments in a market with 495 million consumers across 11 countries.
But Vietnamese garment-makers are struggling to reduce costs to deliver pricing that is competitive enough to make the most of CPTPP.…
AS THE US-CHINA TRADE WAR DRAGS ON, BRANDS AND RETAILERS CAN TURN UNCERTAINTY INTO OPPORTUNITY
Trade negotiators from the United States and China will meet for the second week in a row this Wednesday or Thursday, in what the American clothing sector hopes could be the final round of talks to resolve the trade war.
US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin told Fox Business last week they hope to get to “the point where we can either recommend to the president we have a deal, or make a recommendation that we don’t,” emphasising the United States wants to “rebalance” the trade relationship.…
TRUMP’s 25% TARIFFS WILL BOOST EU PLASTICS EXPORTS, SAY EXPERTS
United States (US) President Donald Trump’s announcement, May 10, to slap 25% additional tariffs on plastics exports to China could increase opportunities for European plastics exporters, experts have told Plastics News Europe.
Mike Boswell, managing director of UK-based plastics products supplier Plastribution, said: “Sales could increase to the US, depending on which items, as US products will become more expensive because of duty barriers.”…
LEGALISATION OF CANNABIS-ASSOCIATED BEAUTY PRODUCTS ADVANCES UNEVENLY WORLDWIDE
THE LEGALISATION nationwide of recreational cannabis in Canada last October (2018) was a groundbreaking move – a first for a major western country – and from this coming October 17, at the latest, one that may have significant implications for the beauty business.…
CANADIAN AUTO SECTOR WANTS GOVERNMENT TO BE QUICK TO EXPLAIN EMISSIONS TAX IMPACT ON INDUSTRY
THE CANADIAN auto sector wants the country’s federal government to recycle payments made through its carbon tax system back to Ontario’s automotive manufacturing sector, so it can reduce emissions and related energy costs. Executives want the government to hasten an announcement on how the system will work in detail to enable the industry to plan and mitigate costs.…
ONTARIO GOVERNMENT AUTOMOTIVE PROMOTION POLICY NEEDS TO GENERATE MORE INVESTMENT SAYS UNION
THE ONTARIO government has launched a Canadian dollars CAD40 million (USD29.8 million) policy package designed to grow the Canadian province’s auto-sector and stem the haemorrhaging of its jobs and output to Mexico and the southern USA. However, while these is support for the plan in the industry, there is also skepticism that this policy package will move the needle on preserving auto output in Canada’s most populous province.…
GLOBAL AUTO SECTOR WORRIED OVER POTENTIAL IMPACT OF USA SECTION 232 DUTIES
THE SUBMISSION to the White House by the US Department of Commerce of a report recommending whether and how the USA should impose tariffs on automotive and related parts on national security grounds has provoked significant concern worldwide.
President Donald Trump has 90 days from February 17 (to mid-May) to decide on whether to impose the tariffs under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act.…
INDIA’S GROWING MARKET FOR INTERNATIONAL FOODS OFFERS GROWTH, BUT CHOOSE THE RIGHT PARTNER, SAY EXPERTS
IF evidence was needed that India’s consumer food market was becoming increasingly open to foreign tastes, Godrej Nature’s Basket, a premium fresh and fine foods store with an online and offline presence across India, claims 40% of its sales come from international food lines, mostly imported.…
EXPANSION ANNOUNCEMENTS MARK ROUTES AMERICA CONFERENCE
ANNOUNCEMENTS made at the Routes Americas conference for 2019 have demonstrated how the region’s civil aviation sector is expanding and providing more business to airports.
New Canadian low-cost carrier Jetlines, for example, unveiled plans to put conference host Quebec City on its route network when it begins operating later this year.…
GOVERNMENTS CAN PROVIDE ENERGY TO MAKE AIRPORT MEGA-PROJECTS HAPPEN – BUT THE RISKS OF MAJOR MISTAKES ARE REAL
GOVERNMENTS can play a huge role in determining how, when and whether an airport is built – and freed from the market constraints that limit most businesses, these decisions can have big consequences – for good and for ill. When dealing with mega-projects costing billions of dollars, government airport constructions decisions can also have a lot of unintended consequences.…
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUND UP – BREXIT SPARKS CONCERN OVER RELATED EU IMPORT QUOTA REDUCTIONS
TRADING partners with the European Union (EU) are concerned about the EU cutting the size of low duty import quotas once Britain quits the bloc, which it is scheduled to do on March 28.
The EU has released detailed plans to reduce the amount of some goods it allows into the EU, to take account of Britain exiting the single European market.…
REGULATIONS CONTROLLING SUNSCREEN CHEMICALS START TO EMERGE WORLDWIDE
CONCERNS about the environmental and health damage caused by sunscreen chemicals has started to translate into regulatory action around the world, with the US state of Hawaii being the most high-profile reformer.
Hawaii has imposed a state-wide ban on the sale and distribution within Hawaii of products containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are widely regarded as having a harmful impact on coral.…
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUND UP – WTO DISPUTES PANELS WILL ASSESS EU RETALIATORY DUTIES ON USA KNITWEAR EXPORTS
THE WORLD Trade Organisation (WTO) Disputes Settlement Body (DSB) has approved establishing disputes settlement panels ruling on whether retaliatory duties imposed by the European Union (EU), on US knitwear exports, imposed in response to America’s controversial steel and aluminium tariffs, break WTO rules.…
EU/WTO REGULATORY ROUND UP – EU FOOD AND DRINKS SECTOR TO READY ITSELF FOR SINGLE USE PLASTICS BAN
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) food and drinks sector will have to prepare itself to find alternative materials to plastics, after the European Parliament and EU Council of Ministers struck a deal on approving European Commission proposals to ban single-use plastics. Under a new directive – now on track to receive formal approval by this summer (2019) – the EU will ban the use of such materials where alternatives are easily available and affordable.…
CANADIAN AUTO SECTOR WANTS GOVERNMENT HELP TO DIVE DOWN COSTS AS USMCA TRADE DEAL RATIFICATION LOOMS
A CANADIAN automotive industry association wants its federal government and the provincial administration of auto-making hub Ontario, to address the high cost of making vehicles in Canada, now the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has been negotiated.
Drafted on September 30 and signed on November 1, but still awaiting ratification, the Canadian auto sector has been assessing the likely impact of the USMCA, guessing that the agreement will come into force – maybe this summer.…
CANADIAN AUTO SECTOR WANTS GOVERNMENT HELP TO DIVE DOWN COSTS AS USMCA TRADE DEAL RATIFICATION LOOMS
A CANADIAN automotive industry association wants its federal government and the provincial administration of auto-making hub Ontario, to address the high cost of making vehicles in Canada, now the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has been negotiated.
Drafted on September 30 and signed on November 1, but still awaiting ratification, the Canadian auto sector has been assessing the likely impact of the USMCA, guessing that the agreement will come into force – maybe this summer.…
CHINESE PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT MARKET MATURES AS ONLINE SALES BOOM
It is hard to avoid either a cosmetics store or an advertisement for one in Chinese cities today. A mind-boggling wave of new retailers set up by investment firms to cash in on the cosmetics and personal care boom are eagerly seeking franchisees around the country.…
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUND UP - RETALIATORY DUTIES ON USA CONFECTIONERY AND INGREDIENTS EXPORTS CHALLENGED AT WTO
THE WORLD Trade Organisation (WTO) Disputes Settlement Body (DSB) has approved establishing disputes settlement panels ruling sought by the USA on whether retaliatory duties imposed by the European Union (EU), Canada, China, and Mexico on US confectionery and sweet bakery and associated ingredient exports, imposed in response to America’s controversial steel and aluminium tariffs, break WTO rules.…
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUND UP – CHINA KNITTED FABRIC EXPORTS HIT BY AMERICAN DUTIES
CHINESE exports of knitted fabrics have been hit by major USA duties in the latest round of tit-for-tat tariffs imposed in the countries’ ongoing trade war. China exported USD470 million’s worth of knitted and crocheted fabrics to the USA in 2017, according to international trade data.…
RETALIATORY DUTIES ON USA DRINKS EXPORTS CHALLENGED AT WTO
THE WORLD Trade Organisation (WTO) Disputes Settlement Body (DSB) has approved establishing disputes settlement panels ruling on whether retaliatory duties imposed by the European Union (EU), Canada, China, and Mexico on US drinks exports, imposed in response to America’s controversial steel and aluminium tariffs, break WTO rules.…
RETALIATORY DUTIES ON USA DRINKS EXPORTS CHALLENGED AT WTO
THE WORLD Trade Organisation (WTO) Disputes Settlement Body (DSB) has approved establishing disputes settlement panels ruling on whether retaliatory duties imposed by the European Union (EU), Canada, China, and Mexico on US drinks exports, imposed in response to America’s controversial steel and aluminium tariffs, break WTO rules.…
ICAO BUDDY SYSTEM HELPS EMERGING MARKET COUNTRIES PREPARE FOR CORSIA
A BUDDY training system has been launched by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), enabling countries with significant regulatory capacity to help other states prepare for the upcoming CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation) scheme. ICAO has been training national officials to advise on ensuring CORSIA’s legal requirements are written into local laws and also on building the emissions data monitoring, reporting and verification systems they need to measure their airlines’ carbon footprint.…
RETALIATORY DUTIES ON USA MEAT EXPORTS CHALLENGED AT WTO
THE WORLD Trade Organisation (WTO) Disputes Settlement Body (DSB) has agreed to establish disputes settlement panels to rule on whether retaliatory duties imposed by Canada, China, and Mexico on US meat exports, imposed in response to America’s controversial steel and aluminium tariffs, break WTO rules.…
NEW NORTH AMERICAN TRADE DEAL REMOVES EXPORT MINIMUM GUARANTEES
THE NEW US Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade deal scraps a provision within the old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that could have allowed member countries to demand a minimum import level of oil and oil products from each other.…
EU ROUND UP – KEY COATING CHEMICALS BRANDED AS HARMFUL BY EU AGENCY
AN INDUSTRIAL chemical used to make paints, primers, varnishes and coatings should be regarded as carcinogenic and regulated accordingly, a European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) committee has concluded. Its committee for risk assessment (RAC) said that exposure butanone oxime carried this risk as well as causing drowsiness or dizziness if swallowed and being harmful in contact with skin, could cause damage to the upper respiratory tract after a single exposure and damage to the blood system through prolonged or repeated exposure.…
CANADA ALUMINIUM SECTOR HOPES NEW NAFTA DEAL WILL LEAD TO END OF USA SECTION 232 TARIFFS
THE PRESIDENT and CEO of the Aluminum Association of Canada has said he hopes the agreement yesterday (September 30) of a new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will lead to a swift resolution of the dispute over 10% American tariffs imposed from June 1.…
NEW NORTH AMERICAN TRADE DEAL WILL BOOST USA POULTRY PRODUCERS’ ACCESS TO CANADIAN MARKETS
AMERICAN poultry exporters will gain improved access to Canadian markets under the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which was announced late Sunday night. (September 30). The deal has created new duty-free quotas for US chicken and turkey producers, chipping away at the Canadian tariff protection which underpins its supply management system.…
USMCA DEAL PUSHES AMERICAN DAIRY INTO PROTECTED CANADIAN MARKET – ALTHOUGH GAINS WILL BE INCREMENTAL
COMMENTATORS may scoff at President Donald Trump’s ‘Art of the Deal’ negotiating pretentions, but it would be hard to argue that the American food sector was not a winner in the new USA-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade deal, stuck on September 30.…
NEW NORTH AMERICAN TRADE DEAL PROMOTES REGULATORY HARMONISATION – EUROPEAN EXPORTERS COULD BENEFIT
THE PLASTICS industries of the United States, Canada and Mexico have something to cheer about – at last – from American trade policy – a north American trade deal that cuts regulatory barriers as well as tariffs. But as these three plastics markets – with a combined population of close to 500 million people – become more integrated, will this make them a tougher mark for European plastics exporters, who lack trade deals with the USA, especially.…
USA, CANADA AND MEXICO MOVE TOWARDS PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT REGULATORY HARMONISATION IN NEW TRADE DEAL
THE PERSONAL care product industries of the United States, Canada and Mexico have something to cheer about – at last – from American trade policy – a north American trade deal that will cut regulatory barriers as well as tariffs.
While ensuring most trade in personal care products will be exported duty free between the three signatory countries, a new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) – which was announced on September 30 – has a special personal care product annex.…
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUND UP – US-CHINA TRADE WAR HITS CONFECTIONERY EXPORTERS
AMERICAN confectioners may suffer from the latest tit-for-tat tariff exchange between the USA and China, with retaliatory duties from China targeting US confectionery exports. Many of these duties are high – at 25% – imposed from September 24 on US-made sugar; cocoa powder; milk powder; honey; jams; and more; plus 20% duties on US-made confectionery without cocoa; chewing gum; some chocolates; and more.…
INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL ROUND UP – EU PASSES VAT FRAUD REFORMS
*EU member states have been given temporary permission to use so-called reverse charge mechanisms to collect VAT, involving shifting liability to pay from suppliers to customers, to fight fraud. The EU Council of Ministers has approved a directive allowing governments to reverse charge VAT on domestic supplies of goods and services above EUR17,500 per transaction until June 2022, when a country is losing 25% or more of VAT to carousel fraud.…
CARS AND AUTOPARTS MAKERS HOPE EU-MERCOSUR TRADE TALKS WILL BREAK THROUGH
EUROPEAN Union (EU) and Mercosur negotiators went into crucial trade talks in Uruguayan capital Montevideo September 10-14, cheered on by automakers on both sides who want a deal, even though there are tough technical issues to resolve. The round is another bid to smash the deadlock over a future trade pact between the EU and the four founding Mercosur nations – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. …
TECHNICAL TEXTILE SECTOR KEEPS CLOSE EYE ON UNSTABLE GLOBAL TRADE POLICIES WHICH COULD HARM PRODUCERS
WITH the old certainties that the world would move steadily towards ever freer trade now crumbling, the technical textile sector is closely monitoring shifts in trade policy by key governments and international organisations.
This industry depends on the free flow of materials and finished goods – and unlike many textile segments – still has a significant manufacturing presence in mature markets, making the impact of trade policy changes complex and hard to predict.…
ONLY 11 MAJOR EXPORTING COUNTRIES PUNISH COMPANIES FOR GRAFT
A new report from Transparency International has found that only 11 major exporting countries in the world significantly punish companies that pay bribes abroad. The report, called ‘Exporting Corruption’, also found that more than half of world exports come from at least 33 jurisdictions, including several European Union (EU) member states, where companies that export corruption along with their goods and services face weak consequences. …
CANADA RESISTS US PRESSURE TO WEAKEN POULTRY SUPPLY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
CANADA’S government has been talking tough about protecting the country’s supply management system, as negotiators conduct what might be the final round of talks to renew the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), with the United States and Mexico.
Faced with objections from US President Donald Trump about sky-high Canadian tariffs on out-of-quota imports of some foods, including chicken and turkey, Ottawa has stressed that it wants to preserve its supply management of these poultry products within Canada.…
SOUTHEAST ASIA FACES UP TO LOOMING OIL AND GAS DECOMMISSIONING CHALLENGE
THE ASIA-PACIFIC (APAC) region’s oil and gas sector faces an unprecedented level of decommissioning for which it is under-prepared and lacks experience, analysts have warned. Unclear regional government regulations coupled with a lack of local expertise mean that companies and regulators face a steep learning curve, high initial costs and the potential for mistakes, according to the consultancy group Wood Mackenzie’s latest analysis.…
MEAT INDUSTRY WORKING AROUND RUSSIA COUNTERSANCTIONS AS MEAT BAN EXTENDED TO END OF 2019
THE RUSSIAN and European Union (EU) meat industries are beginning to accept Russia’s ban on meat and livestock as a fact, with President Vladimir Putin extending the existing embargo on imports of meat and other food products to Russia from western countries and allies until December 31, 2019.…
VIETNAM TEXTILE SECTOR SET TO BENEFIT FROM AUSTRALIA TRADE LINKS BUT STILL FACE STIFF CHINESE COMPETITION
THE NEWLY signed 11-member Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) could help Vietnam boost garment and textile exports to the lucrative Australian market significantly. But the Asian clothing makers may still face big challenges in taking market share in this mature market away from China, experts warn. …
US TOBACCO SECTOR UNDER PRESSURE IN TRUMP TRADE WAR
THE AMERICAN tobacco industry has had to face up to retaliatory safeguard duties on imports into the European Union (EU) of USA-made tobacco and tobacco products, after US President Donald Trump imposed import duties on EU-made aluminium and steel imports.
The American duties came into force on June 1 and the EU reaction was swift.…
DISTRIBUTED POWER GENERATION WITH STORAGE CAN ASSIST RENEWABLES GROWTH BUT FACES OBSTACLES
GROWTH of distributed renewable power generation with storage is set to pick up significantly in key global regions of demand for electricity. Quantifying its impact on the rate at which renewables will capture share in the energy mix is made difficult by its often-hidden nature, but some utilities and energy policy makers are starting to get to grips with the challenge – the eventual results will be of interest to oil and gas marketers.…
INNOVATIONS IN WALLPAPER DRIVING A RESURGENCE IN MARKET
DEMAND from two key generations is driving resurging sales in the global wallpaper market: Millennials and their quest for a sustainable lifestyle coupled with embracing all things technological, together with the baby-boomer generation’s affection for heritage preservation.
Sales for the past five years have been growing steadily amidst a wealth of promotional material boasting wallpaper’s environment-friendly credentials, a connection to traditional cultural influences or how technological advances can transform a simple wall covering into a dynamic home or workspace.…
TRADE EXPERTS APPEAL FOR GLOBAL DEAL ON STATE COMPANY TRADING TO FIGHT ALUMINIUM OVERCAPACITY
A GLOBAL meeting of senior aluminium executives worldwide has heard calls for a multilateral solution for the problem of overcapacity. The goal would be integrating China and its state-owned enterprises into the world trading system in a way that is acceptable to major market economy regulators.…
US PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT INDUSTRY FACES TOUGH TARIFFS IN EUROPE AND CANADA FOLLOWING TRUMP DUTIES
THE USA personal care product industry is under fire, with the European Union (EU) and Canada and Mexico announcing plans to impose protective duties on American exports following the decision by the Trump administration to levy tariffs on streel and aluminium exports on these key trading partners.…
US PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT INDUSTRY FACES TOUGH TARIFFS IN EUROPE AND CANADA FOLLOWING TRUMP DUTIES
THE USA personal care product industry is under fire, with the European Union (EU) and Canada and Mexico announcing plans to impose protective duties on American exports following the decision by the Trump administration to levy tariffs on streel and aluminium exports on these key trading partners.…
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUND UP – TRUMP METAL DUTIES SPARK RETALIATORY CONFECTIONARY TARIFFS
THE AMERICAN confectionery sector is facing tough tariffs in its key export market of Canada after the US government decided to impose punitive duties on Canadian exports of steel and aluminium.
Ottawa announced its own retaliatory duties, which it intends to impose from July 1, having consulted on a shortlist of products, including potential 10% duties on US-made maple sugar and syrup, liquorice, toffee, chocolate, sugar confectionery, strawberry jam, nut purées and pastes.…
SPAIN’S PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT MARKET CONTINUES TO REBOUND FROM RECESSIONARY PAST
SPAIN’S personal care product market is continuing to grow after years of post-financial crisis weakness. Spain’s skincare, cosmetic and perfume industry continues to mature, and has turned in solid sales figures for 2017, reflecting the optimistic mood of the economy after the ‘lost’ years of the recession.…
BEAUTY AND PERSONAL CARE TAKES A BACK SEAT AS LATIN AMERICAN ECONOMIES STRUGGLE OUT OF RECESSION
THE LATIN American personal care product market, buffeted in recent years by economic and political instability, looks back on track, with trouble-spots such as Venezuela being very much an exception to overall progress.
Data released by market researcher Euromonitor International has said that the region’s beauty and personal care product sales in 2017 topped USD65 billion in 2017, growing by 42.5% between 2012 and last year.…
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUND UP – TRADE WARS THREATEN CONFECTIONERY AND SWEET BAKERY SECTOR
THE INTERNATIONAL Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) has released an ambitious policy plan designed to steer the industry towards sustainability. Called the Berlin Declaration, having been released at the fourth World Cocoa Conference, of governments, farmers, traders, grinders, processors, manufacturers, researchers, trade unions, civil society organisations, trade unions, consumer organisations, it says higher farm gate prices should be paid.…
USA AND CANADIAN AUTO SECTOR TO SIZE UP IMPACT OF METAL DUTIES, WHILE NAFTA PROSPECTS LOOK GLOOMY
THE AMERICAN and Canadian automotive industries will be counting the cost of new tariffs being imposed on steel and aluminum traded between their countries, following the decision yesterday by the Trump administration to start collecting 25% on Canadian steel and 10% on aluminum.…
EU MOVES AHEAD WITH RETALIATORY DUTIES ON US TEXTILE EXPORTS AFTER TRUMP LEVIES METAL TARIFFS
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) has moved ahead with its plans to impose temporary safeguard duties on imports into the EU of USA-made textiles and clothing, as a reaction to the levying of American import duties on aluminium and steel imports, announced on Thursday (May 31).…
ARGENTINE AUTO SECTOR’S HOPES FOR STELLA 2018 DASHED BY PESO CURRENCY COLLAPSE
Argentina’s auto industry had expected a near record year in 2018, but unexpected financial problems that have hit the country in the past month could push the economy into recession and dampen local demand for cars.
These problems are a far cry from the optimism expressed on April 4, when the heads of three carmakers spoke bullishly about production and sales growth at a business conference staged in Buenos Aires by economic consultancy Invecq Consulting. …
NAFTA TALKS UNDER THREAT AS TRUMP IMPOSES METAL DUTIES
THE PROSPECTS of a successful conclusion to the ongoing talks to renew the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) have taken a heavy blow from today’s decision by President Donald Trump to impose duties on steel and aluminium products from Canada and Mexico at 25% and 10%, respectively.…
MEXICO RESPONDS IN ANGER TO TRUMP METAL DUTIES
THE IMPOSITION of tariffs on American imports of steel and aluminium has prompted anger in Mexico, which is the largest US aluminium buyer and the second largest buyer of American steel. However, with Mexico also a major exporter of these metals to the USA (USD1.7 billion’s worth of steel and iron was sent north in 2017 and USD1 billion’s worth of Mexican aluminium was sold to the US last year), the tariffs will harm Mexico’s economy.…
INDIA LAUNCHES WTO TRADE DISPUTE AGAINST THE USA OVER TRUMP METAL TARIFFS
The Indian government has launched a disputes proceeding at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), protesting at the USA’s imposition of duties of 25% and 10% on imports of India-made steel and aluminium products.
New Delhi argues that the tariffs, imposed on March 23 by the Trump administration to protect and expand American aluminium and steel production, break the WTO’s General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and its Agreement on Safeguards.…
AMERICAN CLOTHING SECTOR SLAMS TRUMP OVER SPARKING TRADE WAR – SAYS US APPAREL JOBS WILL BE LOST
THE AMERICAN clothing sector has attacked the imposition of tariffs by the US government on European Union (EU), Mexican and Canadian steel and aluminium exports, which has prompted the EU to move ahead with imposing retaliatory duties on USA-made clothing.…
EU MOVES AHEAD WITH RETALIATORY DUTIES ON US CLOTHING EXPORTS AFTER TRUMP LEVIES METAL TARIFFS
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) has moved ahead with its plans to impose temporary safeguard duties on imports into the EU of USA-made clothes, as a reaction to the levying of American import duties on aluminium and steel imports, announced yesterday (May 31).…
US FOOD INDUSTRY FACES TOUGH TARIFFS IN EUROPE, CANADA AND MEXICO
THE USA food industry is under fire with the European Union (EU), Canada and Mexico all announcing plans to impose protective duties on American exports following today’s decision by the Trump administration to levy tariffs on streel and aluminium exports from these three key trading partners.…
EXPERTS REFINE FORENSIC LINGUISTICS TO DETECT FRAUD
TECHNIQUES for using forensic linguistics to detect fraud continue to be refined as experts debate the best and most reliable way to use such technology and practices. Indeed, specialists continue to disagree over how forensic linguistics should be used in the anti-fraud arena.…
USA TECHNICAL TEXTILE INDUSTRY BOOMS ON THE BACK OF TRAGEDY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
TECHNICAL textile markets can be driven and shaped by a range of forces – from natural disasters, to technological change, economic developments and political movements. In the case of the USA, at present, the technical textile market and industry is being moved by all these influences at the same time.…
EU/WTO INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUND UP – EU-MEXICO TRADE DEAL TO HELP FOOD EXPORTERS
EUROPEAN Union (EU) food and drink exporters could be major beneficiaries of a revised EU-Mexico trade agreement which will remove almost all bilateral tariffs left by a year 2000 deal. Under a new agreement struck in principle, Mexican import duties on EU exports of cheeses, such as gorgonzola and roquefort, and pasta (of up to 20%), will be removed, along with duties on chocolate and confectionery, (that can exceed 20%).…
EU-MEXICO TRADE AGREEMENT WILL BOOST PORK EXPORTS TO MEXICO
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) and Mexico have agreed, on April 21 in Brussels, a momentous revised trade deal meaning 99% of products will be traded duty-free, and potentially substantially increasing the EU’s pork exports to Mexico. Under the agreement, which will replace a year 2000 trade deal – there will be duty-free trade for virtually all pork products, where customs duties now range up to 20%.…
INTERVIEW MOHAMED IRSHAD, HEAD OF GLOBAL INTERNAL AUDIT AMERICAS FOR SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC
Diversity – a theme very close to Mohamed Irshad’s heart – could not be embodied by a more appropriate person than the affable, youthful-looking 34-year-old head of global internal audit – the Americas, at French multinational Schneider Electric. Irshad is an Indian national who was born and raised in Dubai, studied in India, has lived in Paris and is now based in Canada.…
IN PRICEY ARGENTINA, DIGITAL PRINTING CATCHES ON
HIGH textile industry production costs in Argentina are encouraging manufacturers to look at investments in digital fabric printing to give them the flexibility they need to compete against imports and in export markets.
At a recent textile trade fair this month (April) in Buenos Aires, digital technology was all the buzz. …
DEFERRED PROSECUTION AGREEMENTS GROW IN IMPORTANCE IN AML SECTOR
DEFERRED Prosecution Agreements (DPAs), that allow companies and individuals that admit to wrongdoing and cooperate with investigators and avoid prosecution, are becoming increasingly common worldwide, including for money laundering offences. The systems are particularly useful sticks to force erring financial and other corporate institutions to improve their anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism systems (AML/CFT), with prosecuting agencies deferring criminal cases on condition of sustained AML/CFT reforms.…
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUND UP – TRADE WARS THREATEN KNITWEAR SECTOR
THE INTERNATIONAL knitwear sector has found itself at the centre of the ongoing turmoil in global trade relations, with major jurisdictions considering imposing tariffs on knitted products, inputs and related machinery.
One concern focuses on how the USA has proposed imposing 25% duties on a wide-range of China-made manufactured goods over alleged thefts of American intellectual property by Chinese industrialists.…
CLOTHING SECTOR WELCOMES TRUMP U-TURN ON TPP - BUT DOUBTS AMERICAN RE-ENTRY TO DEAL CAN BE ACHIEVED
Word from US President Donald Trump that he may reverse a longstanding position and explore the possibility that the country may join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) after all, has left the fashion industry – along with much of the American business community – somewhat sceptical, while being supportive.…
US FIBRE AND COTTON EXPORTS IN FIRING LINE AS EU RELEASES RETALIATORY DUTY LIST OVER TRUMP METAL TARIFFS
THE EUROPEAN Commission has released a draft list of products that could be subject to retaliatory European Union (EU) safeguard duties, as a response to the erection of American import duties on aluminium and steel imports.
These include a wide range of fabric, yarn and clothing products.…
DELAY IN GAME-DEFINING INCENTIVES PACKAGE CAUSES UNCERTAINTY FOR BRAZIL AUTOMAKERS
BRAZIL’S automotive industry is awaiting the final details and presidential sanction of a 14-year incentives program called Rota 2030, that will offer up to Brazilian Reals BRL1.5 billion (USD467.4 million) in annual tax credits sector-wide to auto and auto parts manufacturers selling cars in Brazil.…
US TRUCK EXPORTS IN FIRING LINE AS EUROPEAN UNION THREATENS RETALIATION OVER TRUMP METAL DUTIES
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) has warned that is prepared to impose temporary safeguard duties on imports into the EU of USA-made trucks, as it launched its reaction to the erection of American import duties on aluminium and steel imports.
The EU executive, the European Commission, has released a draft list of products which may in future attract retaliatory duties, and this includes trucks weighing under five tonnes, above and below 2,500cc engine capacity, which are diesel and semi-diesel.…
METHANE HYDRATES STORE VAST AMOUNTS OF NATURAL GAS – BUT THEIR EXPLOITATION REMANS UNECONOMIC FOR NOW
International activity to understand and potentially extract natural gas from methane hydrates has intensified since 2010 with the continuation and launch of new research and development (R&D) projects and field production tests offshore and onshore, as shown in a new overview by Carolyn D Ruppel, chief of the gas hydrates project at the United States Geological Survey (USGS).(1)…
EUROFER WELCOMES LIKELY STEEL DUTY EXEMPTION
Charles de Lusignan, communications manager for European iron and steel association Eurofer noted the comments made by USTR Mr Lighthizer at the US Senate: “We will only believe it when we see it on a paper signed, but it goes beyond rumour, it is almost fact, it would appear that it will be an instant temporary exclusion in the same vein as applied to Mexico and Canada.”…
US GLASS AND CERAMICS EXPORTS IN FIRING LINE AS EUROPEAN UNION THREATENS RETALIATION OVER TRUMP DUTIES
THE EUROPEAN Commission has warned that is prepared to impose temporary safeguard duties on imports into the EU of USA-made glass and ceramics, as it launched its reaction to new American import duties on aluminium and steel imports.
The Commission, has released a draft list of products which may in future attract retaliatory safeguard duties.…
EU DEMANDS ACTION AGAINST US STEEL AND ALUMINIUM TARIFFS AT TRILATERAL MEETING
THE PROSPECT of a grand bargain between the European Union (EU), the USA and Japan, involving action to reduce steel and aluminium overproduction, but abiding by global trading laws, has been raised.
An unusual Brussels meeting on Saturday (March 10) between EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Japan’s minister for economy and industry, Hiroshige Seko, debated such a plan, and agreed to continue discussions.…
CANADIAN AND MEXICAN METAL DUTY WAIVERS MAY NOT SURVIVE NAFTA TALKS
WHILE United States President Donald Trump’s imposition of import tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium on March 8 included a waiver for Canadian and Mexican exporters, his administration continues to stress this relief could be temporary.
In the March 8 presidential proclamation imposing the steel duties, Trump stressed “ongoing discussions with these countries” alongside his decision “to exempt steel articles imports from these countries from the tariff, at least at this time”. …
TRUMP’S STEEL AND ALUMINIUM DUTY THREATS COULD UNDERMINE KEY NAFTA TALKS
PRESIDENT Donald Trump today (March 5) signalled to Canada and Mexico that he would use his planned imposition of import tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium as a bargaining chip to wring concessions in the ongoing North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation.…
US STEEL AND ALUMINIUM EXPORTS IN FIRING LINE AS EUROPEAN UNION THREATENS RETALIATION OVER TRUMP DUTIES
THE EUROPEAN Commission has warned that is prepared to impose temporary safeguard duties on imports into the EU of USA-made steel and aluminium, as it launched its reaction to new American import duties on aluminium and steel imports.
The Commission, has released a draft list of products which may in future attract retaliatory duties, and this includes a wide range of aluminium and steel products: bars, rods, angles, plate, wire, and more.…
US FOOD EXPORTS IN FIRING LINE AS EU RELEASES RETALIATORY DUTY LIST OVER TRUMP METAL TARIFFS
THE EUROPEAN Commission has released a draft list of products that could be subject to retaliatory European Union (EU) safeguard duties, as a response to the erection of American import duties on aluminium and steel imports.
These include food products – sweetcorn, maize, kidney beans, rice (milled, semi-milled and broken), peanut butter, cranberries (and cranberry juice), and orange juice.…
US FASHION SECTOR CONCERNED OVER TRUMP’S PLANNED METAL DUTIES
REPRESENTATIVES of the USA fashion and apparel industries, along with most of the country’s business community and Congressional leadership, are voicing concern about President Donald Trump’s March 1 announcement that he intends to impose additional tariffs on all imports of steel and aluminium.…
JAPAN IS NOW USA’S LEADING EXPORT MARKET, BUT WILL POSITION SURVIVE TRUMP’S TRADE ISOLATIONISM?
Japan is now the United States’ leading export market for beef, in value and volume, and largest market for pork exports in value, according to 2017 trade data released by the US department of agriculture (USDA).
In the past calendar year, Japan imported 307,559 metric tonnes of US beef, an increase of 19% year-on-year, worth USD1.89 billion, which marks a 25% increase in value year-on-year from 2016.…
CHINA LAUNCHES RETALIATORY MEAT DUTIES ON USA EXPORTS OVER METAL TARIFF ROW
AMERICAN pigmeat exporters have since yesterday (April 2) had to pay additional retaliatory 25% duties on products sold to mainland China responding to the USA’s imposition of 25% and 10% duties on imported steel and aluminium.
China’s ministry of commerce has announced that following a brief round of public consultation, these duties would be collected with immediate effect.…
BRAZIL’S TEXTILE SECTOR WOULD CONTRACT IF COUNTRY ABANDONS PROTECTIONISM, SAYS OECD
BRAZIL’S textile sector would contract, should the country abandon its protectionist policies, however, its added value clothing industry would perform better, an Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) report has concluded.
Noting that average tariffs levels weighted by imports are almost twice as high in Brazil as in Colombia and more than eight times higher than in Mexico or Chile, the report highlighted how around 450 tariff lines are at the maximum of 35%, including textiles, apparel and leather.…
ENERGY COATINGS TECHNOLOGY COULD CREATE BOOMING NEW NICHE SECTOR
THE INTERNATIONAL coatings industry may have a new and potentially booming niche to exploit – coatings that can harvest sunlight and heat and turn it into renewable electricity, without being incorporated into solar panels.
Noted a paper from the Indian Institute of Technology, in Patna: “As the energy demands are growing day by day, there is need of enhancing the efficiency of energy systems, which can be enhanced using the advanced coatings.”…
NONWOVENS SECTOR PUSHES FOR NAFTA RENEGOTIATION TO STRENGTHEN INDUSTRY IN NORTH AMERICA
IF there is one issue that is a key focus of the north American nonwovens sector this year, it has to be the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Tri-lateral talks have now reached their eighth round, with an objective of achieving a new deal by this summer, although observers believe this timescale might slip.…
NEW TECHNOLOGY TAPPING BUILDINGS FOR POWER GENERATION
COATINGS technologies are proving to be an effective way of boosting the energy efficiency of building as well as aiding renewable energy systems that are integrated into their fabric. Research and development on such technologies are inspiring innovation academia and industry, noted a paper from the Indian Institute of Technology, in Patna, where authors Anup Kumar Keshri and M. …
NEW TECHNOLOGY TAPPING BUILDINGS FOR POWER GENERATION
COATINGS technologies are proving to be an effective way of boosting the energy efficiency of building as well as aiding renewable energy systems that are integrated into their fabric. Research and development on such technologies are inspiring innovation academia and industry, noted a paper from the Indian Institute of Technology, in Patna, where authors Anup Kumar Keshri and M. …
US COATINGS SECTOR EYES BRIGHT FUTURE AS AMERICAN GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING LOOMS
EXPANSION within the paint and coatings industry and market in the United States managed to outpace the US economy in 2017, growing at about 3% in volume (regarding production) and over 3.3% in value (sales), ahead of the most recently recorded GDP growth rate of 2.6% as of Q4 of 2017.…
NONWOVEN RESEARCHERS LOOK TO PROVIDE CLEANER AIR IN CARS, WHILE REDUCING EXHAUST EMISSIONS
THE AUTOMOTIVE sector is a hotbed of growth for industrial performance materials like nonwovens. And the global market for such materials have the potential to cross the EUR2 billion mark soon, according to Germany-based Freudenberg Performance Materials Holding SE & Co KG.…
FATF TAKES MEXICO TO TASK OVER AML PERFORMANCE
THE MEXICAN government needs to take a more proactive and comprehensive approach to fighting money laundering (ML), the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has concluded, moving on from the reactive approach it has undertaken in the past.
Noting the major ML risk faced by Mexico, given its potent illicit drug trade, the global anti-money laundering (AML) body has called on the country to step up its fight against the movement and hiding of narcotics sales proceeds.…
EASTERN EUROPE’S INCREASINGLY MATURE MARKET POSTS MODEST GROWTH
AFTER years of slow growth since 2008, eastern Europe’s now mature cosmetics and personal care market has continued to show marginal gains in products sales in the past year, according to experts.
The region’s cosmetics and personal care products sales edged to USD23.67 billion in 2017 from USD21.74 billion in 2016, counting sales in Poland, Croatia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Slovenia, Macedonia and Georgia.…
VIETNAM’S FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS SPUR HEALTHY TEXTILE INDUSTRY
NEW Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) signal a promising outlook for the Vietnamese textile industry with tariff concessions providing the biggest stimulus to figures, according to the country’s trade officials.
Attendees at the 17th Vietnam International Textile & Garment Industry Exhibition, held late last month (November 22-25th) in Ho Chi Minh City, heard the deals will impact significantly on the national textile sector.…
TECHNICAL REGULATORY ROUND UP - OECD RELEASES TAX EXCHANGE DATA
OECD SAYS 49 JURISDICTIONS WILL AUTOMATICALLY EXCHANGE TAX INFORMATION THIS YEAR
THE IDENTITY of 49 jurisdictions that will automatically exchange tax information in 2017 under a global standard has been revealed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD).…
EU SUGAR QUOTAS MAY BOOST PRODUCTION IN THE SHORT TERM – BUT LONG-TERM IMPACTS REMAIN UNCLEAR
It has been weeks since quotas limiting European Union (EU) sugar production were scrapped on September 30, and while its impact has yet to become clear, experts agree that EU output will rise, at least in the short term. The EU executive, the European Commission is predicting that EU sugar production will increase 20% in the coming year.…
ICAO GREEN AIRPORT SEMINAR HEARS HOW ACI WILL LAUNCH NEW ECO-TERMINAL PEER REVIEW SYSTEM
AIRPORTS Council International (ACI) is to launch in the New Year a pilot programme designed to boost environmental good practice in airport management. The organisation’s director general Angela Gittens told a seminar on green airports, at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), in Montréal, Canada, that the roll out would begin at Mariscal Sucre International Airport, Quito, Ecuador.…
USA FASHION SUMMIT WORRIES ABOUT AMERICAN GOVERNMENT TRADE PROTECTIONISM
Prospects for trade deals that have underpinned the growth in American clothing and textile imports and exports appear increasingly precarious as the administration of President Donald Trump passes the 300-day mark, participants at a clothing industry conference heard this week.
Concern is especially severe regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), as indicated by ‘SaveNAFTA’ being the password to access a mobile app provided to attendees at the 29th annual Apparel Importers Trade & Transportation Conference held by the American Import Shippers Association (AISA) and the United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) on November 15, in New York City.…
FINANCIAL SERVICES MAY TURN FEWER BLIND EYES TO AML PROBLEMS, BUT COMPLIANCE IS STILL LACKING, EXPERTS WARN
The lure of banking bonuses, lack of dedicated resources, ineffective implementation of compliance mechanisms and whistleblower protection schemes have all been blamed for incidents of financial organisations turning a blind eye to money laundering.
But it seems that regulators are increasingly unimpressed – a fact that money laundering reporters need to heed.…
WTO FINDS ‘DISCRIMINATORY’ BRAZILIAN TAXATION BREAKS GLOBAL TAX RULES
THE WORLD Trade Organisation (WTO) appellate body is considering an appeal by Brazil against a WTO disputes panel ruling that a wide range of Brazilian tax systems, designed to promote domestic production and exports, breach global trading agreements. The WTO backed Japan and European Union (EU) complaints that these discriminate unfairly against non-Brazilian competitors.…
OECD SAYS 49 JURISDICTIONS WILL AUTOMATICALLY EXCHANGE TAX INFORMATION THIS YEAR
THE IDENTITY of 49 jurisdictions that will automatically exchange tax information in 2017 under a global standard has been revealed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD). Among the major countries included in this list are Britain, Mexico, Germany, France, South Africa and Argentina.…
EU/JAPAN EPA WILL BOOST EU DAIRY INDUSTRY, SAY EXPERTS, BUT JAPANESE PRODUCERS ARE WORRIED
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) planned trade deal with Japan – its sixth most important trading partner – struck in principle at the July 6 EU-Japan Summit in Brussels and set to be operational in 2019, will benefit the EU dairy industry greatly, experts say.…
BRAZILIAN SOLVAY WING PROSPERS FROM INNOVATIVE ECO YARN SALES
THE BRAZILIAN arm of Brussels-based speciality chemical firm Solvay says that it is prospering in Brazil though sales of biodegradable polyamide yarn Amni Soul Eco, reflecting the demand for bio-based materials and products in Latin America’s largest country.
Renato Boaventura, CEO of the Brazil Rhodia Solvay Group’s ‘fibras global business unit’ told WTiN.com…
NEW ZEALAND’S IMPRESSIVE BARQUE PROJECT - A POTENTIAL OIL AND GAS GAME CHANGER
OFFSHORE exploration is going through difficult times, but the Barque prospect in New Zealand is being rated as one of the most promising upcoming exploration oil wells in the world. If successful the project, located offshore from South Canterbury and North Otago in the south-east of South Island, would be the most significant discovery in New Zealand since the giant Maui field in the Tasman Sea in the 1960s.…
EU-VIETNAM TRADE AGREEMENT WILL BOOST TEXTILE TRADE, CLAIM EXPERTS
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU)-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (FTA), on which negotiations concluded December 2, 2015, will open up “huge business opportunities” for Vietnamese garment companies, business experts agreed last month (September). They were speaking at an event jointly organised by EU business federation BusinessEurope, EuroCham [European Chamber of Commerce] Vietnam and the EU-Vietnam Business Network.…
VIETNAM TEXTILE EXPORTERS LOOK TO ASIA TO BOOST SALES
VIETNAM’S textile and clothing and textile sector is looking to sell more product into Asian markets such as South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Japan, while solidifying its traditional export bases like the US and EU, the latest trade data indicates.
Last year, Vietnam exported USD2.28 billion’s worth of clothing and textiles to South Korea – a 7.45% gain compared with 2015, according to Vietnam customs data analysed by the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS). …
EU-VIETNAM TRADE AGREEMENT WILL BOOST TEXTILE TRADE, CLAIM EXPERTS
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU)-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (FTA), on which negotiations concluded December 2, 2015, will open up “huge business opportunities” for Vietnamese garment companies, business experts agreed earlier this month at an event jointly organised by EU business federation BusinessEurope, EuroCham [European Chamber of Commerce] Vietnam and the EU-Vietnam Business Network.…
PUTTING ON A BRAVE FACE – JAPAN’S COATINGS SECTOR INVESTS ABROAD AS DOMESTIC SALES FACE DECLINE
JAPAN’S paint and coatings sector is putting on a positive face and playing up overseas expansion efforts, as well as its traditional strength in innovation, but analysts are concerned about the longer-term outlook for domestic companies.
Sales of paint in Japan came to Japanese Yen JPY 675 billion (USD6.10 billion) in 2016, a marginal increase of around 1% on the previous year’s figure, according to the Japan Paint Manufacturers Association.…
UAE’S IMAGE-CONSCIOUS SOCIETY KEEPS COSMETIC SERVICE PROVIDERS BUSY
A YOUNG population with high disposable incomes coupled with a booming medical tourism sector has created an ongoing demand for cosmetic procedures in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Dubai especially dominates this important market, being a global luxury-centric city with world-class medical infrastructure.…
SOUTH AFRICAN CONSUMERS OPEN MINDED AS THEY GROW COSMETIC PROCEDURES MARKET
SOUTH Africans are boosting their spending on cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures, with their national market expected to generate South African Rand ZAR94.15 million (USD7.1 million) in annual receipts by 2024. This reflects a 5.8% annual growth rate from the ZAR61 million (USD4.6 million) spent in 2016, according to US-based market research and consulting company Grand View Research, in figures released in July (2017).…
EGYPT’S LOCAL PRODUCTION SUPPORT FAILS TO GAIN SUPPORT – AND IS NOW UNDER REVIEW
THE EGYPTIAN government has said it will use German consultants to fine tune a planned subsidy system benefiting Egypt-based assemblers who source parts domestically. The goal of the ministry of industry is to smooth concerns about the incentives at the European Commission, the European Union (EU) executive, which wants freer trade between the EU and Egypt and views Egyptian government plans to favour local parts sourcing as a trade barrier.…
EU TO TACKLE G20 OVER TRADE BARRIERS THAT HIT CLOTHING AND TEXTILES SALES
The European Commission will press trading partners at this week’s July 7-8 G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, to remove unfair obstacles to European Union imports, after a EU report detailed such restrictions, many affecting clothing and textile trades.
Referring to the Commission’s latest annual Report on Trade and Investment Barriers (TIBR), EU trade Commissioner Cecilia Malström warned G20 leaders it was prepared to launch World Trade Organisation cases if necessary: “We are taking action.…
INCREASED COMPETITION FROM ENLARGED SANTIAGO AIRPORT TO BRING DOWN THE COST OF AIR TRAVEL IN THE REGION
WORK is advancing on a major expansion of Santiago’s Pudahuel International Airport to cope with Chile’s rapidly-growing aviation market. But airlines feel they are bearing more than their share of the USD1 billion construction cost.
Officially known as Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, the facility has been Chile’s gateway to the world since it opened 50 years ago.…
EUROPEAN MEAT PRODUCERS SADDENED BY RUSSIAN BAN EXTENSION, BUT PREDICT ALTERNATIVE EXPORT MARKETS WILL GROW
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) meat industry has expressed disappointment over the decision by Russia to extend by 18 months its ban on EU exports of meat and meat products, but is optimistic that producers will continue finding alternative markets.
Leaders of EU farm industry association Copa-Cogeca and the European Livestock & Meat Trading Union (UECBV) stressed to GlobalMeatNews that the European Commission, food industry companies and EU member states had successfully adapted to Russia’s actions.…
USA PAINT AND COATINGS SECTOR EXPECTED TO GROW, IF TRUMP DOES NOT TORPEDO TRADE POLICY
International politics and trade relations are set to influence the medium-term future of the US paint and coatings industry, analysts have predicted, highlighting a generally positive outlook with certain caveats.
USA PAINT AND COATINGS SECTOR EXPECTED TO GROW, IF TRUMP DOES NOT TORPEDO TRADE POLICY
The state of the economy and its knock-on effect to the construction and manufacturing sectors (the World Bank is forecasting 2.2% GDP growth for the USA in 2017), is encouraging for paint and coatings producers.…
ASIA-PACIFIC GROWTH AND INNOVATION INSPIRES INVESTMENT INTO REGION’S NONWOVENS SECTOR
WITH the Asia-Pacific continuing to be the hub of global industrial growth and also a nexus of technological innovation, the region’s non-wovens sector has been making the most of these benefits, increasing both output and quality.
The Chinese nonwoven fabric sector, for instance, has been growing steadily, with 8-10% year-on-year growth in recent years, surpassing the average growth rate of the country’s entire textile industry.…
EU TO TACKLE G20 OVER TRADE BARRIERS THAT HIT CLOTHING AND TEXTILES SALES
The European Commission will press trading partners at this week’s July 7-8 G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, to remove unfair obstacles to European Union imports, after a EU report detailed such restrictions, many affecting clothing and textile trades.
Referring to the Commission’s latest annual Report on Trade and Investment Barriers (TIBR), EU trade Commissioner Cecilia Malström warned G20 leaders it was prepared to launch World Trade Organisation cases if necessary: “We are taking action.…
END OF EU INQUIRY AGAINST JAGUAR LAND ROVER'S FACTORY IN SLOVAKIA STILL AWAITED
THE BURGEONING automotive manufacturing sector of central Europe’s Slovakia is paying close attention to an inquiry by the European Union (EU) executive, the European Commission, into how its government supports the sector. The upcoming decision by the Commission, which has powers to ensure national governments do not distort the EU’s single market by subsidising local industrial champions, could have significant implication for the future of Slovakia’s auto sector.…
AML REFORM LAW PROPOSED TO US SENATE THAT WILL PREVENT SMURFING ABUSE OF USD10,000 TRANSACTION THRESHOLD
LEGISLATION has been proposed in the USA Senate designed to prevent money launderers evade anti-money laundering controls by making a series of transactions each under the USD10,000 threshold sparking regulatory reports by financial institutions. The rule has been abused by launderers and a law proposed by Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley and California Democrat Dianne Feinstein clarifies that USA AML controls should apply to a series of such payments.…
INDIAN BAKERY SECTOR MONITORING IMPACT OF READY ROTI/BIMBO DEAL
India’s Ready Roti, makers of Harvest Gold bread, is planning a major expansion with new products following a 65% stake sale to Mexico’s Grupo Bimbo. Rajan Makani, deputy general manager, brands, for Ready Roti in New Delhi told just-food that the deal “will be beneficial for Indian consumers”, with the tie up sparking the launch of “many new products”. …
SOUTH AMERICA PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT SECTOR STRUGGLES TO GROW AS ECONOMIES RECOVER AND GOVERNMENTS ABANDON LEFTIST CONTROLS
The macro-economic slowdown experienced by Latin America in recent years has thrown the brakes on what had been impressive growth in the beauty and personal care sector since the turn of the century.
Much of the region is now looking for ways to stimulate the sector, tempering ambitions by aiming for more gradual growth rather than runaway success.…
ASIA REGULATORY ROUND UP – SINGAPORE TO REVIEW DOUBLE TAXATION AGREEMENTS FOR TAX EVASION LOOPHOLES
Singapore will review its 80 bilateral agreements on avoiding double taxation to ensure they do not help companies avoid paying tax where relevant business activity took place. This follows its signing the Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD)-sponsored Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting.…
SOUTH KOREA AUTOMOTIVE COATINGS SHED ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT
While South Korea has not yet ratified the UN’s Paris Agreement dealing with greenhouse gas emissions, its important automobile industry has been making serious commitments to green practices, including the transition from solvent-based to waterborne coatings.
According to New Jersey, US-based coatings consulting firm Kusumgar, Nerlfi & Growney, the South Korean passenger car and light vehicle coating market involved supplies of 60,000 tonnes in 2016, and these are becoming increasingly environment-friendly: about one-quarter of basecoats sold are now waterborne.…
BRAZIL’S LAVA JATO PROBE MUSHROOMS AND THREATENS FUTURE OF COUNTRY’S PRESIDENT
FOUR Brazilian presidents (including the incumbent), dozens of lawmakers, nearly all governors, mayors of major cities, members of the judicial system and of the press, have been tainted with corruption allegations by the sprawling Lava Jato probe. It has had global impact as one of the biggest scandals in history.…
PLANNED SOUTH AFRICAN AUDIT FIRM ROTATION SPARKS DISCORD AMONG ACCOUNTS
THE PLANNED introduction of mandatory audit firm rotation (MAFR) by the South African Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (IRBA) has sparked widespread dissention within the country’s business and accounting communities This is despite that the reform’s goal is to strengthen auditor independence and audit quality and that there are some calls for the move to be brought forward from the current introduction date of April 1, 2023.…
CITIGROUP TO PAY MILLIONS TO RESOLVE MEXICAN SUBSIDIARY MONEY LAUNDERING ALLEGATIONS
CITIGROUP will pay a penalty of USD97.44 million to resolve an anti-money laundering investigation by the USA department of justice into alleged suspicious payments to Mexico by a now-defunct American branch of its Mexican subsidiary Banamex. Incorporated as Banamex USA, this arm of Citigroup (still in legal existence) has entered into a non-prosecution agreement regarding Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) violations.…
TRUMP TRADE POLICY IS WILDCARD AS NORTH AMERICA FACES GROWING MARKETS FOR TECHNICAL TEXTILES – AT HOME AND ABROAD
Political uncertainty over US trade deals sparked by the ascension of President Donald Trump to power should be eased to avoid stifling innovation in the country’s technical textiles industry which could see it marginalised on the world stage, insiders have warned.…
MEXICO FACES USA TRADING UNCERTAINTY – BUT PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT SECTOR REMAINS OPTIMISTIC
THE DIFFICULTIES that have surged in the diplomatic relations between the Mexican government and the new US administration of President Donald Trump have increased uncertainty within the Mexican personal care product market and industry.
With Mexico facing US demands to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), with the risk of the US imposing temporary safeguard duties on Mexican exports to protect American manufacturers, companies in Mexico are seeking to boost domestic consumption.…
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUND UP – EFSA LAUNCHES SUGAR SAFETY STUDY
THE EUROPEAN Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched a comprehensive study into the healthiness of consuming sugar, that could guidance telling consumers when to stop eating sugary foods, such as confectionery. An ad-hoc working group with expertise in dietary exposure, epidemiology, human nutrition, diet-related chronic diseases and dentistry will examine the issue, along with Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, which requested the work.…
USA NONWOVENS SECTOR PUSHING FORWARD CONFIDENTLY, DOMINATING NORTH AMERICAN MARKETS
Success and sustainability appear to be the buzzwords of a US nonwovens industry that is moving forward confidently, leading the north American sector, which it dominates in sales and production.
Having recovered from a slight downward turn in capacity following the recession, the US sector has returned to healthy growth and an improving economic outlook, coupled with ever-increasing applications for engineered fabric products.…
MEXICO REFORMS AML EFFORTS – BUT VAST SUMS OF DIRTY MONEY STILL SLIP THROUGH REGULATORY CONTROLS
DESPITE significant progress in tightening anti-money laundering (AML) controls within Mexico, and significant progress in fighting the country’s notoriously violent drug traffickers, the fact is that the amount of dirty money laundered in the country remains eye-wateringly high. Despite headline grabbing events such as the arrest and extradition to the USA (in January) of key players like Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán – leader of the Sinaloa cartel, underlying problems in Mexican AML policy remain, including budget cuts to AML-related law enforcement and concerns over a weakening of US-Mexico law enforcement cooperation following the election of President Donald Trump amidst anti-Mexican rhetoric.…
AMERICAN SUPPLIERS EXPAND SOLID JAPAN BEEF SALES BY TARGETING HIGH-END SEGMENTS
AMERICAN suppliers are expanding into Japan’s competitive high-end beef market to build on Japanese consumers’ growing demand for US beef.
In 2016, Japan overtook Mexico to become the leading US export market for beef, reaching almost 260,000 tonnes, worth USD1.51 billion, according to the US government.…
BETTER TIMES AHEAD FOR BRAZIL’S TEXTILE SECTOR SAYS ABIT
IS the Brazilian textile sector finally seeing an end to the contraction in sales and production prompted by the country’s recession? According to figures released by industry association ABIT (Association Brasileira de Industria Textil e Confecçao), the tide is turning and better times are ahead. …
MEXICAN AUTO COATINGS LONG-TERM PRODUCTION GROWTH COULD END THIS YEAR
THE ROBUST growth of the Mexican automotive coatings market over the past six years looks is likely to end in 2017, according to the Mexican Association of Paint and Ink Producers (ANAFAPYT).
Mexican production of automotive coatings almost doubled from 2010 to 2015, going from 57.3 million liters to 106.2 million liters, say figures from ANAFAPYT (Asociación Nacional de Fabricantes de Pinturas y Tintas).…
GROWTH IN ATTENDANCE SIGNALS GROWING CONFIDENCE IN GLOBAL MINERALS SECTOR
AN INCREASE in numbers of people attending this year’s annual Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) international convention has signalled a return of confidence to the global mineral exploration and mining industry.
After three consecutive years of steadily declining attendance, PDAC organisers were pleased to announce that more than 24,000 people from over 120 countries took part in this year’s edition, which ran from March 5-8 in downtown Toronto.…
AIRLESS PACKAGING INNOVATIONS AIM TO REDUCE COST AND CATCH CONSUMERS DESIRES FOR SUSTAINABILITY
THE USE of airless technology in packaging is largely about zero product waste, preserving product integrity and less packaging material – and it obviously gels well with the growing trend towards sustainability. That explains the uptake in this technology led by cosmetics packaging, industry experts argue.…
DIRECT PAYMENTS ESSENTIAL TO BEEF SECTOR, AGRI STUDY CONCLUDES
THE EUROPEAN beef sector must keep its direct payments at a time when the European Union (EU)’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is under review, according to new research highlighted by the European Parliament.
‘The EU cattle sector: challenges and opportunities – milk and meat’ report, published February 27 by the parliament’s agriculture and rural development committee, says these payments play an important part in farm-household income.…
US APPAREL SECTOR SEES PRICING DISASTER LOOMING FROM TRUMP TAX PROPOSAL
Fresh from their disappointment in seeing the tariff reductions contained in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) go down to official defeat with a January 23 executive action by President Donald Trump, the US apparel and footwear sector is bracing itself for even greater cost increases to come.…
TECHNICAL TEXTILE SECTOR FACES UNCERTAIN TRADING TIMES AS TRUMP AND BREXIT REFORMS PLAY OUT
One month after staunch free-trade opponent Donald Trump became US President there are many policy decisions still to be confirmed and clarified to get a full idea of the impact his presidency will have on the trade in technical textiles. His accession comes during an unstable time for international trade – it is arguably even less clear how the UK’s planned exit from the EU will work out for the sector.…
AGEING NUCLEAR WORKFORCE CAN BE REJUVENATED SUSTAINABLY WITH HELP OF GETI DATE
KEY MESSAGES
*The nuclear industry has an ageing staff and needs to recruit new professionals as they retire
*Its strong health and retirement benefits packages could help it attract the new staff it needs
*The nuclear industry outside north America has a strong expat component, making it easier for recruit staff from abroad
INTRODUCTION
The nuclear industry sector is facing some significant human resources challenges, but new research carried out by Airswift and Energy Jobline indicates that the nuclear sector can still compete for talent.…
ASIA’S TEXTILE AND APPAREL EXPORTING COUNTRIES MAYBE COOL ON TRUMP PUSH FOR BILATERAL FTAS
As US President Donald Trump on January 23 pulled America out from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with an executive order, he signalled he will instead ask Asian TPP members for bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs). This includes countries such as Vietnam that rely on apparel and textile exports.…
ATTENTION SWITCHES TO BILATERAL TRADE DEALS AS TRUMP LEAVES TPP IN THE DUST
Even as the official withdrawal of the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has been greeted by enthusiasm by American automakers, the focus is shifting to the bilateral trade deals that President Donald Trump has promised will take its place.…
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUND UP – KNITWEAR RETAILERS CALL FOR REPLACEMENT TRADE DEALS AS TRUMP DUMPS TPP
THE US Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) has called on the new American administration of President Donald Trump to work hard to negotiate new bilateral trade deals with Asian markets now he has formally pulled his country from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal.…
TRUMPIAN TRADE REVOLUTION SPELLING TROUBLE FOR APPAREL SOURCING IN ASIA
As US President Donald Trump has been wasting no time carrying out his campaign pledges to undo long-standing American trade ties, the Asian apparel industry and the US retailers it supplies have ample reasons to be on edge.
Signs are particularly worrisome for apparel players sourcing from Vietnam, a member of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the unratified 12-nation deal that will now not include the USA after Trump extracted America from its commitments via a January 23 presidential memorandum.…
US PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT SECTOR LAMENTS END OF TPP – AND WANTS MORE TRADE TALKS TO FOLLOW
The January 23 presidential memorandum from President Donald Trump, puling the USA from participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal has disappointed the American cosmetics and personal care products sector. This is not only because of the tariff barriers it would have eliminated but also because the TPP would have pushed regulatory controls in all TPP countries in the same direction.…
CLOTHING SECTOR GLOBAL REVIEW OF THE YEAR – 2016
2016 – Winners and losers
RETAILERS & BRANDS
WINNERS
US-based sportswear brand Under Armour delivered its 26th consecutive quarter of 20%-plus revenue growth in the third quarter of 2016, with sales increases across all divisions. Net sales were up 22% in the third quarter to USD1.47bn.…
TRUMPS PROMISE TO AXE TPP ON DAY ONE OF HIS PRESIDENCY PROMPTS WIDESPREAD NERVOUSNESS
THE PROMISE from US President-elect Donald Trump to withdraw the USA from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement on his first day of office has prompted widespread nervousness in auto-sectors around the world.
His rejection of the deal could scupper an agreement negotiated over five years by the United States; Australia; Brunei; Canada; Chile; Japan; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Peru; Singapore and Vietnam.…
CANADA METAL ASSOCIATION WANTS TPP PRESERVED, DESPITE TRUMP PROMISE TO QUIT DEAL
A senior Canada metal industry association has called on its government to continue ratifying the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), despite US President-elect Donald Trump’s commitment to withdraw the US from the trade deal on his first day of office.
“We definitely still support Canada moving forward with the TPP, even without the US.…
MEAT INDUSTRY WELCOMES COMMISSION’S BID TO PROMOTE MEAT PRODUCTS
THE EUROPEAN Commission’s pledge to put meat and livestock produce second in its 2017 European Union (EU) agri-food promotion campaign (making up 15% of the programmes) has been welcomed by the industry. The announcement came during the release of a EUR133 million marketing budget for EU agri-food producers for 2017, up from EUR111 million in 2016.…
COSMETICS INDUSTRY DEPRESSED AT TRUMP’S DECISION TO PULL OUT OF TPP
UNITED States President-elect Donald Trump’s commitment to withdraw the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, condemning the deal as a “potential disaster for our country”, has received the thumbs-down from the cosmetics industry.
“TPP represents an important step forward for the cosmetics industry in the signatory countries, containing as it does a specific annex for cosmetics and personal care,” Cosmetics Europe director general John Chave told Soap Perfumery & Cosmetics.…
SOFTWARE SPECIALISTS OFFER CLOTHING BRANDS AND MANUFACTURERS POWERFUL SOFTWARE FOR FINANCIAL PLANNING AND OPERATIONS
Clothing brands and manufacturers wanting to maximise their financial performance are being offered an increasingly varied and sophisticated aware of software systems guiding their planning and operations.
US-based Centric Software Inc provided an update to its flagship PLM (product lifecycle management) solution in this summer, adding features to gain additional financial insight, perform deeper financial analyses and render information available offline, to further streamline planning, costing and quote management.…
ROBUST PHILIPPINES ECONOMIC GROWTH BOOSTS EXPANSION IN COUNTRY’S PAINT MARKET
With a strong national economy and significant investment in construction and public buildings, the Philippine paint and coatings sector is enjoying a period of robust growth. Official figures for the overall paint market have not been published since 2014 but the leading sectors have continued to flourish.…
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUND UP – ISO PLOTS COCOA SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD
THE INTERNATIONAL Organization for Standardization (ISO) has developed a series of standards designed to promote sustainability in the chocolate and cocoa sector, and wants industry input.
It has released drafts on the ISO 34101 series, on ‘sustainable and traceable cocoa beans’, and wants expert opinions on them, for submission by December 4.…
JAPANESE AUTO PAINT MANUFACTURERS SETTING UP FACILITIES IN THEIR TARGET MARKETS
Japan’s automobile manufacturers are increasingly looking to set up plants in – or, at least, very close to – their target markets, and paint companies with expertise in the auto coatings sector are following their lead.
“In 2015, the overall Japanese paints and varnishes market recorded 0.3 per cent growth, with producers struggling to remain competitive because production in Japan is pricier due to environmental requirements and higher labour costs,” said Andrius Balsys, a research analyst who monitors the paints sector for London-based market researcher, Euromonitor International.…
JAPAN MEAT SALES CONTINUE TO RISE – BUT LOCAL PRODUCTION IS STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP
JAPANESE consumers’ preference for meat is growing so strongly, it has pushed domestic per capita fish consumption to its lowest level since the 1960s, according to 2015 figures from Japan’s ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries. The gap between levels of meat and fish consumption is increasing; meat consumption overtook that of fish about six years ago but the gap is widening; fish consumption is now 30% less than it was at its peak, in 2001. …
FRANCE EYES FOOD TAX TO COMBAT OBESITY
Taxing high-calorie or lower nutritional quality foods would reduce France’s growing obesity problem, a study released on September 1 by Trésor (the Treasury), an economics and finance ministry agency, has concluded.
The ‘Obesity: what economic consequences and how can we limit them?’…
EU CUSTOMS SEIZING MORE FAKE GOODS, ESPECIALLY FROM CHINA
EUROPEAN Union (EU) customs authorities seized five million more counterfeit products at the bloc’s borders in 2015 than the year before, with China the originating country for 41% of these fakes, the European Commission’s latest annual report on the problem reveals.…
SOUTH AMERICAN COSMETICS FIGHTING FALLING LOCAL CURRENCIES
South America’s cosmetics and personal care sector is looking to bounce back from a slowdown caused by the region’s macroeconomic troubles, but political pressures and regional trade alliances are driving individual country markets down divergent paths.
Over the last year, countries across the region have been buffeted by economic turmoil that has had a knock-on impact on the cosmetics sector.…
INDONESIA TEXTILE SECTOR WELCOMES LAUNCH OF EU TRADE TALKS
The Indonesian Textiles Association (API – Asosiasi Pertekstilan Indonesia) has told WTiN.com that it enthusiastically endorses the opening of negotiations between the European Union (EU) and Indonesia to forge a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) free trade deal.
The goal of the talks announced in July will be to create an agreement that goes beyond traditional agreements that focus on duty and quota abolition, to include removing non-tariff barriers through regulatory mutual recognition and harmonisation.…
SMARTER BARRIER MANAGEMENT ON THE RADAR DESPITE COST CLIMATE
Despite low oil prices, oil and gas operators are showing interest in adopting ‘dynamic barrier management’ (DBM), a new paradigm of risk management with applications across industries.
The concept involves using real time or near-real time information from multiple sources to track the continuous status of technical, operational and organisational safety barriers that are diverse in nature and degrade at different rates1.…
MEXICO AND EU WORK HARD TO STRIKE DEAL ON ORGANIC MEAT STANDARDS
MEXICAN and European Union (EU) officials are negotiating to strike a deal on organic meat standards that will avoid a halt in EU exports of organic meat to Mexico. The talks come as the EU and Mexico are trying to forge a general agreement on trading organic food products.…
BRAZILIAN CHICKEN PRODUCTION AND EXPORTS PROJECTED TO INCREASE SHARPLY
Brazil will continue to challenge the USA for the position of being the world’s biggest meat producer and exporter over the next 10 years, with chicken leading the way, Brazilian government forecasts indicate. It says that Brazilian meat production in 2025/26 will be 29.8% higher than in 2015/6 – amounting to 7.8 million tonnes in additional production – resulting in 23.6 million tonnes of output.…
JAPAN PAINT AND COATINGS SECTOR HAS WEAK YEAR, BUT HOME-BASED PAINT SALES OUTLOOK IS POSITIVE
Paint and varnish manufacturers in Japan experienced a disappointing 2015, with sluggish purchasing from the construction and automotive sectors translating into meagre 0.3% growth over the fiscal year. Analysts predict that growth will pick up in the short term, in part as a result of a spike in demand from the construction sector ahead of Tokyo hosting the 2020 Olympic Games – although industry players are concerned about the longer-term outlook for the sector.…
BRAZIL EMERGES AS A PROMISING TEXTILE MARKET FOR MAURITIUS
The emergence of Brazil as a major economic power and highly promising market of 200 million inhabitants is luring Mauritian textile producers to foray further in Latin America’s largest national market. Indeed, despite Brazil’s ongoing economic recession, Mauritian textile and clothing exports to the country have more than quadrupled since 2012, according to trade promotion body Enterprise Mauritius.…
CANADIAN MEAT INDUSTRY OPTIMISTIC OVER SALES TO REOPENED TAIWAN BEEF MARKET
The Canadian meat industry is optimistic that healthy sales will follow after it resumes exporting beef to Taiwan following its government lifting a beef import ban on Friday, July 8. Taiwan had imposed a temporary suspension of Canadian beef imports in February 2015, after a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) had been discovered in Alberta earlier that month.…
COLOMBIA COSMETICS SECTOR FACES END OF BOOM YEARS
A decline in exports has ended the boom years for the Colombian cosmetics sector, but the country still holds high hopes of establishing itself as a major regional player.
Colombia’s cosmetics and personal care sector has been thriving for well over a decade, as economic growth has fuelled a strong domestic market and the country established itself as an export hub for the north of South America.…
PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT COMPANIES EMPLOY CLARITY AND ORIGINAL ART WORK TO MAXIMISE DESIGN DIFFERENTIATION
COSMETICS and personal care product labelling and decoration continues to play a key role in differentiating brands on the shelf and creating an experience for the consumer. While many companies are moving towards more simple, clean looks, other higher-end brands still prefer eye-catching, metallic designs.…
PREPARATION, PREPARATION AND MORE PREPARATION PAYS OFF FOR BRANDS SHIFTING SOURCING
Apparel and textile companies face various risks when shifting sourcing and must consider carefully the location of the skilled labour they require; the effort and cost it will take to ensure a new supplier is meeting global standards; and the potential loss of a good relationship with their current suppliers.…
NORTH AMERICAN NONWOVENS SECTOR LEAPS AHEAD IN SALES AND PRODUCTION
In 2015, North America’s manufacturing capacity for nonwovens (regarding the United States, Canada and Mexico) grew from 2014 by 2.4% to reach about 2.77 million tonnes, according to a spokesperson for the US-based Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA). The United States dominates supplies in the region, making up 91% of capacity.…
BUENOS AIRES 2016 – SPANISH PUBLISHERS TARGET ARGENTINA AS PROSPECTS BRIGHTEN
Spanish distributors and publishers have been busy meeting with Argentine buyers at the 42nd Buenos Aires International Book Fair, as Argentina’s new centre-right government lifting of import restrictions and a looming economic recovery improves the potential for sales. “Argentina is the new hotspot in Latin America,” Fernando López Daza, manager of Época Distribuciones, a Madrid-based distributor, said at the fair, which is being held from April 21 to May 9.…
EU STEPS UP SUPPORT FOR EUROPEAN DAIRY SECTOR AS OPTIMISM GROWS ABOUT END TO RUSSIAN BAN
As the European Union (EU) dairy industry continues to face challenges, it is calling for EU institutions and member governments to have a greater focus on resolving Russia’s ban on EU agricultural goods, while continuing to open up new markets. In the meantime, the Russian ban has not helped an oversupply problem that is depressing prices.…
INNOVATION, AUTOMATION TO DRIVE NORTH AMERICA’S TECHNICAL TEXTILE INDUSTRY
NORTH America’s textile sector – of which technical textiles comprise nearly 70% production by value in the USA and just below 50% in Canada – has grown slowly when compared with global production. And growth within the industry in North America will further slow by 2020 due to competition from the Asia-Pacific region and Western Europe, according to industry analysts at Euromonitor. …
MEXICO CITY’S SECOND AIRPORT COULD END AIR TRAVEL CONGESTION IN MEXICAN CAPITAL
AIR travellers to Mexico City are looking forward to the opening – now scheduled for 2020 – of a new international airport, serving a conurbation of more than 21.5 million people. Construction began on November 13, the government has announced. The current Benito Juárez International Airport is operating at beyond its 32 million passenger annual capacity according to the Grupo Aeroportuario de la Ciudad de México (GACM).…
EU CHILE ORGANIC DEAL SIGNALS NEW STYLE OF AGREEMENT BOOSTING NATURAL FOOD TRADES
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) has chiselled a new template for international organic food trade deals with its new agreement with Chile. The deal involves EU regulators recognising Chilean exports as organic when produced and controlled under Chilean controls; and Chilean regulators accepting EU food exports as organic in Chile when produced under EU organic rules.…
MEXICO NASCENT ORGANIC MEAT SECTOR COULD BE LIFTED BY PLANNED EU DEAL
The European Union (EU) and Mexico have launched talks to deepen their already close trading relationship by negotiating a bilateral agreement on importing and exporting organic products – a deal could give a much needed shot-in-the-arm for the Mexican organic meat segment.…
MEXICAN GOVERNMENT TO CREATE ORGANIC MEAT PRODUCER REGISTER
THE MEXICAN government is to create a formal register of organic food producers, including meat and livestock businesses, and is currently carrying out a nationwide survey to build its list. The government is to use its Agricultural and Fishery Information System (Servicio de Información Agroalimentaria y Pesquera) to build the database, which should be ready by this December (2016).…
NEW ZEALAND BUTTER SALES GROW, BUT DRIVEN BY QUALITY, NOT TRADE DEALS
New Zealand’s butter producers may be a global force in this key dairy segment, but they have regarded the groundbreaking Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement with scepticism. Negotiations for the TPP produced a deal last October (2015), and although New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra and the DairyNZ producers association declared they had secured increased access to some key markets – Japan, Canada and the United States all increased butter quotas to varying degrees – there was general agreement that the gains had been modest.…
CENTRAL AMERICA MARKET REPORT
MEXICO and central America are often regarding as manufacturing centres for the USA, the world’s largest personal care product country. And while it remains true that brands take advantage of lower costs in these countries to make competitive exports, Mexico (population 122 million) and the seven countries of central America (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama – population 45 million) are significant markets in their own right.…
POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR US PAINTS AND COATINGS MARKET IN 2016
The 2016 outlook for the US paints and coatings industry remains positive, with experts predicting growth thanks to a resilient US economy, a strong performance by the manufacturing industry, and notable new trade agreements.
According to IBISWorld, a global market research company, the US paints and coatings industry bounced back quickly from the financial economic crisis beginning in 2008.…
BRANDS INCREASINGLY CONSIDER SOURCING CLOSER TO HOME
With fast fashion demands growing and China’s costs rising, sourcing closer to home is certainly becoming a more commonly considered option for brands, speeding up clothing and textile supply chains, being particularly beneficial for smaller producers, according to experts. Companies sourcing locally can have faster turnaround times, potentially better relationships with suppliers, and greater quality control.…
EU AND MEXICO PLOT ORGANIC PRODUCTS TRADE DEAL
The European Union (EU) and Mexico have announced talks to deepen their already close trading relationship by negotiating a bilateral agreement on importing and exporting organic products. A European Commission note has explained that the deal will try to harmonise the EU and Mexican control of organic foodstuffs, being “based on the recognition of each other’s production rules and controls systems as equivalent…” An agreement would also establish consultation systems so that EU and Mexico organic regulators could undertake technical dialogue and cooperation “to the benefit of producers and consumers of organic products,” said the note.…
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUND UP – VIETNAM AND EU TARIFF REDUCTIONS PUBLISHED
DETAILS have been released about tariffs to be scrapped regarding food and drink products exported and imported between Vietnam and the European Union (EU) under a trade deal struck last August (2015). The full text has now been released and shows how Vietnam’s emerging market of 89 million people will be opened to the EU’s food manufacturers.…
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUND UP – END OF EXPORT SUBSIDIES WILL CHALLENGE CONFECTIONERY SECTOR
EUROPEAN confectionery manufacturers have urged caution over the impending end of food export subsidies, which will be scrapped after a World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting in Nairobi, Kenya. Developed country members have promised to remove export subsidies immediately for basic food products, with a slower phase-out for many processed foods.…
AUSTRALASIAN CONFECTIONERY MANUFACTURERS THINK TRADE DEALS WILL HELP EXPORTS
Australian and New Zealand confectionery and ice cream manufacturers have been broadly supportive of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement that was finalised towards the end of 2015, recognising the potential for securing export sales in lucrative Asian markets. That said, there is some caution, given the TPP delivers more potential for America’s juggernaut of a confectionery sector to roll into local stores.…
HSBC MEXICO DRUG CARTEL CLAIM COULD EXPAND DEFINITION OF TERRORISM WITHIN US CASE LAW
A CASE brought by American lawyers against the HSBC, alleging they were responsible for attacks of victims of Mexican drug cartels might broaden the definition of ‘terrorist’ under US law to include drug traffickers.
St Louis-based Elias Gutzler Spicer LLC has brought suit at the US District Court, Southern District of Texas (Brownsville).…
MULTI-FUNCTIONALITY HELPS PROTECTIVE COATINGS COMPANIES MARKET THEIR WARES
Innovative protective coatings have always been marked on their ability to deliver a function with excellence. However, there is real marketing gold where companies can demonstrate that coatings deliver a range of protective functions at the same time, such as waterproofing, insulating, and protecting aesthetics.…
PRESSURE PILES ON USA TO SCRAP COOL RULES AS AMERICAN WTO APPEAL FAILS
CANADIAN meat industry officials and politicians have redoubled their calls for the US to liberalise its country of origin labelling (COOL) rules for meat and livestock, now the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has delivered a final negative ruling on the American system.…
EU AND MEXICO TO BEEF UP TRADE PACT
Mexico has commenced negotiations with the European Union (EU) that could boost its production and export of barytes, quartz, granite and silica sand – on average, say Mexican government mining officials, two thirds Mexico’s deposits of these minerals remain unexploited.
The talks, which started on the June 12 during the 7th EU-Mexico Summit in Brussels, set benchmarks for negotiations to upgrade a 15-year old free trade agreement (FTA) by tackling non-tariff barriers, extending intellectual property rights to more products and revising investor protection provisions.…
CARMAKERS ASSESSING POTENTIAL BENEFITS FROM EU-MEXICO UPGRADE
AUTOMAKERS in Europe are looking at what potential benefits they could draw from a future upgrade of a 15 years’ old free trade agreement (FTA) between the European Union (EU) and Mexico.
The two sides announced on Monday (May 11) that they are planning to start negotiations later this year, making it more comprehensive involving more regulatory harmonization than the existing deal that largely focused on tariff reduction: “We are aiming for an EU-Mexico deal that is comparable to the one with Canada and to the one to be concluded with the US”, the EU trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said, speaking in Brussels.…
URUGUAYAN BEEF EXPORTS ON THE RISE, DESPITE RUSSIAN RECESSION
Uruguay’s meat exports are rising, with growing production, aggressive promotions and wide access to global markets boosting sales despite a slump in Russian sales. Exports of offal, meat and byproducts increased 8.2% to USD659 million in the year through May 9, compared with USD609 million year-on-year and rose 16% in volume terms to 171,401 tonnes from 147,868 tonnes over the same period, according to the country’s National Institute of Meat (INAC – Instituto Nacional de Carnes).…
VIETNAM GARMENT SECTOR SET TO INCREASE RELIANCE ON US YARN AFTER GAINING TPP FREE-TARIFF TREATMENT
Although the final details of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement have yet to be agreed, it is all but certain that the TPP’s free-tariff treatment for Vietnamese garments will see substantial amounts of yarn being shipped from US textile mills to garment factories in Vietnam, with the resulting clothing returning to the USA as finished ‘Made in Vietnam’ products.…
MEXICO DAIRY COMPANIES STRUGGLE AGAINST WEAK PRICES AND IMPOVERISHED CONSUMERS
Dairy producers in Mexico have turned to product diversification boost sales and avoid more profit losses caused by an increase in costs, weak purchasing power within lower income consumer groups and competition from non-dairy alternatives.
Beatriz de Llano, an analyst for market researchers Euromonitor International, said average unit prices in the sector rising by 7% annually in 2014, because of a rise in farm gate prices caused by cattle feed cost inflation – from MXN5.90 (USD0.38) per litre in 2013 to MXN6.50 (USD0.41) per litre in 2014.…
ARGENTINE BOOK FAIR SEES PUBLISHERS BET ON NICHE MARKETS
Publishers were upbeat at the 41st Buenos Aires International Book Fair highlighting strong sales in the Argentine market of adventure, fantasy and self-help books. They told the Bookseller that they planned to focus on these genres as they sign new talent.…
UK STILL TOP FOR OFFSHORE WIND BUT CHINA SHOWS POTENTIAL FOR ONSHORE
The UK may still be a world-beating performer for developing offshore wind energy, but more still can be done onshore, as demonstrated by China’s wind-power growth, the Global Wind Energy Council’s (GWEC’s) secretary general Steve Sawyer has argued. Indeed, unveiling GWEC’s, Global Wind Report: Annual Market Update 2014, in a webinar April 1 from Istanbul, Sawyer noted that the UK at 813 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity produces more offshore wind energy than the rest of the world combined, with Denmark “a distant second”.…
RUSSIA FIU MAY HAVE COMPLICATED FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS WITH WESTERN COUNTRIES
The Russian Federal Financial Monitoring Service (Rosfinmonitoring), Moscow’s financial intelligence unit (FIU), has singled out individual and commercial customers using Russian banks from 41 countries for special transactions reports. Among these countries on the “blacklist” are the U.S., Canada, the European Union (28 states), Australia, Norway, Iran, Syria, Sudan, New Zealand, Argentina, Mexico Switzerland, North Korea and Zimbabwe.…
DUAL SOURCING OF GARMENTS BECOMING MAINSTREAM
The trend towards the dual sourcing of garments has accelerated since the middle of the last decade. The sourcing pattern involves initial volumes being sought in the east, with lead times of up to three months, and replenishment from locations closer to the consumer, within weeks or even days.…
TECHNICAL ROUND UP - OECD SAYS TAX BURDENS CONTINUE TO RISE
TAXES on wages in developed countries within the Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) have risen by about 1% between 2010 and 2014 even though a majority of OECD governments did not increase statutory income tax rates. A new OECD report Taxing Wages 2015 said in 2014, the tax burden paid by average OECD workers increased 0.1% to 36%.…
CHINESE AND MEXICAN MEAT SECTORS WELCOME NEW TRADE PERMITS RELEASED BY BEIJING
China’s approval of meat imports from eight Mexican production plants has been welcomed by the Mexican and Chinese meat sectors. According to reports from China’s ministry of commerce, six exporters given the green light produce pork meat: Sonora Agropecuaria, Frigorifico Agropecuaria Sonorense (slaughter facility), Frigorifico Agropecuaria Sonorense (packhouse), Frigorifico Kowi, Alimentos Grole, and Grupo Porcicola Mexicano.…
LATIN AMERICAN PAINT INDUSTRY STRUGGLES AMIDST ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN
THE LATIN American paint and coatings sector has been facing tough times in the past year, with sluggish overall economic performance depressing demand for the industry. Even, last summer’s World Cup football fiesta in Brazil, did not give the region’s largest market any motive to celebrate.…
IMPENDING EU-US TRADE AGREEMENT HOLDS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PAINT MACHINERY SALES
THE TRADE agreement currently being negotiated between the European Union (EU) and the USA could bring significant opportunities for paint machinery manufacturers if the two parties agree to align their technical standards.
The European Commission, which is negotiating the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) on behalf of the EU, has said it would like to close the gap between the two sides regarding technical regulations affecting the marketing, use and conformity assessment of machinery, as well as electrical and electronic products.…
GERMAN-MADE CARS TOP THE EU CONSUMER DANGER LIST IN 2014
GERMAN-made automobiles were the largest source of reports regarding potentially dangerous motor vehicles made to the European Union’s (EU) RAPEX consumer alert network in 2014, analysis of its data shows.
There were 194 notifications to the system relating to automobiles and parts last year, the fourth largest category following toys (650), clothing and textiles (530) and electrical appliances (217).…
CAREFUL PREPARATION IS BEST DEFENCE AGAINST KIDNAP RISKS FOR TRAVELLING EXECUTIVES
THE RISK of being kidnapped is a significant concern for those travelling for business to unstable and dangerous regions of the world. Yet, travellers can reduce these risks by following preventative measures and making smart plans, say business security experts. Elizabeth Machuca reports from Mexico City.…
SOUTH AMERICA PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT SALES WEAK IN 2014 AND 2015
SOUTH America’s personal care product sector has been is facing tougher times than usual – with some countries experiencing weaker sales last year and others faltering this year.
The region’s largest market Brazil is facing a rocky 2015, with a general slowdown in Brazil’s economy, expected to shrink by 1% in 2015.…
MEXICO IS STRONG MATURE MARKET FOR PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT SECTOR
MEXICO represents a powerful investment opportunity as the second largest consumer of ‘beauty and personal care products’ (BCP) in Latin America, after Brazil. While a relatively mature BCP market makes growth a creative challenge, the country is increasingly popular as a location for BCP production facilities.…
EMA LAUNCHES GLOBAL GENERIC MEDICINE INFORMATION SHARING PILOT
AN INTERNATIONAL regulatory cooperation pilot involving medicine regulators sharing real time assessments about generic medicines is now in full flow. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is leading the initiative, building on the European Union’s (EU) experience of cooperation between national regulators.…
PLASTIC BANKNOTES MAKE LIFE HARDER FOR COUNTERFEITERS
PLASTIC banknotes have been in circulation since their introduction in Australia in 1988 and their use is expanding. Counterfeiters beware. Alan Osborn, in London; Kitty So, in Ottawa; and Lee Adendorff, in Byron Bay, Australia, report.
FAKING banknotes is considerably more difficult on plastic than on cotton-based paper, and while printing technology improvements may aid forgers, central banks seem happy to avail themselves of the competitive advantage.
…US-CUBA LIBERALISATION OFFERS PROSPECTS FOR AMERICAN AUTO SECTOR, BUT NOT ANY TIME SOON
The recent moves towards loosening trade and diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba has provided a source of cautious optimism within the American auto industry.
President Barack Obama has been loosening the 54-year trade restrictions after announcing a policy u-turn on December 17 last year, but only Congress, controlled by Republicans, can actually lift the economic embargo entirely.…
SUBSEA LINE TECHNICAL AND LEGAL CHALLENGES INTENSIFY
The challenge of maintaining the integrity and efficient operation of remote oil and gas pipelines under deep water will become more taxing in future. And their potential failure will cost companies more in commercial losses and in regulatory penalties, according to industry experts.…
BRAZIL’S NONWOVENS INDUSTRY PREPARES FOR FLAT 2015, BUT INVESTING FOR THE FUTURE
WHILE the global nonwovens industry maybe booming through investments, acquisition of new sites, expansion of capacity, more customers and exhibitions all over, the same optimism cannot be applied to emerging market former starlet Brazil. Despite its huge market with 200 million inhabitants, the nonwovens sector of South America’s economic powerhouse is looking for another deep loss of steam in 2015.…
JAPAN PORK PRODUCERS FIGHT FOR STATUS QUO IN US-JAPAN PIG MEAT TRADE
Japan’s pork industry remains resolutely opposed to its national government watering down tariffs in discussions with the United States on the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade deal, warning that revising the existing system will “destroy” the domestic industry.
A spokesman for the Japan Pork Producers’ Association confirmed that the industry will continue to lobby the government to retain the protective tariffs that domestically raised pork enjoys at present.…
CHILE’S SKIN CARE MARKET ROARS AHEAD AS CONSUMERS DISCOVER VALUE OF FACE PRODUCTS
THE FACIAL skin care market in Chile has enjoyed double digit growth for over a decade, and is expected to continue expanding. Although this market is expected to grow at a slower rate this year, market research firm Canadean Ltd has forecast an average annual growth rate of 11% between 2013 and 2018.…
OBAMA’S OPENING TO CUBA OFFERS PROSPECT OF INCREASING TRADE IN BEAUTY SALES TO CUBA
THE PERSONAL care product industry will be hoping that US President Barack Obama’s “new chapter” in relations with Cuba, announced in December (2014), will revive sales and trade, amidst tightening rules on Cuban travellers from the US.
It is currently not certain just what specific changes in policy on either the US or Cuban side will occur, let alone when, but it is already clear that travel restrictions to Cuba will at least be lightened. …
SPANISH PORK PRODUCERS TARGET GREATER SALES IN MEXICO
MEXICAN inspectors have visited 15 meat businesses in Spain as trade negotiations between the European Union (EU) and Mexico raise the prospect of greater exports to the Latin American country.
Mexico is already the main non-EU market for Spanish cured, cooked and preserved pork products and hopes are high that pork meat will be included in any deal with the EU.…
CENTRAL AMERICA RAISES ITS AML/CFT GAME, BUT HAS MUCH WORK AHEAD
Central America’s increasing exposure to money laundering is at least being recognised by the governments on the region, who are working both individually and collectively to combat the problem.
The region has strengthened cooperation, for instance. A key initiative is the Central American Integration System (SICA), a regional political organisation which coordinates government actions for Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Belize and the Dominican Republic regarding certain policy development and programmes, notably improving law enforcement.…
PLASTIC BANKNOTES HELP REDUCE CASH COUNTERFEITING
Plastic banknotes have been in circulation since their introduction in Australia in 1988 and the consensus so far seems to be that they do an excellent job of a key requirement – reducing counterfeiting. It may be that forgers will gain more expertise in time – faking is considerably more difficult on plastic than on cotton-based paper – but the initial reports from larger countries that have taken this route, such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, have persuaded the UK’s Bank of England to follow them.
…PLASTIC BANKNOTES HELP REDUCE CASH COUNTERFEITING
Plastic banknotes have been in circulation since their introduction in Australia in 1988 and the consensus so far seems to be that they do an excellent job of a key requirement – reducing counterfeiting. It may be that forgers will gain more expertise in time – faking is considerably more difficult on plastic than on cotton-based paper – but the initial reports from larger countries that have taken this route, such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, have persuaded the UK’s Bank of England to follow them.
…DEVELOPING COUNTRIES LOSE MORE FROM TAX EVASION THAN THEY GAIN IN AID - GFI
Tax evasion drained a record USD991.2 billion in illicit financial flows from developing economies in 2012 – facilitating crime and corruption, according to a new study by Global Financial Integrity (GFI), a Washington DC-based research and advisory organization. “To put this in perspective, the cumulative total of official development assistance to the developing countries in this report… was just USD809 billion,” said a GFI note.…
ADAPTIVE LICENSING USEFUL FOR ORPHAN DRUGS, CONFERENCE HEARS
ADAPTIVE licensing methods such as that proposed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) are indeed useful in the development of medicines for rare diseases, Martin Andrews, the senior vice-president at GSK Rare Diseases, has told the World Orphan Drugs Congress 2014.…
REACH REPLICAS IN ASIA SHOULD BE CLOSELY MONITORED, SAY EXPERTS
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) seems to have sparked a regulatory trend with its REACH chemical control system, with more and more countries in Asia adopting REACH-inspired chemical management laws. Thus textile finishing units, companies and suppliers will have to pay increasingly close attention to chemical regulations in Asia-Pacific countries such as China and South Korea.…
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUND UP – RUSSIA TRADE RESTRICTIONS BLOCK CONFECTIONERY AND INGREDIENT TRADES
DOCUMENTS obtained by Confectionery Production from the European Union (EU) indicate that Ukraine has lost up to USD126 million’s worth of confectionery export sales to Russia this year, because of Russian trade restrictions.
EU briefing papers note that Ukraine has been complaining to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) since October 2013 about alleged “unjustified barriers to trade caused by the measures of the Russian Federation, in particular, on Ukrainian confectionery products.”…
US CLOTHING SECTOR FEARS LA AND LONG BEACH SUPPLY BOTTLENECK AS FESTIVE PERIOD APPROACHES
AMERICAN apparel retailers, distributors and manufacturers are being hit hard by delays at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and concerns are intensifying as the festive shopping period approaches.
“Everybody is concerned,” said Kent Smith, the executive director of the LA Fashion District Business Improvement District (BID) organisation.…
US PORK PRODUCTION RISE WILL CONTINUE IN 2015, ALTHOUGH GROWTH RATES MAY SLACKEN – EXPERTS
AMERICAN pigmeat analysts have conformed to globalmeatnews.com that the recovery in US pork production will be sustained, with the pigmeat industry recovering strongly from the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) outbreak.
The comments come after the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasted earlier this month that American commercial pork production was set to reach 23.9 billion pounds for the year ending September 2015, exceeding the country’s beef output for the first time after 62 years.…
CENTRAL AMERICA STRUGGLES TO CONTAIN THREAT POSED BY AML TO ITS UNSTABLE SOCIETIES
Mexico, South America, and the United States are usually the focus of discussions about money laundering, drug-trafficking and transnational crime in the Western Hemisphere. However, as countries like Mexico and Colombia have upped their security game, criminals have taken advantage of their small Central American neighbours as weaker links for both the transport of drugs and the laundering of illicit funds associated with the trade.…
BULK OF US BEEF INDUSTRY LEVY INVESTMENT IN 2015 TO PROMOTE DOMESTIC BEEF SALES
THE CATTLEMEN’S Beef Promotion and Research Board in the USA will spend USD10.5 million of its USD39 million investments planned for the fiscal year of October 1, 2014-2015 to promote beef sales in its domestic market.
The goal of this consumer information campaign is to “improve domestic preference for beef by educating consumers about things like beef safety, nutrition and health, convenience, taste and value,” the board’s communications manager Diane Henderson told globalmeatnews.com.…
OECD TAX BURDENS CONTINUE TO RISE
THE AVERAGE tax burden in the developed countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) have continued to rise, up 0.4% in 2013, to 34.1% of GDP, compared with 33.7% in 2012 and 33.3% in 2011. A new OECD report said the largest 2013 increases were in Portugal, Turkey, Slovakia, Finland, and Denmark, which has the highest tax-to-GDP ratio among OECD countries – 48.6%, followed by France, 45%, and Belgium, 44.6%.…
US TO FORMULATE SEPARATE INTERNATIONAL MARKETING STRATEGY FOR PORK
THE UNITED States is trying to come up with a tailor-made international marketing strategy to tap a bigger share of pork sales, now growing at an estimated 12% between 2013- 2018 globally, the country’s National Pork Board (NPB) vice president for strategic communication Kevin Waetke said.…
FARM ACCOUNTING IS INCREASINGLY SPECIALIST AND PROFITABLE NICHE SERVICE
As farms and agricultural organisations face changing accounting demands from legislatures and financial institutions around the world, accountants face greater pressures to develop specialised agricultural knowledge.
Indeed, accounting services provided to the farming industry within the European Union (EU) are becoming increasingly important, notably because of reforms to the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), experts have told Accounting & Business.…
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUND UP – ECUADOR TRADE DEAL OFFERS NEW COCOA SOURCE
ECUADOR, an important confectionery exporter to the European Union (EU), has struck a new bilateral free trade agreement with the EU, which will eliminate tariffs on imports to Europe. The new trade deal is supposed to take effect in late 2016, and until then a system of preferential tariffs will be in place.…
OECD SAYS FIVE GOVERNMENTS MUST DO BETTER OVER TAX TRANSPARENCY
THE ORGANISATION for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) has concluded that five jurisdictions need to improve their tax information exchange standards – Andorra, Anguilla (a UK dependent territory), Antigua & Barbuda, Indonesia and Saint Lucia. The OECD’s Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes said these jurisdictions were “partially compliant” with its standards.…
VENEZUELAN STATE-RUN OIL PRODUCTION SLOWS
PRODUCTION at Venezuela state oil company Petróleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) has slumped under mounting financial pressures, building during the past 15 years when revenues have been tapped by its socialist government to fund social programmes, diplomatic initiatives and other non-commercial policies.…
ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS STRENGTHENING IN CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICA – BUT MORE WORK NEEDED
IN the 1970s and 1980s, the governments of Latin America and the Caribbean did not have a comprehensively robust reputation for sound financial management. Many Caribbean island states had newly emerged from colonialism, finding their way as independent countries. And many Latin American countries were riven by social discord, even civil war, with many under military rule.…
LATIN AMERICA COSMETICS MARKET CONTINUES TO BOOM
Latin America’s cosmetics and personal care products sector has boomed as consumers take advantage of their rising disposable incomes. The region (including Mexico) accounted for 17% of global sales in the beauty and personal care industry, according to market analysts Euromonitor International in 2013. …
TPP’S YARN-FORWARD RULE A MIXED BLESSING FOR VIETNAM’S KNITWEAR MANUFACTURERS
ACCORDING to conventional wisdom, Vietnam’s near-certain inclusion in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will clearly be a major boon to the Southeast Asian country’s textile industry. The planned multinational free-trade zone encompasses 12 countries that together make up 40% of global gross national product (GNP).…
TWO YEARS AFTER NEW BRAZIL AML LAW, PROGRESS COULD BE BETTER
IN 2012, after years of delays, Brazil instated a new money laundering law, finally bringing this economically vibrant and influential country more or less in line with international standards. Two years later, what difference has it actually made?
Brazil’s first official money laundering law (Law 9613) was enacted in 1998.…
NONWOVENS COMPANIES OFFER LIGHTWEIGHT DURABLE MATERIALS TO AUTOMOBILE MAKERS
Nonwovens are taking on an increasingly important role in creating more sustainable vehicles, particularly in interiors, offering lightweight materials reducing fuel usage, recyclability, and the use of green feedstocks such as plant and waste food material.
The US-based global Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) estimates there was about 560,000 tonnes of nonwovens in global automotive usage in 2013, said Dave Rousse, INDA’s president.…
ERP SOFTWARE TRENDS
Global technology analysts Gartner Inc is well known for its articulated predictions. An announcement in January 2014 to accompany its report on ‘Predicts 2014: The Rise of the Postmodern ERP and Enterprise Applications World’, highlighted the complex, and at times conflicting scenario facing companies considering moving their enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to the cloud.…
LATIN AMERICAN PAINT SECTORS ENCOUNTER CONTRASTING FORTUNES
THE COUNTRIES of Latin America may have strong cultural links, but their politics and economies have always varied and this is still the case with the paint and coatings sector. Whilst the whole region has experienced rising incomes over the past decade, this growth has been far from even and is currently under threat – for instance in Venezuela and Argentina, where interventionist governments have impeded trade.…
COLOMBIA PREPARES TO LAUNCH MAJOR GOVERNMENT PROGRAM PROMOTING AUTO SECTOR
Colombia’s struggling automobile sector is anticipating the April 15 launch of a new government program designed to help it follow the successful tactics of its principal competitors abroad.
The primary objective of the scheme, PROFIA, (Development Program for the Automotive Industry) is to help the sector recover market share from cheap imports, notably by imports by slashing tariffs on parts and materials imported for vehicle assembly.…
CONSUMER WIPES MAJOR NONWOVENS GROWTH AREA
GROWTH in the global nonwoven consumer wipes market is set to slow over the coming years, although a number of trends are encouraging brands and manufacturers in particular product segments such as baby wipes and anti-bacterial surface care products. Meanwhile, a growing range of innovations are emerging focused on producing flushable wipes.…
GROUNDHANDLERS TO BENEFIT FROM EU-CANADA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
EUROPEAN and Canadian groundhandlers stand to benefit from the free trade agreement concluded between the European Union (EU) and Canada last October (2013).
While some technical details are still being ironed out, the European Commission, which handles trade negotiations on behalf of the 28 EU countries, announced that the EU had managed to boost access for EU groundhandlers to the Canadian airport market by opening up the country’s public procurement procedures to EU bidders.…
ITALY’S COSMETICS INDUSTRY EXPORTS KEEPS SALES BUOYANT DURING TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES
WHEN the Percassi family, owners of the successful make-up brand KIKO Make Up Milan, purchased in October 2013 a UNESCO-listed historic industrial site called Crespi d’Adda in northern Italy, it was not only a sign of their success, but proof of the old adage that tough economic times can be good for the beauty industry. …
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUND UP – SUGAR SECTOR WANTS OUT OF TRANS-ATLANTIC TRADE DEAL
REPRESENTATIVES from Europe’s sugar industry want sugar to be excluded from the current free trade negotiations between the United States and the European Union (EU). Speaking at an EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) briefing in Brussels, Oscar Ruiz de Imaña – the deputy director general of the European Association of Sugar Producers (CEFS), warned of the uncertainties in the sugar markets on both sides of the Atlantic.…
CANADIAN AUTO SECTOR FEARS INCREASE IN SOUTH KOREAN IMPORTS AFTER TRADE DEAL SEALED
A TRADE agreement struck between Canada and South Korea this week (Tuesday March 11) has raised fears in the Canadian automobile about a potential increase in South Korean automotive exports.
Upon the agreement’s ratification (which may happen within a year), South Korea will remove all existing tariffs, including on all passenger cars and light trucks (8%) and all automotive parts (3% to 8%) exported from Canada.…
COLOMBIA BOOSTS ITS INTERNATIONAL AML REPUTATION
Colombia has perhaps the strongest reputation in Latin America for playing host to powerful illicit drug cartels and their related money laundering. As a result, it is perhaps reassuring that over the past three years, the Colombian government, through the country’s Attorney General’s Office, seized between USD1 billion and USD1.2 billion, according Luis Edmundo Suárez, Colombia’s Unidad de Información y Análisis Financiero – financial information and analysis unit (UIAF).…
NICARAGUA RAISES FOOT-AND-MOUTH ALARM OVER US LIFTING BRAZIL BEEF IMPORT BAN
THE NICARAGUAN government has raised fears that the planned reopening of the US market to Brazilian beef could risk spreading foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) to north and central America. Its representatives spoke out at a meeting this week (Thursday March 26) of the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) sanitary and phytosanitary committee, in Geneva.…
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUND UP – ALARM SOUNDED OVER NANOSILVER
A EUROPEAN Union (EU) scientific committee has sounded an alarm about potential health concerns regarding the use of nano-silver in clothing – the substance often used as an antibacterial in knitted socks.
The EU’s Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks has noted studies indicating that “nanosilver exposure leads possibly to genotoxicity, changes in activity of the immune system and an accumulation of silver in spleen, liver and testes.”…
US CLOTHING AND TEXTILE COMPANIES FAILING TO EXPLOIT FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS.
ARE clothing and textile-relevant free trade agreements – which allow the garment and fabrics industries to import wares free of duties, or at sharply reduced rates – really worth the effort involved in their negotiation? Maybe not always, or at least not in the US, say some experts.…
PUERTO RICO INAUGURATES FIRST GENERICS DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
PUERTO Rico opened on January 31 its first centre for the research and development of generic pharmaceuticals – the Center for the Development and Innovation of Pharmaceutical Products. It will be operated by Mexico-based Neolpharma, according to Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla’s office.…
MEXICO CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WINS TERMINAL LEASING RIGHTS
Mexican airport operator Inmobiliaria Fumisa is considering an appeal to claims that its right to operate the international area of the International Airport of Mexico City’s (AICM) Terminal 1 expired on December 31, 2013. A Mexican court ruling on January 17 had found Fumisa’s 20-year contract to lease and operate the area had expired; and the right to operate reverted back to the airport, according to a statement from AICM.…
BANGLADESH LOOKS TO ITS LAURELS AS ASIAN KNITWEAR RIVALS POWER UP
SOURCING in Asia has been a merry-go-round for many buyers in recent years. As the era of low-cost Chinese manufacturing draws more or less to a close, several countries have leveraged their low cost labour to capture a significant volume of the world’s lower end knitwear manufacturing, while others have sought to extend their reach into higher value-added manufacturing by investing in infrastructure and training.…
BANGLADESH LOOKS TO ITS LAURELS AS ASIAN KNITWEAR RIVALS POWER UP
SOURCING in Asia has been a merry-go-round for many buyers in recent years. As the era of low-cost Chinese manufacturing draws more or less to a close, several countries have leveraged their low cost labour to capture a significant volume of the world’s lower end knitwear manufacturing, while others have sought to extend their reach into higher value-added manufacturing by investing in infrastructure and training.…
MEXICO CLOTHING CHAMBER SAYS INDUSTRY IS POISED FOR MAJOR EXPANSION
A SENIOR official at Mexico’s National Chamber of Apparel Industry (CANAIVE) has told just-style that the Mexican fashion sector – including clothing, leather and jewelry – is well placed to realise plans to sharply increase exports to USD8 billion in 2014.…
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES OVERSEAS STUDENT RECRUITMENT PLAN
Canada’s higher education sector has welcomed a comprehensive strategy released by the Canadian government for recruiting more foreign students into its institutions.
Announcing a new International Education Strategy on Wednesday (Jan 15), the country’s international trade minister Ed Fast accepted that Canada could profit more from the lucrative global international student market.…
AMERICAN CATTLE HERDS SMALLEST SINCE 1951, SAYS USDA
The United States continues to face drought and declining cattle herds, according to recent US department of agriculture reports (USDA), although the industry says ranchers could begin rebuilding herds soon.
An annual cattle report released on Friday (January 31) shows there were 87.7 million head of cattle and calves in the USA on January 1 this year, down 2% from the previous year – “the lowest January 1 inventory of all cattle and calves since…1951.”…
2013 PRICES CHEER SPANISH BEEF AND PORK PRODUCERS
SPANISH meat producers secured increasingly healthy prices in 2013 as the country crept out of recession in the second half, figures from its ministry of agriculture, food and the environment (MAGRAMA) show.
Category E pork (55% – 59% leanness) rose by 11.4% on 2012 to average EUR1.936 per kilo, 10.3% greater than the European Union (EU) average, peaking at EUR2.171/Kg.…
LATIN AMERICA HIGHER EDUCATION STRUGGLES TO INTERNATIONALISE – HEARS KEY CONFERENCE
AN INTERNATIONAL higher education conference has underlined the major progress made in building links between the universities of neighbouring countries in Latin America. But it also highlighted the significant remaining challenges facing Latin American higher education if it wants to be truly integrated with tertiary institutions worldwide.…
INTERNATIONAL MEAT TRADE BODIES WELCOME NEW WTO GLOBAL TRADE DEAL
THE INTERNATIONAL Meat Trade Association (IMTA) has welcomed the striking of a new global trade deal by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) which should ease import and customs procedures that can slow the delivery of meat and livestock to export customers.…
LATIN AMERICA HIGHER EDUCATION STRUGGLES TO INTERNATIONALISE – HEARS KEY CONFERENCE
AN INTERNATIONAL higher education conference has underlined the major progress made in building links between the universities of neighbouring countries in Latin America. But it also highlighted the significant remaining challenges facing Latin American higher education if it wants to be truly integrated with tertiary institutions worldwide.…
FROM WELLHEAD TO PETROL PUMP: RESEARCH DRIVES ENERGY EFFICIENCY WITHIN THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
THE SIGHT of wind turbines in an offshore oilfield is nothing new. Operators in the Gulf of Mexico have for years used small wind turbines on oil and gas installations to power SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) computerised systems to keep fields operating.…
COLOMBIA'S PHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR GROWTH THREATENED BY PRICE CONTROLS
ALTHOUGH Colombia’s pharmaceutical sector has enjoyed growth over the past few years, new price controls could disrupt the sector’s expansion if they are poorly planned, industry representatives claim.
Their concerns focus on the reaction to maximum price controls on medication recently approved by the government.…
URUGUAY BEEF SECTOR HAILS ITS CHINESE EXPORT SUCCESS
The executive director of Uruguay’s intensive cattle producers’ association, AUPCIN, has said that he expects the rapid growth in sales of Uruguayan beef to China to continue over the next few years, due to a number of significant competitive advantages and an aggressive promotional strategy.…
SPAIN E-BOOK SALES GROW SLOWLY, IMPEDED BY CONTINUED ECONOMIC GLOOM
E-books now look more like evolution than a revolution in Spain. Overall sales of books were Euro EUR2.47 billion last year, down 10.9% on 2011 and 28.9% below 2008. E-book sales were EUR74.3 million, just 3% of the sector, representing 54,714 copies sold.…
MEPS BACK RETREAT ON BIOFUEL EXPANSION
THE EUROPEAN Parliament has voted to reduce the support the European Union (EU) gives to the traditional biofuel sector, backing European Commission proposals to amend the renewable energy directive (2009/28/EC). MEPs agreed that the law should insist that first-generation biofuels (from long-standing sources, notably food crops) should not exceed 6% of EU energy consumption in transport by 2020, compared to the 10% target for all biofuels in the existing legislation.…
INCREASING CANADA-MEXICO TRADE COULD MEAN MORE DRUG-RELATED MONEY LAUNDERING
MEXICO’S new president Enrique Peña Nieto, who came to office in December 2012, promised a less militaristic fight against the country’s increasingly violent drug trade, so his government’s implementation of a new anti-money laundering (AML) law will be watched closely.
Past president Felipe Calderón launched a severe military-led crackdown against the country’s drug cartels towards the end of 2006, around 80,000 people have since been killed in drug-related violence since.…
INTERNATIONAL BUYERS BUOY LIBER 2013
DIGITAL innovation and exports dominated discussion at the 31st edition of Liber 2013, Spain’s leading book fair, which ended on Sunday (October 6) in Madrid after drawing 10,000 visitors, compared with 6,000 last year in Barcelona.
And while 450 exhibitors and 300-plus international buyers almost universally framed their comments in terms of recession, robust overseas sales and advances in e-publishing made for a slightly more positive mood than last year.…
DESPITE COMPLIANCE ISSUES, BANGLADESH REMAINS NUMBER ONE ALTERNATIVE: MCKINSEY
A PARTNER at advisors McKinsey has argued that Bangladesh’s advantages in low cost and convenience for brands will ensure its clothing and textile sector keeps growing, despite the Rana Plaza disaster.
Dr Achim Berg led a study released at last week’s World Fashion Convention, Shanghai, which concluded that about 72% of the total 29 chief purchasing officers (CPO) surveyed are planning to move orders from China to other Asian countries in the next five years, although China will still remain as the largest sourcing market.…
BRUSSELS APPROVES BRAZIL-BASED INTERNATIONAL MEAT COMPANY EXPANSION
A SIGNIFICANT set of acquisitions by Brazilian meat major JBS has been given European Union (EU) regulatory approval by the European Commission. Acting as Europe’s international competition regulator, the Commission approved JBS’ purchase from Brazilian food processor Marfrig Alimentos of Netherlands-based Columbus Netherlands BV also known as Zenda) and six Brazilian-based companies that together form the Seara group.…
COVERING THE RISK OF DEEPWATER EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION
THE INSURANCE risks involved in oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) are rising in line with growing industry complexity and the move into deeper, remoter and more environmentally sensitive environments.
This is placing ever greater demands on the need to identify, quantify and insure against risk, particularly when the financial and reputational repercussions of getting it wrong are escalating too.…
COMMUNICATION SKILLS INCREASE COMPANY PROFITS AS WELL AS MINIMISING BAD PUBLICITY
WHEN a senior company figure blunders in communicating through the media, the corporate and career costs can be high, but getting it right can drive sales and profits.
Examples in the debit column are rife. Gene Morphis, the CFO of Nasdaq-listed US womenswear chain Francesca’s Holding Corp was fired in May 2102 after his ‘Tweet’ message on social media site Twitter inadvertently disclosed share price-sensitive information from a board meeting in contravention of rules applied by the US Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC).…
JAPAN PAINT SECTOR HAS ROSY SHORT-TERM FUTURE – BUT LONGER TERM CONCERNS
JAPAN’S paint and coatings industry has enjoyed steady growth over the last couple of years, with demand growing both at home and abroad, although some of the biggest names in the industry here remain concerned about the longer-term outlook for the sector.…
CHINA’S HUGE INVESTMENT IN LATIN AMERICA IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY BUT WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
THERE was much fanfare in Managua in June when Nicaraguan officials granted a concession to build a USD40 billion canal, which would challenge the great Panama Canal. The unlikely builder: a Chinese businessman, Wang Jing, chairman of China-based Xinwei Telecom Enterprise Group and president of the newly established Hong Kong Nicaragua Canal Development Investment Co.…
US PRODUCERS BENEFIT FROM WESTERN HEMISPHERE SOURCING
IT is common sense that for really fast fashion, sourcing should be made as close to a home market as costs will allow. And for the world’s two largest fast fashion markets – the European Union (EU) and the United States – geography does provide some useful neighbours able to offer lower cost out-sourcing, albeit not as cheap as in east and south Asia.…
MANUFACTURERS SEEK IMPROVEMENTS IN SPEED, PRESSURED BY FAST FASHION RETAIL
To meet apparel and textile brands’ desire to move into fast fashion, manufacturers have begun to embrace new production processes that improve efficiency and performance. Apparel and textile manufacturers have been slower than many other manufacturing industries to embrace supply chain improvements in speed, but are now succumbing to pressure from brands moving into fast fashion retail.…
SPAIN FINDS SILVER LININGS AMID THE GLOOM
‘LA TORRE PUIG,’ the 22-storey Puig Tower now being fitted out in the Plaza de Europa, of the Catalan capital, Barcelona, for Puig SL, the family owned fragrances and fashion firm, will be yet another landmark building for one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.…
LATIN AMERICA – MAJOR GROWTH ZONE FOR PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT SECTOR
WHILE it is hard to generalise about a region as diverse as Latin America, the truth is that many of its consumers are more concerned about personal appearance than is typical elsewhere in the world, and that is good news for the personal care product industry.…
MEXICO CITY PONDERS TRAFFIC REFORMS TO EASE GRIDLOCK
Several years ago Mexico City (population 21 million in the metropolitan area) was at a traffic control crisis point, with a road network unable to accommodate the 6 million cars in the city (not to mention the 600 new vehicles hitting the streets daily), according to EMBARQ, the centre for sustainable transport of the World Research Institute.…
CONNECTED SOUTH KOREA HAS SOPHISTICATED TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM
As befits a country as connected online as South Korea traffic controls in its capital Seoul are organised centrally and in an integrated way. As one of the world’s largest cities, with a population exceeding 10 million, Seoul has notoriously heavy traffic.…
GLOBAL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ROUND UP
The world’s major cities are of course very diverse, and so are the traffic management systems they have in place. However, it is clear that sophisticated automation and transparent information sharing are key principles that need to be integrated into any successful system.…
SMART MONEY TARGETS OIL AND GAS TECHNOLOGY
THESE are brighter days for oil and gas technology entrepreneurs as investors ranging from business angels through venture capitalists, private equity firms and the corporate venture wings of exploration and production (E&P) majors show renewed appetite to back bright ideas with global applications.…
PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT SECTOR SEEKS GREENER PACKAGING, BUT THE WAY FORWARD IS COMPLEX
may be a big concept, but the road to making personal care product packaging greener is made of small incremental steps that can both provide green marketing benefits and reduce costs.
Recent innovations include reducing the size of containers, while maintaining the volume of product they hold, alongside innovations in using renewable resources and keeping packaging waste out of landfills.…
SUSTAINABILITY may be a big concept, but the road to making personal care product packaging greener is made of small incremental steps that can both provide green marketing benefits and reduce costs.
Recent innovations include reducing the size of containers, while maintaining the volume of product they hold, alongside innovations in using renewable resources and keeping packaging waste out of landfills.…
EU PROTECTIVE DUTIES PROVOKE IRE IN ARGENTINE BIOFUEL SECTOR
is traditionally a major supplier of biodiesel to the European Union (EU) market, but trade flows have reduced sharply in the past year and could fall further with an anti-dumping duty soon expected. An additional anti-subsidy countervailing duty may also be imposed on the Southern Cone nation.…
– DRINKS PACKAGERS LOOK TO COMMUNICATE BETTER WITH CONSUMERS
Drinks packaging design has always been about communicating with consumers – whether it is broadcasting a brand image or delivering information. And with new technologies aiding communication in many ways, interaction is a key theme with international beverage packaging designers today.…
COLOMBIA GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO SMUGGLED STEEL ALLEGATIONS
A growth in alleged steel smuggling into Colombia has sparked concern by steel workers unions, who have successfully pressured the government to take action against illicit trades. The Colombian authorities are investigating recent steel imports from China and Mexico, fearing they may have breached the country’s trading laws.…
ARCTIC COUNTRIES JOSTLE FOR POSITION OVER OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION CONTROLS
WHEN a titanium Russian flag was audaciously planted on the seabed 4,200m below the North Pole in 2007, it took the world by surprise, suggesting Russia was serious in its claims to the Arctic.
Russia is not alone. In all five Arctic coastal nations – the USA, Canada, Norway, Russia and Denmark (through Greenland) have laid claims to a slice of the Arctic.…
OVERSEAS NONWOVENS PLAYERS EYE CHINA PREMIUM MARKET
ALTHOUGH China is known for skilled workers making clothing for big brand names, the country still relies heavily on imports when it comes to high performance nonwovens used in the medical, automotive, environmental protection and other fields, according to Beijing-based China Nonwovens & Industrial Textiles Association (CNITA).…
EU REGULATORY BULLETIN – BRUSSELS PUSHES NEW BROADBAND ROLL-OUT LAW
A REGULATION aimed at ensuring the rollout of broadband networks across the European Union (EU) is achieved more cheaply and swiftly has been proposed by the European Commission. It tries to force member states to ensure new buildings are broadband ready, while telling incumbent telcos to give access to their physical networks to broadband service providers.…
COLOMBIA’S AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY BRACES FOR ARRIVAL OF TARIFF-FREE KOREAN VEHICLES
COLOMBIA industry associations and politicians have warned the country’s automotive industry is at risk following the signing of a free trade agreement with South Korea in February.
The free trade agreement, which is expected to come into force at the end of this year, will eventually allow South Korea-made vehicles to enter the South American country free of the current 35% tariff.…
AML WORK ONLY GETTING STARTED ON SEIZING PROCEEDS OF TRAFFICKING OF HUMAN BEINGS
PROFITS from human trafficking are estimated at USD32 billion-a-year and growing, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), with the trade one of the fastest growing international crimes, now second to the drugs trade and ahead of arms trafficking. But despite its emotive nature as a crime, only recently has the money laundering angle to human trafficking been taken more seriously, and there is still a way to go.…
LATIN AMERICA’S BIGGEST MARKETS SEE SLOW BUT STEADY COATINGS SALES GROWTH
WHILE Latin America has not seen the growth witnesses by emerging markets in Asia, their paint and coatings sectors are still strengthening, and can build on a higher historic levels of prosperity than most Asian countries.
And the industry is more robust than many.…
VENEZUELA'S STRUGGLING STEEL SECTOR SEES HOPE POST-CHAVEZ
Venezuela’s steel industry and investors are hoping the country’s Interim President Nicolás Maduro will break with the policies of his late predecessor Hugo Chávez, which have severely buffeted a once largely private and highly profitable sector.
“The disaster of the industry is a combination of policy and mismanagement,” explained analyst Robert Bottome, director of the Caracas-based VenEconomy Publications Group.…
MEXICO’S NORSON WELCOMES INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT FOR EXPANSION PLAN
MEXICAN pork processor Norson Holding has welcomed an investment of USD40 million from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank, which will help it expand production, while reducing its environmental footprint.
A note from Norson, a joint venture between Smithfield Foods, the world’s largest pork producer, and local investors, said the company was “proud to have been selected by an institution as prestigious worldwide as the IFC”.…
OECD RECOMMENDS GLOBAL HARMONISATION OF CLINICAL TRIALS RULES
THE ORGANISATION for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) has recommended that its rich country members harmonise their clinical trials rules, to promote international collaboration and help streamline regulations. It has issued principles for trial rules it wants adopted by its 34 member governments, which include many European Union countries, the USA, Canada, Australia and Mexico.…
BEWARE OF YOUR ICT SUPPLY CHAIN AND WEBSITE VULNERABILITIES, EU CYBER SECURITY CHIEF WARNS COMPANIES
EUROPE’S IT security watchdog has told Commercial Crime International companies should choose carefully their ICT system suppliers and integrate HTML5 elements on their websites to counter current cyber threats. And they should maintain basic cyber-security protocols. Carmen Paun reports, from Brussels.…
CHINA CITES COMPLIANCE WITH WTO RAW MATERIALS RULING
China told members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) today that it has fully complied with a WTO dispute ruling striking down Chinese export restrictions on various non-ferrous metal and inputs while officials from the United States (US), the European Union (EU) and Mexico said they were not completely satisfied with Beijing’s efforts.…
NEW MAJOR BIRD FLU OUTBREAK IN MEXICO
ANOTHER bird flu outbreak has been reported in Mexico, this time in Jalisco state, west of Mexico City. This follows another set of cases in Aguascalientes, in central Mexico. In the latest case, the Office International des Épizooties (OIE), the world animal health organisation, said that there were two poultry farms affected, with 18,000 deaths.…
U.S. GOVERNMENT WEIGHING ACTION ON OLIVE OIL TRADE
Both producers and importers of olive oil in the United States will be following their government’s actions closely in the coming months as decisions on proposed legislative changes could greatly impact the industry.
The sharply divided US Congress has failed to pass a new, multi-year farm bill to replace the 2008 law that expired this year.…
MOSSI & GHISOLFI LAUNCH GROUNDBREAKING SECOND GENERATION BIOETHANOL PLANT IN NORTHERN ITALY
Mossi & Ghisolfi, an Italian petrochemical multinational with headquarters in the northern city of Tortona, has commenced operations at a second generation bio-ethanol demonstration plant that uses rice straw and the common giant cane ‘Arundo Donax’ as a feedstock.
The plant is located in Crescentino, about 120 km southwest of Milan in Italy’s Piedmont region.…
LAW ENFORCEMENT TRIES TO STAY AHEAD OF CASH COUNTERFEITERS
COUNTERFEIT cash can be a most useful tool for money launderers. When made properly, high value notes can be moved around the world and spent without recourse to banks, credit card operators and other financial institutions. And with the increasing sophistication digital counterfeiting technology, this criminal industry is today a truly global enterprise: high quality banknotes can be faked almost anywhere in the world.…
EUROPEAN AND JAPANESE KNITWEAR INDUSTRY GEARING UP FOR THE EU-JAPAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
EUROPEAN Union (EU) Japanese knitwear manufacturers are assessing the opportunities offered by the planned EU-Japan free trade agreement (FTA), with negotiations about to begin, having been authorised by the European Union (EU) member states before Christmas.
“We will try to develop good contacts with the Japanese industry to try to come up with solutions during the negotiations that could be beneficial for both whenever possible”, said Luisa Santos, head of international trade at the European apparel and textile confederation (Euratex).…
BANGLADESH’S SEEKS TO DIVERSIFY KNITWEAR EXPORT MARKETS
DECLINING demand from the USA and European Union (EU) for Bangladesh knitwear has not dampened the world’s second largest clothing exporter from aiming high. Rather, Bangladesh is planning to more than double its current knitwear exports, to USD20 billion by 2020, seeking out new markets.…
US PROPOSES FLEXIBILITY TO TPP TRADE PACT
THE UNITED States government has unveiled details of proposed flexibilities it wants to introduce into the planned Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement which will allow importers to buy scarce clothing, textiles and yarns from outside the bloc.
Speaking at a New York conference yesterday (Wed, Jan 9), Kim Glas, deputy assistant secretary for textiles and apparels of the US Department of Commerce stressed proposals that may appease concerns of US garment and clothing importers concerned about restrictive ‘yarn forward’ rules in the draft TPP.…
REVIEW OF 2012 JUST-STYLE MANAGEMENT BRIEFING: RETAIL WINNERS AND LOSERS IN 2012
BY MJ DESCHAMPS
WINNERS
Fast Retailing
Japanese retail giant Fast Retailing underwent major expansion this year, opening the world’s largest Uniqlo store in Tokyo’s upscale Ginza shopping district, boasting 12 floors and a total retail space of 4,959 square metres. In May, Fast Retailing announced plans to set up a subsidiary company in China to oversee its ‘aggressive’ expansion plans in the country, just a month after it said it planned to open 62 stores in China during its current financial year – taking its store count there to 142, by the end of August.…
MEXICO DELAYS ON WTO PANEL TO CHALLENGE CHINESE TEXTILE SUBSIDIES
BY KEITH NUTHALL
MEXICO has delayed a move to challenge at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) what it claims are illegal Chinese subsidies for textile and clothing producers. Mexico announced on November 22 that two days of talks between Mexican and Chinese officials in Geneva had failed to resolve differences between the two countries, opening the way for Mexico to request a WTO dispute panel to rule on its claims.…
LOW TEMPERATURE CURING IS FOCUS OF INTERNATIONAL POWDER COATINGS SECTOR
BY ALAN OSBORN
COATINGS companies worldwide are developing lower temperature curing systems for powder coatings, enabling them to be applied to wood and/or plastics. Also, new acrylic resins to avoid powder coating contamination problems are being developed, Polymers Paint Colour Journal has been told.…
THE EU SET TO DEFEND ITS CAR MANUFACTURERS FROM ARGENTINA'S IMPORT RESTRICTIONS
BY JONATHAN GILBERT, IN BUENOS AIRES; AND CARMEN PAUN, IN BRUSSELS
The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) dispute settlement body discussed today in Geneva a complaint lodged by the European Union (EU) against Argentine import restrictions which is harming EU auto and auto-part exports.…
COUNTERFEIT COSMETICS SALES IN LATIN AMERICA SURGE AS ECONOMIES GROW
Latin America’s robust economy and fascination with beauty has made it a very lucrative region for cosmetics and perfume companies. However corruption, weak border control and smuggling networks are helping to make the piracy of cosmetics and perfumes into a pervasive problem, causing major loss of revenue to both governments and companies alike.…
RANDOM HOUSE DEALS TEE UP SALES SURGE IN SPAIN & LATIN AMERICA
BY ROBERT STOKES, IN MALAGA
RANDOM House is bullish about selling more English and Spanish language titles in Spain and Latin America as a result of its planned merger with Penguin Books and outright purchase of Spain’s Random House Mondadori (RHM).…
US TEXTILE AND CLOTHING INDUSTRY CALLS ON RE-ELECTED OBAMA TO PROTECT AGAINST VIETNAM IMPORTS
BY ALAN OSBORN
Significant questions about the re-elected US Administration’s readiness to stand up for American textile interests in the upcoming negotiations for expanding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal are looming in the wake of President Barack Obama’s re-election. Important decisions will be needed soon about the terms for including Vietnam in the TPP and its associated yarn forward rule of origin.…
RANDOM HOUSE DEALS TEE UP SALES SURGE IN SPAIN & LATIN AMERICA
BY ROBERT STOKES, IN MALAGA
RANDOM House is bullish about selling more English and Spanish language titles in Spain and Latin America as a result of its planned merger with Penguin Books and outright purchase of Spain’s Random House Mondadori (RHM).…
EU ROUND UP - BRUSSELS DROPS IDEA OF SPECIAL NANOTECHNOLOGY LAW
BY KEITH NUTHALL
PLASTICS companies using nanoparticles in the European Union (EU) will not have to contend with a special nanotechnology environmental health law after the European Commission opposed creating such legislation. This follows a long review, where some environmentalists have pushed the idea, citing the unusual behaviour of nanoparticles, notably how they migrate within consumers’ bodies.…
REGULATORY ROUND UP - EU SUGAR QUOTAS COULD STAY AS CAP REFORM DEBATE HOTS UP
BY KEITH NUTHALL
PRESSURE is growing on European Union (EU) ministers to give the EU’s sugar production quota system a stay of execution. MEPs on the European Parliament’s agriculture committee have called for the retention of EU sugar quotas for beet farmers until 2020, rather than follow existing plans to phase them out in 2015.…
FACING WTO DISPUTES, MORE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS TURNING TO EMERGING MARKETS
BY WANG FANGQING IN SHANGHAI
China’s clothing and textile industry – already undermined by rising costs and competitors snapping at its heels – is especially vulnerable to fallout from a World Trade Organisation dispute (WTO) brought last week by Mexico.
It claims that Chinese government subsidies and tax-breaks for its textile and clothing sector break WTO agreements – and if a disputes settlement panel, Beijing will be under pressure to end these.…
EU MINISTERS APPROVE REFORMS TO LOW DUTY SYSTEM
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) Council of Ministers has today approved a shake-up of its special low duty system for poor exporting countries, which is expected to change tariffs paid on a wide range of industrial minerals paid on their entry into the EU.…
EU MINISTERS APPROVE REFORMS TO LOW DUTY SYSTEM
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) Council of Ministers has today approved a shake-up of its special low duty system for poor exporting countries, which is expected to change tariffs paid on a wide range of meat paid on their entry into the EU.…
EU MINISTERS APPROVE REFORMS TO LOW DUTY SYSTEM
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) Council of Ministers has today approved a shake-up of its special low duty system for poor exporting countries, which is expected to change tariffs paid on a wide range of metals paid on their entry into the EU.…
EU ROUND UP - BRUSSELS DROPS IDEA OF SPECIAL NANOTECHNOLOGY LAW
BY KEITH NUTHALL
PAINT and coatings companies using nanoparticles in the European Union (EU) will not have to contend with a special nanotechnology environmental health law after the European Commission opposed creating such legislation. This follows a long review, where some environmentalists have pushed the idea, citing the unusual behaviour of nanoparticles, notably how they migrate within consumers’ bodies.…
EU MINISTERS APPROVE REFORMS TO LOW DUTY SYSTEM
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) Council of Ministers has today approved a shake-up of its special low duty system for poor exporting countries, which is expected to change tariffs paid on steel and iron and relate ore paid on its entry into the EU.…
EMA BOSS RASI SAYS AGENCY WILL ACT EASE CURRENT PHARMACEUTICAL SUPPLY SHORTAGES
BY ALAN OSBORN, IN LONDON
Professor Guido Rasi, executive director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), has told Manufacturing Chemist of his concerns about the availability of medicines in the European Union (EU).
Speaking in his office at EMA headquarters in London’s Canary Wharf, Professor Rasi said EMA wanted "to see what role we can play and what counsel we can give in respect of the problem of the (drug) shortages."…
MEXICO LAUNCHES WTO ASSULT AGAINST CHINA TEXTILE AND CLOTHING POLICY
BY KEITH NUTHALL AND LEAH GERMAIN
THE MEXICAN government has launched an audacious attack at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on Chinese industrial policy regarding the textile and clothing sector – claiming almost all Beijing’s support for the industry is illegal.…
US GOVERNMENT SHOULD BACK MEXICAN CASE AGAINST CHINA CLOTHING SUBSIDIES SAY AMERICAN TEXTILE MANUFACTURERS
BY LEAH GERMAIN AND CARMEN PAUN, IN BRUSSELS
USA textile industry experts are urging the American government to step up and support the recent complaint filed by Mexico at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on Chinese industrial policy regarding the textile and clothing sector.…
MEXICO CASE AGAINST CHINA COULD BE 'MOTHER OF ALL DISPUTES' ON STATE SUBSIDIES
BY DANIEL PRUZIN, IN GENEVA
MEXICO’S World Trade Organisation (WTO) challenge to Chinese subsidies for textile and clothing producers could be the most serious challenge yet to Beijing’s activist industrial policies, according to trade diplomats and legal experts in Geneva. The breadth of the Chinese measures being challenged makes it potentially the "mother of all dispute cases," commented one trade official to just-style.…
LATIN AMERICA
BY MJ DESCHAMPS, IN CALGARY, AND PACIFICA GODDARD
But while the USA offers a degree of complexity within its states, drinks companies face much sterner logistics challenges in Latin America, Marcelo Nascimento, spokesman for leading New Zealand-owned but international system supplier of carton packaging and filling machines for beverages, SIG Combibloc, which has been focusing on Brazil.…
EXPORTS AND EBOOKS LIGHTEN THE GLOOM IN SPAIN
BY ROBERT STOKES, IN MALAGA
12 SEPTEMBER 2012
SPAIN’s ailing book industry has seen things go from bad to worse throughout 2012 as the country moved centre stage in the Eurozone crisis, government austerity measures hit hard, and unemployment hovered around 25%.…
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDIES?
BY DAVID HAYHURST, IN PARIS
THREE years ago, the Group of Twenty (G20) finance ministers and central bank governors stated the organisation’s intention was to "rationalise and phase out over the medium term inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption".…
MEASURING UP? BHUTAN'S PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
BY TENZING LAMSANG IN THIMPHU
BHUTAN is a small Himalayan nation striving to strengthen its financial infrastructure and transparency while pursuing happiness as an economic policy goal for some 710,000 inhabitants living in a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.
For a perspective on progress, Accountancy Futures talked to Jigmi Rinzin, a hugely influential Bhutanese and Asia accountancy voice as: a member of the Bhutanese parliament serving on several economic committees including the Public Accounts Committee (PAC); former chief auditor at Bhutan’s Royal Audit Authority (RAA); and secretary general of the Asia Regional Association of Public Accounts Committees (ARAPAC).…
INTERNATIONAL REGLATORY ROUND UP - NESTLÉ BOSS HAILS VALUE OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE CEO of Nestlé has praised the role of international standards in managing his multi-national company, giving it a health-based legal framework within which its specialists can creatively develop new confectionery and other food products.
Speaking within an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) briefing, Paul Bulcke said: “Tastes may differ, but health requirements and minimum standards are the same the world over.…
CASPIAN DECOMMISSIONING POSES LEGAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES
BY MARK ROWE
THE CASPIAN Sea oil and gas industry is among the most promising worldwide, so it can seem strange at face value to take in the spectacle of rigs going down, as well as up, sometimes cheek by jowl.…
NEW OUTSOURCING PLAYERS CHALLENGE EXPORT GIANTS
BY POORNA RODRIGO AND MUNZA MUSTAQ, IN COLOMBO
Of course the BRICs countries are far from being the only emerging market suppliers for the global apparel sector – and a knot of competitors such as Bangladesh and Vietnam have long been vying for business.…
IATA BOSS WANTS NEW MEXICAN GOVERNMENT TO BACK DELAYED NEW MEXICO CITY AIRPORT
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
THE INTERNATIONAL Air Transport Authority’s (IATA) Americas airports chief has called on Mexico’s new incoming government to make progress on the long delayed proposals to build a new international airport for Mexico City, the capital.
Indeed, Mexico City International Airport (AICM) is no longer able to accommodate the growing demands of Mexican tourism and trade, and the capital city is in desperate need of a second airport.…
SLUGGISH ECONOMY DRIVES SPANISH CONSUMERS FROM PREMIUM TO PRIVATE LABEL SKINCARE
BY ROBERT STOKES IN MÁLAGA
THIS year I have abandoned my premium brand sun screen in favour of a Deliplus private label product sold by the Spanish supermarket group Mercadona for around EUR 5.00, saving around EUR 12.00 into the bargain.…
EU ROUND UP - EFSA APPROVES AS SAFE FOR FOOD PLASTICS 10 PET RECYCLING SYSTEMS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has declared safe the use of recycled plastics in food contact technology where they are sourced from 10 recycling processes, the first time it has released such a formal opinion. These processes include four based on VACUREMA Prime technology – LuxPET, Jayplas, PolyQuest and CIER; five based on Starlinger IV+ technology – namely the Preformia, STF, MPTS, PET to PET and Eco Plastic systems; and the recycling process PETUK SSP.…
BOLIVIA SEEKS TO GROW CLOTHING EXPORTS
BY JONATHAN DYSON, IN LA PAZ
Bolivia’s clothing industry is diversifying its exports as it looks to combat the challenges faced by the influx of cheaper products from China.
One of Bolivia’s leading clothing companies Aemprotex (the Bolivian Association of Textile Producers Entrepreneurs) has announced that it is expanding its production to boost exports to Venezuela.…
EU-JAPAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT COULD END JAPAN BSE BAN
BY CARMEN PAUN AND WANG FANGQING
A PLANNED free trade agreement (FTA) between the European Union (EU) and Japan could end the Japanese BSE-linked ban on EU beef and veal imports, say industry representatives.
The European Commission has asked the EU’s 27 member states for a mandate to start negotiations with Japan by the end of the year, and these will cover non-tariff issues such as sanitary and phytosanitary rules as well as duties.…
MALDIVES AG BUILDS AUDIT SYSTEM IN COUNTRY WITH WEAK ACCOUNTING CONTROLS
BY POORNA RODRIGO
HAVING being groomed by his country’s auditor general’s office as a trainee accountant over a decade ago, Niyaz Ibrahim says he feel proud to head this institution today as the Maldives auditor general.
Ibrahim assumed the top post in May 2011.…
ARGENTINA'S PROTECTIONIST MEASURES HURT AUTO EXPORTS AND IMPORTS
BY JONATHAN GILBERT, IN BUENOS AIRES
ARGENTINA’S protectionist economic policy and controls on imports are causing difficulties for car manufacturers across South America. Auto production is falling in the country – to a certain extent, because parts are being held up at customs – and overseas producers have taken action by cancelling exports.…
BRAZIL'S GROWING MIDDLE CLASSES OFFER MAJOR BOUNTY FOR NONWOVENS PRODUCERS
BY SHEENA ROSSITER, IN SÃO PAULO
WITH Europe and north America’s economies continuing to perform poorly, the importance of large emerging markets as growth areas for the international nonwovens sector is growing, especially as their middle-classes expand. Brazil is a case in point, middle class demand for nonwoven consumer products is helping attract the foreign direct investment required to develop new plants and distribution networks.…
PERU'S APPETITE FOR COSMETICS GROWS ALONG WITH ITS GDP - AND INTERNATIONAL BEAUTY BRANDS ARE CASHING IN
BY JONATHAN DYSON, IN LIMA
A GROWING demand for personal care products in Peru, paired with the country’s rising GDP (6.9% in 2011, and forecast to grow another 5.5% in 2012), is creating significant new opportunities for both international and domestic cosmetics brands, who are reaping the benefits of Peru’s strong economic growth.…
OIL AND GAS COATINGS KEEP UP WITH GROWING ENERGY DEMANDS AND HARSHER EXPLORATION CONDITIONS
BY MJ DESCHAMPS
AS global demand continues to grow for oil and gas, and energy prices increase – with companies drilling deeper; sending oil rigs out further out to sea; and exploring new regions with extreme climates – industry coatings are undergoing much development and innovation.…
LACK OF FUNDING HINDERS US MONEY SMUGGLNG DETECTION RESEARCH
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
DESPITE the US government’s great need for new tactics to combat cartel-related money laundering activities, recent budget cuts are limiting the potential development of highly useful tools in this fight – including a bulk currency detector able to sense large quantities of money hidden in speeding vehicles.…
MEXICO - FACT BOX
BY EDWARD WILSON, IN CANCUN
*There are around 5 million businesses in Mexico, with 133 firms listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange
*Medium-sized companies account for 52% of Mexico’s GDP
*Audit is a business requirement in Mexico for medium-sized and larger companies
*The Instituto Mexicano de Contadores Públicos (IMCP) has around 20,000 public accounting partners operating across Mexico.…
EUROPE'S EMISSION TRADING SCHEME HITS CHOPPY WATERS - BUT OTHER NATIONAL SCHEMES SHOW MORE PROMISE
BY MARK ROWE
WHEN the European Union (EU) set up the world’s first carbon trading market in 2001, the Emissions Trading System (ETS), advocates heralded a new dawn: carbon pollution could be brought under control in a way that benefited the environment while not damaging industrial interests.…
SPAIN VIEWS LONG TERM PRIZE IN LATIN AMERICA
BY ROBERT STOKES, IN MÁLAGA
JUST like El Dorado, the never-was city of gold, Latin America’s 390 million Spanish speakers, are a siren call to Spanish publishers, whose domestic market numbers just 46 million souls. There is even a side bet on 190 million Portuguese speaking Brazilians
Some publishers, lured by these big numbers, have tried and failed in the past, foundering on the reefs of censorship, economic and currency volatility, and the local business culture, though taking forever to get paid – if at all – should not have come as a shock to Spanish firms.…
EU ROUND UP - EU CONSIDERS OFFSHORE LIABILITY ACCIDENT REGIME
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission is launching an inquiry into establishing a European civil liability regime for offshore oil and gas companies involved in major accidents. They could then fund repairs and compensation for damage they cause without relying on local governments.…
EU ASKS FOR JUSTIFICATION IN SBV-RELATED BAN
BY CARMEN PAUN, IN BRUSSELS
THE EUROPEAN Commission has demanded that Mexico and Brazil provide a scientific explanation for a new ban on reproductive livestock material imports from the EU. The two countries have banned imports of genetic material from the EU over concerns related to the Schmallenberg Virus, which has been detected in livestock in Britain, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Spain.…
MEXICO COMPANY CLAIMS USA BROKE NAFTA RULES WITH STEEL PRODUCT DUTY
BY LEAH GERMAIN
MEXICAN steel company, Maquilacero S.A. de C.V., has accused the US Department of Commerce of breaking North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) by imposing unfair antidumping duties on certain metal products exported to the USA. The company has filed a complaint with the US section of the NAFTA Secretariat, which will establish a panel review to adjudicate the case.…
BRUSSELS CONSIDERS CIVIL LIABILITY REGIME FOR MAJOR OFFSHORE GAS ACCIDENTS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission is launching an inquiry into establishing a European civil liability regime for offshore gas and oil companies involved in major accidents. The idea is that they are able to fund repairs and compensation for damage they cause without relying on local governments.…
EUROPE'S EMISSION TRADING SCHEME HITS CHOPPY WATERS - BUT OTHER NATIONAL SCHEMES SHOW MORE PROMISE
BY MARK ROWE
WHEN the European Union (EU) set up the world’s first carbon trading market in 2001, the Emissions Trading System (ETS), advocates heralded a new dawn: carbon pollution could be brought under control in a way that benefited the environment while not damaging industrial interests.…
COMPANIES WORKING IN MEXICO FACE DIVERSE COMMERCIAL CRIME CHALLENGES
BY EDWARD WILSON, IN CANCUN
AMIDST an increasingly complex war on drug trafficking, large overseas businesses in Mexico are at risk not only from the escalating violence but also from a growing range of commercial crimes. Employees who continue to suffer from the recent economic downturn also pose a major threat to employers.…
MEXICO ACCOUNTANTS PROSPER FROM GROWING ECONOMY AND IFRS, BUT MUST HEED SECURITY DANGERS
BY EDWARD WILSON, IN CANCUN
MEXICO is in many ways at a crossroads. With its proximity to the US, an increasingly broad range of industrial and services sectors, a relatively cheap labour force, and numerous preferential trade deals, particularly the North American Free-Trade Agreement (NAFTA), it is brimming with economic potential.…
MEXICO ACCOUNTING ORGANISATIONS
BY EDWARD WILSON, IN CANCUN
National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV) – www.cnbv.gob.mx
Mexican Institute of Public Accountants (IMCP) – www.imcp.org.mx
Mexican Board for the Research and Development of Financial Reporting Standards (CINIF)
ENDS…
MEXICO CLAWING BACK ITS ROLE AS AMERICA'S KEY CLOTHING SUPPLIER
BY JONATHAN DYSON, IN CANCÚN
SIGNS are emerging that Mexico’s textile and apparel industry is reclaiming a growing proportion of the US market as it benefits from an increasing focus on higher-value products and greater diversification. Mexico’s share of the US market, which accounts for around 55% of its textile exports and 95% of its apparel exports, dropped sharply following China’s entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2001 and its subsequent domination of the global textile and apparel market.…
TEQUILA CHIEF SAYS EMERGING MARKETS ARE KEY TARGET
BY JONATHAN DYSON, IN CANCUN
Eduardo Orendain, president of Mexico’s National Chamber of the Tequila Industry (CNIT), has told just-drinks how his sector is increasingly focused on growing non-USA exports. American consumers drink 80% of Mexico’s tequila exports, with US sales lifting 5.5% last year to 125 million litres, but Orendain said: "We realise there is a growing need to diversify our export markets," adding that there is a particular focus on emerging markets.…
QUALITY CONCERNS SURROUND MEXICO'S GROWING PRIVATE TERTIARY EDUCATION SECTOR
BY JONATHAN P DYSON, IN CANCÚN
A rapidly growing number of students in Mexico are attending private universities, but there are increasing concerns about the quality of many of the new institutions. While the majority of Mexican students still attend public universities, with around 2 million students – 70% of enrollment – restrictions on places at public universities have opened up significant opportunities for private institutions.…
ENERGY EXPERT PRAISES BRACERY OF MEXICO NUCLEAR EXPANSION STRATEGY
BY JONATHAN DYSON, IN CANCUN
THE MEXICAN government faces an increasingly pressing need to convince the country’s parliament (Congress) and the Mexican public of the safety of nuclear power following the recent unveiling of its new national energy strategy, according to one of the country’s leading energy experts.…
WASHINGTON APPEALS AGAINST WTO RULING ON COUNTRY-OF-ORIGIN LABELLING
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE US government is appealing against a World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling that its country-of-origin rules for various foodstuffs are so tough, they break global trade agreements. Canada and Mexico had successfully brought dispute proceedings against the US over America’s COOL (country-of-origin labelling) rules.…
7-ELEVEN DENIES RUSSIA EXPANSION
BY MJ DESCHAMPS
DESPITE recent rumours in Russian media that 7-Eleven, the US-based international chain of convenience stores, would be expanding into Russia, the company has denied the claims.
"There is no basis of foundation about 7-Eleven developing in Russia," a spokesperson for the company told just-food from its Texas, USA, headquarters.…
US NEEDS RAW MATERIALS STRATEGY: INDUSTRY EXPERTS
BY LEAH GERMAIN
MINERAL market specialists are calling for the United States government to step up investment and support for the country’s rare earth mining industry or else the country will lose out on developing important green technologies to competing countries like China.…
WASHINGTON APPEALS AGAINST WTO RULING ON MEXICAN TUNA IMPORTS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE UNITED States has appealed against a World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling that claimed American labelling rules for dolphin-friendly tuna were so tough, they broke global commerce rules. Washington opposes a September 2011 WTO decision in a long-running dispute that would allow importers, notably Mexico, to label tuna as ‘dolphin-friendly’ when fishermen corral dolphins (who eat tuna) to help them target these valuable fish.…
SANCTIONS TAKE THEIR TOLL ON SYRIA'S OIL SECTOR
BY PAUL COCHRANE, IN BEIRUT
THE SYRIAN energy sector is currently reeling from the sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU) and the United States in the last quarter of 2011 in response to Damascus’ severe crackdown on protests that began in March of last year.…
DUTCH MINISTRY URGES EU EFFORTS TO TACKLE NEW LIVESTOCK VIRUS
BY MJ DESCHAMPS
THE DUTCH government is pressing for a coordinated European Union (EU) response to fighting the Schmallenberg virus, a damaging disease spreading rapidly amongst livestock across Europe. Probably transmitted by insects, the virus is affecting goats, sheep and cattle, causing abortions, deformities, severe diarrhoea, fever and drops in milk production.…
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS AIM TO FACILITATE TEXTILE RECYCLING IN THE APPAREL INDUSTRY
BY MJ DESCHAMPS
REUSING and reprocessing clothing, fibres and scraps is an effective way to create sustainability in the apparel industry – however, textile recycling is currently facing barriers associated with cost, time, and technology. But, with sustainability gaining increasing importance in every industry, many services are being offered by both apparel manufacturers and other clothing and sector organisations to help improve recycling outputs.…
CHINA LOSES APPEAL AT WTO OVER RAW MATERIALS EXPORT DUTIES
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE APPELLATE body of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has today (Monday) dismissed the bulk of China’s appeals against a WTO disputes panel ruling branding illegal its export duties and quotas on fluorspar, manganese, and silicon carbide. The Chinese government will now have to remove these charges and restrictions, which the United States, Mexico, and the European Union (EU) were claiming had unfairly restricted the flow of these key non-ferrous metals onto world markets.…
CHINA LOSES APPEAL AT WTO OVER RAW MATERIALS EXPORT DUTIES
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE APPELLATE body of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has today (Monday) dismissed the bulk of China’s appeals against a WTO disputes panel ruling branding illegal its export duties and quotas on bauxite, magnesium, silicon metal, yellow phosphorous, and zinc.…
MEXICO, CHINA TALKS FAIL TO RESOLVE WTO SUBSIDIES DISPUTE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
Talks between Mexico and China at the World Trade Organization have failed to resolve a dispute over Mexico’s claims that China is illegally subsidising its textile and apparel producers, the Mexican government has told just-style. A spokesperson for Mexico’s ministry of economy said the two days of WTO consultations did not result in a settlement, opening the way for Mexico to request a WTO dispute panel to rule on its claims.…
EU ROUND UP - EU PUBLISHES RIG SAFETY STANDARDS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission has proposed its long-awaited package of measures designed to prevent major oil or gas rig accidents that could pollute European Union (EU) waters. They have been collated into a proposed regulation, which would have to be followed to the letter by member states, if the proposal is approved by MEPs and EU ministers.…
MINING ROBOTICS MOVES AHEAD - BUT INVESTMENT LAGS BEHIND AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY
BY MJ DESCHAMPS
IN the event of a mining accident, first responders trying to rescue trapped miners are usually thrown into dangerous – and sometimes deadly – situations. With this in mind, robotics engineers worldwide are beginning to develop both remotely controlled and autonomous machines to help eliminate some of the dangers of mining operations and rescues.…
WORLD BANK CALLS FOR REFORMS TO BOOST LATIN AMERICAN FREIGHT TRAFFIC
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE WORLD Bank has called on Latin American and Caribbean countries to reform their aviation systems and technology to boost predicted slow growth of air freight. A report predicts cargo traffic between the Latin America/Caribbean and the United States – the most important destination market – will grow 5.8% annually between 2010 and 2027.…
EMERGING BEVERAGES MARKETS DEVELOP INCREASINGLY EXPENSIVE TASTES
BY WANG FANGQING, MINI PANT ZACHARIAH, PACIFICA GODDARD and MARK ROWE
WITH average incomes in the world’s emerging markets starting to approach western levels – at least in major urban areas – drinks companies are catering to increasingly expensive and refined tastes.…
CHINA TOLD ITS EXPORT RESTRICTIONS ON MINERALS BREAK WTO RULES
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A WORLD Trade Organisation (WTO) disputes panel has ruled that Chinese export restrictions on the export of bauxite, coke, fluorspar, magnesium, manganese, silicon metal and zinc break global trade rules. Finding them to be "inconsistent" with the 1994 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the agreement by which China joined the WTO in 2001, the panel said China should "bring the existing measures at issue into conformity with its obligations…" If China ignores this, the WTO could sanction retaliatory trade measures by its key trading partners, notably the USA, European Union (EU) and Mexico, who had instigated WTO disputes proceedings against China over these restrictions.…
ISO RELEASES ACTION PLAN TO PREVENT GULF OF MEXICO-STYLE OIL SPILLS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A PLAN has been released to update or create afresh 31 International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) standards covering offshore oil and gas drilling. Its goal, said ISO "is to help the oil and gas industry prevent or mitigate disasters like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill…" The changes would cover drilling, well construction and well operations standards.…
DUBAI'S ID1 LAUNCHES NEW AIRPORT SECURITY SYSTEMS
Dubai-based software developer and information technology consultancy iD1 (SPELLING CHECKED – ‘i’ is lower case) launched two new software solutions for airport security and passenger facilitation at the Dubai Airport Show 2011 on May 31. The company said both high-tech systems "leverage latest advances in biometrics and automated gates to achieve highest levels of security, passenger convenience, and airport facilities optimisation".…
HAITI AIRPORT FOCUS OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN POST-EARTHQUAKE FUTURE
BY GARRY PIERRE-PIERRE and KEITH NUTHALL
IT is more than 18 months since the earthquake that ravaged Haiti seriously damaged Toussaint L’Ouverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, notably its air traffic control tower, rendering it unusable. The airport suffered structural damage to its terminal building walls and there were some major electrical faults.…
GREENPEACE USES FREEDOM OF INFORMTION TO FIGHT ARCTIC OIL EXPLORATION
BY KEITH NUTHALL
ENVIRONMENTAL campaigner Greenpeace has used UK Freedom of Information legislation to extract documents from the British Foreign Office to campaign against Arctic oil exploration. It revealed documents warning a Gulf of Mexico-type spill could seriously damage the Arctic because "lower temperatures and…lack of sunlight…[would] inhibit oil eating bacteria…"
ENDS…
SPANISH LUXURY DESIGN INCLUDES TRADITIONAL FLAVOURS
BY ALYSSA MCMURTRY
TO imagine fashion intrinsically and traditionally Spanish, one may imagine long, flowing flamenco dresses, shoes built for stomping, or big flowers gently placed behind tightly pulled-back hair. While this exists still in the costume world, Spanish luxury clothes designers do play on the history and culture of Spain to create apparel that is modern, sophisticated and internationally recognised.…
LATIN AMERICAN COSMETICS MARKET SURGES IN GLOBAL IMPORTANCE
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
LATIN America is proving to be one of the most intriguing and exciting markets globally for beauty and personal care products. "The Latin American cosmetic market grew 20% in 2010, so now it is a market of US dollars USD64 million – almost as big as the north American market," said Mr Jaime Concha Prada, who recently served as president of CASIC, the Chamber of the Latin American Cosmetics Industry.…
BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA COULD LOSE GSP PREFERENCES FOR COSMETICS EXPORTS TO EU
BY KEITH NUTHALL
BRAZIL and Argentina are among almost 100 countries expected to lose tariff breaks for their cosmetics exports to the European Union (EU), under a planned reform of the EU’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) system. The European Commission wants to focus import duty concessions on poorer countries and so those regarded by the World Bank as high-or-upper middle income states would no longer qualify from January 2014.…
US BIOMETRICS POLICIES TO ENHANCE SECURITY, SPEED UP TRAVEL
BY KARRYN MILLER
WITH the heightened threat of terrorism post-9/11, America has undertaken a number of measures to tighten its current airport security operations. However, these increasingly strict measures have often come at the expense of passengers’ time and patience, with lengthy queues and – what some believe to be – invasion of privacy turning people off air travel.…
ARGENTINA COULD LOSE GSP PREFERENCES FOR FOOD EXPORTS TO EU
BY KEITH NUTHALL
ARGENTINA, Uruguay and Iran are among almost 100 countries expected to lose tariff breaks for their food exports to the European Union (EU), under a planned reform of the EU’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) system, which lowers EU import duties for emerging market and developing countries for more 6,200 tariff lines, including many food products.…
BRAZIL COULD LOSE GSP PREFERENCES FOR KNIWEAR EXPORTS TO EU
BY KEITH NUTHALL
BRAZIL and Argentina are among almost 100 countries expected to lose tariff breaks for their knitwear exports to the European Union (EU), under a planned reform of the EU’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) system.
The European Commission announced yesterday (May 10) it wanted to focus import duty concessions on poorer countries and so henceforth those regarded by the World Bank as high or upper middle income states would no longer qualify from January 2014.…
BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA TO LOSE TARIFF BREAKS IN EU GSP REFORM
BY KEITH NUTHALL
Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Iran are among almost 100 countries expected to lose tariff breaks for their plastics exports to the European Union (EU), under a planned reform of the EU’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) system.
The European Commission announced yesterday (May 10) it wanted to focus import duty concessions on poorer countries and so henceforth those regarded by the World Bank as high or upper middle income states would no longer qualify from January 2014.…
BRAZIL COULD LOSE GSP PREFERENCES FOR CLOTHING EXPORTS TO EU
BY KEITH NUTHALL
BRAZIL and Argentina are among almost 100 countries expected to lose tariff breaks for their textile and clothing exports to the European Union (EU), under a planned reform of the EU’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) system.
The European Commission announced yesterday (May 10) it wanted to focus import duty concessions on poorer countries and so henceforth those regarded by the World Bank as high or upper middle income states would no longer qualify from January 2014.…
INTERNATIONAL CONFECTIONERY NEWS ROUND-UP - EU FIGHTS SUGAR SHORTAGES
BY KEITH NUTHALL
HIGH sugar prices and tight supplies are a constant worry for confectionery manufacturers this year, and the European Union (EU) has been trying to keep these problems under control. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has estimated that global prices rose 81.4% from last July (2010) to this January (2011) and the EU has taken action.…
NORWAY-MEXICO ANTI-FLARING SCHEME GETS UN APPROVAL
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A JOINT initiative on reducing oilfield gas flaring, involving Mexico’s Pemex and Norway’s Statoil, has become the first Mexican project of its type to be registered under the UN’s clean development mechanism. The project will pipe currently-flared gas from the Tres Hermanos field to a processing and treatment plant then distribute it to local markets.…
BRICM MARKETS OFFER RETAIL GROWTH TO GLOBAL FASHION SECTOR
BY WANG FANGQING, RAGHAVENDRA VERMA, MARK ROWE and PACIFICA GODDARD
THE BRICM countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and Mexico) have long been regarded as sources of cheap quality fabrics and clothes, but as they grow wealthier they are increasingly being regarded as vital international export markets.…
EU SIGNS OFF ON BANANA TRADE DEAL
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) Council of Ministers has drawn a curtain over the longest running trade dispute in the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) history – approving December 2009 deals on reducing EU banana import tariffs. These had been struck with the USA, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Venezuela solving complaints the EU unfairly favoured Caribbean island banana exports with quota and tariffs.…
FROM OUTER SPACE TO YOUR FACE
BY MJ DESCHAMPS
IN today’s beauty-obsessed society, sometimes no price is too high for an anti-aging product that is out of this world: something that many cosmetics companies have taken to heart. Literally.
UK cosmetics company Turn Back Time has recently followed in the footsteps of other cosmetics and beauty companies, looking to aerospace technology to create innovative, anti-aging solutions.…
CANCUN CONFERENCE DELIVERS CLIMATE CHANGE DEAL - BUT MUCH WORK LIES AHEAD
BY KEITH NUTHALL
ENERGY companies offering green solutions to developing and emerging market countries could prosper from decisions made at the latest United Nations’ (UN) climate change conference, staged in Cancún, Mexico. Delegates managed to codify informal decisions made at the 2009 Copenhagen summit as formal agreements under the UN framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC).…
ADVANCE GULF REPORT SLAMS BP
BY KEITH NUTHALL
AN ADVANCE chapter of the US National Oil Spill Commission report into the Gulf of Mexico disaster has attacked safety precautions on the Deepwater Horizon rig as insufficient. The chapter said it was "no longer acceptable to rely on…right person to be looking at the right data at the right time, and… understand its significance" while undertaking other responsibilities.…
ACTA ANTI-COUNTERFEITING DEAL COMPLETED
BY KEITH NUTHALL
COUNTRIES negotiating a plurilateral Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) fighting fake products have announced that all remaining problems have been resolved and a final text is being drafted. This will allow the European Union (EU) and its member states, Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland and the USA to ratify the treaty.…
OECD CALLS FOR EMERGING MARKET ANTI-OBESITY POLICIES
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE ORGANISATION for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) has called for emerging market governments to act against rising obesity levels, lest they rival those in rich mature food markets. The Paris-based think-tank has released analysis in the medical journal The Lancet that claims obesity levels in Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa are rising.…
BRUSSELS CLEARS UNILEVER PURCHASE OF SARA LEE HOUSEHOLD AND BODY CARE BUSINESSES
BY KEITH NUTHALL
18
THE EUROPEAN Commission has approved the takeover by Unilever of Sara Lee’s body and laundry care businesses, on condition it sells off the US company’s Sanex brand and related business in Europe. Following an inquiry as the European Union’s (EU) lead competition authority, Brussels concluded there were particular concerns regarding Unilever’s future dominance of some EU deodorant markets.…
ACTA ANTI-COUNTERFEITING TREATY OFFERS KNITWEAR SECTOR NEW WEAPON AGAINST FAKES
BY MJ DESCHAMPS, KEITH NUTHALL
THE KNITWEAR sector, especially at the higher end of the market spectrum, is a prey for organised counterfeiters. Sophisticated illicit manufacturers, especially in emerging markets, create copies of established brands, that can be high enough quality to fool, but poor enough to disappoint the consumer after a few wears.…
LOCAL SPIRITS CAN OFFER IMPORTERS A COLOURFUL ARRAY OF NICHE OPTIONS
BY PACIFICA GODDARD, KARRYN MILLER, GARRY PIERRE-PIERRE, KEITH NUTHALL
FOR niche spirits, obscure can be good – and so products made in countries not renowned for their spirits production can gather export market cache. Latin America and the Caribbean are regions where effort by buyers can pay dividends.…
PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT SECTOR TO BENEFIT FROM NEW ANTI-COUNTERFEITING TREATY
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE PERSONAL care product sector should benefit from a new Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), now largely negotiated. A draft text has been released by the United States, Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Switzerland.…
UN PUSH ON SOAP USAGE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
BY KEITH NUTHALL
9
A UNITED Nations campaign could – if successful – significantly increase worldwide demand for soap. Its Global Handwashing Day has highlighted how diarrhoeal and acute respiratory diseases kill 3.5 million children aged under five annually, and that washing their hands after using toilets and before handling food can reduce such deaths by 40% and 23% respectively.…
EU ROUND UP - BRUSSELS LAUNCHES LATEST MAJOR '2020' ENERGY STRATEGY
BY KEITH NUTHALL
TARGETED investments aimed at improving energy self-sufficiency and efficiency maybe the key result of a grand European Union (EU) ‘Energy 2020’ strategy, released this month (November 10) by the European Commission. Building on existing reforms to liberalise and green EU energy production and delivery, the policy paper proposes ensuring energy efficiency is a criteria of public procurement by member states, and also that energy efficiency certificates are created to encourage sustainable energy investment by industry.…
GLOBAL - NICHE SPIRITS HIT BY THE RECESSION, BUT THE LONG-TERM OUTLOOK IS ROSY
BY ALAN OSBORN
DEFINING a niche drink is an arbitrary matter and what may pass as niche today may well be considered mainstream tomorrow. Flavoured vodka, for instance, had a relatively specialised following in Europe until a few years ago – now it is classified as an official spirit drink under European Union (EU) regulations.…
EU ROUND UP - NEW PLAYERS EMERGE TO DELIVER CAUCASUS GAS TO EUROPE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
NEW competitors for shipping gas to the European Union (EU) from the Caucasus are emerging, while Turkmenistan has announced a major new gas find. The Turkmen government is claiming guaranteed gas supplies to Europe, by quadrupling exports over the next 20 years, after unveiling a major new gas field.…
EMERGING MARKETS PRODUCING CONSUMERS FOR NICHE SPIRITS
BY BILL CORCORAN, DINAH GARDNER, RAGHAVENDRA VERMA, KEITH NUTHALL
IF there is one good indicator that niche spirit markets are developing in emerging markets, it surely has to be sales of single malt Scotch. And by that rough and ready yardstick, such markets are well on their way.…
PRECURSORS CREATE DRUGS AND DIRTY MONEY AT THE SAME TIME
BY EMMA JACKSON
THE PROLIFERATION of international money laundering controls was inspired by the need to find dirty money from illicit drug sales. And illegal drug trafficking still generates billions of dollars around the world each year, which must be laundered.…
IFC CREATES NEW CLIMATE BUSINESS GROUP
BY KEITH NUTHALL
CLIMATE control concerns will be integrated into all investment and advisory services offered by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), of the World Bank. It has created a new ‘Climate Business Group’ to undertake this work and grow IFC climate-related investments to more than US dollars USD3 billion within three years.…
RUSSIA RECEIVES UNUSUAL PRAISE FOR OPENNESS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE RUSSIAN government received unusual praise from a Revenue Watch Institute and Transparency International assessment of public disclosures of oil, gas and other mineral management. It placed Russia third, out of 41 countries, behind Brazil and Norway. Mexico and Chile were fourth and fifth.…
AUSTRALIA BANKNOTE BRIBERY SCANDAL DAMAGES CENTRAL BANK'S REPUTATION
BY BARBARA BIERACH
WHILE the Reserve Bank of Australia has a licence to print cash, two subsidiaries wanted one too, it seems – only using international sales agents to bribe foreign public officials over banknote printing contracts. Barbara Bierach reports from Sydney.…
POLLEN RULING HITS HONEY TRADE SAY AMERICAN EXPORTERS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE AMERICAN Honey Producers Association has told just-food of its fears that a European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling about honey pollen could flood the US market with honey imports. Richard Adee, the association’s Washington legislative committee chairman, said the ruling, (which said honey made from GM-pollen would require special authorisation for sale in the European Union (EU)), could disrupt global honey markets.…
2010 REVIEW OF THE YEAR - CLOTHING AND TEXTILE SECTOR
BY KEITH NUTHALL
RETAIL – WINNERS AND LOSERS
WINNERS
H&M
The Sweden-based brand expanded across the world this year, planning to open 220 new stores, mostly in western Europe and the US. Hennes & Mauritz’ (H&M) third quarter sales of SEK26.89bn (US$4bn) showed a sharp 14% increase on the previous quarter.…
THE STRANGE AND UNUSUAL OF JUST-STYLE 2010
BY MJ DESCHAMPS
With the global textile and clothing industry this year emerging from a deep slump, it is perhaps understandable that there were going to be unexpected twists and turns in the sector during 2010. Of course, the fashion business is always colourful, and attracts characters and innovation.…
DIGITAL BUZZ SURROUNDING SPANISH PUBLISHING FOCUS OF THIS YEAR'S MADRID INTERNAITONAL BOOKFAIR
BY ROBERT STOKES
A SURGE in e-book reading in Spain coincides with exhibition space being devoted to digital publishing for the first time ever at LIBER, the International Book Fair for the Spanish speaking world, from Wednesday to Friday this week in Madrid.…
ISO DEVELOPS NATURAL GAS VEHICLE FUELLING STATION STANDARD
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE INTERNATIONAL Organisation for Standardization (ISO) is developing standards for natural gas fuelling stations to help promote vehicles using this alternative fuel. A new committee ISO/PC 252 will coordinate the work, developing two standards: on fuelling stations for compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG).…
WORLD BANK CALLS FOR BETTER MANAGEMENT OF HYDROCARBON WINDFALL IN LATIN AMERICA
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A WORLD Bank report has told Latin American countries with major hydrocarbon resources, such as Mexico and Venezuela, to diversify their economies by reinvesting windfall export earnings from emerging markets. ‘Natural Resources in Latin America and the Caribbean: Beyond Booms and Busts?’…
CHINA POWER; REPATRIATED HIGH-END PRODUCTION; ECOTEXTILES AND GM COTTON - A TASTE OF THE FUTURE FOR CLOTHING AND TEXTILES
BY EMMA JACKSON
THE TEXTILE and clothing industry maybe almost unrecognisable from its organisation today in 10 years’ time: Chinese-owned offshore production; unstoppable e-commerce, demand for eco-textiles, shifting luxury markets to Asia’s new middle class, and higher prices for everyone, are just some predictions.…
CHINA POWER; REPATRIATED HIGH-END PRODUCTION; ECOTEXTILES AND GM COTTON - A TASTE OF THE FUTURE FOR CLOTHING AND TEXTILES
BY EMMA JACKSON
THE TEXTILE and clothing industry maybe almost unrecognisable from its organisation today in 10 years’ time: Chinese-owned offshore production; unstoppable e-commerce, demand for eco-textiles, shifting luxury markets to Asia’s new middle class, and higher prices for everyone, are just some predictions.…
CHINA POWER; REPATRIATED HIGH-END PRODUCTION; ECOTEXTILES AND GM COTTON - A TASTE OF THE FUTURE FOR CLOTHING AND TEXTILES
BY EMMA JACKSON
THE TEXTILE and clothing industry maybe almost unrecognisable from its organisation today in 10 years’ time: Chinese-owned offshore production; unstoppable e-commerce, demand for eco-textiles, shifting luxury markets to Asia’s new middle class, and higher prices for everyone, are just some predictions.…
RECESSION IS OVER FOR JET FUEL MARKET
BY MARK ROWE
IS the recession’s worst over for the jet fuel aviation industry? Passenger traffic during this late spring and summer has risen sharply compared with flights year-on-year, giving hope to an industry that Giovanni Bisignani, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), described last year as "structurally sick".…
LATIN AMERICAN MALE COSMETICS MARKET IS BOOMING
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
LATIN American men like to think they are known for good looks, machismo and self-confidence. And these consumers are today turning to cosmetics to sustain and accentuate this image. The Latin American market for male grooming products and services is one of the most dynamic in the world.…
EU ROUND UP - OPEC AND EU COMBINE FORCES ON OFFSHORE INSTALLATION SAFETY
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) is to combine forces with the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in the coming year to examine offshore oil and gas safety in the light of the Gulf of Mexico spill.
At an ‘Energy Dialogue’ meeting in Brussels, senior OPEC and EU officials agreed to organise an international roundtable on minimising offshore safety risks early 2011, which could spark new regulations.…
EU ROUND UP - MAJOR CALL FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS FROM BRUSSELS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
MAJOR investment could be required by European Union (EU) gas utilities because of a new EU regulation insisting that member states have sufficient storage capacity to deal with supply crises such as the Russia and Ukraine dispute in 2008 and 2009.…
LATIN AMERICA'S BIODIVERSITY OFFERS COSMETICS COMPANIES RICH CHOICES OVER INGREDIENTS
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
THE ORGANIC cosmetics market has been booming over the last few years, generating substantial consumer interest in the US and Europe. As cosmetics companies scramble to offer the latest, most effective natural ingredients, many are turning to the biodiverse region of Latin America for inspiration.…
CANADA'S FLAVOURED TOBACCO BAN DRAWS GLOBAL CRITICISM
BY KEITH NUTHALL and ALYSHAH HASHAM
CANADA – long a difficult jurisdiction for the tobacco sector – became tougher still on July 5, when a national ban on manufacturing and selling most flavoured cigarettes, cigarillos and blunt wraps came into force.…
GLOBAL SECTION - SIZING REMAINS A HEADACHE FOR GLOBALISING CLOTHING INDUSTRY
BY KARRYN MILLER
AS trade barriers continue to diminish, clothing brands are becoming more global. However it is not as easy for the sizes of their goods to be quite as worldly. International players need to adapt their fits for different target markets but that level of adaptation varies by country.…
EU ROUND UP - EU HELPS USA IN GULF OF MEXICO OIL SPILL
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) is helping the USA deal with the massive BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Coordinated by the EU emergency response group, the Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC), the EU will send oil skimmers and oil spill experts.…
HIGH NOON FOR THE FUTURE OF ASBESTOS IN A TOWN CALLED ASBESTOS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE TOWN of Asbestos in French-speaking Québec, Canada – named after the mineral that underpins its economy – is waiting to see whether its provincial government will approve a Canadian dollar CAD58 million (US dollar USD56 million) loan enabling an underground mine to tap an immense deposit.…
EU AND MEXICO DEVELOP NUCLEAR ENERGY COOPERATION
BY KEITH NUTHALL and PACIFICA GODDARD
MEXICO is to benefit from European Union (EU) expertise in improving its nuclear safety management as the country considers expanding its nuclear power output. Both sides wrote nuclear safety cooperation into a joint executive plan of what they call a ‘strategic partnership’, which was approved at a summit meeting in May, staged in Comillas, Cantabria, Spain.…
AMERICA LEADS THE WORLD IN CONVENIENCE STORE GOOD PRACTICE
BY KARRYN MILLER,EMMA JACKSON and ALAN OSBORN
BY KARRYN MILLER, in Washington DC, EMMA JACKSON, in Ottawa, and ALAN OSBORN, in London
CONVENIENCE stores are a dynamic part of the food retail sector worldwide. In short, as consumers gain wealth, they lose time – making convenience retail increasingly attractive.…
EMISSIONS TRADING AND THE TRANSPORT SECTOR
BY DEIRDRE MASON
After the disappointment of the Copenhagen climate summit in December 2009, global warming campaigners have hoped UN climate change talks at Cancun, Mexico in December will thrash out a viable successor to the Kyoto agreement, which ends in 2012.…
EU AND MEXICO TO COMBINE EFFORTS ON DRAFTING LEGALLY BINDING MERCURY CONTROLS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) and Mexico have agreed to combine their efforts in drafting by 2013 legally binding controls on the use of mercury in their territories. The commitment comes in a new ‘strategic partnership’ agreed last week (May 16) at the fifth EU-Mexico summit, staged in Comillas, northern Spain.…
VODKA STILL LEADS THE WAY FOR RUSSIAN QUALITY DRINKS EXPORTS
BY JOHN PAGNI
Russia has a strong drinks sector, for spirits, beer and juices, especially. Alcoholic beverage makers are having to deal with flat sales on the domestic market and a government determined to reduce alcohol consumption, forcing quality producers to look for export sales to boost profits.…
SWINE FLU: FORGOTTEN BY MANY, BUT NOT BY AIRPORTS
BY MARK ROWE
REMEMBER swine flu? While minute-by-minute updates in the international media have evaporated, the H1N1 virus has not, and airports around the world are being advised to maintain elevated levels of vigilance and good hygiene.
In June 2009, the World Health Organisation (WHO) raised the H1N1 virus alert to ‘Phase Six’ – signifying a pandemic – where it remains at the time of writing.…
MEXICO DRINKS INDUSTRY GROWS GLOBAL REPUTATION FOR EXPORT SALES
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
According to the US department of agriculture (USDA), about 70% of the 2.5 billion litres of fruit and vegetable juices sold in Mexico in 2009 were produced domestically. Mexico exported USdollar USD266.99 million worth of juices in 2009, compared to USD308.23 million in 2008 and USD247.29 million in 2007, according the UN Comtrade database.…
BRICM DRINKS MARKETS GENERALLY PERFORM WELL IN RECESSION
BY PACIFICA GODDARD, RAGHAVENDRA VERMA, WANG FANGQING, JOHN PAGNI and KEITH NUTHALL
THE RISE of the world’s large emerging markets – Brazil, Russia, India, China and Mexico (or BRICM to give them a popular acronym) has been especially significant for the drinks industry.…
JUICES/NECTARS/FRUIT DRINKS INDUSTRY AND MARKET
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
Although in most parts of the world consumers cut back on juice and nectar consumption, and growth in this segment has been the slowest in 10 years, juices and fruit-flavoured drinks were one of Latin America’s fastest growing segments in 2009, according to Euromonitor International.…
LATIN AMERICAN DRINKS MARKET GROWS TOWARDS MATURITY
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
INTRODUCTION
LATIN America has never been a strong player in the global drinks marketplace, but maybe, as much of the region struggles towards unprecedented prosperity, this could change. Mexico has shown the way with the international profile of its beers, notably Corona, and its world-beating Tequila and Mezcal industries.…
LATIN AMERICA DRINKS INDUSTRY AND MARKET
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
INTRODUCTION
LATIN America has never been a strong player in the global drinks marketplace, but maybe, as much of the region struggles towards unprecedented prosperity, this could change. Mexico has shown the way with the international profile of its beers, notably Corona, and its world-beating Tequila and Mezcal industries.…
CANCÚN IFCCC MEETING WILL NOT PRODUCE CLIMATE DEAL, SAYS DE BOER
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE NEXT climate change summit, in Cancún, Mexico, from November 29 to December 10 will not yield an international treaty, the outgoing executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has predicted. Yvo de Boer said Cancún could "agree an operational architecture", leaving a need for "many more rounds of climate-change negotiations".…
BOTTLED WATER MARKET
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
The most important markets for bottled water have traditionally been developed economies like Western Europe and the United States. However, growth in these markets has recently flattened out, exacerbated by the global economic crisis and growing environmental concerns over the product.…
SPIRITS INDUSTRY AND MARKET
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
Despite the difficult economic climate, spirits are still selling well in Latin America, and in 2008, 3 billion litres of spirits were sold, according to Canadean. However, spirits for the most part are not a very dynamic segment, and consumption per capita has remained steady between 4.5 and 4.6 litres for the last five years, and growth was flat at 0.4% in 2009.…
BEER INDUSTRY AND MARKET
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
A decade ago, Latin America was considered to be one of the beer industry’s toughest markets, due to frequent bouts of economic uncertainty and political turmoil. But a lot has changed in the region since the year 2000, and recently instead of recoiling from this region, the biggest beer companies in the world have been fighting tooth and nail for shares of it.…
CARBONATED SOFT DRINKS INDUSTRY AND MARKET
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
The carbonated soft drink segment has suffered recently in the United States and Europe, as consumers have become more health conscious and switched to less sugary alternatives, but in Latin America carbonated beverages have continued to perform well.…
TEXTILE AND APPAREL MARKETS A MIXED BAG IN LATIN AMERICA
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
INTRODUCTION
There are signs around the world that the textile market is beginning to recover from the global economic crisis, and developing markets will be leading that recovery. Asia is, of course, at the forefront, but many countries in Latin America have also weathered the crisis and have come out in a surprisingly decent position, with their dynamic textile and apparel industries well positioned for future expansion.…
LATIN AMERICA TOBACCO SECTOR RIDES OUT THE RECESSION
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
LAST year in Latin America, British American Tobacco (BAT) and Philip Morris International (PMI), the region’s two dominant companies, battled to maintain profits through declining volumes. Overall, Latin America was profitable for both companies. For BAT, profits were mainly attributable to a strong performance in Brazil, and improved premium brand sales, however volumes sales declined throughout the region.…
FORMAL DRINKS INDUSTRY EDUCATION SYSTEMS GROWING WORLDWIDE
BY ALAN OSBORN, EMMA JACKSON, PAUL COCHRANE and JULIAN RYALL
INTRODUCTION
Professionalisation is a key trend in today’s drinks sector, particularly as export markets are growing fast in emerging markets. With brand loyalty up for grabs, it is critical for alcoholic drinks producers especially to maintain and raise quality.…
INTERNATIONAL CONFECTIONERY NEWS ROUND-UP - CIOLO? APPOINTMENT
BY KEITH NUTHALL, ANCA GURZU and DAVID HAWORTH
THE CONFECTIONERY manufacturing sector in the European Union (EU) has a new political boss in the shape of Romania’s Dacian Ciolo?, who became the EU’s latest agriculture Commissioner on February 10. Appointed amidst pledges he would be willing to use EU money to guarantee food production, he has promised to undertake a swift review of the EU’s reformed sugar regime.…
World waits until end of 2010 for practical climate change response
By Alan Osborn and Mitch Vandenborn, International News Services
FEED IN TARIFFS PROVING POPULAR WAY TO PROMOTE GREEN ENERGY
BY MARK ROWE and KEITH NUTHALL
THIS April, the UK will launch a feed-in tariff for electricity, which the government said will accelerate take-up of green energy among the general public. According to the European Commission’s energy directorate-general, the European Union (EU) already uses at least 20% more energy than is justified, which has led to twin concerns – the need to reduce consumption of fossil fuels and to encourage consumers to switch to green energy tariffs and sources.…
MEXICO-BASED TOBACCO COMPANIES STAY POSITIVE DESPITE SETBACKS
BY KARRYN MILLER
WHEN Mexico’s economy faced a sharp decline last year, few industries were spared – tobacco included. A downturn in the world economy teamed with a slew of factors made a dent in the country’s tobacco sales. But in spite of this tobacco companies have remained positive.…
WORLD WAITS UNTIL END OF 2010 FOR PRACTICAL CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE
BY ALAN OSBORN
While many had hoped December’s Copenhagen Conference would be the necessary first step in the global fight against climate change, in the wake of the signed partial accord, we are left with many more questions than answers. Now, 2010 is the new deadline for whether the world can agree a practical response to the dangers of global warming.…
EGMONT GROUP SEEKS TO RAISE PROFILE AS IT BOOSTS FIU PERFORMANCE WORLDWIDE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
IF a global poll was taken to identify the best known international organisation, the Egmont Group would be lucky to get a mention, despite it linking 116 financial intelligence units (FIU) worldwide.
It is partly to raise profile that the group last June appointed its first chair, Luis Urrutia, who heads Mexico’s FIU.…
CHINA FACES WTO DISPUTES PANEL OVER NON-FERROUS METAL EXPORT RESTRICTIONS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
CHINA has come under increased pressure to scrap export restrictions on certain key non-ferrous metals, with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) establishing a disputes panel to adjudicate complaints about these rules. With the European Union (EU) being joined by the United States and Mexico as formal parties to this dispute, the outlook could be serious for China if it loses.…
LONG-RUNNING BANANA TRADE WAR - PEACE AT LAST
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE WORLD’S longest-running trade dispute is over: a deal on European Union (EU) banana imports has been initialled today in Geneva. The EU, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Colombia, Nicaragua, Mexico and United States have struck a long-awaited agreement.…
OIL AND GAS SECTOR STILL LEFT WITH QUESTIONS OVER EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS AFTER COPENHAGEN SUMMIT
BY KEITH NUTHALL, EMMA JACKSON and ERIC LYMAN
THE COPENHAGEN climate change conference ended on December 18 with an accord where key world economies promised to make binding agreements to cut carbon emissions. But detail on exactly how much will be settled at a later date, meaning its long term effects on the oil and gas industry are unclear.…
MEXICO'S OIL INDUSTRY IN DESPERATE NEED OF LIBERALISATION
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
THE Mexican government under President Felipe Calderón has two serious problems: its fight against illicit drugs; and reducing the country’s dependence on its troubled national oil industry. Alternative energy projects are springing up throughout the country including those involving biofuels, solar energy, wind power and landfill gas-to-energy systems.…
TOBACCO TRAVELLER - COLLECTION 2009 - ARGENTINA
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
THE CIGARETTE market in Argentina remained strong in 2008: the retail volume increased 3.12% from 2007 to 42.47 billion sticks, valued at Euro 1.72 billion, a 17.6% increase from 2007, according to the Argentine ministry of the economy.…
Kidnapping and human trafficking – the seamy side of globalisation
By Leah Germain, International News Services
Globalisation has created new opportunities for the transfer of people and products across borders, and broadened the scope of many businesses around the world. But it’s not all good news of course: one of the seamier sides of growing international commerce is the abduction and trafficking of human beings.
The problem is getting worse. Just over a year since the collapse of the global market, countries around the world have reported a significant increase in cases of the exploitation of people for monetary gain. While cases of kidnapping and ransom continue to be common in African and Latin American countries, such as Nigeria and Venezuela, the majority of organized human trafficking cases are actually in Europe.…
EUROPEAN COMMISSION WARNS OF ANTI-RECESSION POLICY TRADE BARRIERS FOR AUTO SECTOR
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A DETAILED European Commission report has listed trade barriers impeding European Union (EU) automobile, parts and components sales imposed to protect export market industries from the recession. Brussels fears that while these restrictions were designed to help vulnerable businesses survive the recession, they could cause long-term damage to Europe’s auto manufacturers.…
TOBACCO TRAVELLER - COLLECTION 2009 - VENEZUELA
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
The Venezuelan cigarette market experienced an overall decline in 2008 and the first half of 2009. In 2008, 11.95 billion sticks were sold, an 8.6% drop from the 13.07 billion sticks sold in 2007, according to the United Nations Statistics Division.…
NEW DRUG PRECURSOR INITIATIVE LAUNCHED IN AMERICAS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
AN INITIATIVE boosting the ability of Latin American and Caribbean countries to prevent precursor chemicals from being diverted from legitimate uses to illegal narcotic production has been launched. The UN Office in Drugs and Crime and European Commission’s three-year PRELAC project will cover: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela.…
GLOBAL OILSEEDS BUSINESS HITS CRISIS OVER EU ZERO-TOLERANCE GM CONTAMINATION RULES
BY ALAN OSBORN
A NEW crisis over the presence of genetically modified (GM) ingredients in food and livestock feed has once more focused attention on the European Union’s (EU’s) controversial GM policies. It has especially raised the spectre of job losses, farm bankruptcies and higher consumer prices if a relaxation of the current de facto zero tolerance restriction applying to unauthorised GM products is not agreed soon.…
NAFTA COUNTRIES PLEDGE COOPERATION ON GLOBAL WARMING
BY KEITH NUTHALL
NORTH American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) countries the USA, Canada and Mexico have agreed a detailed communiqué on future cooperation in climate change. This includes working together in reducing oil and gas industry greenhouse gas emissions, (notably cutting flaring), developing "comparable" methods on greenhouse gas reporting and compatible emissions trading systems.…
MEXICO OIL INDUSTRY SHOULD DO BETTER SAYS OECD
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A DETAILED assessment of the Mexican oil and gas industry from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has recommended some major structural reforms. The OECD has called for Mexican petrol price controls to bring a "closer alignment between domestic and international gasoline prices", the abolition of other energy subsidies and the introduction of an energy excise tax.…
SCIENTISTS UNLOCK SECRETS OF COTTON PROPERTIES
BY KEITH NUTHALL
DYING companies may find commercially useful new information revealed about the molecular structure of cotton by the USA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS). It and collaborators the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, USA, and the Joseph Fourier University, Grenoble, France, has provided new information about hydrogen bonds that connect the building blocks of cellulose, the main molecule in cotton fibres and most other plant cell walls.…
MEXICO ANNOUNCES UNILATERAL CUT IN GREENHOUSE GASES
BY KEITH NUTHALL
MAJOR Latin American oil and gas producer Mexico has announced a planned unilateral reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions of 50 million tonnes annually. In a detailed plan, its government said it would specifically strive to reduce emissions from Mexico’s oil and gas industry, boost automobile energy efficiency standards and fund solar water heaters, among other initiatives.…
UN TESTS NON-CHEMICAL METHODS OF FIGHTING MALARIA
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A WIDE range of non-chemical methods of fighting malaria will be tested by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and 40 countries in Africa, the eastern Mediterranean and central Asia. These tactics include eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites; securing homes with mesh screens; growing mosquito-repellent trees; and breeding fish that eat mosquito larvae.…
MEXICAN TEXTILE INDUSTRY REELS FROM THE IMPACT OF SWINE FLU
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
THE OUTBREAK of swine flu has not been kind to Mexico’s textile industry, which has suffered extensive losses this week due to the government mandated five-day shutdown of all factories, and a significant drop in retail sales. All textile and garment production throughout the entire country was halted between May 1 and 5 during the obligatory shuttering of all non-essential businesses and operations, although some companies were able to continue to deliver previously produced items.…
SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENT IN EMERGING ECONOMY AND POORER COUNTRIES BECOMES INCREASINGLY UNEVEN
BY KEITH NUTHALL
IT has long been outmoded and inaccurate to split the world into two camps: industrialised developed economies, and largely agricultural developing countries. The growth of the 1990s and the current decade means there is a wide range of social and economic sophistication and wealth amongst the poorer of these two old-fashioned categories.…
SEVEN MACRO TRENDS IN THE TEXTILES AND APPAREL INDUSTRY 2008
BY LEE ADENDORFF
IF there was a year when long-term textile and clothing market forecasters missed by a mile, 2008 was it. Forecasts made in 2007 were dominated by looming concerns about trade restrictions, investment in technology, a potential slow-down of production and a consolidation of business investment but no one predicted what devastating effects an unexpected recession would have on the textiles and apparel sector.…
EU FAILS TO ACT ON CONTROLLING SPREAD OF SWINE FLU IN EUROPE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) has drawn back from a robust collective response to the swine flu crisis, despite the disease spreading around Europe. Meeting on Thursday, the EU Council of Ministers for health rejected a French proposal for an EU-wide travel ban to Mexico, the source of the outbreak.…
RIG DISMANTLING POSES OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY IMMENSE LEGACY DIFFICULTIES AND COSTS
BY MARK ROWE and SUZANNE KOELEGA
THE ISSUE of decommissioning rigs is an increasingly pressing one. According to consultants Wood Mackenzie up to half of the North Sea’s 600 installations – first installed nearly 40 years ago – are scheduled for decommissioning by 2021, while more than 4,000 are scheduled for removal worldwide.…
INTRODUCTION - NUCLEAR ENERGY ANSWERS ITS CRITICS
BY KEITH NUTHALL, EMMA JACKSON and ALAN OSBORN
IN the early 1990s the nuclear power industry faced a bleak outlook. High profile accidents such as in Chernobyl and Three Mile Island in, Pennsylvania, the USA, had raised public concern about the safety of the industry to all time high.…
SOUTH AMERICA OFFERS TOBACCO MAJORS LUCRATIVE MARKETS, DESPITE TIGHTENING REGULATION
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
WHILE net revenues for tobacco product sales in some key countries in South America have experienced growth in the last few years, in general the regional tobacco product market is stagnant. Producers blame increased excise rates, public health awareness, and new and more rigidly enforced regulations for the gloom.…
New Kyoto Protocol talks will be key 2009 focus
By Eric Lyman, in Poznan, Poland, for ISN Security Watch
As countries battle to come up with a plan to limit greenhouse gas emissions in 2009, attention will almost surely begin to focus on two main players that hold the fate of the international process in their hands: the US and China.
December’s United Nations negotiations on climate change in Poznan, Poland, concluded with relatively little progress. Delegates voted to activate a fund to help poor countries adapt to the changing climate, for example, but they did not approve a mechanism to put cash in the fund.…
FUEL RETAIL SECTORS CAN BE LOW PRIORITY FOR OIL-RICH CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICAN STATES
BY PACIFICA GODDARD, in Caracas; MARVIN HOKSTAM, in Paramaribo, JAMES FULLER, in Port of Spain
IT may seem like a good thing for fuel retailers to be based in country that is sitting on a bounty of fuel reserves. But that is not necessarily the case, as many Latin American and Caribbean retailers can testify.…
EFSA PROPOSES RELAXES PESTICIDE LIMIT FOR BANANAS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has proposed relaxing a tight limit on residues of the pesticide thiram on bananas, which would enable Belgium’s Taminco NV to import the fruit from Ecuador, Costa Rica,
Columbia, Panama, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Venezuela, and Brazil.…
THE BEST STYLE MODEL? INTEGRATED TEXTILE AND CLOTHING COMPANIES, OR NETWORKS OF INDEPENDENT SUPPLIERS?
BY PHILIPPA JONES, DOMINIQUE PATTON and LUCY JONES
The growth in outsourcing within the clothing and textile sector worldwide has highlighted a key issue, and that is the relative merits of running an integrated company that handles basic production and design, or relying on a string of specialist suppliers to deliver the goods, from fibre supplies, to textile manufacture, design, clothing assembly and retail.…
STORM CLOUDS LOOM FOR AMERICA'S NUCLEAR INDUSTRY AS OBAMA PRESIDENCY LOOMS
BY SARAH BROWN
WHEN US President-elect Barack Obama takes office this January 20, the transition of power may halt plans for a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada and could impede the progress of new nuclear energy development across America.…
US OIL REFINERY INDUSTRY LEARNS TO DEAL WITH HURRICANES, AND IS STAYING PUT FOR NOW
BY LUCY JONES
ALMOST 20% of the United States’ oil refining capacity was shut after Hurricane Ike slammed into the Gulf Coast in September.
The effects were felt immediately. In Texas, petrol prices spiked around
US$5 a gallon and that is assuming you could find any fuel.…
Europe:Young European scientists promise a bright future
By Alan Osborn
Three young researchers, from Poland, Slovakia and Britain, were awarded the top prizes in the EU Contest for Young Scientists in Copenhagen on September 25th against competition from national scientific prize-winners from 39 European countries plus Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, New Zealand and the USA.…
OPEN SKIES DEAL NEGOTIATED BETWEEN EU AND MEXICO
BY KEITH NUTHALL
EUROPEAN Union (EU) ministers have been asked to approve an open skies deal negotiated between the European Commission and Mexico. The agreement would offer equally liberal access to EU and Mexican air carriers flying to and from airports in Mexico and the EU.…
MEXICO BREAKS WTO RULES WITH OLIVE OIL DUTIES SAYS WTO
BY KEITH NUTHALL
MEXICO is breaking global trade rules by imposing countervailing duties on olive oil exported from the European Union, a World Trade Organisation panel has ruled.
ENDS…
SWEDISH AND AMERICAN SCIENTISTS SAY MARINE DEAD ZONES ON THE INCREASE
BY ALAN OSBORN
THE EXTENT of marine dead zones – coastal waters almost totally deprived of oxygen and life – has roughly doubled every decade since the 1960s claim Swedish and American scientists. Professors Rutger Rosenberg of Sweden’s University of Goteborg, and Robert Diaz, of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, found more than 400 dead zones globally, ranging from expansive ones in the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, to small estuary zones.…
ANTI-COUNTERFEITING OF GOODS PACT DEBATED IN GENEVA BY TOP WORLD POWERS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A POWERFUL international bloc is debating forging an international anti-counterfeiting of goods agreement insisting upon cooperation over fighting fake drinks products. Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States have been discussing the idea in Geneva.…
ANTI-COUNTERFEITING PACT DEBATED
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A GROUP of influential countries are debating forging an international anti-counterfeiting of goods agreement, fighting fake food and drink products. Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States have been discussing the idea.…
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT ON COUNTERFEITING PART OF GLOBAL PUSH AGAINST FAKE PARTS AND VEHICLES
BY DEIRDRE MASON
THE AUTOPARTS and automotive industries are calling for far tighter world-wide enforcement against counterfeiting, as influential countries meet in Geneva to thrash out more details of a global Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA).
First mooted by the Office of the US Trade Representative in October 2007- and pursued aggressively by the US Chamber of Commerce – Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates have since come on board to try to develop ACTA.…
EUROPE: HE ROLE CONSIDERED IN GLOBAL CONTEXT AT IAU MEETING
BY ALAN OSBORN
As a demonstration of how the top higher education people from across the world can meet, debate, agree and disagree without ever losing sight of their common goals as academic leaders you would find it hard to better the 4-yearly conference of the UNESCO-based International Association of Universities (IAU).…
BRAZIL IS MAINSTAY OF LATIN AMERICA KNITTING INDUSTRY
BY PACIFICA GODDARD
CHINA’S entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2002 and the recent end of quotas in the US and European markets have created gigantic changes in the textile industry worldwide, with developing markets like those in Latin America expected to suffer the most from these shifts.…
METHANE RECOVERY PROJECTS BOOMING WORLDWIDE
BY MARK ROWE
ONE of the first responses to concerns about climate change involved the search to sequester carbon, a component of the major greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide. Increasingly, efforts are focussing on how to deal with another greenhouse gas, methane.…
LATIN AMERICA'S ECONOMIC SUCCESS IS CREATING WIDER OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMERCIAL CRIME
BY PACIFICA GODDARD, in Caracas
IN Latin America, the combination of economic growth, weak law enforcement, and a culture that turns a blind eye to corruption, creates an increasingly fertile setting for a variety of commercial crimes, Pacifica Goddard reports from Caracas.…
AUSTRALIA PUSHES AHEAD WITH COMPREHENSIVE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING REFORMS
BY KARRYN CARTELLE
AUSTRALIA is currently ranked as the eighth largest market in the world – third largest within the Asia-Pacific region after Japan and Hong Kong – in terms of its total stock market capitalisation of AUD$1.63 trillion (USD$1.53 trillion) in 2007 (World Federation of Exchanges figures).…
Global: WTO services negotiators pressed to declare their hand
By Keith Nuthall
The services negotiations of the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Doha Development Round – which could create openings for universities, colleges and research institutes to open branches in foreign countries – are reaching a critical juncture.
A report on the talks by their chair, Mexico’s ambassador to the WTO Fernando de Mateo has been released, as diplomats are considering trading removing restrictions on foreign services for reductions in tariffs and subsidies on food, drink and industrial goods.…
ANTI-COUNTERFEITING OF GOODS PACT DEBATED IN GENEVA BY TOP WORLD POWERS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A GROUP of influential countries are debating forging an international anti-counterfeiting of goods agreement, which would see them cooperate against the production and trade in fake tobacco products. Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States have been discussing the idea in Geneva.…
ADVANCEMENTS IN FRAUD AND FRAUD PREVENTION IN LATIN AMERICA
BY PACIFICA GODDARD, in Caracas
LATIN AMERICA has long been notorious for its high levels of corruption, especially through money laundering, bribery and the illicit drug trade. And although the recent years of relative stability and democratisation in the region have brought economic progress, this has also widened the opportunities for fraudulent activities and fuelled an increasing sophistication by which they are performed.…
ANTI-COUNTERFEITING OF GOODS PACT DEBATED IN GENEVA BY TOP WORLD POWERS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A POWERFUL international bloc is debating forging an international anti-counterfeiting of goods agreement insisting upon cooperation over fighting fake food products. Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States have been discussing the idea in Geneva.…
FRANCO-AMERICAN TEAM SEQUENCES GENOME OF BIOFUEL GENERATING FUNGUS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A TEAM of American and French researchers have sequenced a genome for a fungus helping create biofuels from non-food plants: Trichoderma reesei. A report on the study, coordinated at the USA’s University of New Mexico, said the fungus is "ideal… for producing enzymes [converting] biomass feedstocks such as corn stover, cereal straw and switch grass" into sugars.…
GLOBAL - UN-sponsored responsible business education initiative takes off
By Keith Nuthall
A UNITED Nations-sponsored global initiative to encourage business schools to teach and promote social and environmentally responsible commercial practices has gathered a critical mass of support. More than 100 business schools worldwide have now signed up to the Principles for Responsible Management Initiative.…
INTERNATIONAL BUTTER MARKET ROUND UP
BY KARRYN CARTELLE, in Auckland; LUCY JONES, in Dallas, Texas; MONICA
DOBIE, in Ottawa; and BILL CORCORAN, in Johannesburg
NEW Zealand has long retained a position of prominence in the global butter products
industry, despite the fact that competitors are always looking to seize export markets in
what is an increasingly competitive market.…
EUROPEAN ANTI-FRAUD AGENCY TO CHAIR WHO ILLICIT TOBACCO TRADE BODY
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A SENIOR official from European Union (EU) anti-fraud office OLAF has become the chairman of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) new Inter-Governmental Negotiating Body (INB) charged with drafting a protocol fighting the illicit tobacco trade. This will be an international treaty aimed at creating worldwide measures combating this illegal commerce, linked to the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.…
EXPANSION OF LATIN AMERICAN GM OIL CROPS CONTINUES APACE
BY RACHEL JONES, in Caracas
SINCE biotech oil crops were first commercialised over a decade ago, their use has experienced yearly double-digit growth worldwide, with Latin America being something of a nursery for this growth. Globally, the area of biotech crops grew by 13%, or by 12 million hectares, in 2006, to reach 102 million hectares, according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA).…
REGIONAL TRADE DEALS PROMOTE GLOBAL TRADE IN CLOTHING AND TEXTILE SECTOR
BY LUCY JONES, in Dallas; ALAN OSBORN, in London; KARRYN CARTELLE, in Tokyo; BILL CORCORAN, in Johannesburg; PAUL COCHRANE, in Beirut; RACHEL JONES, in Caracas; MARK ROWE; and KEITH NUTHALL
WITH the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Doha Development Round being slow to proceed since its 2001 launch – and only this year approaching something resembling and end game – free traders wanting to encourage global commerce have looked to bilateral and regional trade deals.…
HERSHEY DENIES SHIFT TO MEXICAN PRODUCTION IS BASED ON COST ALONE
BY CHRIS JONES, in Pennsylvania, USA
HERSHEY, the biggest chocolate manufacturer in the USA, has insisted that the majority of its confectionary will continue to be produced in the US and Canada, despite a restructuring plan that will see some production shift to Mexico.…
ECODRIVING OFFERS NEW NICHE BUSINESS FOR EUROPEAN FLEET SUPPLIERS
BY CHRIS JONES, in Paris
EUROPEAN vehicle rental companies are increasingly promoting themselves as the answer to the problem of tackling CO2 emissions, offering advice on eco-driving techniques to their customers and offering a wide range of ‘green’ vehicles with low emissions.…
WTO CONCERNS RAISED OVER REACH COMPLEXITY AS EU SYSTEM GETS INTO GEAR
BY KEITH NUTHALL
DIPLOMATIC grumbles have started to emerge about the European Union’s (EU) REACH chemical control system, with claims being made at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) its complexity could break EU commitments under the WTO’s technical barriers to trade agreement.…
WTO CONCERNS RAISED OVER REACH COMPLEXITY, AS CHEMICAL CONTROL SYSTEM GETS INTO GEAR
BY KEITH NUTHALL
DIPLOMATIC grumbles are emerging about the European Union’s (EU) REACH chemical control system, claiming its complexity could break EU commitments under the being made at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) technical barriers to trade agreement. A meeting of the WTO technical barriers to trade committee heard Argentina, Brazil, the USA, South Korea, Australia, Japan, Canada, Taiwan, Chile, China, Mexico and Thailand raise concerns that REACH could impose illegally difficult tasks on exporters.…
USA STATES CALL FOR AVIATION EMISSIONS TRADING IN AMERICA
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A PETITION from the US states of California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Mexico and Pennsylvania, plus the District of Columbia and New York City has called for a cap-and-trade system on aviation emissions from flights to US airports.…
DEMAND FOR OILS AND FATS WITHIN PERSONAL CARE SECTOR DIVERGES WIDELY BETWEEN COUNTRIES, CONTINENTS
BY MARK ROWE, in London, JULIAN RYALL, in Tokyo, and RACHEL JONES, in Caracas
PERSONAL care products – soaps, cosmetics, lotions and hair products – have always been important consumers of vegetable and animal-based oils and fats. Yet, this is a complex sub-sector of the global oils and fats industry.…
IRAN AND VENEZUELA DEVELOP ANTI-AMERICAN OIL AND GAS AXIS
BY RACHEL JONES, in Caracas
FOLLOWING the late-November OPEC summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez visited Tehran to discuss joint ventures over oil refining and then chuckle with his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, over the weakened US dollar.…
WTO CONCERNS RAISED OVER REACH COMPLEXITY
BY KEITH NUTHALL
CLAIMS are being made at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that the complexity of the European Union’s (EU) REACH chemical control system could break EU commitments under the WTO’s technical barriers to trade agreement. Argentina, Brazil, the USA, South Korea, Australia, Japan, Canada, Taiwan, Chile, China, Mexico and Thailand claim REACH could impose illegally difficult tasks on exporters.…
WTO CONCERNS RAISED OVER REACH COMPLEXITY
BY KEITH NUTHALL
DIPLOMATIC grumbles have started to emerge about the European Union’s (EU) REACH chemical control system, with claims being made at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) its complexity could break EU commitments under the WTO’s technical barriers to trade agreement.…
EUROPEAN COMMISSION SEEKS MANDATE TO NEGOTIATE NEW ANTI-COUNTERFEITING TREATIES
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission is seeking a mandate from European Union (EU) ministers to negotiate a new international Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) with major trading partners, including the US, Japan, South Korea, Mexico and New Zealand. Brussels claims such an agreement would boost cooperation and legal protection over counterfeiting in and between these jurisdictions.…
EUROPEAN COMMISSION SEEKS MANDATE TO NEGOTIATE NEW ANTI-COUNTERFEITING TREATIES
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission is seeking a mandate from European Union (EU) ministers to negotiate a new international Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) with major trading partners, including the US, Japan, Korea, Mexico and New Zealand. Brussels claims such an agreement would boost cooperation and legal protection over counterfeiting in and between these jurisdictions.…
EUROPEAN COMMISSION SEEKS MANDATE TO NEGOTIATE NEW ANTI-COUNTERFEITING TREATIES
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission is seeking a mandate from European Union (EU) ministers to formally negotiate a new international Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) with major trading partners, including the US, Japan, South Korea, Mexico and New Zealand. Brussels claims such an agreement would boost cooperation and legal protection over counterfeiting in and between these jurisdictions.…
EUROPEAN COMMISSION SEEKS MANDATE TO NEGOTIATE NEW ANTI-COUNTERFEITING TREATIES
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission is seeking a mandate from European Union (EU) ministers to negotiate a new international Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) with major trading partners, including the US, Japan, Korea, Mexico and New Zealand. Brussels claims such an agreement would boost cooperation and legal protection over counterfeiting.…
ECJ RULING UNDERMINES PROPOSED ANTI-COUNTERFEITING LAW
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A PROPOSED European Union (EU) directive aimed at protecting food businesses from counterfeit brands has been undermined by a European Court of Justice (ECJ). Earlier this year, the European Parliament approved in principle a directive on ‘criminal measures aimed at ensuring the enforcement of intellectual property rights’.…
ECJ RULING UNDERMINES PROPOSED ANTI-COUNTERFEITING LAW
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A PROPOSED European Union (EU) directive aimed at protecting clothing and textile businesses from counterfeit brands has been undermined by a European Court of Justice (ECJ). Earlier this year, the European Parliament approved in principle a directive on ‘criminal measures aimed at ensuring the enforcement of intellectual property rights’.…
WTO ESTABLISHES CHINA COUNTERFEITING DISPUTES PANEL
BY KEITH NUTHALL
ALLEGED glaring loopholes in China’s fight against the counterfeiting of goods will now be examined in detail by a World Trade Organisation (WTO) disputes settlement panel, which was established yesterday (Tues) at the urging of the United States.…
GM CROPS FIGHT TO MARKET IN EUROPE THROUGH TOUGH RED TAPE
BY DEIRDRE MASON
FEW issues have proved as globally divisive as the ability to modify crops genetically. For years, a line has been drawn between the cautious European Union (EU) and the go-for-it United States, which has seen them at loggerheads over trading genetically modified crops.…
EUROPE: HE ROLE CONSIDERED IN GLOBAL CONTEXT AT IAU MEETING
By Alan Osborn
As a demonstration of how the top higher education people from across the world can meet, debate, agree and disagree without ever losing sight of their common goals as academic leaders you would find it hard to better the 4-yearly conference of the UNESCO-based International Association of Universities (IAU).…
EUROPE: HE ROLE CONSIDERED IN GLOBAL CONTEXT AT IAU MEETING
BY ALAN OSBORN
AS a demonstration of how the top higher education people from across the world can meet, debate, agree and disagree without ever losing sight of their common goals as academic leaders you would find it hard to better the 4-yearly conference of the UNESCO-based International Association of Universities (IAU).…
NATIVE AMERICAN CASINOS SWAP POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE FOR FEDERAL MONEY LAUNDERING CONTROLS
BY LUCY JONES, in Dallas
LAST year’s lawsuit against a tribe and a casino manager for violation of the United States’ Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) – the first case of its kind – has been hailed by the country’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) as a demonstration of why stringent anti-money laundering programmes are needed at gambling establishments on Native American (Indian) reservations.…
LATIN AMERICA EXPERIENCES WORLD BEATING GROWTH IN PERSONAL CARE SECTOR
BY RACHEL JONES, in Caracas
A NUMBER of factors have contributed to a booming Latin American market in soap, perfume and cosmetics – most importantly, regional economic growth and a healthy overall GDP. Hair care is the region’s biggest seller, but an increase in life expectancy has created a growing demand for skin care products, especially those related to anti-aging and sun protection.…
JAPAN WOMEN'S GROWING ASSERTIVENESS IMPACTS ON COSMETICS DEMAND
BY GAVIN BLAIR, in Tokyo
ON May 28 this year Japanese beauty queen Riyo Mori was crowned Miss Universe 2007 in Mexico City. The 20-year-old former ballet dancer who had studied in Canada and New York was the first Japanese woman to win the contest in nearly half a century.…
OIL MAJORS FACE UNEVEN DEVELOPMENT OF VAST MIDDLE EAST LNG RESERVES
BY PAUL COCHRANE, in Beirut
WITH demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) surging across the globe, the Persian Gulf is at the epicentre of LNG developments due to its vast gas resources. But the rapid expansion of the sector is not without complications.…
OIL MAJORS FACE UNEVEN DEVELOPMENT OF VAST MIDDLE EAST LNG RESERVES
BY PAUL COCHRANE, in Beirut
WITH demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) surging across the globe, the Persian Gulf is at the epicentre of LNG developments due to its vast gas resources. But the rapid expansion of the sector is not without complications.…
BOUYANT MEXICO PAINT INDUSTRY FUELLED BY HOUSING BOOM
BY LUCY JONES, in Dallas, Texas
GRAFFITI artists, US baby boomers and the massive expansion of low-cost housing are several – very diverse – factors buoying up Mexico’s paint industry.
Vast improvements in the property-buying process for foreigners, plus a slowing of the housing sector at home, are making the country’s coastal areas from Cancun to Baja California increasingly attractive for North American retirees.…
US GOLF CLOTHING CHAIN FAILS TO SECURE EU TRADEMARK RIGHTS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A MAJOR American golf clothing chain has failed to secure European Union (EU)-wide trademark rights to its name, because European Court of Justice (ECJ) judges found it insufficiently distinctive. Golf USA Inc franchises more than 100 golf clothing and equipment stores in 32 US states and 11 other countries: Belgium, Canada, Chile, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland, South Korea, Mexico, Spain and Sweden.…
USTR REPORTS WARN OF CONTINUING WORLDWIDE COUNTERFEITING THREATS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE UNITED States Trade Representative (USTR) has released a series of detailed reports outlining the threats posed by counterfeiters worldwide and the inability of many governments to fight the problem.
Its sheaf of intelligence includes comprehensive warnings from cigarette giant Philip Morris, a company that has adopted a high profile in fighting counterfeiters and smugglers.…
USA CLOTHING FEDERATIONS CALL FOR GLOBAL ANTI-COUNTERFEITING ACTION
BY KEITH NUTHALL
AN AMERICAN anti-piracy group has warned that the Czech Republic and Costa Rica have joined the well-known major sources of counterfeit clothing such as China and Brazil. And in a report, the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition adds that the “vast majority” of pirated clothing exported from the Czech Republic was actually made in China.…
EU AND MEXICO TO SIMPLIFY CLOTHES TRADE DEAL
BY KEITH NUTHALL
EUROPEAN Union (EU) ministers have been asked to approve changes to a 1997 trade and political cooperation deal with Mexico, so that EU textile and footwear manufacturers are better able to exploit its export opportunities. This involves large annual low duty quotas, but under the existing treaty, these are allocated by Mexico through an auction.…
EU PUSHES MEXICO FOR RULES OF ORIGIN REFORM TO TRADE DEAL
BY KEITH NUTHALL
EUROPEAN Union (EU) ministers have been asked to approve changes to a 1997 trade and political cooperation deal with Mexico, so that European and Mexican unalloyed aluminium producers are better able to exploit its export opportunities. For this to be achieved, aluminium made in the EU or Mexico has to be officially considered as originating from these jurisdictions.…
NORTH AMERICAN COMMISSION TO HEAR MEXICO GOLD, SILVER MINE COMPLAINTS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A MEXICAN environmental group has lodged a formal complaint with a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)-linked tribunal, claiming a Mexican subsidiary of Canada’s Metallica Resources Inc has been given illegal authorisation to open a gold and silver mine.…
HERSHEY CLOSES SMITHS FALLS CONFECTIONARY PLANT IN CANDA
BY MONICA DOBIE, in Ottawa
PENNSYLVANIA based chocolate giant, Hershey, has announced it will close its plant in Smiths Falls, Ontario, 60km south of Ottawa, after 44 years in operation. Roughly 500 people will lose their jobs. The phased shut down will begin late 2007, continuing into 2008.…
OECD ADVISES MEXICO TO CUT SMALL SHRIMP PRODUCER ACTIVITY
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE ORGANISATION for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) has called on the Mexican government to push small family-run shrimp fishermen into commercial fishing and aquaculture operations, to better exploit a valuable export market.
In a new report – ‘Agricultural and Fisheries Policies in Mexico: Recent achievements, continuing the reform agenda’ – the OECD says unregulated "artisanal" fleets are preventing commercial operators from thriving and threatening stock levels.…
EUROPEAN COMMISSION NAMES MEDICINE COUNTERFEITING HOTSPOTS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission has highlighted countries with particularly significant counterfeiting and piracy of medicinal products. Following 290 replies from businesses, trade associations and diplomatic missions, covering 63 countries, its survey report named Egypt as a real problem zone, criticising the December 2004 approval of 850 local copies of pharmaceuticals "without generic companies having to "prove the efficiency and safety of the copy".…
WTO EXTENDS FREE-TRADE WAIVER FOR BLOOD DIAMOND CONTROLS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE WORLD Trade Organisation (WTO) has exempted from its standard free trade rules for a further six years countries involved in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme combating ‘blood diamond’ sales.
Its current waiver was to expire December 31 and protects trade restrictions undertaken by participating countries preventing rough diamonds being exported to non-signatory states.…
OECD ADVISES MEXICO TO FREE AQUACULTURE OF RED TAPE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE ORGANISATION for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) has called on the Mexican government to free its national and "rapidly growing" aquaculture sector from burdensome red tape. In a new report – ‘Agricultural and Fisheries Policies in Mexico: Recent achievements, continuing the reform agenda’ – the OECD has claimed Mexico’s fish farm industry has "good prospects as it produces high quality products which are in demand in both domestic and export markets".…
IAEA INSPECTORS HUNT DOWN ROGUE NUCLEAR SOURCES
BY DEIRDRE MASON
IF there are those who doubt whether the time, effort and resources invested in tracking down lost or orphaned sources of nuclear radiation is well spent, the tragic case of Alexander Litvinenko demonstrates only too clearly why this work is crucial.…
EU DETAILS THREAT POSED BY GLOBAL GOODS COUNTERFEITERS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
WITH global trade ever increasing, and the power of brands to generate massive profits made starkly clear with every company report, the counterfeiting of goods is one of international organised crime’s major boom areas. The European Commission has been researching the threat posed from around the world.…
EUROPEAN COMMISSION HIGHLIGHTS WORLD'S COUNTERFEIT GOODS HOTSPOTS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
WITH global trade ever increasing, and the power of brands to generate massive profits made starkly clear with every company report, the counterfeiting of goods is one of international organised crime’s major boom areas.
It is a serious problem for legitimate business, especially those based in developed countries with tough piracy controls, who are seeking to export to poorer countries where intellectual property crimes are a low priority.…
EC SURVEY WARNS OF FAKE PACKAGING BLACKSPOTS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A EUROPEAN Commission global survey into counterfeit goods has revealed concerns about Mexico being a centre for the counterfeiting of fake medicine packaging and leaflets. The study of businesses, industrial federations and diplomatic missions was told the problem is particularly rife in the large cities of Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, along with the northern frontier zone with the United States.…
EC IDENTIFIES CLOTHING, TEXTILE COUNTERFEITING HOTSPOTS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
HONG Kong and China have been branded as the world’s serious hotspots for counterfeit clothing and accessories, in a global European Commission survey of countries where product fakes are manufactured. The Commission’s directorate general (DG) for trade gathered the information from companies, diplomatic missions and trade federations.…
LATIN AMERICA ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING ORGANISATION - GAFISUD
BY LIZ HALL
SIX years ago, government representatives from nine South American countries gathered in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, to sign a document of great importance to those concerned with fighting money-laundering (ML) and terrorism financing (TF).
On December 8, 2000, representatives of the governments of the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, signed the Founding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formally establishing GAFISUD, a regional body modelled on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).…
NAFTA PANEL BACKS MEXICANS OVER OIL COUNTRY TUBULAR GOODS DUTY CASE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A NORTH American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) panel has ordered the USA’s Department of Commerce (DoC) to reassess its planned continued levying of anti-dumping duties on oil country tubular goods (OCTG) from Mexico. The dispute focuses on OCTG manufactured by Mexico’s TAMSA, which opposes the continuation of the tariffs, following a sunset review by the US government.…
USTR ALLOCATES EXTRA SUGAR QUOTA FOR USA
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE US Trade Representative (USTR) has allocated a storm-damage linked increase in 2006 import quotas for refined (90,719 metric tons) and speciality sugars (9,000 tons) to Mexico, and then other exporters on a first-come-first served basis.
ENDS…
EU COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OLIVE OIL SUPPLY ROW - MEXICO EU WTO OLIVE OIL ROW
STORIES BY KEITH NUTHALL
A POLITICAL struggle has broken out at the European Union (EU) Council of Ministers between EU olive oil importing and exporting countries over the current level import tariffs for the product. On one side is a group led by Sweden, supported by Britain, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Lithuania, complaining about what they call "high market prices of olive oil in the EU and low levels of stocks".…
AKZO NOBEL NETHERLANDS SICO CANADA TAKEOVER
BY MONICA DOBIE
DUTCH coatings giant Akzo Nobel NV has taken over Canadian paintmaker Sico Inc. for approximately CDN$284 million.
Akzo based in Arnhem, the Netherlands, will acquire all of Sico’s outstanding common shares at a cash price of CDN$20 per share and will also offer to buy Sico’s class B preferred shares for CDN$3.8 million in total.…
ELECTROCHEMOTHERAPY TUMOUR ELECTRIC SHOCK TREATMENT
BY KEITH NUTHALL
CHEFS know that to get the best out of a steak – it needs to be whacked with a hammer to tenderise it, making it more likely to soak up marinades and more delicate to the palate. Detectives know that softening up suspects with a good-cop, bad-cop routine will make them more pliant to questioning The same applies to treating cancer tumours: if you knock them around a bit first, they are less able to resist drugs designed – ultimately – to wipe them out.…
UNIDO CHEMICAL LEASING PLAN - REDUCING CHEMICAL STOCKPILES
STORIES BY KEITH NUTHALL
A GROUNDBREAKING business plan of chemical leasing, designed to stop manufacturers over-purchasing potentially dangerous substances, is being promoted in developing and emerging market countries by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). It is working with the Austrian government to introduce the system, which leaves suppliers owning their chemicals, leasing them as a service, rather than selling them as goods.…
UNIDO CHEMICAL LEASING PLAN - REDUCING CHEMICAL STOCKPILES
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A GROUNDBREAKING business plan of chemical leasing, designed to stop manufacturers over-purchasing potentially dangerous substances, is being promoted in developing and emerging market countries by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). It is working with the Austrian government to introduce the system, which leaves suppliers owning their chemicals, leasing them as a service, rather than selling them as goods.…
MEXICO v EU - OLIVE OIL
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EU has launched disputes proceedings at the WTO with Mexico over countervailing duties it levies on European Union olive oil exports. The EU says these break WTO global trading rules.
ENDS…
WTO REPORT DOHA DEVELOPMENT ROUND - MODALITIES FOLLOW UP - ROUND CONCLUSION
BY KEITH NUTHALL
INTRODUCTION
THE WORLD’S multilateral food trading system today stands at a crossroads: faced with the suspension of the World Trade Organisation’s Doha Development Round, it can either retreat to protectionism, leavened by a series of competitive bilateral trade deals, or it can grasp the nettle of liberal free trade, slash subsidies and tariffs, and then watch the economic rewards roll in.…
OECD TAX COMPARATIVE STUDY - BRITAIN
BY KEITH NUTHALL
BRITAIN’S status as a low tax jurisdiction in the European Union (EU) has been reconfirmed in the latest comparative study of developed industrialised countries by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). For instance, looking at income tax and national insurance burdens for single people without children, Britain is taxed at 33.5% on average, compared with an old 15-member EU average of 42.1%.…
WTO REPORT DOHA DEVELOPMENT ROUND - MODALITIES FOLLOW UP - ROUND CONCLUSION
BY KEITH NUTHALL
INTRODUCTION
THE WORLD’S multilateral food trading system today stands at a crossroads: faced with the suspension of the World Trade Organisation’s Doha Development Round, it can either retreat to protectionism, leavened by a series of competitive bilateral trade deals, or it can grasp the nettle of liberal free trade, slash subsidies and tariffs, and then watch the economic rewards roll in.…
MEXICO GUATEMALA WTO STEEL PIPES TUBES DISPUTE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
GUATEMALA has formally requested that a World Trade Organisation (WTO) disputes panel solve a row with Mexico over 25.87% anti-dumping duties it levies on Guatemalan steel pipes and tubes. Guatemala claims duties were imposed in breach of WTO rules because it lacked evidence of dumping and did not follow proper mandated investigative procedures.…
USA CANADA MEXICO LEAD PETROL CHILDREN
BY KEITH NUTHALL
NORTH America’s Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), helped by the US, Canada and Mexico governments has released a detailed report claiming that removing lead from petrol has reduced lead levels in children’s blood in all three countries.*
http://www.cec.org/files/pdf/POLLUTANTS/CEH-Indicators-fin_en.pdf…
INTERAMERICAN DRUG ABUSE CONTROL COMMISSION CICAD - REGIONAL ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING ORGANISATION FEATURE
BY ALAN OSBORN
IN line with the growing recognition in the 1980s of anti-money laundering campaigns as a weapon against terrorism and increased knowledge global drug supply routes, (implicating a number of Latin American countries), governments of the western hemisphere concluded that greater formal co-operation was necessary in fighting dirty money.…
CHINA VIETNAM EU SHOES ANTI-DUMPING DUTIES EUROPEAN COMMISSION
BY ALAN OSBORN
A PROPOSAL by the European Union (EU) trade commissioner Peter Mandelson to impose provisional anti-dumping duties of 19.4 % on imported leather shoes from China and 16.8% on those from Vietnam has sparked protests from the Chinese Leather Association (CLA), caused concern among EU retailers and importers, while bringing uncertainty into the global leather market.…
CFATF - CARIBBEAN REGIONAL ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING ORGANISATION
BY WESLEY GIBBINGS, in Port of Spain, Trinidad
WITH its multiple small jurisdictions, offshore tax havens and proximity to both drug producing countries in Latin America and the United States, the Caribbean has always been a focus of global anti-money laundering efforts.…
INTERAMERICAN DRUG ABUSE CONTROL COMMISSION CICAD - REGIONAL ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING ORGANISATION FEATURE
BY ALAN OSBORN
IN line with the growing recognition in the 1980s of anti-money laundering campaigns as a weapon against terrorism and increased knowledge global drug supply routes, (implicating a number of Latin American countries), governments of the western hemisphere concluded that greater formal co-operation was necessary in fighting dirty money.…
NANOTECHNOLOGY INVENTIONS FEATURE - PAINTS AND COATINGS
BY MATTHEW BRACE, in Sydney
FOR devotees of Captain Kirk, Dr Spock and the original Star Trek crew, the thrilling world of nanotechnology could sound vaguely familiar. It offers the 21st century a swathe of new products and services, from dirt-repelling cars to ‘thinking’ materials that can change colour automatically.…
WOMEN BEER EXECUTIVES FEATURE USA CANADA RUSSIA
BY LUCY JONES
A new kind of executive is cutting an impression in the traditionally male-dominated brewery boardrooms. They are dedicated, tough and often young – and being female, a rare breed in the drinks environment.
As the beer business expands and perceptions change, women are increasingly rising to the top of the industry.…
NAFTA OIL COUNTRY TUBULAR GOODS MEXICO USA
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A NORTH American Free Trade Area panel has ordered the United States department of commerce (DoC) to review anti-dumping duties imposed on US imports of oil country tubular goods from Mexican producer Hysla SA de CV. The panel found potential errors in calculations underpinning the 21.7% duty, imposed in 1996.…
EU SUGAR REFORM MARKET REPORT - CAP
EU SUGAR REFORM MARKET REPORT – CAP
BY KEITH NUTHALL
DECEMBER 2005’s semi-successful World Trade Organisation (WTO) summit in Hong Kong means that the sacrifice forced upon the European Union’s (EU) well protected sugar sector the month before will – largely – be worth the pain.…
EU SUGAR REFORM MARKET REPORT - CAP
BY KEITH NUTHALL
DECEMBER 2005’s semi-successful World Trade Organisation (WTO) summit in Hong Kong means that the sacrifice forced upon the European Union’s (EU) well protected sugar sector the month before will – largely – be worth the pain. Unlike the previous big WTO meeting, in Cancun, Mexico, trade ministers did not leave in rancour having achieved little.…
EU SUGAR REFORM MARKET REPORT - CAP
BY KEITH NUTHALL
DECEMBER 2005’s semi-successful World Trade Organisation (WTO) summit in Hong Kong means that the sacrifice forced upon the European Union’s (EU) well protected sugar sector the month before will – largely – be worth the pain. Unlike the previous big WTO meeting, in Cancun, Mexico, trade ministers did not leave in rancour having achieved little.…
ALTERNATIVE REMITTANCE SYSTEMS MONEY LAUNDERING - INDIA - TERRORIST FINANCE CONCERN
BY ALAN OSBORN
ONLY comparatively recently have the world’s anti money laundering agencies come to grips with alternative remittance systems (ARS) and even today the scale of the systems and the degree of infiltration by criminals is still not fully known.…
WTO MEXICO USA RICE ANTI-DUMPING DUTY APPEAL
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE MEXICAN government has lost an appeal at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against a disputes panel ruling that it should review its 10.18% anti-dumping duties levied on American rice because it had used faulty procedures assessing whether the US had been dumping long grain rice.…
WTO TRIPS AGREEMENT GENERIC MEDICINES WAIVER - PERMANENT
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE WORLD Trade Organisation’s (WTO) general council has permanently amended the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement to make permanent a 2003 waiver helping poor countries obtain generic medicines during health emergencies. The TRIPS amendment enables any WTO member country to export generic pharmaceuticals made under a compulsory licence to assist countries lacking their own manufacturing capacity and whose nurses and doctors would otherwise be unable to deal with a serious disease problem.…
TAILORED RISK ASSESSMENTS
BY MARK ROWE
WEATHER forecasting at sea has evolved beyond the age-old fisherman’s approach of licking a finger and holding it up to the prevailing wind, and the oil and gas industries have been reaping the benefits. Improvements in numerical models, faster computers, and access to more and better data (from, for example, buoys and satellites) mean that forecasts are more accurate today than 10 years ago.…
MEXICO - USA OIL COUNTRY TUBULAR GOODS - WTO APPEAL
BY KEITH NUTHALL
MEXICO has lost its appeal against a refusal by a World Trade Organisation (WTO) disputes panel to order the United States to immediately scrap anti-dumping duties on Mexican oil country tubular goods (OCTG). Mexico wanted a WTO appellate body to make such a decision, even though the panel did order the US government to review the duties because of errors made in imposing them.…
MEXICO - USA OIL COUNTRY TUBULAR GOODS - WTO APPEAL
BY KEITH NUTHALL
MEXICO has lost its appeal against a refusal by a World Trade Organisation disputes panel to order the US to immediately scrap anti-dumping duties on Mexican oil country tubular goods, even though the panel ordered the US government to review the duties.…
UNESCO ARSENIC POLLUTION CLEANSER
BY KEITH NUTHALL
UNESCO, the UN’s scientific and cultural organisation, has launched a filter removing arsenic from water and which could save tens of millions of lives. Unveiled at its headquarters in Paris, UNESCO said the filter was “simple and ecologically sound”, using as an absorbent recycled iron oxide coated sand produced as a by-product in groundwater treatment plants “available at no cost almost everywhere”.…
WTO: USA-MEXICO SYRUP CASE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE UNITED States claims that it has won a World Trade Organisation (WTO) case against Mexico, with a disputes panel ruling a 20% tax on Mexican soft drinks manufactured with imported high-fructose corn syrup broke global commerce rules.…
UNESCO ARSENIC POLLUTION CLEANSER
BY KEITH NUTHALL
UNESCO, the UN’s scientific and cultural organisation, has launched a filter removing arsenic from water and which could, it claims, save tens of millions of lives from a pollutant created by many mines. Unveiled at its headquarters in Paris, UNESCO said the filter was “simple and ecologically sound”, using as an absorbent recycled iron oxide coated sand produced as a by-product in groundwater treatment plants “available at no cost almost everywhere”.…
MONEYVAL FEATURE MONEY LAUNDERING
BY KEITH NUTHALL
CRITICS of European political institutions have sometimes been unkind about the Council of Europe, which has been accused of being a powerless talking shop. And although the Council lacks the power to fine and cajole member governments enjoyed by the European Union (EU) – from which it is completely independent – it has some important roles.…
LEATHER RAW MATERIALS SECTION - EU MARKET REPORT
BY KEITH NUTHALL
DETAILS of restrictions imposed on exports to European buyers of leather raw materials have been highlighted in the detailed European Union (EU) market report. It identifies India, China, the US, Pakistan and Russia as “very important markets” for the supply of leather raw materials, whilst Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, South Africa, Malaysia and Brazil are labelled as “important suppliers (mainly by tanners)”.…
IRELAND - CARBON
BY KEITH NUTHALL
AN IRISH company’s plan to help 1,600 meat and dairy producers in Latin America adopt technology capturing and disposing of methane has been supported by a US$10 million loan from the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC). AgCert International plc actually wants to spend US$150 million on rolling out these systems over the next three years, especially in Brazil and Mexico.…
MEXICO: WTO APPEAL
BY KEITH NUTHALL
MEXICO has appealed against a refusal by a World Trade Organisation (WTO) disputes panel to order the United States to immediately scrap anti-dumping duties on Mexican oil country tubular goods (OCTG). It wants a WTO appellate body to make such a decision, even though the panel did order the US government to review the duties because of errors made in their imposition.…
MONEY LAUNDERING REPORT
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THAT criminals abuse the insurance industry is nothing new for a sector routinely screening claims for hints of fraud. However, its managers have proved far less alert to the risk of it being exploited by money launderers and terrorist financers, a new detailed report has claimed.…
FACT BOX
BY KEITH NUTHALL
*France’s Sederma isolated enzymes from deep-sea bacteria Thermus thermophilus for commercial skin products protecting against UV and heat exposure;
*American researchers NOAA report Gulf of Mexico deep-sea sponge deep Forcepia is being clinically investigated for anti-cancer medicines;
*A glycoprotein protecting Antarctic fish species against cold is being developed for surgery, plant nursery and fish farming uses.…
MEXICO - IFC
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE INTERNATIONAL Finance Corporation (IFC), of the World Bank, is pumping US$35 million over 10 years into leading Mexico low-end retailer Coppel, to support expansion plans. Coppel wants to consolidate its position as a national Mexican chain, enhance its credit business, and strengthen corporate governance.…
WTO: MEXICO v GUATEMALA
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE GUATEMALA government has launched the first stage of disputes proceedings at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over complaints about 25.87% anti-dumping duties imposed by Mexico on imports of certain Guatemalan steel pipes and tubes. The small central American republic has logged 18 claims alleging its larger neighbour broke WTO rules when imposing the duties.…
USA-MEXICO - WTO
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE UNITED States has been told by a World Trade Organisation (WTO) disputes panel to review its re-imposition of anti-dumping duties on Mexican oil country tubular goods. Mexico had claimed that the USA erred in concluding during a 2000-2001 sunset review that without the duties, originally imposed in 1995, Mexican exporters would dump cut-priced cheap oil country tubular goods on the US market.…
MEAT PRICES - OECD/FAO
BY KEITH NUTHALL
AN INTERNATIONAL assessment of commodity markets until 2014 is predicting that increased production worldwide will depress the price of traded meat. Written by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), this ‘Agricultural Outlook’ predicts slow but steady falls in beef prices, because of the gradual improvement in US production, and poultry, following “continued investment in integrated poultry systems, particularly in developing countries”.…
FATF'S FUTURE MONEY LAUNDERING
BY ALAN OSBORN
CHINA’S presence at the meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Paris in February was a powerful reminder of how the world’s great economic, trade and regulatory institutions are changing, with consequences that few people probably fully grasp today.…
USTR - MEXICO
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE UNITED States Trade Representative report on trade barriers criticises Mexico’s 20% tax on beverages and syrups made with sweeteners other than cane sugar as a “violation” of world trade law, discriminating against US products including high fructose corn-syrup.…
CEA WTO ROUND CALL
BY KEITH NUTHALL
AS the May 31 deadline looms for World Trade Organisation (WTO) member countries to make formal offers to liberalise their service industries, the Comité Européen des Assurances (CEA) has called on Brazil, India and China to be as generous as they can.…
SPAIN FEATURE
BY LIZ HALL
A PROFUSION of family-run businesses, corrupt and under-resourced authorities and low wages has traditionally meant much commercial crime goes undetected in Latin America. But the tide is turning, with more and more companies unwilling to turn a blind eye to fraud, bribery and counterfeit goods production.…
NON-CUBA CIGARS AOInv106
BY ALAN OSBORN
PRESIDENT George W Bush’s re-election last November has pretty well ruled out any change in the US ban on Cuban cigars for the next four years – if anything, things are likely to get tougher. One of the last things the previous Bush administration did last October was to actually tighten the import ban by barring Americans travelling to Cuba from bringing back up to US$100 dollars worth of Cuban cigars.…
CHEESE - TB
BY MONICA DOBIE
THE FOOD and Drug Administration (FDA), of the USA, has issued a medical alert against eating cheese made from raw milk from Mexico, Nicaragua or Honduras, warning it can cause tuberculosis. The bacteria mycobacterium bovis can contaminate this cheese, causing one fatal and several non-fatal cases of TB in the New York region from 2001-2004, concluded the FDA.…
MEXICO BEER TRADEMARK
Keith Nuthall
THE EUROPEAN Court of Justice (ECJ) has blocked a bid by Mexico’s CervecerÃa Modelo’s to secure European Union (EU) trademark protection for its beer Negra Modelo. This has been opposed by Portugal supermarket group Modelo Continente Hipermercados, which secured its own EU rights to the trademark ‘Modelo’ in 1995, for goods including “syrups, beers, refreshing drinks and non-alcoholic beverages”.…
MEXICO BEER TRADEMARK
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Court of Justice (ECJ) has blocked a bid by Mexico’s Cervecería Modelo’s to secure European Union (EU) trademark protection for its beer Negra Modelo. This has been opposed by Portugal supermarket group Modelo Continente Hipermercados, which secured its own EU rights to the trademark ‘Modelo’ in 1995, for goods including “syrups, beers, refreshing drinks and non-alcoholic beverages”.…
SPAIN REPORT
BY LIZ HALL
SPAIN’S paint and coating industry has every right to be self-congratulatory at present: the widespread investment and business improvements of recent years have paid off with the sector securing a well-earned place alongside its counterparts elsewhere in the developed world.…
EU SUGAR REFORM MARKET REPORT - CAP
BY KEITH NUTHALL
DECEMBER 2005’s semi-successful World Trade Organisation (WTO) summit in Hong Kong means that the sacrifice forced upon the European Union’s (EU) well protected sugar sector the month before will – largely – be worth the pain. Unlike the previous big WTO meeting, in Cancun, Mexico, trade ministers did not leave in rancour having achieved little.…
ALTERNATIVE REMITTANCE SYSTEMS MONEY LAUNDERING - INDIA - TERRORIST FINANCE CONCERN
BY ALAN OSBORN
ONLY comparatively recently have the world’s anti money laundering agencies come to grips with alternative remittance systems (ARS) and even today the scale of the systems and the degree of infiltration by criminals is still not fully known.…
CHINA WATER ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS - POLLUTION REDUCTION - DRINKS MANUFACTURERS
BY TAMARA VANTROYEN, in Hong Kong
IT is not just a rumour anymore: China is officially upgrading its water quality, a move welcome to drinks manufacturers that rely on and control costs through guaranteed clean water supplies. China launched new drinking water standards in June, raising the number of forbidden water pollutants from 35 to 101.…
WTO TRIPS AGREEMENT GENERIC MEDICINES WAIVER - PERMANENT
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE WORLD Trade Organisation’s (WTO) general council has permanently amended the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement to make permanent a 2003 waiver helping poor countries obtain generic medicines during health emergencies. The TRIPS amendment enables any WTO member country to export generic pharmaceuticals made under a compulsory licence to assist countries lacking their own manufacturing capacity and whose nurses and doctors would otherwise be unable to deal with a serious disease problem.…
IAEA MEXICO
BY KEITH NUTHALL
IT is an unlikely scenario: setting up nuclear devices to reduce, not increase, environmental pollution in one of the world’s filthiest cities, but it is happening in Mexico City. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has donated new air particle analysis technology called PIXE (proton induce x-ray emissions) to city authorities.…
WTO MEXICO USA RICE ANTI-DUMPING DUTY APPEAL
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE MEXICAN government has lost an appeal at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against a disputes panel ruling that it should review its 10.18% anti-dumping duties levied on American rice because it had used faulty procedures assessing whether the US had been dumping long grain rice.…
MEXICO - USA WTO CASE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) and Japan have joined Mexico in demanding formal talks at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over American anti-dumping duty procedures protecting its steel industry. Mexico is challenging US tariffs on its exports of stainless steel sheet and strip in coils, alleging American trade officials erred when calculating dumping margins used to set duty levels.…
BYRD AMENDMENT
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union has been authorised by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to impose retaliatory duties on US knitted products for failing to scrap its Byrd Amendment law allowing payments of anti-dumping and countervailing duties to American companies making complaints sparking such tariffs.…
NANOTECHNOLOGY AND BALLISTICS
BY ALAN OSBORN
ONE of the first applications of plastics nanotechnology in the field of ballistic materials was shown to delegates at the conference Advanced Technologies in Crime Prevention and Detection organised by the Institute of Nanotechnology in London earlier this month.…
BYRD AMENDMENT
KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union has been authorised by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to impose retaliatory duties on US textile products for failing to scrap its Byrd Amendment law allowing payments of anti-dumping and countervailing duties to American companies making complaints sparking such tariffs.…
BSE RISKS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE RISK that American cattle are infected with BSE is high, the European Food Safety Authority has concluded, and without changes to US rendering or feeding practice, “the probability of cattle to be infected with BSE persistently increases”.…
EU OLIVE OIL
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EU has launched WTO disputes proceedings with Mexico over its imposition of anti-subsidy countervailing duties on EU exports of olive oil. Brussels claims the tariffs break world trade rules.…
BSE RISKS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE RISK that American cattle are infected with BSE is high, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded, and without changes to US rendering or feeding practice, “the probability of cattle to be (pre-clinically or clinically) infected with BSE persistently increases”.…
WTO ATC REPORT
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE BLOW to smaller developing countries far from key American and European markets from the abolition of protective quotas in January could be cushioned by the continuing use of preferential tariffs, a new World Trade Organisation (WTO) report has predicted.…
BSE RISKS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE RISK that American cattle are infected with BSE is high, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded, and without changes to US rendering or feeding practice, “the probability of cattle to be (pre-clinically or clinically) infected with BSE persistently increases”.…
NAFTA CANADA
BY KEITH NUTHALL
COUNTERVAILING and antidumping duties imposed by the United States on Canadian exports of carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod have been undermined by a strongly critical ruling a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) panel.
US International Trade Commission (ITC) inquiries leading to the tariffs’ imposition in 2002 were challenged by Canada’s Ivaco Inc and Ivaco Rolling Mills Inc.…
CUBA OIL
BY MONICA DOBIE
SPANISH oil and gas giant Repsol YDF has begun drilling for oil in Cuban waters in a narrow sector of the Gulf of Mexico, using a Norwegian drilling platform for US$200,000 a day. The Spaniards are working with government oil company Cubapetróleo in a narrow sector of the Gulf of Mexico, off Cuba’s north-western coast.…
BUSINESS TRAVEL FEATURE
BY MONICA DOBIE
THE WORLD is a small place when it comes to business these days. Increasingly, multi-nationals, as well as medium-sized companies are setting up shop in all four corners of the world. Outsourcing work and creating offices in developing countries is de rigueur to cut costs.…
MEXICO - WTO
Keith Nuthall
THE UNITED States has formally requested that a World Trade Organisation (WTO) disputes panel censure a 20 per cent tax imposed by Mexico on beverages and syrups that use sweeteners other than cane sugar, (and associated bookkeeping and reporting restrictions).…
IFC - BUSES
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE INTERNATIONAL Finance Corporation of the World Bank is making its first investment in the bus sector, investing US$20 million in Mexico’s Inversionistas en Autotransportes Mexicanos S.A. de C.V. (IAMSA), supporting a US$369 million fleet renovation and acquisition programme.…
USA MONEY LAUNDERING REPORT
BY KEITH NUTHALL
NOBODY likes to be on a blacklist, especially one written by the American government. But every year, the US state department issues a comprehensive rogues gallery of countries involved in the narcotics trade and related criminal problems. One surprising entrant: the United States.…
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL
BY KEITH NUTHALL
BRITAIN has been given a relatively clean bill of health in the latest Transparency International corruption rankings, being viewed as joint-11th least-corrupt country in the world, sharing its billing with Canada and Luxembourg. Finland was the most honest place in which to do business said the pressure group’s survey, followed by Iceland and the Denmark plus New Zealand at joint third.…
CARIBBEAN FEATURES
BY MARK WILSON
AWASH with recently-passed legislation and newly-established Financial Investigation Units, the small nations of the Caribbean have transformed their money laundering controls since the mid-1990s. In 2000, five Caribbean island jurisdictions made up one-third of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) list of fifteen non-cooperative countries and territories, each of them with ‘serious systemic problems,’ in the words of a FATF review published on June 22 of that year.…
NEW MEXICO
BY PHILIP FINE
NATIVE Americans, cattle ranchers and environmentalists are trying to limit oil and natural gas drilling in New Mexico’s San Juan Basin, taking the US government to a Washington DC federal district court. BP, El Paso and Burlington hope to increase production after federal officials recently said they would permit nearly the sinking of 10,000 new wells over the next two decades.…
MEXICO DEATH ROW
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE UNITED States government will have to reconsider the fate of foreign nationals on death row, after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled it had breached its obligations under the Vienna Convention on consular relations, by failing to inform 51 Mexican convicts of their right to contact diplomats “without delay” after arrest.…
DOHA ROUND
BY KEITH NUTHALL
AN INTERNATIONAL conference on the faltering World Trade Organisation (WTO) agricultural liberalisation negotiations has been told that full agreement is now unlikely to be achieved until 2007. If this comes to pass, it would drive a coach and horses through the existing January 2005 deadline for concluding the Doha Development Round, of which the agricultural talks form a key part.…
USDA RESEARCH
BY PHILIP FINE
THE NEW York Times is reporting that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been pressuring its scientific experts to approve meat products not yet deemed safe. An unnamed senior USDA scientist said department researchers had been pressured to approve cattle from Mexico at risk of tuberculosis and, in August, following their BSE scare, boneless meat from Canadian cattle, prior to the conclusion of an in-house study.…
UNDERGROUND STORAGE EXPERTS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A GROUP of countries have formed a network of excellence developing expertise in the deep underground storage of radioactive waste. Coordinated by the International Atomic Energy Agency, participants include Belgium’s Hades Underground Research Facility in Mol; Canada’s Underground Research Laboratory of Lac-du-Bonnet, Manitoba; Switzerland’s Grimsel Test Site and Mont-Terri Underground Research Laboratory; Britain’s Geo-Environmental Research Centre, Cardiff; and the USA’s WIPP facility, New Mexico, the Yucca Mountain Project, Nevada, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, San Francisco.…
SUPREME COURT - TORTS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A COALITION of major business groups has filed an amicus brief at the United States Supreme Court, calling on it to “clarify” the USA’s 1789 Alien Tort Statute, which they claim is being abused by special interest groups.…
USA SMUGGLING RING
BY MONICA DOBIE
AMERICAN police have arrested 10 people in what authorities describe as the country’s largest ever cigarette smuggling ring, seizing more than US$18.1 million worth of black market bound tobacco. Some of the estimated 100 million smuggled cigarettes were counterfeits from Asia hidden in imported plastic goods or toys.…
KILLER ONIONS
BY MONICA DOBIE
A SHIPMENT of green onions from Mexico has recently killed three people and sickened more than 600 in the United States. The onions – served up at Mexican restaurant chain Chi Chi’s – carried the Hepatitis A virus.…
NANOTECHNOLOGY CRITICISM (ROUND UP)
BY KEITH NUTHALL
AN INNOVATIVE nanotechnology technology has been trialled in the United States, effectively spraying a protective crystal crust on a New Mexico mountainside that had been left exposed to erosion by a fire. Its flames destroyed 5,000 acres of land considered sacred by the Taos Pueblo Native Indian group.…
FTAA TALKS HIT SNAG
BY PHILIP FINE
THE GOVERNMENTS of 34 countries from the Americas will be struggling today (Wed19/11) to come to a draft trade agreement, much of which centres on agricultural subsidies. The Free Trade Area of the Americas meeting being held in Miami has seen two competing camps vying for control.…
PECTIN EXTRACTION
BY PHILIP FINE
THE USA could become a major pectin producer after a Penn State University (Pennsylvania) researcher developed a process to extract high-quality pectin from orange peels. The complex carbohydrate, used to thicken jellies and fruit fillings, has been traditionally slow cooked by Europeans using lime peels imported from Mexico and south America.…
NANOTECHNOLOGY CRITICISM (ROUND UP)
BY KEITH NUTHALL
AN INNOVATIVE nanotechnology technology has been trialled in the United States, effectively spraying a protective crystal crust on a New Mexico mountainside that had been left exposed to erosion by a fire. Its flames destroyed 5,000 acres of land considered sacred by the Taos Pueblo Native Indian group.…
NEW MEXICO TAX
BY MONICA DOBIE
AUTHORITIES in the USA’s New Mexico have introduced plans to drastically raise taxes on all alcoholic beverages sold. Its congress has proposed a “dime a drink tax” (ten cents per drink) intended to raise funds to introduce more detoxification centres for alcoholics and educational programs in the state.…
NEW MEXICO TAX
BY MONICA DOBIE
STATE legislators in New Mexico, the USA, are currently debating a plan to drastically raise taxes on all alcoholic beverages sold. Its congress has proposed a “dime a drink tax” (ten cents per drink), which has been framed to raise funds to open more detoxification centres for problem drinkers and educational programmes in the state.…
BALONEY SMUGGLING
BY PHILIP FINE
UNITED States border authorities on the lookout for a new food smuggling racket from Mexico, after customs officials discovered an operation that involved one light truck and 756 pounds of processed sandwich meat. US Customs and Border Protection officers seized 81 rolls of Mexican baloney on Texas’s Paso Del Norte bridge from Juarez, Mexico.…
UN CRIME CONVENTIONS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE UNITED Nations (UN) has framed a new anti-corruption convention and its established convention against organised crime is now coming into force. Keith Nuthall examines what this will mean for businesses, banks and governments.
THE COMMERCIAL world is often doubtful about the value of international conventions fighting crime, but their texts do at least reflect a global consensus amongst concerned governments.…
WTO NEGOTIATIONS PUSH
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission has released proposals to liberalise the global cotton trade, aimed at helping to restart the World Trade Organisation’s Doha Development Round, following September’s inconclusive summit at Cancun, Mexico. Brussels has promised to offer an end to its export subsidies for European Union cotton producers and also to push for a specific implementation timetable to be agreed during the talks for scrapping such payments worldwide.…
COMMS INVESTMENT
BY KEITH NUTHALL
AN ORGANISATION for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report says that the Netherlands, out of all EU countries, has received the largest economic boost from investment in communications and information technology. Much of the resulting labour productivity growth has been concentrated in knowledge intensive activities, notably high technology and medium high technology manufacturing, said the developed world think tank.…
OIE BSE RULES
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE OFFICE International des Épizooties (OIE) will review its BSE trade guidelines following requests from the USA, Canada and Mexico, but claims governments fail to implement existing advice. The north American trio requested action following complete trade bans on Canadian beef because of one BSE infected cow.…
UN CONVENTIONS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A UNITED Nations (UN) Convention against Transnational Organised Crime has come into force, imposing a duty on ratifying countries to outlaw membership of an organised criminal group, which it defines legally. So far, said the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 48 countries have ratified it, including Monaco, Nigeria, Serbia & Montenegro, Peru, Spain, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, Philippines, Tajikistan, Albania, France, Argentina, Mexico, Turkey, China, Norway and Afghanistan.…
OIE BSE RULES
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE OFFICE International des Épizooties (OIE), the world animal health organisation, will review its guidelines on trade with countries with BSE outbreaks following requests from the USA, Canada and Mexico, but claims governments are already failing to implement its existing advice.…
EU SUBSIDY REFORM
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission has formally proposed the plan announced at the inconclusive World Trade Organisation summit in Cancun, Mexico, to decouple cotton grower aid payments from production rates, converting them into direct payments. Although Brussels has shied from complete decoupling, its stated aim is to remove incentives for growers to over-produce cotton.…
DRINKS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
BY KEITH NUTHALL in Paris, ALAN OSBORN in London, MARK ROWE in Singapore, ED PETERS and DON GASPER in Hong Kong, RICHARD HURST in Johannesburg, MONICA DOBIE and PHILIP FINE in Montreal, MATTHEW BRACE in Brisbane and ALEX SMAILES in Port of Spain.…
TOURISM DAMAGE - GREENWATCH
BY KEITH NUTHALL
TOURISM once was regarded as a key to the developing world’s ills, allowing poor countries to make money out of their natural landscape and cultural attractions, but as with most success stories, there is a downside. In some countries, tourism has boomed so suddenly and aggressively, the development it has sparked has threatened to go out of control, spoiling the delights that lured tourists in the first place and creating a host of new environmental problems for governments to deal with.…
TOURISM DAMAGE - GREENWATCH
BY KEITH NUTHALL
IN 1995, when I visited the Laos capital Vientiane, it was a sleepy place; a quiet low rise French colonial town on the banks of the Mekong, a listless, aimless, but charming mix of Soviet-style socialist monuments, Buddhist temples and Provencal town houses.…
CANCUN COTTON DEBATE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
SURPRISINGLY wide support for the west African plan to rid the world of cotton subsidies has been voiced at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) summit, in Cancun, Mexico. The Canadian and Australian governments yesterday (10 Sept) threw their developed country weight behind the plan, as did WTO Director-General Supachai Panitchpakdi.…
CANCUN SUMMIT FEATURE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
AS the diplomatic impasse crystallised at Cancun recedes into memory, the World Trade Organisation is facing what may be the sternest test of its eight year existence: can a body of 146 members actually agree comprehensive trade deals by consensus?…
CANCUN COTTON PLAN
KEITH NUTHALL
THE WEST African countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali have tabled an ambitious plan for the swift dismantling of developed country cotton subsidies; it will be examined at the World Trade Organisation’s ministerial summit in Cancun, Mexico, which opened today (Sept 10).…
WTO SUMMIT
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE WORLD Trade Organisation has failed to move its Doha development round ahead at its summit in Cancun, Mexico, with talks collapsing over proposals on investment rights. The WTO General Council will convene before Christmas to plot a way forward.…
BSE MEAT APPEAL
BY MONICA DOBIE
CANADA, the US and Mexico have asked Office International des Épizooties, the world animal health organisation, to establish more practical and scientific guidelines on preventing and controlling BSE. They want action by January, given recent advances in detection and deterrence and the trade hiatus following the discovery of one infected cow in Canada.…
WTO TALKS DELAY
BY KEITH NUTHALL
FOLLOWING the failed World Trade Organisation summit in Cancun, Mexico, the WTO’s agricultural liberalisation negotiations are being delayed. The “special session” of officials dealing with the food and drink portion of the Doha Development Round was supposed to meet in Geneva on October 6-9, but this meeting has now been postponed “indefinitely.”…
CANCUN FLOP
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE WORLD Trade Organisation (WTO) will over the next three months try to pick up the pieces from its failed summit in Cancun, Mexico. The meeting was effectively scuppered by the developing world, which refused to talk about writing rules on protecting investment rights into a new WTO agreement.…
COTTON SUBSIDIES - EU
BY ALAN OSBORN
THE EUROPEAN Commission, representing the 15 EU member countries, is to propose that the European Union de-couples support for cotton from production in what it calls “a constructive solution to address the trade aspects linked
to the depressed prices in the current world cotton market.”…
US - MEXICO: WTO
BY KEITH NUTHALL
MEXICO has asked the WTO to settle a row with the USA over claims that Washington’s reimposition of anti-dumping duties on Mexican oil country tubular goods broke global trading regulations. Mexico claims Washington erred during a 2001 sunset review, alleging it “misapplied a ‘would be likely to lead’ standard,” when assessing if scrapping the tariffs might encourage cut-priced Mexican pipeline tube imports.…
US-MEXICO COUNTERVAILING DUTIES
BY KEITH NUTHALL
MEXICO has requested the formation of a World Trade Organisation panel over a dispute with the United States regarding its levying of 11.68 per cent countervailing duties on imports of carbon steel plate in sheets from Mexican producer Altos Hornos de México, SA de CV (AHMSA).…
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION ROUND UP
BY KEITH NUTHALL
*A south-south project – backed by World Bank Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) will raise Burundi’s teledensity ratio above one per cent. It is guaranteeing Mauritius Telecom Ltd’s US$1.01 million investment in Burundi’s Africell GSM mobile network.
*An emerging international market in hosting regional and international headquarters of transnational corporations benefits developing countries, says the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); 829 HQs were established or relocated January 2002 to March 2003, nearly a quarter in developing countries.…
CANCUN SUMMIT PRE-FEATURE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
ANTI-GLOBALISATION activists will not like it, but there are clear signs that September’s World Trade Organisation summit in Cancun might deliver what has eluded political leaders since the WTO’s agricultural liberalisation talks began in 2000: the beginnings of a deal.…
CANCUN FLOP
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE WORLD Trade Organisation (WTO) will over the next three months try to pick up the pieces from its failed summit in Cancun, Mexico. The meeting was effectively scuppered by the developing world, which refused to talk about writing rules on protecting investment rights into a new WTO agreement.…
CANCUN SUMMIT PRE-FEATURE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
ANTI-GLOBALISATION activists will not like it, but there are signs that September’s World Trade Organisation summit in Cancun might deliver what has eluded political leaders since the WTO’s agricultural liberalisation talks began in 2000: the beginnings of a deal.…
CANCUN SUMMIT PRE-FEATURE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
ANTI-GLOBALISATION activists will not like it, but there are signs that September’s World Trade Organisation summit in Cancun might be able to deliver what has eluded political leaders since the WTO’s agricultural liberalisation talks began in 2000: the beginnings of a deal.…
WTO TALKS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE CHAIRPERSON of the World Trade Organisation’s agricultural talks has warned that productive bilateral discussions behind the scenes will be required for the oncoming WTO summit in Cancun, Mexico, to have any chance of striking a ‘modalities’ deal setting the overall goals for the negotiations.…
CANCUN - GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS
BY ALAN OSBORN
The European Commission has launched a bid to protect the names of
several famous drinks originating in Europe like champagne, cognac,
chianti, sherry and port and is calling on the World Trade Organisation to
stop non-EU countries using them.…
WTO SUMMIT
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE WORLD Trade Organisation has failed to move its Doha development round ahead at its summit in Cancun, Mexico, with talks collapsing over proposals on investment rights. The WTO General Council will convene before Christmas to plot a way forward.…
GROUNDWATER REPORT
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A UNITED Nations Environment Programme report has urged governments to take better care of the underground aquifers that they plunder for drinking water supplies, warning that many countries are pumping groundwater at unsustainable rates.
The paper singles out Spain’s Segura river basin for particular concern.…
COTTON SUBSIDIES - WTO
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A CALL has been made at the World Trade Organisation for this September’s summit in Cancún, Mexico, to agree to compensate least developed countries for the economic pain wreaked on their cotton producers by subsides paid out in rich developed countries.…
USTR PORK REPORT
BY KEITH NUTHALL
AMERICAN pork exports are thriving according to a new report from the United States Trade Representative (USTR) office. Overseas sales of swine, pork and pork products have increased three times in volume and 2.5 times in value since 1993, with the US now exporting more than 700 tonnes of pork worldwide worth over US$1.5 billion.…
GROUNDWATER REPORT
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A UNITED Nations Environment Programme report has urged governments to take better care of the underground aquifers that they plunder for drinking water supplies, warning that many countries are pumping groundwater at unsustainable rates.
The paper singles out Spain’s Segura river basin for particular concern.…
FOSSIL FUEL SEQUESTRATION
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission has signed an international charter on the capture and storage deep underground of carbon dioxide, also involving Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Italy, India, Japan, Mexico, Norway, China, Russia, Britain and the US. This Sequestration Leadership Forum is developing schemes to capturing CO2 at source and storing it for thousands of years deep underground, probably in depleted oil and gas wells, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.…
FOSSIL FUEL SEQUESTRATION
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE STORAGE of CO2 deep underground in uneconomic coal seams is one key option being considered by the (carbon) Sequestration Leadership Forum, which has just been joined by the European Commission. Other members are Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Italy, India, Japan, Mexico, Norway, China, Russia, Britain and the US.…
USA V MEXICO - BEEF
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE UNITED States has launched a disputes case at the World Trade Organisation against Mexico, complaining about its southern neighbour’s antidumping duties on American beef exports. Washington is claiming that Mexico broke WTO rules in framing these duties, notably its choice of data used in dumping investigations and its methods of measuring alleged injuries suffered by Mexican beef producers.…
USTR PORK REPORT
BY KEITH NUTHALL
AMERICAN pork exports are thriving according to a new report from the United States Trade Representative (USTR) office. Overseas sales of swine, pork and pork products have increased three times in volume and 2.5 times in value since 1993, with the US now exporting more than 700 tonnes of pork worldwide worth over US$1.5 billion.…
USA V MEXICO - BEEF
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE UNITED States has launched a disputes case at the World Trade Organisation against Mexico, complaining about its southern neighbour’s antidumping duties on American beef exports. Washington is claiming that Mexico broke WTO rules in framing these duties, notably its choice of data used in dumping investigations and its methods of measuring alleged injuries suffered by Mexican beef producers.…
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS FEATURE
BY ALAN OSBORN
SOME four years after they began, negotiations for a deal over a geographical indication register for traditionally made wines and spirits are entering a decisive phase at the World Trade Organisation. The talks have taken so long because there is a fundamental difference in approach between new world producers led by the US who want such a register to amount to no more than a kind of voluntary data-base and the Europeans who see it as a means of ensuring world-wide legal protection for traditional appellations.…
WTO SERVICES ROUND
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission has offered to open up the European Union’s market in environmental services to suppliers based outside the EU, as part of the ongoing Doha Development Round at the World Trade Organisation.
If its trading partners offer adequate concessions in return, Brussels is offering to remove regulatory restrictions to foreign providers of waste water, sanitation, solid and hazardous waste management, soil clean-ups, air pollution reduction and similar services.…
GEPGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS - DISPUTE
Keith Nuthall
THE EUROPEAN Union is facing growing opposition at the World Trade Organisation to its stance on geographical indications, where it refuses to grant protection to traditional regional names of drinks and food products from non-EU countries, unless their governments roughly copy Europe’s own rules.…
WTO SERVICES ROUND
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission has offered to open up the European Union’s market in IT services to suppliers based outside the EU, as part of the ongoing Doha Development Round at the World Trade Organisation.
If its trading partners offer adequate concessions in return, Brussels is offering to remove regulatory restrictions preventing non-EU computing companies from offering services in Europe.…
TRIPS NEGOTIATIONS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
POLITICAL pressure is rising on negotiators at the WTO tasked with striking a deal over a geographical indication register for traditionally made wines and spirits. WTO members have long debated the issue and have not bridged the gap between countries such as the USA, which want a powerless register for guidance on protected terms and the EU and its allies, which want registration to grant compulsory worldwide protection.…
TRIPS NEGOTIATIONS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
DRINKS industry lobbyists are waiting for the imminent release of a draft proposal to create a deal at the World Trade Organisation over a geographical indication register for traditionally made wines and spirits. WTO members have long tried to bridge the gap between the USA, which wants a powerless register for guidance on protected terms and the EU, which wants registration to grant compulsory worldwide protection.…
MILLENNIUM EDUCATION GOALS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
AS with many projects inspired by the start of the next 997 years and the last three, the framing of the United Nations’ (UN) Millennium Development Goals was an ambitious enterprise.
Imposing statistically measurable targets for international organisations and national governments in making improvements in global poverty, education, gender equality, health, the environment and education, they have proved tough to attain.…
WTO TALKS FAILURE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
WITH negotiators failing this Monday to agree liberalisation targets for the World Trade Organisation’s three years old agricultural talks – missing a March 31 deadline – member governments are facing a stiff challenge.
They have until the WTO’s next ministerial summit at Cancun, Mexico, in September, to strike a deal or face potential chaos at this meeting.…
MEXICO V USA
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE MEXICAN government is has launched formal disputes talks at the World Trade Organisation, over claims that the United States’ reimposition of anti-dumping duties on its exports of ‘oil country tubular goods’ broke global trading regulations. Mexico City says Washington’s erred during its 2001 sunset review of the duties, assessing whether abolition might attract cut-priced Mexican pipelines.…
TUBULAR GOODS ROW
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE MEXICAN government has launched the first stage of disputes proceedings at the World Trade Organisation, (formal talks), over claims that the reimposition by the United States of anti-dumping duties on its exports of oil country tubular goods broke global trading regulations.…
US DUTIES LOWERED
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE UNITED States has announced its first offer of reductions to food duties in its bid to create a 34-country Free Trade Area of the Americas pact. It plans to slash duties on 56 per cent of agricultural imports from north and south American countries by 2005 (ignoring those from Canada and Mexico) and expects reciprocal offers.…
USA CIGAR FEATURE
BY ALAN OSBORN
A LOT of people are saying that cigar smoking may be in serious long-term decline given the way things are going in America. World Tobacco is inclined to treat the figures a little more cautiously. It is true there has almost certainly been a sharp drop in American consumption in recent years but, as Chris Boon, the premium cigar manager at British American Tobacco, points out, there are no true figures: “you draw own conclusions and arrive at an estimate.”…
WTO TALKS FAILURE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
WORLD Trade Organisation member countries last week failed to agree liberalisation targets for the WTO’s three-years-old agricultural talks. Member countries had until March 31 to approve so-called modalities, binding global targets for cutting tariffs, quotas and subsidies, which would be realised in detailed bilateral horsetrading over the next two years.…
OECD TAX REPORT
BY KEITH NUTHALL
IF accountants want to give really useful advice to their clients that applies almost anywhere in the developed world, they should tell them to get married and have kids.
That would be the most logical conclusion that could be drawn from the latest Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) publication on tax, “Taxing Wages.”…
POULTRY: USA-MEXICO
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE UNITED States and Mexico have headed off a poultry trade row. Under NAFTA, standard Mexican tariffs on US poultry exports were scrapped on January 1. However, Mexico feared an export boom and threatened to invoke its right to impose safeguard tariffs on all US chicken.…
SERVICES ROUND ANALYSIS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE ADAGE ‘you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink’ applies in many walks of life and it is certainly relevant to the ongoing World Trade Organisation’s negotiations on liberalising market access for services.…
WTO TALKS UPDATE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE WORLD Trade Organisation (WTO) is approaching a key deadline in the agricultural section of its ongoing Doha Development Round. Its 146 member countries have until March 31 to complete a so-called ‘modalities’ agreement for the discussions. This should include binding targets for the talks on future tariff levels, import quota sizes, export subsidies and production grants.…
USA WTO TARIFF ROW
BY PHILIP FINE
THE AMERICAN Textile Manufacturers Institute (ATMI) is voicing its opposition to the Bush administration’s recent tariff-slashing proposal for the ongoing World Trade Organisation Doha Development Round, saying the trade plan will further open the market to China and wipe out US$13 billion worth of US business.…
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union and its allies at the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) negotiations over the creation of a global register for protected geographical indications in the wine and spirit trade have made a significant concession, which may be the basis for a future deal.…
WTO ROUND UP
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE PROBLEM for farmers when considering how to influence international negotiations that are as long, complicated and important as the scheduled five years of discussions over updating the World Trade Organisation’s agriculture agreement, is knowing when to spend money on lobbyists to intervene.…
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS
Keith Nuthall
A CONSULTANT for the California wine industry thinks the US will be prepared to cut a deal at next September’s World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico over European demands for a mandatory wine and spirits register of geographical indications.…
DOHA ROUND FEATURE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE MAIN complaint of demonstrators with metal bars through their noses who harangue international organisations such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is that they allow important decisions to be taken in secret that are binding on democratically elected parliaments.…
RUNWAY INCURSION
Keith Nuthall
THE INTERNATIONAL Air Transport Association and the US’s Federal Aviation Administration are launching a CD-rom designed to train and raise the awareness of pilots and air traffic controllers in reducing the risk of runway incursions by taxiing aircraft.
Delegates at a recent International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) conference on the topic in Mexico City heard that this Runway Safety Education and Training Aid was necessary because – said one speaker – “in recent years the number of runway incursions has increased significantly worldwide,” and stands to increase further as civil aviation grows.…
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS
BY PHILIP FINE
A CONSULTANT for the California wine industry thinks the US will be prepared to cut a deal at next September’s World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico over European demands for a mandatory wine and spirits register of geographical indications.…
WHO LONG-LIST
BY ALAN OSBORN
A LONG-LIST of nine names was being considered this month (January) by the World Health Organisation as potential successors to Gro Harlem Brundtland as director general next year. Dr Brundtland has conducted a relentless campaign against smoking and the organisation may be difficult to elect a similar anti-tobacco crusader given the differences she has had with the US.…
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS
BY KEITH NUTHALL, ALAN OSBORN AND PHILIP FINE
THE EUROPEAN Union, the United States and their various allies seem to be moving towards a deal at the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) negotiations over the creation of a global register for protected geographical indications in the wine and spirit trade.…
RULES OF ORIGIN
BY KEITH NUTHALL
CREATING finished leather from tanned leather, (in its wet state), is not sufficiently important a manufacturing process to warrant the final product being legally considered a new good, made in the country where it was processed rather than where it was sourced, the chairman of a special World Trade Organisation committee has advised.…
RULES OF ORIGIN
BY KEITH NUTHALL
CREATING finished leather from tanned leather, (in its wet state), is not sufficiently important a manufacturing process to warrant the final product being legally considered a new good, made in the country where it was processed rather than where it was sourced, the chairman of a special World Trade Organisation committee has advised.…
ILLEGAL PLANT TRADE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE RICHES that can be made from the illegal ivory trade are well known, but what of illicit imports and exports of rare flowers. Shipping protected orchids to Europe, Japan and north America can make criminals a lot of money.…
CAR RETURN TREATIES
BY PHILIP FINE
THE UNITED States may have found an effective means to recover stolen vehicles. It has signed treaties that will provide a mechanism by which automobiles that have been driven out of the country by thieves can be retrieved.…
CHILD LABOUR
BTY MARK ROWE
THE TOBACCO industry has not been exempt from the problem of young children working in developing countries. But in the past 12 months BAT has taken significant steps to address the question of child labour. Earlier this year it helped launch the Elimination of Child Labour in Tobacco Growing Foundation, which supports community-based initiatives to address the issue.…
FAIRNESS DIRECTIVE
KEITH NUTHALL
EUROPE’S retail businesses and associations have been asked to comment on detailed plans released by the European Commission for a broad ‘framework’ directive on fair trading; the legislation may for instance, ban “business from engaging in commercial practices that are misleading or likely to mislead the consumer.”…
MARITIME BORDERS
Keith Nuthall
A SPECIAL conference on settling a number of maritime border disputes in the Caribbean has been launched, which could help develop international law regarding the effect of uninhabited island on establishing exclusive economic zones.
One wrangle is between Venezuela and the Caribbean island state of St Kitts and Nevis, which has been protesting about maritime boundary treaties concluded by the south American state regarding the so-called Isla Aves; they grant the islands full territorial sea status, including an exclusive economic zone, or continental shelf.…
US - MEXICO
BY KEITH NUTHALL
MEXICO and the United States made pledges on several food industry issues during recent two-day talks. The countries have agreed to work together on sanitary policies, animal health, food safety, and research. US-Mexico agricultural trade has doubled since 1993 to US$13 billion in 2001.…
EU-LATIN AMERICA
BY KEITH NUTHALL
AN AGREEMENT supporting research into new technologies for food distribution has been signed by the EU, Argentina, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.…
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION ROUND-UP
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE UN Food and Agricultural Organisation and the UN Conference on Trade and Development are developing a task force helping developing countries establish administrative regimes guarantee that locally produced organic foods were made without artificial aids. UNCTAD promotes organic production as sustainable, because its labour intensity and lack of expensive chemical inputs matches poor countries’ economic realities.…
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS
Keith Nuthall
MEMBER governments of the World Trade Organisation have agreed to embark on two-phase talks to meet the 2003 deadline for completing negotiations on a multilateral registration system for geographical indications of wines and spirits.
The WTO’s TRIPS (trade related aspects of intellectual property rights) council has broadly agreed that a single draft document should be written by early next year, even if this included alternative options.…
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS
Keith Nuthall
MEMBER governments of the World Trade Organisation have agreed to embark on two-phase talks to meet the 2003 deadline for completing negotiations on a multilateral registration system for geographical indications of wines and spirits.
The WTO’s TRIPS (trade related aspects of intellectual property rights) council has broadly agreed that a single draft document should be written by early next year, even if this included alternative options.…
US RESERVES
BY PHILIP FINE
THE US Departments of Energy and the Interior are joining forces to use oil from federally leased land in the Gulf of Mexico for America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve, an emergency crude oil stockpile. Equiva Trading Co. of Houston won the contract to supply additional oil, upping the reserve by 18.6 million barrels.…
WTO TALKS
KEITH NUTHALL
THE REVIEW of the implementation of the second phase of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing has become mired in disagreement, with developing country exporters and developed importers unable to agree a scheduled report, which would settle the issue.…
WTO NEGOTIATIONS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE STRUCTURE of the World Trade Organisation negotiations launched last year in Doha, Qatar, to liberalise much of global commerce, has now been set, with committees and working parties being given the task of agreeing detailed timetables for their work.…
EL PASO
BY PHILIP FINE
HOUSTON-based El Paso Energy Partners will build and operate a new 380 mile oil pipeline, capable of moving 500,000 barrels of crude per day from oil fields in the western Gulf of Mexico areas to Port Arthur and Texas City.…
AVEDA DONATION
BY KEITH NUTHALL
GLOBAL cosmetics company Aveda is to give US$500,000 to an eco-tourism project involving the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organisation. Sites benefiting are Sian Ka’an and El Vizcaino biosphere reserves, Mexico; Tikal national park, Guatemala; Rio Platano biosphere reserve, Honduras; and Komodo and Ujung Kulon national parks Indonesia.…
GEORGE WESTON
BY MONICA DOBIE
TORONTO-based biscuit bakeries, George Weston Ltd will sell its Oroweat division to Mexico-based, Grupo Bimbo, for US$610 million. The sale includes five production facilities, and a licence to sell and manufacture the Entenmann’s brand in western United States and an agreement to distribute products under the Thomas’ and Boboli brands in the same region.…
TERROR MONEY LAUNDERING
BY KEITH NUTHALL
IT was telling that the first step taken by President Bush against Islamic terror groups following the World Trade Centre disaster was to freeze bank accounts. The international community has now responded by agreeing common controls to stop terror groups laundering funds.…
ECO-CRIME REPORT
BY KEITH NUTHALL
ENVIRONMENTAL crimes are in many ways the most damaging of offences, given that they can harm millions of people, whether through damaging the ozone layer, increasing pollution levels or damaging biodiversity. They are also hard to pinpoint and investigate and it is for these reasons that the Milan-based United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, (UNICRI), has published a study on this modern scourge.…
ECOCRIME
BY KEITH NUTHALL
ENVIRONMENTAL crimes are in many ways the most damaging of offences, given that they can harm millions of people, whether through damaging the ozone layer, increasing pollution levels or damaging biodiversity. The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, (UNICRI), has published a study on this modern scourge.…
BUS FUEL CELLS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE UNITED Nations Development Programme, (UNDP), has announced a US$60 million programme to introduce hydrogen fuel-cell powered buses to the public transit systems of developing country cities. Beijing, Cairo, Mexico City, New Delhi, Sao Paulo and Shanghai will share 46 of these low emission buses.…
OECD REPORT
BY KEITH NUTHALL
HEALTH experts have been discussing a report from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, (OECD), which has shown Britain performs poorly against its competitors in western Europe and north America, regarding the number of nurses employed per head of population in the late 1990’s.…
CORN SYRUP
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE APPELLATE body of the World Trade Organisation has ruled that Mexico’s imposition of anti-dumping duties on imports of high fructose corn syrup from the US breaks world trade rules and so should be amended or scrapped. The panel found that Mexico had “inadequately considered the impact of dumped imports on the (Mexican corn syrup) industry.”…
WTO LATEST THINK PIECE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
FRANZ Fischler has been making a lot of speeches recently. It is not because he has time on his hands, he is in charge of the European Commission’s largest two budgets, agriculture and fisheries after all. Rather it is because he is cross with the Americans, whom he accuses of playing Janus at the WTO.…
CORN SYRUP
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE APPELLATE body of the WTO has ruled that Mexico’s imposition of anti-dumping duties on imports of high fructose corn syrup from the US breaks world trade rules and so should be amended or scrapped.…
USA V PAKISTAN
Keith Nuthall
THE UNITED States has been told it should scrap or amend safeguard restrictions on the amount of combed cotton yarn that can be imported from Pakistan, by the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organisation’s disputes settlement procedures.
Washington had contested an earlier judgement that it had broken WTO rules in the way that it imposed the trade barrier, but key elements of its case were rejected by the appeals body.…
ATC LATEST
Keith Nuthall
MEXICO, Bolivia and Malta have joined the string of World Trade Organisation member governments which have announced how they will implement the third stage of liberalisation commitments under the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing.…
BERTELSMANN-MONDADORI
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission has cleared a planned Spanish publishing joint venture between Germany’s Bertelsmann and Arnoldo Mondadori Editore SpA, of Italy, combining all the book publishing divisions and imprints in Spain and Latin America of Random House and Mondadori.…
WTO COMPONENTS
Keith Nuthall
A DEAL has been stuck at the World Trade Organisation’s goods council, which will extend the time that eight developing countries can erect trade barriers to restrict the import of components for automobile manufacturing, to promote local engineering companies.…
CORONA-INDIA
BY SWINEETHA DIAS WICKRAMANAYAKE
MEXICO-based Grupo Modelo is launching its flagship brand Corona in India this year, with its international market coordinator for the Asia-Pacific region claiming that the beer will be as successful as it has been in China. Linares Fernando told the Indian press that annual Chinese sales are approaching one million cases.…
CHIEFTAIN
BY MONICA DOBIE
DALLAS based Hunt Oil Co. has taken over Chieftain International Inc., an Edmonton-based and Canadian-owned natural gas producer, with assets in the Gulf of Mexico, for CAN$915-million. Hunt is offering US$29 in cash for each Chieftain share and is to assume US$15-million of debt.…
CHINA - WTO
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE SHIPPING industry is looking forward to the anticipated accession of China to the World Trade Organisation, which after 15 years of often tortuous negotiations, is likely to be rubber stamped this autumn and become reality next Spring.…
MEXICO WORKERS
BY MONICA DOBIE
AFTER Mexican plantation workers walked off tobacco fields in Ontario, Canada, to protest about the deplorable working conditions, the Canadian section of the United Farm Workers of America has called for the establishment national labour standards to protect them.…
AZURIX
BY MIKE FOX
AZURIX, the troubled water subsidiary of the giant energy company Enron, has confirmed that it would like to sell its north American water interests.
Azurix has a company policy of not commenting on its plans for acquisitions or divestments, but the potential sale of its north American subsidiary was revealed when it put in a bid to develop a US$150million water treatment plant that would eventually form part of a US$2billion distribution system in Houston Texas, home to the corporate headquarters of both companies.…
GUARD CAR REVIEW
BY KATE REW
S500 Mercedes ‘Guard’
Pluses: Unlike competitors it’s built from outset as armoured car – although
it doesn’t look like one.
Minuses: Are you really in enough danger to justify spending Pounds 130,000, (US$150K in the US), on this when you could be spending it on a yacht?…
TEXAS PIECE
BY KATE REW
IN the 21st century, water may be as important to the Texas economy as oil and gas were in the last. In an American state where the urban population is expected to double over the next 50 years and where the majority of surface reservoirs have already been developed, the importance of ground water sources is paramount.…
FAO - FOREST FIRES
BY KEITH NUTHALL
AN INTERNATIONAL action plan to fight forest fires is being drawn up with the assistance of the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation. Experts from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Ethiopia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Turkey and USA have been discussing proposals for a system involving mutual assistance and coordinated approaches to forest fire management.…