The
Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners has approved a 40-year lease
agreement with Aeroterm to develop and manage an international air cargo center
at the Ontario International Airport, located in Southern California’s Inland
Empire.
NYK Promotes Keller; SEKO Appoints Fitzgerald; Lowe’s Cos. Awards Horizon Lines; RailAmerica Taps Giles; Nelson Named Advisor to TradeBeam; New CEO for Werner Enterprises; JAXPORT Promotes Peek
Indian Railways says it will introduce triple-stack trains on certain key routes following the success it’s had with double-stack container trains throughout the country. “Such containers will be useful to carry motor vehicles,” said India’s rail minister.
In recent years, Mexico has lost millions of dollars in foreign investment and low-cost manufacturing to China, particularly in sectors such as electronics. However, business leaders and Mexican government officials have begun viewing their rival as a land of opportunity.
The Transportation Services Index (TSI) fell 0.6 percent in January to 109.5 (2000=100) from its December level, falling after a one-month rise, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) office.
Trade officials from the U.S. and South Korea met again recently to try and make progress on a free trade agreement (FTA). If a deal is eventually reached, the pact would be the biggest for the U.S. since the North American Free Trade Agreement signed in 1993.
Auto exports from China doubled last year to a record 340,000 vehicles, moving the country ahead of Germany to become the world’s third largest automobile manufacturer.
The beginning of the year brought with it new Hours of Service rules for three provinces in Canada. The new rules stipulate that Canadian and U.S. truckers cannot drive more than 13 hours in a day and be on duty no more than 14 hours.
German chancellor Angela Merkel says she will use her country’s presidency of the EU, which came into force on January 1, to promote closer trade ties with the U.S.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon has promised to spend billions on upgrading the country’s transportation network to more effectively compete in the global marketplace.
A free trade pact between the U.S. and Panama will remove tariffs and trade barriers between the two countries and open up new opportunities for U.S. exporters.
Short-sea shipping in Europe finished out 2006 with surging profits and double-digit growth, and it appears 2007 will bring much of the same, spurred on by industry mergers and acquisitions.
The Transportation Services Index (TSI) fell 1.0 in November (2006) to 109.1 (2000=100) from its October level, declining for the first time since August, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) office.
Although the U.S.-Europe trade lane has been the bread and butter for many U.S. East Coast airports’ air cargo programs for years, their interest in Asia is starting to gain altitude. At New York’s JFK airport, Asian destinations accounted for 51 percent of the international freight volume during the fist half of 2006.
The Transportation Services Index (TSI) remained unchanged in October at 110.3 (2000=100)—the same level as September, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) office
Although Poland is expected to attract roughly $10 billion in foreign investments this year, many multinational companies are increasingly pressuring the government to join the euro zone as quickly as possible.
The European Commission has upwardly revised its economic growth forecast for the 12 countries that use the euro, predicting 2.6 percent growth this year over last year’s 1.4 percent.
India’s government has plans to build a new deep-sea port in the state of West Bengal, and has begun talking to potential developers about the project.
A bilateral pact between China and India intends to boost two-way trade between the partners to $40 billion by 2010.
“There is enough space for the two nations to develop together in a mutually supportive manner while remaining sensitive to each others’ concerns and aspirations,” remarked Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Bilateral trade is estimated to reach $20 billion in 2006-2007, compared to just $260 million in 1990.
A new survey conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute finds that driver shortages and diesel fuel issues are the leading concerns for trucking companies.
Although the U.S. government had delayed the implementation date of a new rule requiring U.S., Canadian, and Mexican citizens entering or re-entering the U.S. to show passports, a recent notice in the Federal Register states that the target date is “as early as January 1, 2008.”
The newly implemented U.S. Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) will provide significant opportunities to U.S. manufacturers, states a report by Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI.
According to John Chambers, head of global networking giant Cisco, India is the hottest growth market in the world, which is why the company is investing over $1 billion in the country to establish a critical global operations hub there
The Chinese government says it plans to reduce its huge
trade surplus to zero by 2010. To get there, the government says it will trim
booming export growth and focus more on “quality growth.” China’s trade surplus
during the first eight months of this year hit $95.7 billion, well on track to surpass
last year’s record of $101.9 billion.
Panamanian voters in October overwhelmingly approved a
referendum for a $5.25 billion project to expand the Panama Canal to double its
current capacity.
The Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 1.5 percent
in September to 110.3 (2000=100) from its August level, rising one month after
the largest monthly decline in five years, according to the U.S. Department of
Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) office.
As many in the air cargo
industry had hoped, the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA)
new air cargo security rules will be postponed until mid-2007 in order
to give the industry more time to implement changes necessary to comply
with the broad reaching rules.
The Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 1.5 percent
in September to 110.3 (2000=100) from its August level, rising one month after
the largest monthly decline in five years, according to the U.S. Department of
Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) office.
The
EU has directed its 25 member states to open their mail markets to full
competition by 2009—a development that is expected to provide a big boost to
competition from companies such as UPS and FedEx in the $115-billion market.
The
Vietnamese government has approved a proposal for the development of a new
container port in Van Phong Bay, north of Nha Trang in the central coast
province of Khanh Hoa The proposed port will be developed in three phases on a
total area of 750 hectares in Dam Mon basin, and is expected to be complete by
2020.
A
new round of negotiations between China and Australia to establish a free trade
deal will be held in December, with cargo and service trade to be the topics of
discussion.
Similar to many industries, the trucking sector in recent years has experienced considerable consolidation as bigger firms have bought and paired up with smaller companies in order to extend their reach in products and services. This ‘urge to merge’ has even resulted in a few unique partnerships—evidence that as shippers continue to move operations to overseas markets, their transportation service providers have been required to respond with new offerings in order to keep up with them. And naturally, of lot of the impetus has come from the non-stop activity occurring in China.
The MidAmerica airport in St. Louis is positioning itself as an international air hub following the signing of a contract with a global freight handling company. The new tenant will lease 26,000 square feet of space at the airport with plans to develop it for warehousing and international cargo transfers.
India’s two largest ports—Mumbai and Nhava Sheva—are operating at peak capacity, which has prompted the government to build secondary ports to help alleviate congestion and facilitate increasing trade flows.
The Transportation Services Index (TSI) fell 2.5 percent in August to 108.7 (2000=100) from its July level, the third consecutive monthly decline and the largest monthly decline in five years. The biggest monthly drop—9.3 percent—occurred in September 2001.
Japan has already formed free trade deals with Singapore, Mexico, and Malaysia, and talks with Chile recently wrapped up. Now, a bilateral pact with Indonesia is entering the final draft stages.
A recent announcement by Airbus that more delays of the super jumbo A380 were to be expected has prompting UPS and FedEx to become increasingly worried about the impact on their freighter orders.
President Bush got closer to his vision of a Middle East Free Trade Agreement by 2013 with the formal signing this week of a free trade pact with Oman.
The head of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told an industry group this week that the agency would be adding more personnel over the next two fiscal years.
Mary Peters has been confirmed by the Senate to be the next transportation secretary. The chamber gave the former Federal Highway Administration head unanimous approval.
Dutch lawmakers have approved the construction of a massive container terminal at the Port of Rotterdam, which will help the port retain its competitive advantage over ports such as Le Havre and Hamburg.
Nicaraguan lawmakers are considering a proposal to build a canal between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans that would accommodate vessels too large to pass through the Panama Canal.
A new study by the National Association of Manufacturers finds that U.S. manufacturers are facing higher corporate taxes, natural gas prices, and other cost burdens compared to their competitors in nine other industrial countries.
The Chinese government says it plans to reduce its huge trade surplus to zero by 2010. To get there, the government says it will trim booming export growth and focus more on “quality growth.”
It’s official—Bulgaria and Romania have been approved to join the EU on January 1, 2007 after the European Commission determined recently that both nations had made enough progress for entry after seven years of membership talks.
A controversial plan by the European Union to ban 45-foot containers is causing a ruckus in the maritime transport industry, with ocean carriers, shippers, and ports warning that the move will hamper trade inside the 25-member trade bloc.
Talk about the need for a major ad campaign—with all the focus on China in recent years it almost seems that every other Asian country has fallen off the map. Yet, a handful of countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, have been busy investing in infrastructure and manufacturing facilities to improve their competitiveness.
Multinational companies are facing an increasingly complex transfer-pricing environment, according to a recent survey of more than 30 countries’ revenue authorities conducted by Ernst & Young LLP.
Three companies have been awarded contracts worth about $1.35 billion with the Department of Homeland Security to develop an imaging system that can detect high-density material in a container that is concealing a nuclear or radiological weapon.
A trade and investment agreement between the U.S. and the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), signed in August, could pave the way to a free trade pact between the two parties.
A survey of 230 executives by research firm and consultancy Transport Intelligence finds there’s massive potential in the Chinese logistics market for integrated contract logistics companies.
The Transportation Security Administration’s new air cargo security rules are set to go into effect on December 1, providing a few measures in the rules can be clarified in time.
Vietnam is getting more attention these days from manufacturers of shoes, garments, and computer chips—just a few of the items that helped China emerge in recent years as the world’s ‘factory floor.’
The U.S. has signed an open skies pact with Kuwait that will give air carriers from both countries greater and more flexible access to each other’s markets.
The big economies of Latin America that rely heavily on trade in commodities are in their fourth consecutive ‘boom’ year, but some economists predict that the inevitable ‘bust’ is not far behind.
Conversis, a translation and localization company based in the UK and U.S., has just released an additional country report on South Africa for its Cultural Commentaries: A Closer Look section, on the company’s Web site (www.conversisglobal.com).
The Transportation Services Index (TSI) fell another 0.4 percent in July to 111.5 (2000=100) from its June level, dropping for the second consecutive month, reports the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).
Although Lithuania was hoping to join the twelve members of the euro zone beginning January 1, it has narrowly missed qualifying for membership because of its high inflation.
The World Bank’s recently published “Doing Business 2007” shows that many of the world’s emerging economies as well as a few industrialized nations have made great strides this past year to make it easier for companies to do business.
Ray Simon has been named the Grand Champion of the American Trucking Association’s National Truck Driving Championship three times—an achievement not yet duplicated by another driver.
Cargo Volume at San Antonio On Track to Break Record
A strong economy coupled with changing demands in the global supply chain is likely to push air cargo volumes at San Antonio International Airport to a record high this year, say airport officials.
Bulgaria’s chances of joining the EU on January 1 are somewhat improved, according to an EU official who recently praised the country’s progress on various reforms.
Express and logistics companies can expect plenty of growth in the Middle East despite regional conflicts, notes research firm Transport Intelligence.
The main economic powerhouses are located in the Gulf region, where the logistics industry is being driven by the buoyant oil sector, rising consumer spending, and the construction boom.
In the rush to outsource manufacturing to China, many companies are unaware of hidden costs, notes Boston Consulting Group.
Moving manufacturing to China means the supply chain is longer, therefore increasing the time it takes to get products into stores. Furthermore, the increased volume of goods moving through U.S. West Coast ports "is creating bottlenecks that are making supplies to retailers uneven," says the consultancy.
RFID research is in need of more funding in order for the technology to realize its potential, and a recent decision by the EU to $7 million towards that effort is being praised by industry experts, who say the U.S. and other countries need to also do more.
The Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 1.1 percent in May to 112.4 (2000=100) from its April level, rising for the third consecutive month, reports the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).
The volume of freight at Mexico’s seaports has grown substantially in recent years due to both the NAFTA and growing imports from Asia. However, the country’s infrastructure is not keeping up with that expansion.
The highest-ranking trade negotiators from the U.S. and Canada have hammered out the details to end a long-standing dispute over lumber trade between the U.S. and Canada.
The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security is proposing changes to U.S. export rules that would open up trade in technology goods with China and other countries, providing the goods are not intended for military use.
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has become increasingly stern over China’s trade policy, which he says is threatening to result in a protectionist backlash.
The European Commission says it will pursue a free trade agreement with Russia once the country completes its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The Port of Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved $2.9 million for floating security barriers at the Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex.
Officials at the Port of Guaymas in Northern Mexico may solicit bids for a new container terminal as early as year-end to provide shippers with an alternative to U.S. ports.
The European Commission has delayed a decision on whether Romania and Bulgaria can join the EU next January, as originally hoped, because of concerns over corruption and organized crime.
The Bush administration will ask the WTO to give textiles “special consideration” to protect the domestic industry from low-cost production in countries such as China and Vietnam.
The EU is likely to remove Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) benefits from Belarus for its lack of “compliance with ILO (International Labour Organisation) commitments,” said a European Commission official.
The Chinese government says that strong foreign investment in financial services such as banking and securities boosted the country’s total foreign direct investment last year to $72.4 billion—up significantly from the $60.3 billion first reported for 2005.
The deadline to finalize an ‘open skies’ pact between the U.S. and EU has been pushed back to next March after negotiators failed again to work out details to liberalize the trans-Atlantic aviation market.
The Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 0.8 percent in March to 111.0 (2000=100) after three consecutive months of decline, reports the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).
The International Labour Organization (ILO) in its latest report entitled “The End of Child Labour: Within Reach,” asserts that, “Though the fight against child labour remains a daunting challenge, we are on the right track.
Forwarder and logistics provider, Seko, has appointed Paco Engels as managing director for Seko Global Logistics-Americas. Engles will be responsible for sales across the Americas region, including all strategy, marketing initiatives and related activities, as well as recruiting new worldwide partners.
Canada’s proposed federal budget calls for more spending on border and port security as well as arming Customs border staff—a first for the country. Specifically, the budget allocates $101 million to arm Canada Border Services Agency officers, starting at high-traffic ports of entry. A total of $303 million is set aside to accommodate low-risk trade as part of a controversial U.S. plan to require passports for anyone entering the United States.
The U.S. Trade Representative’s office resisted placing Russia on the most severe watch list for intellectual property rights violations, however it did warn that the country could lose benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences if it didn’t improve the situation.
The Nicaraguan government has opened a state-of-the-art call center in Managua that is poised to become the flagship call center for all of Central America.
The U.S. and Peru have signed a free trade agreement, which is headed to Congress for approval. Under the agreement, 80 percent of U.S. exports of consumer and industrial products will become duty-free immediately and an additional 7 percent will be duty-free within 5 years.
The Panama Canal Authority has proposed to double the capacity of the canal in a $5.25 billion expansion project. Under the plan, a third set of locks would be constructed, which would allow box ships up to 12,000 TEUs to traverse the canal.
Air carriers across the board are raising their fuel surcharges to keep pace with rising oil costs. Surcharges for many are now in the 60 to 65 cents per kilo range.
The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) reports that intermodal container volume increased 6.3 percent in the first quarter of 2006 compared to the same period last year
The head of DP World said in an interview that the terminal operator will try again to enter the U.S. market once new legislation is enacted that assures U.S. lawmakers that national security won’t be compromised.
A new study by Accenture finds that supply chain professionals in the chemicals industry view the underutilization of supply chain technology as a barrier to improving overall supply chain performance.
Small business exporters located in Hawaii will be better equipped to expand their international sales and minimize financial risks thanks to a new partnership between the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) and the State of Hawaii.
The Transportation Services Index (TSI) fell 0.9 percent in February to 110.2 (2000=100) from its January level, falling for the third consecutive month, reports the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).
Third-party logistics provider Nexus Distribution has announced that Mark Ofenloch has been formally appointed as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO). In his new position, he will be responsible for providing leadership to all operational organizations company-wide, including Transportation, Warehousing, and Freight Management Services (FMS).
The Canadian government has launched a pilot loan program intended to help the country’s smaller exporters cover the costs of meeting tougher U.S. Customs import security rules.
Europe’s biggest economy is showing signs of revitalization, according to a recent survey of consumer and business confidence, which bodes well for the 12-member euro zone.
South Africa’s business confidence edged up in March after falling sharply in February, but rampant domestic spending remained a concern, the South African Chamber of Business (SACOB) reported in April.
UPS CEO Mike Eskew told business leaders recently that “the inability of our transportation infrastructure to keep up with the normal day-to-day stresses imposed upon it” was “shocking.” Furthermore, Eskew warned that America was taking a chance with its future by neglecting its infrastructure.
The most important item on the air cargo industry’s agenda right now is the paperless processing of airfreight documents, according to Giovanni Bisignani, chief executive of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The U.S. Department of Commerce says the European Union has delayed implementation of a rule that would ban wood packing material with tree bark still attached.
A new double-stack train service in India—the country’s first such service—will help trim shipping costs, expedite freight movement, and shift more containers from road to rail.
The logistics market in China reached 3.4 trillion yuan (US$421 billion) last year, up 12.9 percent from a year earlier, according to the Xinhua news agency.
Imagine being able to know what freight will hit your system one month in advance. That’s the forecasting goal for railroads like UP and Burlington Northern, who are experimenting with new technology to give them better planning ability.
The American Trucking Association’s (ATA) for-hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 2.5 percent in February, which was the first monthly decline since August 2005.
Maritime executives are predicting smooth sailing for the port complex of Los Angeles-Long Beach again this year, despite what will likely be another record-breaking year in terms of cargo volume.
RFID’s use in global supply chains is helping advance the technology from its traditional and established closed-loop applications such as security/access control, automobile immobilization, animal tracking, and toll collection, according to a new market research report, “RFID Industry Analysis 2006,” published by RNCOS.
Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport will soon have its first refrigerated cargo facility open to all users, which will be used primarily to handle direct shipments of perishables from Central and South America.
The Transportation Services Index (TSI) fell 0.1 percent in January to 111.3 (2000=100) from its December level, falling for the second consecutive month.
The Bush administration has postponed free trade talks with the United Arab Emirates after the Dubai Ports World takeover of P&O’s U.S. ports assets was scrapped.
Five billion dollars will be pumped into Asia’s oldest rail network—Indian Railways—to keep up with the country’s growing transportation and logistics needs
The Venezuelan government says it will delay a ban on flights by most U.S. airlines until March 30 in order to allow both sides further time to negotiate.
U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman told the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee that the Bush administration will pursue several bilateral trade pacts this year.
Intellectual property piracy in Russia cost U.S. businesses $1.8 billion in 2005, says the International Intellectual Property Association, which warned that, “Russia’s copyright piracy problem remains one of the world’s most serious
Things looked promising last year when the European Union and United States reached a tentative ‘open skies’ pact, which would allow European and American airlines to fly into cities on either side of the Atlantic
The Canadian Trucking Alliance has cautioned shippers that all the major components of carrier operating costs—labor, fuel, equipment and maintenance—will continue to come under upward pressure in 2006 and need to be covered through a combination of rates and surcharges, similar to the situation that is plaguing the U.S.
The latest International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) survey of world economic conditions reveals a climate of continued recovery with stronger momentum and expectations than last year.
China has signed a deal with Saudi Arabia that gives it added security for its future energy needs. Recently, Chinese President Hu Jintao has sought to bolster economic and diplomatic ties with its major oil suppliers throughout the world, including those in the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
A controversial plan to open up European port services to outside competition went down in a major defeat when EU lawmakers voted 532 to 120 to dump the plan
The Russian government has agreed to open more of the country’s airspace to U.S. cargo carriers, which means expanded flights to Asia and improved routings
The Ugandan government has hired an American firm to build and operate the first call centers for outsourcing, the state-owned newspaper, The New Vision, reports
The Department of Transportation has plans for a national freight transportation policy aimed at increasing freight capacity, reducing congestion and regulatory barriers, and protecting the environment, reports the Journal of Commerce.
Despite fears that workers from Eastern Europe would take jobs from developed European economies following their accession to the EU, a new report by the European Commission (EC) says those fears are unfounded. At present, Germany, France and some other countries have limits on access by Eastern European workers
DHL has tapped Hans Hickler as executive vice president of business strategy & implementation. Before joining DHL in May 2005, Hickler spent more than twenty years with the NOL Group and its subsidiaries APL and APL Logistics.
Pacer International has appointed John Hickerson as chairman and chief executive officer of Pacer Transport. Most recently, Hickerson was the vice president of domestic intermodal marketing & sales for BNSF. Prior to joining BNSF in 2004, Hickerson served as president of Roadway Next Day Corporation.
LAN Cargo has appointed Cristian Ureta, the current chief operating officer, as its new chief executive. Ureta began his career in the aviation industry as a cargo services manager for Fast Air Carrier, S.A. in Santiago, Chile, followed by subsequent promotions to various managerial positions at Aerotransportes MAS de Carga S.A. de C.V. in Mexico City.
The U.S. Dept. of Transportation is seeking funding for a pilot program to explore alternative funding for new highway construction. The $100 million in funding would come from the agency's 2007 fiscal year budget, which was proposed in February by DOT Secretary Norman Mineta.
The supply chain strategies that U.S. ocean shippers deployed last year won't change much for 2006, that means spreading out shipments to various seaports, moving cargo early to avoid peak season congestion, and working closely with ocean carriers to keep the lines of communication open.
CSX Transportation says it is resuming local freight rail service on its Gulf Coast line, which serves as a vital transportation artery to New Orleans. Over the past five months, the company has been working to restore six major bridges, more than 40 miles of track, and its major rail yard in New Orleans.
New versions of the massive AN-124 aircraft, which is used to transport oversized cargo, will be produced at a plant in Ulyanovsk, Russia, with the first aircraft scheduled to debut in 2008. Serial production will begin in 2010. Only three aircraft will likely be made each year.
GeoLogistics has named Thomas Eisenblatter its senior vice president of Ocean Freight, effective May 1, 2006. Eisenblatter comes to the new post after twenty years in the global ocean freight industry, the last thirteen of which were spent at Panalpina, where he most recently held the position of managing director of Ocean Freight.
BAX Global has appointed Andrew Mitchell as director of logistics business development Asia-Pacific. Mitchell has fifteen years’ operational experience in the pharmaceutical logistics industry, with the bulk of those years spent with Melbourne-based Sigma Company.
ChemLogix, a provider of integrated logistics services for the chemical industry, has appointed Ronald M. Keegan as vice president of international operations.
Ike Ortiz-Luis has been appointed International Project Cargo Manager at DGX (Dependable Global Express) to provide operational expertise in the fast growing field of oversize, bulky ocean cargo. DGX is a major international ocean and airfreight organization with offices throughout Asia and the South Pacific.
Construction has begun on the Tan Cang-Cai Mep container port, situated on the Thi Vai River in the southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. According to the Vietnam News Agency, the 61.2-hectare port will be built at a cost of nearly 3 trillion VND (US$188.7 million).
The Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 1.2 percent in November to 112.2 (2000=100) from the October level of 110.9, turning up after a one-month decrease to reach a record high, reports the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
Research firm Datamonitor says 3PLs have considerable potential to capture market share in the European pharmaceutical industry due to their expertise and easing of strict compliance codes.
Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov is pushing for liberalization of the country's banking sector and loosen the monopoly controlled by three of Kazakhstan's largest banks.
Schneider National has hired John Ferguson as general manager, Canada. Ferguson joins Schneider National after eighteen years in sales & marketing at PBB Global Logistics. He currently serves as the director of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) and president of the Transportation Marketing & Communication Association (TMCA).
Kansas City Southern has promoted J. Daniel Freeman from general director strategic analysis to assistant vice president strategic analysis. Freeman has worked in the rail industry for 29 years, and joined the Kansas City Southern Railway Company in 1995.
Transportation experts say the nation’s five decades old interstate highway system was not designed to handle the tremendous amount of freight that now moves by truck along U.S. roads, and they’re turning to technology to try and ease the growing congestion.
A new California state law prevents marine terminal operators from charging truckers for returning containers and chassis late if truckers weren’t able to access terminals through no fault of their own.
A recent conference on the future of Mexico’s maquiladora industry finds that low-cost manufacturing has indeed relocated to Asia and other regions, but high-tech manufacturing is taking its place
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has announced that duty-free benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) have been reinstated for Ukraine, effective January 23, 2006
Officials from the U.S. and Oman have signed a free trade agreement—the fifth such pact between the U.S. and a Middle Eastern country. The agreement will result in the elimination of tariffs on all consumer and industrial products, as well as 87 percent of agricultural products
The growth of international airfreight posted a modest gain last year, just under 3 percent, but it’s hoped that number will grow in 2006 with increased demand from the IT and semiconductor industries, says the International Air Transport Association.
The off-peak program PierPass has been such a success at the port complex of Los Angeles-Long Beach that terminal operators plan to expand the program in 2006.
The United States has won the latest round in the ongoing controversy over genetically modified food products, after the WTO ruled in early January to let producers in the U.S., Canada, Argentina, and Australia sell huge quantities of processed foods containing GM ingredients into the EU.
The U.S.-Australia free trade agreement is barely over one year old, yet the Australian government says it may consider a request by the U.S. pharmaceutical industry to remove an amendment in the pact that puts a cap on drug prices.
The Canadian dollar has made significant gains against the U.S. dollar recently, pushed higher by rising energy prices, gold, and other commodities, which comprise 35 percent of the country’s exports and about 10 percent of its economy.
The move to privatize ten of Chile’s largest seaports, which began in 2000, is starting to pay off for the country’s exporters, who are no longer plagued by the serious delays the had become commonplace.
The Central Bank of Venezuela has approved using the euro as a way to service demand from foreign companies and to diversify the country’s dealings from the dollar.
Intermodal shippers survived the peak shipping season last year without any major snags, and the nation’s rail carriers are gearing up to improve intermodal performance this year. Not surprisingly, imports from China will continue to drive intermodal rail growth.
The North Carolina State Ports Authority is closer to the construction of a large seaport in the southern part of the state that would have the capacity to handle 2 million TEUs per year.
A recent study by Fusion Consulting shows that many Chinese companies in the Pearl River delta region—an intensive manufacturing area—“don’t understand and are not familiar with” RFID technology.
The rivalry between Boeing and Airbus has played out in China for years and it shows no signs of letting up. Boeing has approximately 60 percent of the market share in China, but on a recent visit to France, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said his country would purchase 150 Airbus A320s.
The Transportation Services Index (TSI) fell 0.6 percent in October to 110.9 (2000=100) from the September level of 111.5, turning down to its lowest level since February after two months of increases, reports the U.S.
The logistics industry is ripe for growth in Eastern Europe, thanks to ongoing investment by Western European and American companies in the region who are being lured by lower labor costs and other incentives.
In what would be a dramatic change in the global maritime landscape, the European Union has called for ocean liner conferences to be dismantled because they are in conflict with European competition laws.
The Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 0.1 percent in September to 111.6 (2000=100) from the August level of 111.5, turning up after a one-month decline, reports the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).
Not surprisingly, the countries that comprise the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)—Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—have profited generously in recent years due to the rising global demand for oil.
The ten countries that comprise Central Europe are attracting a considerable amount of foreign direct investment (FDI)—a whopping $37 billion annually—which puts it in second place behind China but far ahead of third-place India.
“Our mission is to take the paper out of cargo by the end of 2010. The air cargo business is drowning in paper. Every cargo shipment travels with up to 38 documents. Each year we could fill 39 747-freighters with the paper wasted on this documentation,” laments Giovanni Bisignani, director general and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Recently, World Trade asked executives at Maersk, Inc. to share their view on industry trends for the coming year. Gordon Dorsey, Senior Director, Corporate Communications, provided the following comments.
The Conference Board announced in mid-December that the leading index for South Korea increased 0.2 percent in October, due mostly to a large increase in Letter of Credit arrivals, followed by a rise in stock prices and real exports.
A survey of 357 global Fortune 500 companies places Malaysia among the top five countries for energy, finance and logistics in global shared services and outsourcing (SSO).
“It’s a very American economic growth scenario,” remarked a Danish economist in reference to the strong economic performance being exhibited by countries in the Nordic region in recent quarters.
The good news is that the United States is exporting more products to China than ever, but other countries are exporting even more, says the Government Accounting Office.
Four years after Argentina plunged into an economic tailspin, the return of top brands to the country’s store shelves is one of the biggest indicators that the country is returning to financial and economic health.
A new report by the BBC on the emergence of the next generation of world players warns that developed nations should not underestimate the power of the Brazil, Russia, India and China—known collectively as the Brics.
Brazil’s foreign minister says his country will propose a series of cuts in industrial tariffs in order to do its part in advancing global trade talks.
A number of Fortune 500 companies are both sourcing raw materials and manufacturing finished goods in India to avoid high import tariffs while taking advantage of India’s low-cost labor force.
The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development reports that China has surpassed the U.S. as the world’s biggest exporter of information and communication technology—a sector that includes such products as mobile phones, laptop PCs, and digital cameras.
One of the top five busiest bridge crossings linking the United States and Canada—the Queenston-Lewiston bridge—has opened a fifth lane dedicated as a FAST lane for U.S.-bound trucks.
A new report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) says that while improving market access for African goods and services will help lift the continent’s economies, that alone is not enough.
Mexico’s close proximity to the United States and network of free trade agreements with other countries continues to attract American firms who are looking for close integration into their own supply chains and speedy transit times.
Partnering with suppliers to create win-win situations is one of the
tactics that keeps the Antioch Company's global supply chain on
par with the big boys.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Bush will meet in February in the Slovak city of Bratislava to discuss a range of issues, including Russia's efforts to join the World Trade Organization.
As of January 1, 2005, the Chinese government will no longer require import licenses for cars, certain auto parts, and compact disc manufacturing equipment.
Similar to the U.S. 'Hours-of-Service' rule that limits the time truck drivers can spend behind the wheel each day, Canada has proposed changes to its truck driver rules.
A landmark trade pact signed between Egypt, Israel, and the U.S. will allow Egyptian goods to enter the U.S. free of duty provided they have a set percentage of Israeli content.
The Economist Intelligence Unit says that ongoing violence in Iraq is hurting efforts to rebuild the country's infrastructure and generate private investment.
A study on the effects of genetically modified corn on native species has prompted Mexico to try and limit the amount of GMO corn it imports from the United States.
Brazil's President is gaining approval at home and abroad for his adherence to a pragmatic economic program that includes boosting the country's exports.
German finance minister Hans Eichel recently called the falling U.S. dollar a "brutal development" and urged other nations to come up with a plan to avoid a potential currency crisis.
An executive with the American Apparel and Footwear Association says retailers aren't taking full advantage of trade preference programs such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says American food and beverage exporters have a lucrative foreign market within close reach, even though it's often overlooked--Bermuda.
The U.S. Trade Representative's office reports that the U.S. and Australia intend to implement the U.S.-Australia free trade agreement on January 1, 2005.
The government of Zimbabwe has announced its plans to establish a cargo airline in 2005 as a means to boost horticultural exports and foreign currency earnings.
The EU has lodged a complaint with the WTO against the U.S. and Canada, in protest against their continued use of sanctions to combat a European import ban on hormone-treated beef.
Beginning in early 2005, marine terminal operators at the port complex of Los Angeles-Long Beach will start charging importers and exporters a fee to use the terminals during the day.
The Dominican Republic's President Leonel Fernandez is being urged to reject a provision in the budget recently passed by country's lawmakers that places a 25 percent tax on soft drinks containing high-fructose corn syrup.
The UK supermarket chain Tesco has begun rolling out an RFID network to track shipments from its central distribution center to all 98 of its Tesco Extra superstores.
Australian wool and sheep exporters fear that a decision by U.S. clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch in October to boycott Australian merino fiber won't gain favor with other retailers.
The U.S. Trade Representative has announced that the U.S. is filing a complaint with the WTO against the European Union's customs laws and regulations.
The Bush Administration says it will fight a decision by a NAFTA panel that found imports of Canadian softwood lumber pose no threat to U.S. lumber producers.
The U.S. Trade Representative announced in late September that the U.S. would file a complaint with the WTO against the European Union's customs laws and regulations.
The nation's rail infrastructure is
maxed out, yet volumes are growing. One solution to the dilemma involves
public-private partnerships and a little imagination.
The Bush administration in September rejected a petition by a coalition of U.S. business and labor groups to file a formal complaint with the WTO accusing China of manipulating its currency to gain an unfair advantage in international trade.
Researchers at consulting firm Accenture say that nearly half of North American manufacturing executives expect a high return on their RFID investments.
Beginning November 1, the port complex of Los Angeles-Long Beach will assess shippers a fee of $20 for each container moved during certain daytime hours.
The Customs and Border Protection agency will begin enforcing electronic advance reporting rules for inbound trucks at the busiest border crossings in New York, Michigan, Washington, and the Southwest.
An official with the federal Transportation Security Administration says the agency will launch a prototype identification card for transportation workers in mid-November.
The president of a Miami, Florida-based multinational research and consulting firm, which specializes in Latin America, says negotiations over a free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur are a "real threat" to the U.S.
Singapore says it plans to invest $29 million over the next five years to develop a web-based system to improve information exchange between companies in the logistics and transportation sectors.
Robert C. Bonner, Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, remarked at a recent conference that container security must be improved.
Representatives from Peru, Colombia and Ecuador met with U.S. officials recently to try and work out a trade pact that would pave the way for the larger Free Trade Area of the Americas.
The EU says it's prepared to end approximately $3.56 billion in subsidies for farm exports to advance global trade talks if the U.S. and other countries agree to take similar steps.
The Intermodal Association of North America says that growing domestic trailer volumes have pushed U.S. intermodal shipments up 8.7 percent in the first quarter.
The United States Trade Representative's office has released the latest "Special 301" annual report on the adequacy and effectiveness of intellectual property rights protection with trading partners around the world.
China and the U.S. agreed to establish a consultative mechanism on food safety and animal and plant health issues during high-level trade meetings held in late April in Washington, D.C.
The EU's Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner appears confident the EU will issue its first authorizations of genetically modified foods by the end of May.
The NAM, looking forward through 2004, noted optimistic signs that the U.S. economy was emerging after one of the most sluggish recoveries from recession on record.
Rising U.S. budget deficits and a ballooning trade imbalance of record-breaking proportions has prompted the IMF to sound warnings about the financial stability of the global economy.
A proposed rail landbridge across Nicaragua is just what some shippers may be interested in, especially as an alternative shipping route for cargo from Asia to the U.S. East Coast.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to the United States in December yielded some positive results for the future of trade relations between the two countries.
Although Heathrow is the busiest international airport in the world, environmental constraints and community opposition are making it difficult to decide where to build a new runway to alleviate congestion.
The Bush administration's decision to impose trade sanctions on certain Chinese textile imports prompted China's government to cut a planned buying trip to the U.S.
This year's survey of the leading business schools by the Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive ranks the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School as number one.
The WTO has relaxed intellectual property rules to allow African countries to import generic drugs for fighting serious diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
U.S. Trade Ambassador Robert Zoellick has formally notified Congress of his agency's intent to negotiate a trade liberalization agreement with Bahrain in January 2004.
The Extraterritorial Income Exclusion, a tax break for U.S. exporters that has been ruled illegal by the WTO, appears unlikely to find any reasonable substitutes.
The Export-Import Bank of the United States and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC) of New Delhi, India, have signed a credit agreement for a $75 million Ex-Im Bank loan guarantee.
The management of the IMF has recommended to the Executive Board that it approve the Dominican Republic's request for support of its economic and financial program.
Chamber President and CEO Thomas Donohue says, "These agreements will strengthen the competitiveness of American companies-both big and small-throughout the world."
Consuming Industries Trade Action Coalition Steel Task Force Chairman William Gaskin welcomed the recent ruling by the World Trade Organization against the steel tariffs imposed in 2002.
A one-day roundtable meeting organized by the Taiwanese venture capital firm, Eurasco, took place in San Francisco recently, featuring Thailand's deputy prime minister, H.E. Suwit Khunkitti.
The United States Chamber of Commerce continues to urge the European Union to rethink its proposed approach to testing, registering and restricting chemicals and chemical products in the European market.
The World Bank's president, James Wolfensohn, said they were ready and anxious to resume lending to the country following the Government's commitment to implement sound political and economic policies.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick and Moroccan Minister Delegate of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Taib Fassi-Fihri recently announced the launch of the Morocco Free Trade Agreement Congressional Caucus on Capitol Hill.
The event will feature top executives from the U.S. Department of Commerce, including Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans and other experts on international trade.
This summer, The University of Miami introduced "CELTEM"-- "Certificate in Logistics and Transportation for the Executive Manager"--taught entirely in Spanish.
Noted for her "vision of peace and stability through trade," Ms. Sharp was also recognized for her dedication to the revitalization of international trade in the New York community and for spearheading the events for World Trade Week for the past three years.
The United Seamen's Service 2003 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Award will be presented to Charles (Chuck) G. Raymond, Chairman, President and CEO of Horizon Lines, the largest American-flag liner service ocean carrier and Jones Act trade transportation provider.
National Association of Manufacturers member Falcon Plastics, Inc., testified before Congress recently that Chinese currency manipulation has heavily and unfairly distorted the company's global trade environment.
Meeting with leading large pharmaceutical firms headquartered in Europe, fifteen California biotechnology companies report potential partnership deals that could be worth up to a total of $400 million in 2 years or more.
Anticipating massive anti-globalization demonstrations, the Miami Police Department will use law-enforcement agencies from throughout South Florida to secure the Americas Business Forum this November.
The United States Chamber of Commerce urges the Senate to protect American workers and their jobs by preserving the current tax treatment of income earned abroad as part of a broader tax relief package aimed at reinvigorating the economy.
Satellite and radio frequency identification tags and systems used by coalition forces in the Middle East have substantially increased the in-transit visibility of military equipment and supplies.
UCCnet and the WorldWide Retail Exchange announced the commencement of a two-phased launch of interoperability to be completed by the end of this year.
At a recent conference, a number of major mail users highlighted poor service quality, particularly in terms of cross border mailings, as a significant factor affecting their businesses.
In a recent speech, Archie Dunham, chairman of the National Association of Manufacturers and ConocoPhillips, highlighted a multi-year campaign by the NAM to make sure that policymakers get that message.
U.S. companies continue to face barriers that interfere with their ability to compete in China's telecommunications market, despite the country's progress in implementing its membership in the World Trade Organization.
The U.S.-Canada Partnership for Growth has released a survey which reveals a lack of awareness among Americans about the importance of the trading relationship with Canada.
Fitch Ratings, the international rating agency, has affirmed the "AA" Insurer Financial Strength rating on Coface S.A., the head entity of the Coface Group.
The Globalization and Localization Association (GALA) is among the translation industry's premier trade organizations, created to foster and facilitate a corporate shift toward "true" globalization.
Far from widening the gap between rich and poor, globalization has helped to bring about unprecedented improvements in the living conditions of many of the world's poorest people.
This conference ended in Lucerne recently with a call to donors to find ways to increase financial assistance on grant terms to the countries of the CIS-7.
Global semiconductor sales reached $12.5 billion in October 2002, a 1.8 percent sequential increase from the revenue reported in September 2002, and a 20 percent increase from the $10.4 billion total recorded in October 2001.
Geopolitical instability provoked by international terrorism and the Iraq crisis provoked a sharp deterioration in the world economic climate, reports a recent survey.
At the trade ministers' meeting to negotiate the terms of the Free Trade Area of the Americas, a senior Brazilian official said that Brazil would be unable to agree to a deal unless the "protectionist" U.S. sugar program is substantially reformed.
The International Chamber of Commerce's Counterfeiting Intelligence Bureau is developing a new initiative to help fight the problem of counterfeit drugs.
Our article from last August--"Pernod Ricard Toasts Its U.S. Distribution Partners: And Pours On The Added Value For Its Customers"--ended up being right on the money.
WORLD TRADE MAGAZINE will be the exclusive U.S. media sponsor of a series of security compliance seminars being staged world-wide by the National Industrial Transportation League.
Manufacturers welcomed news of a House-Senate compromise on long-awaited terrorism insurance legislation that will provide a federal backstop for liability.
Ministry officials note the region's assembly industry turns out more than a million autos a year--a higher production concentration than anywhere else in the world.
New Penn Motor Express, Inc., a Lebanon-Pa.-based subsidiary of Roadway Corp., announced Sept 18 several enhancements to its Web site, www.newpenn.com.
A decision by the executive council of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to relax certain entry criteria for the banking sector has resulted in the first HKMA licensing for an overseas bank.
U.S. public port authorities took advantage of their Legislative Policy Council meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., Sept. 23 to urge Congress to appropriate additional security funding for fiscal 2003.
U.S. steel import tariffs and the resulting maneuvering by the European Union has resulted in the establishment of a WTO panel to see if everyone's ruffled feathers can be smoothed out.
The U.S. has turned down Britain's request for a limited liberalization of trans-Atlantic air services, much to the frustration of some American carriers.
Judging by the number of attendees at this year's International Economic Development Council's annual conference in Oakland, Calif., the event was a huge success.
The U.S. Customs Service Aug. 26 began accepting applications from brokers, forwarders, and non-vessel-operating common carriers for the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism.
Persistent concern over the past year regarding whether--and how--to increase the security of global supply chains has resulted in a free global Web cast.
DrayWatchTM gives liners and drayage companies the ability to go on-line to a secure, centralized location and provide and view up-to-the-minute info on a container's status as it travels between the terminal and its final destination.
WORLD TRADE MAGAZINE has implemented the iCopyright Instant Clearance Service on its Web site to make it easy for readers and other interested parties to license and purchase articles for commercial reuse.
Adams, a division of Pfizer, Inc., is crediting its partnership with Exel Logistics for creating a competitive, speed-to-market advantage for the rollout of the new Body Smarts snack foods line.
Asia-Pacific was in the spotlight recently when the Australian Embassy in Washington, D.C. hosted a panel discussion on the intricacies of doing business in that region.
MAERSK Logistics, the integrated logistics arm of the A.P. Moller Group of Copenhagen, announced Oct. 15 the completion of its acquisition of "certain assets" of Distribution Services Limited.
Management officials at the Port of Beaumont have announced that the facility expects to break historical records for both total earnings and tonnage for fiscal year 2000-2001.
Inchscape Shipping Services and RioMar Agencies have announced the two companies will launch a joint venture in the U.S. that will focus on port agency services in all U.S. Gulf ports.
Amy Zuckerman, a longtime contributing writer for World Trade Magazine, has been tapped to receive the 2001 President's Award for Journalism from the American National Standards Institute.
Contract Freighters, Inc., of Joplin, Mo., has announced the addition of a pair of regional sales managers to the roster of its Mexican subsidiary, CFI de Mexico S.A. de C.V.
The Economic Development Corporation serving Fresno County, Calif., has welcomed aboard a new president and Chief Executive Officer in the person of Dave Spaur.
The APL Holland, a 5,500-TEU container ship built by Samsung Heavy Industries, has joined the NOL Group as one of the largest vessels in the company's fleet.
Eight-day ocean transit time and fixed-day sailings are but two features of a new LCL service to France rolled out in late August by Troy Container Line of Red Bank, N.J.
Hellman Worldwide Logistics has announced the promotion of Hans Pittinger to the position of vice president of global accounts and international public relations director.
When the world’s largest producer and marketer of fresh fruit and vegetables makes a significant change in its logistics strategy, it captures the attention of others in the industry.
Changing economic and political climates across the globe, especially in emerging markets such as Latin America and Asia, are reducing the number of trading partners.
Whether to continue pursuing ISO 9000 or move onto an industry-specific hybrid like QS-9000 has been confusing the world since the release of QS-9000 in 1994.
“What we've got here is failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week—which is the way he wants it. Well, he gets it. I don't like it any more than you men.”
The specialized area of kidnap and ransom (K&R) coverage is often overlooked, but is becoming more of a concern to insurers, and should be even more of a concern to multinational firms with employees traveling overseas.
Although the e-commerce euphoria that we experienced just a year ago has faded, the financial services industry continues to forge ahead into the “e” world.
As e-learning becomes part of the workplace, five strategic trends have emerged. If you follow and put them into effect, you will both save money and increase your company’s competitiveness.
E-commerce and the desire for a competitive advantage are destroying traditional ways of doing business in the transportation segment of today’s supply chain management, and logistics is now emerging as an area that can deliver tremendous benefits.
If Santa's reindeer were to take sick one Christmas Eve, he'd have no problem delivering toys to southern Italy from the North Pole without having to take to sea or air.
The growth of the internet and the easing of international trading laws have combined to allow businesses to expand their reach beyond national borders more easily than at any previous time in our history.
It is the rare CFO, corporate treasury manager, or export/import manager who does not have to deal daily with the issues of globalization, process integration and technology management.
While the internet continues to redefine the ways in which business is conducted-from finding buyers and sellers, to procurement, transportation, and customs clearance-there is one component of the business transaction that has been somewhat slower in moving over to the e-commerce arena: financial settlement.
US companies shipping to or from Mexico are finding it necessary to go deeper into the country, to be more involved with logistics and transportation...
Whether your company is an established global enterprise moving from traditional business to e-business or a new e-business start-up, planning for international taxes reduces your world-wide tax bills.
Although states are learning that some business incentives are not cost effective for them, few will be reducing or eliminating their current incentives over the next five years, according to a survey conducted by the Council of State Governments.
The longest undefended border in the world-that between the US and Canada-stretches 5,061 miles over land and 3,832 miles over water, and it is rapidly becoming a border for sovereignty reasons only.
US business leaders often feel that their at-home counsel will protect the company's rights abroad, and, only if foreign litigation is initiated, should foreign counsel be secured.
Today's mass retailers use sophisticated data and information technology to better forecast demand, more tightly manage the flow of products through distribution centers and ensure that items end up where they are most needed.
Many US companies shy away from expanding their business in Asia because of concerns about Asian economies and because of cultural and regulatory impediments.
Seasonal demands for both ocean and air cargo space have not changed, with surges in the third and fourth quarters, and there has been an increase in shipping both east and west, which carriers expect to continue.
Like almost every other facet of business these days, international trade is being revived and reinvented on the internet through B2B exchanges-the marketplaces of the new economy.
As global trade continues to boom, seaports and airports around the world are developing their facilities to keep up with their customers' demands, while at the same time finding ways to attract new business in the increasingly competitive marketplace.
When the goods you're sending overseas are the tricky kind that need precision and special care in handling and transportation, a whole new set of rules apply.
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