World Trade articles from February 2008

World Trade archives from February 2008

The rational case for World Trade.(INSIDE: WORLD TRADE)
February 1, 2008... As I write this column, recession talk grows louder. In the transportation sector, that's no surprise but in the general public--having taken the abundance of cheap money and available credit largely for granted the past few years--anxiety...

What the impasse in the WTO Doha round means to U.S. business.(POLICY: PERSPECTIVES)
February 1, 2008... Two thousand eight will bring significant WTO dispute rulings and another year of Russia elbowing its way into the organization, but attention is focused on the Doha Development Agenda. Will this be the year Doha succeeds? In a word,...

U.S. air cargo gets some lift.(AIR)
February 1, 2008... The Air Transport Association reports that U.S. air cargo traffic experienced 3.5 percent growth in November--the biggest jump in over a year. Boosting the sector was the trans-Atlantic trade lane, which was up 8.1 percent for the month,...

Ports of LA/LB approve new box fee starting January 1, 2009.(OCEAN)
February 1, 2008... Commissioners from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have approved a new container fee, effective January 1, 2009, that will assess between $20 and $36 per loaded forty-foot container that moves through the port complex. The new fee...

Box ports in Southeast, Southwest to see biggest growth.(OCEAN)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Although containerized trade in the U.S. grew a modest 3 percent in 2007 compared to the historical averages of 6.5 to 8 percent, some economists say box ports in the U.S. Southeast and Southwest are better positioned to get back on track over...

Roanoke region intermodal facility looking for site.(RAIL)
February 1, 2008... While most agree that a new intermodal hub would be a good idea for Virginia, there's not a consensus yet as to where it should be built. A spokesman for the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation said that 10 sites have...

Estes express expands coverage.(TRUCKING)(Estes Express Lines Inc.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Estes Express Lines, which offers regional and comprehensive long-haul services, has announced that as of March 1, the company will expand its direct service area by opening terminals in North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa and...

Indiana approves massive New DC.(WAREHOUSING)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The new AllPoints Midwest industrial park in Plainfield, Indiana will soon be home to a 1.2 million square foot warehouse facility. The 950-acre industrial park is being jointly developed by Browning Investments and Duke Realty Corporation....

NYK logistics acquires Texas 3PL.(3PLS)(Bruni International Inc.)(NYK Line (North America) Inc.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... NYK Logistics (Americas) has announced the acquisition of Bruni International, the Laredo, Texas customs brokerage, freight forwarding, warehouse and distribution services company. The purchase comprises all Bruni assets, including offices...

Wal-Mart opening more retail outlets.(CHINA EXPANSION)
February 1, 2008... Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer, said recently it will keep expanding in China at more than 30 percent annually, following Beijing's approval to open its 100th store in the fast-growing consumer market. The U.S. retail giant...

U.S. Hits another record.(NAFTA TRADE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Trade using surface transportation between the U.S. and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners reached a record high in October, according to government data released last month. Trade between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico rose...

Negotiations hit a bump in the road.(CANADA, SOUTH KOREA TRADE TALKS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The sensitive auto sector has proven to be a sticking point in free trade talks between Canada and South Korea. Specifically, South Korea has refused to lower its non-tariff barriers in the auto sector despite nearly two-and-a-half years of...

Forty percent expansion achieved in 2007.(TRADE GROWING BETWEEN CHINA, SOUTH AFRICA)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Bilateral trade between China and South Africa is estimated to have reached $14 billion in 2007--a 40 percent increase over last year. China's exports to South Africa grew 36 percent during the first 10 months of 2007, while imports...

Transportation Services Index (TSI).
February 1, 2008... DECEMBER 2006 - NOVEMBER 2007 December 108.9 January 108.5 February 108.5 March 109.7 April 109.6 May 109.7 June 108.9 July 108.5 August 108.9 September 108.1...

Thomsen joins Clipper Group.(Names & News)(appointment of Tommy Thomsen at Clipper Wonsild Tankers)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The Clipper Group has announced that former Maersk partner Tommy Thomsen joined Clipper Group/Clipper Wonsild Tankers in Copenhagen on January 1. Thomsen spent 29 years with A.P. Moller-Maersk Group starting in 1978. Most recently, he...

First Industrial Realty Trust taps Ficker.(Names & News)
February 1, 2008... First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc., a provider of industrial real estate supply chain solutions, has tapped John Ficker as vice president, supply chain solutions. Ficker is responsible for strategic planning and implementation of longterm...

Shurstad resigns from Pacer International.(Names & News)
February 1, 2008... Tom Shurstad has resigned as president from Pacer International to pursue other interests. The logistics services provider said Don Orris, retired chief executive and current director of Pacer International, will assume the role of president of...

New appointment for Landstar's Pundt.(Names & News)
February 1, 2008... Landstar System, Inc., a provider of transportation capacity and logistics services, announced that Jeff Pundt would succeed Ron Stanley as Vice President of Corporate Business Development for all of Landstar. Stanley announced his plans to...

Sugden chosen as new CEO for Eimskip.(Names & News)
February 1, 2008... Brent Sugden, former CEO of Versacold, has been chosen as the new CEO of all operations of Eimskip in America, which include Eimskip, Versacold, and Atlas Cold Storage. Eimskip operates approximately 120 coldstores and employs...

Faster transit time and lower shipping costs.(NEW TRADE ROUTE FOR VIETNAM-TAIWAN)
February 1, 2008... The director general of Vietnam's Da Nang port said a new shipping route has been launched between Da Nang and Taiwan's Port of Kaohsiung, which will help speed cargo from Vietnam to major world markets, including those in the U.S., Japan, and...

Weak infrastructure to blame.(INDIA AIR FREIGHT CRUNCH)
February 1, 2008... A new report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) warns that India is failing to keep pace with expected air cargo demands and a capacity crunch may hit as early as 2011. IATA is forecasting a tumultuous year ahead for...

Human rights on par with economic ties.(CHANGE IN GERMANY'S TRADE POLICY)
February 1, 2008... German Chancellor Angela Merkel's efforts to elevate the importance of human rights in trade policy could affect the country's trade with China, say some observers. In particular, the Chancellor is studying a strategic partnership with...

Metro Group claims biggest rollout to date.(EUROPE RFID PROJECT)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The world's fourth largest retailer, the Metro Group, has announced the largest European rollout of RFID technology in the retail sector with a recent implementation and 180 more of its stores and warehouses in Germany. The 180 locations...

Shippers angered over move.(UK PORT CONGESTION SURCHARGE)(British International Freight Association)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The British International Freight Association has expressed its anger over a $145 per TEU congestion surcharge imposed by the Far Eastern Freight Conference on westbound cargo from Asia to the UK. "This charge is nothing more than a 'tax'...

ProLogis to develop its first regional DC.(MIDDLE EAST LOGISTICS)
February 1, 2008... ProLogis, the world's largest owner, manager and developer of distribution facilities, says it will develop its first distribution center in the Middle East. The company has signed an agreement to design and build a 798,000 square-foot...

New record set in 2007.(PORT OF ROTTERDAM)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... In 2007, the Port of Rotterdam became the first European port to break through the barrier of 400 million tons of cargo throughput. Four hundred-six million tons were loaded and unloaded, an increase of 6.4 percent over 2006. "With regard...

Six countries sign agreement.(EUROPE-ASIA RAIL LINK)
February 1, 2008... Railway authorities from six countries last month signed a memorandum on expanding cooperation on railway transport that is expected to boost trade and cargo flows between Europe and Asia. The six countries--China, Mongolia, Russia,...

Mark your calendar.(Calendar)
February 1, 2008... International Warehouse Logistics Association 2008 Convention Palm Springs, CA March 9-11 www.iwla.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] China Sourcing Summit Shanghai, China March 12-13 www.supplychain.cn ...

Collaborative logistics: integrating transportation providers within the supply chain.(COLLABORATION)
February 1, 2008... Scan the latest management texts and one phrase continually pops off the page: integrated supply chain. References to it, and its first cousin the collaborative supply chain, are voluminous. There's little disagreement to its meaning, defined...

Mexico near-sourcing grows more attractive: legal reforms, improved infrastructure, and investments in human capital are all on the national reform agenda.(SUPPLY CHAIN)
February 1, 2008... Proximity is invariably the first benefit mentioned when discussing near-sourcing in Mexico. But it's far from being the only one as Mexico morphs into a business friendly country. The foundation for today's business climate was laid with...

Unlocking Opportunity in the Americas.(SUPPLY CHAIN)
February 1, 2008... As U.S. businesses continue to focus on China and India as epicenters of economic opportunity, I believe equally significant potential may lie closer to home. The economies of Latin America--and Mexico in particular--have never looked...

Inland Ports Gear up for even more business: the near-shoring trend coupled with growing NAFTA trade flows is greasing the wheels.(LOGISTICS)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This past year was somewhat of a disappointment for transportation providers. The trucking industry saw demand shrink, airlines continued to struggle on several key routes, and West Coast seaports reported a...

America's ports take on the challenge of trade growth: harbors are being dredged, facilities expanded, environments cleaned up to handle anticipated demand.(SPECIAL REPORT)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As an overview of the state of American ports in 2008, a report issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is spot-on: "Maritime ports are getting busier, ships are getting larger, and the mix of cargo being...

American Commercial Lines Inc.(Customizing Solutions: PROFILE)(Company overview)
February 1, 2008... American Commercial Lines Inc. ("ACL") is one of the largest and most diversified marine transportation and service companies in the United States, providing customized barge transportation solutions and related services on the inland waterways...

Is Canada the 51st State? Though there aren't any plans for Canada to become the 51st state, shipping to Canada could be as easy as shipping domestically.(Customizing Solutions: PROFILE)(Benchmark Trade Solutions Inc)(Company overview)
February 1, 2008... At Benchmark Trade Solutions we take the mystery out of moving your freight between the two countries. We are your Canadian connection! Did you know that Canada is the largest trading partner for 38 of the 50 states? More than $1.6 billion...

Freightgate[R]--aligning with customers' businesses to meet new challenges.(Customizing Solutions: PROFILE)(Company overview)
February 1, 2008... After pioneering shipment tracking and tracing, the first multi-modal online freight exchange, and the Web-Service Enabled PLTX Platform, Freightgate continually evolves to provide its customers with competitive advantage along the entire...

All things to some people.(Customizing Solutions: PROFILE)(Serec)(Company overview)
February 1, 2008... Serec provides an exceptional array of fulfillment services thanks to our 45+ year history and impeccable compliance rating with virtually all retailers. Some of the many services we offer include: EDI order processing, pick and pack, labeling,...

TransGroup--the future of transport logistics.(Customizing Solutions: PROFILE)(Transgroup Worldwide Logistics)(Company overview)
February 1, 2008... TransGroup Worldwide Logistics was founded with a single mission--to be the Future of Transport Logistics by bringing tomorrow's supply chain technologies and best practices to our clients today. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] To accomplish...

iPhone raises the bar for supply chain performance.(Great Moments: IN WORLD TRADE)
February 1, 2008... On May 30, 2007, at the D5 conference in southern California, Wall Street Journal technology columnist Walt Mossberg asked Apple CEO Steve Jobs a simple question. "Five years out," Mossberg said, "what are the core functions of the device...