World Trade articles from June 2008

World Trade archives from June 2008

The energetic fabulous fifty (plus one).(INSIDE WORLD TRADE)(Editorial)
June 1, 2008... When I became Editorial Director of World Trade some five years ago, my knowledge of the supply chain was largely theoretical. I cut my teeth in the field with the eminent supply chain consultancy PRTM (the inventors, among other things, of the...

Worried about a recession? Don't blame free trade.(POLICY PERSPECTIVES)
June 1, 2008... Speculation is growing that the U.S. economy may have already slipped into recession. If the past is any guide, politicians on the campaign trail will be tempted to blame trade and globalization for the passing pain of the business cycle. But...

Justice Department probes U.S. shipping lines.(OCEAN)
June 1, 2008... The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating at least five U.S. shipping lines for possible irregularities in pricing, including Matson Navigation, Horizon Lines, Crowley Maritime, Sea Star Line, and Trailer Bridge. According to a...

UPS, FedEx looking overseas for growth opportunities.(AIR)
June 1, 2008... Top executives at UPS say that by 2010, the company expects to increase its operating income to 40 percent for international and supply chain/freight operations, compared to 32 percent last year. As for where the company intends to focus,...

CSX plans rail link between Mid-Atlantic ports and Midwest.(RAIL)
June 1, 2008... CSX Inc. has launched a $700 million public-private initiative dubbed National Gateway that will create an efficient freight transportation link between Mid-Atlantic ports and the Midwest. The scope of the project includes building or...

Canada to build truck highway between Windsor and Detroit.(TRUCKING)
June 1, 2008... The Canadian government will start construction next year on a six-lane truck highway from Windsor, Ontario to Detroit, which will help expedite cross-border trade and alleviate traffic in Windsor. The truck highway will also link up with a...

TWIC deadline delayed until April 2009.(TRUCKING)
June 1, 2008... The Bush administration has delayed the deadline for enrollment for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) from September 25, 2008 to April 15, 2009. Truckers and other workers with access to seaports are affected by...

Caterpillar breaks ground on Texas DC.(WAREHOUSING)
June 1, 2008... Caterpillar Inc. has broken ground on a 500,000 square-foot distribution center in Waco, Texas that will eventually employ 140 to 180 people when it opens next year. The $38.9 million facility will provide aftermarket parts for six...

Beijing rolls out plans for new facilities, upgrades.(MORE AIRPORTS FOR CHINA)
June 1, 2008... China's government has released details of a long-term plan to accommodate growing air cargo volumes, which includes building 97 new airports, and consolidating and upgrading existing ones. The $64 billion project will take until 2020 to...

YRC Logistics sets up kiosks along border to speed processing.(FASTER U.S.-CANADA CUSTOMS CLEARANCES)
June 1, 2008... YRC Logistics has set up seven kiosks along the U.S.-Canada border, including two in western New York, to help facilitate clearances for its customers. The company said two of the kiosks are located at the Peace Bridge and...

Results of new study prompts lawmakers to consider options.(TRANSPORTATION FUNDING TAKES CENTER STAGE)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... The results of study conducted by the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study are prompting lawmakers to consider their options for next year's reauthorization of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity...

More hybrids added to UPS, FedEx fleets.(TRUCKS GETTING GREENER)
June 1, 2008... UPS has ordered 200 hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) plus another 300 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles for its U.S. delivery fleet. The acquisitions mean UPS's alternative fuel fleet, which is already the largest private fleet of its kind...

The Heritage Foundation 2008 economic freedom index--top 10 rankings.(BY THE Numbers)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... BY THE Numbers The Heritage Foundation 2008 Economic Freedom Index--Top 10 Rankings Overall Trade Freedom from Country Score Freedom Corruption Hong Kong 90.25 95 ...

Weak dollar driving shipments at nation's ports.(U.S. EXPORTS CONTINUE TO GROW)
June 1, 2008... The weak U.S. dollar continues to drive exports to new highs, with the Port of Charleston the latest to report impressive growth. February was the port's second-best month ever for exports of loaded containers. Leading goods exported...

Officials meet again to advance progress.(EU ANXIOUS FOR MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Trade negotiators from the EU and Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) met in Peru last month to try and jumpstart talks aimed at a bilateral trade agreement between the two blocs. European businesses are anxious for...

Bids open to foreign companies for first time.(BRAZIL INVESTING HEAVILY IN SEAPORTS)
June 1, 2008... An official from President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's administration says Brazil will seek bids from foreign companies for a project to dredge 12 ports. Chief of Staff Dilma Rousseff confirmed that Brazil will auction five-year contracts...

Avalon Risk Management taps Gelsomino.(Names & News)
June 1, 2008... Avalon Risk Management, a provider of insurance and surety solutions to the logistics industry, has tapped Lisa Gelsomino as its new president. She succeeds Scott Wollney, who has been appointed president and chief executive of Lincoln...

OH logistics hires Finney.(Names & News)
June 1, 2008... Ozburn-Hessey Logistics recently hired Joe Finney as Senior Vice President of Transportation Services. Finney will primarily focus on developing growth strategies and enhancing the transportation operations for the company and its clients,...

Two new appointments at Evergreen.(Names & News)(Evergreen Shipping Agency appointed Jay Buckley and Louise Yu)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Evergreen Shipping Agency (America), the North America general agents for Evergreen Line, has announced two new appointments at its U.S. headquarters. Jay Buckley has been named executive vice president, business, and Louise Yu, executive...

Allen takes over DHL Express unit.(Names & News)
June 1, 2008... Ken Allen, former head of DHL Express in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa will take over the U.S. unit from Hans Hickler, according to an announcement by Deutsche Post.

Port of NY/NJ chooses Ward as executive director.(Names & News)
June 1, 2008... Christopher O. Ward has been chosen as the new executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Ward is currently the managing director of General Contractors Association of New York.

Pattison new CIO for Inttra.(Names & News)
June 1, 2008... Inttra, the e-commerce ocean freight booking portal, has appointed Jeff Pattison as chief information officer. In his new role, he will be responsible for the portal's technology and work processes, including research, design, engineering and...

Strong potential, but logistics lacking.(DHL, WAL-MART EXPANDING IN RUSSIA)
June 1, 2008... DHL has announced that it will invest up to $250 million in Russia by 2011, as it aims to capture its share of the country's fast-growing volume of freight. The company, which has had a presence in Russia since 1984, says it will set up its own...

Meeting in September will be a "moment of truth".(UKRAINE EYES EU MEMBERSHIP)
June 1, 2008... Now that Ukraine has become the most recent country to join the WTO (on May 16), the country is setting its sights on two other goals--membership in the EU and NATO. Most of the population wants the country to join both bodies, but there's...

Fabulous 50 + one.(Cover story)
June 1, 2008... Here it is, our annual eclectic list of the companies, people and places who are pushing the global trading community forward. The ways are various, the results innovative. This year's winners, selected by our editors and contributors, all...

A tough road for truckers: rising fuel costs top the list of immediate concerns, but the nation's infrastructure is a long-term worry.(LAND TRANSPORTATION)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] During conversations with trucking executives earlier in the year, most expressed cautious optimism that the outlook for the year would improve slightly during the second half. Now that we've arrived, however, it's...

Intermodal kicks into high gear: 3PL capacity and expertise enable shippers to bypass the old speed vs. cost dilemma.(SUPPLY CHAIN)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ten years ago, intermodal transport was inexpensive and inconsistent. Today, it's a highly fluid, effective mode of transport ideally suited to moving goods inland from ports and between distribution centers....

Ocean transport adjusts to new realities: port congestion, environmental requirements, container shortages and asset re-deployment all impact U.S. shipping channels.(LOGISTICS)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ocean transport is the critical link that makes the global supply chain sustainable. It is vital that the sea channels be available and competitively priced to enable cost effective worldwide sourcing and...

Latin America's free trade market struggles: the grand ambitions behind Mercosur are at risk as politics intervene.(REGION)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If U.S. trade negotiators had their wish, the Western Hemisphere would be organized into a single, massive trading bloc, the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). But for years, the FTAA dream has been checked by...

Ten reasons to use global sourcing: global sourcing used to be about costs. Now it's about everything else, too.(SUPPLY CHAIN)(Company overview)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Made in America." The imprint means innovation, high quality, safety and reliability. So why should companies even consider exchanging that stamp for "Assembled in USA" and components manufactured in other nations?...

Performance-based logistics: redefines Department of Defense procurement: 'paying for results' rather than product specifications will likely enter civilian supply chains.(SUPPLY CHAIN)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There is buzz around the Pentagon about something called Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) that just won't go away and it is starting to be heard with respect to companies that have not traditionally done business...

Bringing the backyard to distant markets.(Great Moments IN WORLD TRADE)
June 1, 2008... Tomatoes have long been travelers. Five centuries ago, European explorers sampled the edible fruit of the vine in Central and South America and brought it back to Italy and Spain. Suspicious writers warned the red and yellow globes were "rank...