Posts filed under 'North America'
Global Technology Companies Protest Chinese Procurement Law
Global technology, service and manufacturing companies are raising concerns to the Chinese government over new rules they fear could restrict or block foreign vendors from selling high-tech gear to China’s government agencies. More than two dozen major industry groups from North America, Europe and Asia — representing most of the world’s major technology companies — sent a letter Thursday to Chinese ministries saying they were “deeply troubled” by the Chinese requirement.
The new rule requires vendors to gain accreditation for their products before they can be included in a government procurement catalog of products containing “indigenous innovation.” Companies that aren’t listed in the catalog will theoretically be allowed to bid for government contracts. But those that are listed will apparently be given preference.
At stake are billions of dollars of Chinese government spending on personal computers and application devices, communication products, office equipment, software and energy-efficient products. (By LORETTA CHAO, The Wall Street Journal, DECEMBER 11, 2009)
December 14, 2009
U.S. Power Companies Seek Out Chinese Allies
Duke Chief Executive Jim Rogers said these deals are just the beginning, and that he may solicit Chinese financing for the $25 billion in capital Duke needs to raise in the next five years to build new plants and upgrade other facilities.
As President Barack Obama meets with Chinese officials this week, tamping down carbon-dioxide emissions is on the agenda. The U.S. and China together account for 40% of the world’s output of the gas, the leading culprit in global warming. The two nations’ talks are expected to explore ways they can cooperate to solve common problems, such as making coal a cleaner-burning fuel.
November 25, 2009
The Global Innovation Migration
Research and development is increasingly going global, according to a new report by Duke’s Offshoring Research Network (ORN). More than half of U.S. companies now have corporatewide initiatives to outsource innovation activities, up from 22% in 2005, according to the ORN, which has been tracking the growth of outsourcing since 2004. And of those companies already offshoring development, 60% intend to do so more aggressively.
The days when you could trace development of the majority of the world’s innovative technologies back to U.S. labs are fading fast. Outsourcing of R&D is irreversible. Still, the U.S. retains key advantages and remains well-positioned to continue its technology leadership. But that can happen only if as a nation we recognize the changing role of R&D and refrain from wasting scarce resources trying to recapture a bygone era. Mandating that R&D traditionally performed in the U.S. should stay in America would tie the hands of companies at precisely the time they need flexibility to compete against up-and-coming foreign competitors. (By Vivek Wadhwa, BusinessWeek, November 9, 2009)
November 13, 2009
EU-US Summit
Leaders from the European Union and the United States gathered in Washington, DC, yesterday for the annual EU-US Summit.
European Commission President José Manuel Barroso commended President Obama’s leadership on climate change stating that he “changed the climate on the climate negotiations.” President Barroso stressed that with the strong leadership of the United States an agreement on climate change would be possible. “We are working toward a framework agreement in Copenhagen that will be an important agreement for the world. And we had particularly a very good discussion on this today and I think it was one of the most important points of our exchange.”
The summit also focused on ways for the EU and the US to cooperate on global challenges, including economic recovery and growth and providing effective assistance to developing countries. A number of foreign policy issues, including the situation in the Middle East and Afghanistan, were also discussed.
In conjunction with the Summit, a newly established EU-US Energy Council also met for first time today to deepen bilateral energy cooperation and address the growing challenges of global energy security, sustainability and climate change.
November 6, 2009
RD International Trade Seminar Series Office of Economics
RD International Trade Seminar Series
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: 500 E Street, SW Washington, DC
Room : Conference Room – 615P
Metro Directions:
Take the orange, blue, yellow or green lines to the L’Enfant Plaza stop. Use the exit marked “7th & D Sts.” Exit through the construction, down the stairs. Turn right and walk east to the corner of 6th and D Sts. (half a block). Turn right and walk south on 6th St. (2 blocks) to the corner of 6th and E Sts. The USITC building is on the left (SW corner).
October 15, 2009
THE WHITE HOUSE – Office of the Press Secretary:
WORLD TRADE WEEK, 2009
- – - – - – -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
When the world’s consumers fly in a U.S.-manufactured airplane, eat a steak from America’s heartland, watch a Hollywood movie, or visit the Grand Canyon, they are helping to create and maintain good jobs for Americans.
World Trade Week is an opportunity to reaffirm the benefits of trade and to emphasize America’s commitment to a global marketplace that creates good jobs and lifts up American families. The United States and our trading partners stand to gain when trade is open, transparent, rules-based, and fair, showing respect for labor and environmental standards.
The United States is well-positioned to reap the benefits of trade. America is a leader in the global marketplace and ranks at the top of almost every measure of global competitiveness. Our businesses, workers, and farmers remain the most innovative, productive, and adaptable in the world. The United States is also the world’s largest exporter.
May 20, 2009
EU Forecasts Economy to Shrink by 4% in 2009
Today the European Commission lowered its forecast for growth in the European Union this year, projecting that EU GDP would fall by four percent before broadly stabilizing in 2010.
“The European economy is in the midst of its deepest and most widespread recession in the post-war era,” said Joaquín Almunia, EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs. “But the ambitious measures taken by governments and central banks in these exceptional circumstances are expected to put a floor under the fall in economic activity this year and enable a recovery next year. For this to happen we need to proceed rapidly with the cleaning up of the ‘impaired assets’ on bank balance sheets and to re-capitalize banks when appropriate.”
The European Commission’s forecasts also showed that the unemployment rate is expected to increase to 11 percent in the EU in 2010. The public deficit is projected to rise sharply to 7.25 percent of GDP in 2010, reflecting both the slowdown and the discretionary measures taken to support the economy.
May 5, 2009
MEXICO RETALIATION: NAFTA TRUCKING DISPUTE
On Monday, March 16, Mexico announced it would retaliate against the United States for the cancellation of the Cross-Border Trucking Demonstration Program. The list of 89 products was published on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 and effective the next day.
Background: Under the NAFTA, the United States and Mexico agreed to phase-out restrictions on cross-border passenger and cargo services. In 1995, however, the United States announced it would not lift restrictions on Mexican trucks. In 2001, a NAFTA dispute settlement panel found the U.S. restrictions to be in breach of its NAFTA obligations (International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce).
March 30, 2009
Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP)
Effective Monday, February 2, 2009, companies within the United States will be able to apply to the CCSP program. Facilities that successfully apply and participate in the CCSP program will be designated as Certified Cargo Screening Facilities (CCSFs) and must adhere to TSA mandated security standards. To learn more about the program, please visit the Transportation Security Administration website
January 30, 2009
Welcome to Greater Cincinnati!
New to town? Looking for opportunities to expand your network?
The Northern Kentucky International Trade
Association (NKITA), a program of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, welcomes you and your family to the region.
Come, network with other international Chamber members and visit one of our global companies.
Location: SWECO
Time: 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. (Registration at 3:00 p.m.)
Cost: $15 Chamber members; $30 Future
Members
October 16, 2008
PHOTO ALBUM
