Breaking Waves
-
Now that's a surplus! (Click for big version)
A few weeks back I posted about America’s trade surplus in services. The Economist hit the same point this week. But with a nice graph.
- I chanced upon a website the other day that could be of use to the many environmental engineering and pollution remediation companies that might be interested in China. Check out the Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs in Beijing. The site has some fascinating pollution maps of China, from the national scale down to some individual cities. They cover both air and water pollution and, in some case, pinpoint sources of pollution. Some of the information is in English, but it would be good to have a Chinese reader work on this for maximum benefit.
- Earlier in the week, I mentioned an article about how the Icelandic volcano had impacted India’s gold and jewelry exports. The International Herald Tribune reports about how the ash cloud is causing huge losses for Kenya’s fresh vegetable and cut flower exporters to Europe.
- Asia Times carried an interesting story about the impact of the free trade agreement between China and Pakistan. trade has boomed, but many in Pakistan fear competition from inexpensive Chinese goods.
- The New York Times came out with a good article about how small companies should get into exporting. It’s a good read. Thanks to my friend Carl Delfeld for spotting it. Carl has established a new Center for Economic Diplomacy to help build U.S. exports.
- Finance is not my thing, but I can understand that the credit crisis has had a profound impact on world trade. In fact, the relative lack of available export finance may be as big a hindrance to trade right now as the relative paucity of customers. An article in the Wall Street Journal gives the details and makes the point that perhaps the banks are getting too cautious when it comes to trade. After all, financing for an export sale is a short-term loan secured by actual goods. Bankers see that as risky only because the goods cross borders. It may be riskier to stay in your home market, guys.
