Best Way to Stimulate an Economy? Export!

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According to Rob Lawley, head of international trade at UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) West Midlands, exporting makes people think more about their products and company.  In addition, he says, "Businesses that trade internationally have a better survival rate. They can become more profitable and are more likely to grow."

And I just love this line in the article:

EXPORTING could be the shot in the arm businesses need to survive as the economy flatlines.

Read the entire article here.

International Trade Promotes Growth and Development

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In a speech, “Charting a Course for Trade in an Uncertain Future," given by Director-General of the World Trade Organization Pascal Lamy at the Brookings Dialogue in Washington, D.C. earlier this month, he said:

Trade as a share of global GDP has risen from roughly 40% in 1980 to around 60% today. In the United States, a country long considered less dependent on trade than many others, the share has risen from 10% to 25% over the same period of time.  US exports of goods and services in the last 10 years have more than doubled to over $2 trillion. One reason for this dramatic expansion is that US exporters have entered new markets in a big way. When China entered the WTO in 2001, US exports to the Middle Kingdom were $20 billion. By 2011 they had increased more than five-fold to over $100 billion. 

Read the entire speech here.

Making International Trade Work For You

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Once in a while I lose track of just how much UPS helps small businesses conquer the world.

Are you aware of UPS Capital?

UPS Capital, a UPS company, is focused primarily on providing financial services to businesses whose supply chains span international borders, such as U.S.-based businesses that manufacture or import goods overseas for sale in the U.S.

Is that your company?  Then pay UPS Capital a visit here.

The UK's Perspective on International Trade

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A useful site on international trade with its origin in the UK.  A sampling on a couple of the informative articles:

1. Is it time to have "China in your hand?"
   
2. How To Embrace Global Collaboration
3. What’s In Store For Those Involved In International Trade?

There's a video too: "Survive and Thrive in the Crisis By Trading Internationally."

Keep looking.  There's lots more.

What is the Smartest Decision You Made in Starting Your Business?

 

Mine was going global at the outset.  What was yours?

Let's Not Distort International Trade and Investment

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The global recession has taken a harsh toll on international trade, particularly for many members of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. World trade in goods and services will fall sharply in 2009 and is unlikely to rebound much in 2010, so APEC members must ensure that they do not make this bad situation worse by implementing protectionist policies (yes, the second of two posts in two days on this topic) that restrict opportunities for trade and investment.

To this end, APEC members should follow three guidelines for trade policy:

Do no more harm to the global trading system through damaging tariffs or subsidies; help world trade recover by accelerating and broadening the Doha Round trade negotiations; and complement Doha with APEC initiatives on trade, the environment, and regional economic integration.

Read more here.

How To Enforce Intellectual Property Rights On a Global Scale

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When it comes to global trade, intellectual property rights is a hot topic that causes great concern because it can slow down development efforts. It boils down to this question: How do we regulate our global knowledge economy?

Read how Carsten Fink thinks we should handle this at the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) under:

The Global Debate on the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights and Developing Countries.

Or go straight for the gold by downloading PDF report (1.05 MB) here.

Note: I had a problem attempting to download report ...

Audacity of Hope on Free Trade

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A provocative commentary published in the New York Times (3/16/08) and authored by N. Gregory Mankiw, professor of economics at Harvard. He was an adviser to President Bush and advised Mitt Romney in his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.

Beyond The Noise On Free Trade

Like what you read? Pay a visit to Mankiw's blog.

America Is the World's No. 1 Exporter!

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January 2008 exports rose to $148 billion.

WASHINGTON (3/11/08) -- U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez today issued the following statement on the release of the January 2008 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report by the Department’s Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Today’s report shows that U.S. exports increased by 13.1 percent to $1,649 billion in the 12 months ending January 2008 over the prior 12 month period. Imports also increased 6.8 percent to $2,359 billion and the trade deficit narrowed 5.5 percent during the same time period.

Here's more on why we are No. 1.