On Dec 16, 2011 the World Trade Organization unanimously approved Russia’s accession as a member after waiting since 1993. However, there’s one teeny thing Congress needs to do and that is to repeal Jackson-Vanik to Russia in order for US exports to Russia to receive most-favoredContinue reading

Year end. These last 2 weeks manufacturers all over are scrambling to make their numbers and ‘shipping everything that isn’t nailed down’, seeing what to cut in the budget for next year, and telling loyal employees that there will not be profit share this year… I remember thoseContinue reading

A little gateway known as the Panama Canal, completed in 1914, has been vital to global transportation, not only to the US, but literally GLOBALLY. However, with the increase in volume (95% of US imports arrive via vessel), the trend has been to build larger ships; enterContinue reading

One of the most important concepts I stress is that early planning is key to avoid long term problems. Global assignments should be developed when an employer first considers going global and this helps the company maintain consistency while managing costs, risks and expectations. (Can’tContinue reading

The months leading up to the actual vote on the now PASSED FTAs was controversial at best.  I did many interviews with the media on the subject and circulated information to my network. On occasion, the preverbial hate email would come thru demanding to know how many jobs NAFTA created andContinue reading

Guest Writer: W. J. Simpson, VP Global Supply Chain, Gleason Works, Inc.  To succeed in today’s cost-conscious environment, manufacturers must make a series of strategic choices that shape the future of their businesses and operations.  Strategic Outsourcing is a component of a well-designed manufacturing strategy.  SinceContinue reading

I was recently watching Fareed Zakaria’s special CNN report–Restoring the American Dream: Getting Back to Work. His report focuses on the root causes of unemployment in the U.S, and his conclusions are pretty straightforward.

We only launched this blog a few months ago and we are seeing a flurry of activity! Send us your comments, views, thoughts anything! We want this site to be YOUR site… keep it coming and we’ll do the same!!

Lacey Act Ensnares Gibson Guitar Corp   Companies engaged in international trade often feel they are doing their best to adhere to the numerous customs rules with good intentions, but a recent case involving Gibson Guitars underscores the importance of having strong internal controls over complianceContinue reading

 One or two decades ago we still lived in a world in which contacts with other cultures were rather peripheral. Sure, there used to be immigrants from other countries and then there was of course some contact when we traveled. But there was no realContinue reading