by Andrea | Mar 2, 2012 | access to finance, small business financing
The U.S. Congress has begun its work on the 2012 Farm Bill which will shape US agricultural and food assistance policy between 2013 and 2108. The US Farm Bill is the primary agricultural and food policy tool of the U.S. government, and is passed every five (5) years...
by Andrea | Feb 17, 2012 | cap and trade, Recent Trends in Trade, small business financing, Trade and Development
Carbon trade programs developed by countries in an effort to address climate change are entering the arena of cross-border trade, with potentially serious implications for developing countries, particularly those whose economies are dependent on tourism. These...
by Andrea | Feb 6, 2012 | small business financing, Trade and Development, world financial crisis
This time last week, the attendees at the 2012 World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland (held January 25th – 29th) were just recovering from their jetlag and round of meetings. The Davos meeting brings together the world’s top business leaders,...
by Andrea | Jan 20, 2012 | CSME, Recent Trends in Trade, small business financing, Trade and Development
An earlier post discussed the reality behind the proliferation of “Made in China” (or other countries) labels on the goods that we purchase. The product of outsourcing of the manufacturing processes, these labels can nevertheless hide the origin of other often more...
by Andrea | Jan 13, 2012 | CSME, Recent Trends in Trade, small business financing, Trade and Development
Today’s (Friday, January 13th, 2012) Foreign Policy Brief contains a slideshow that aims to show a side of life in Haiti that is rarely, if ever, depicted in the media. It shows a glimpse into the lives of Haiti’s “one-percent”. As the country marks the second...
by Andrea | Jan 6, 2012 | Recent Trends in Trade, small business financing, Trade and Development
The labels on our purchased items that purport to tell us where the products were made are often misleading. They are the result of labeling laws that ignore today’s reality of global supply chains. This is why I find the series on ABC News which challenges its...