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How Global Shippers Optimize Deep-water Strategies

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How Global Shippers Optimize Deep-water Strategies

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Deep-water ports continue to make leaps and bounds within the trade sector, increasing overall twenty-foot equivalent units while breaking new ground and records, as seen this year with the Georgia Ports Authority’s recent confirmation of an impressive 4.36 million TEUs for 2018 and projecting a continuation of success for 2019. The port recorded 8 percent growth compared to the 2017 numbers.

Executive Director Griff Lynch cites the combination of cargo expansion and increased U.S. demand with shifting the global logistics arena toward the deep-water terminals in Savannah. The port implemented a strategy focusing on trade in December that was projected to set them up for continued success.

The Connecticut Port Authority claims that efforts toward integrating solutions that fit individual maritime needs are the driving factors behind its growth and successes.

In a detailed report highlighting deep-water port trends, the environment was the first on the list of increased industry concern and priority, which can prove problematic for trucking companies and beneficial for global shippers that anticipate regulation changes before industry competitors do. In 2020, the IMO fuel sulfur regulation will officially change how emissions are handled, ultimately restricting options for those who want to maintain uninterrupted operations. With this regulation change, there will be a 0.5 percent global sulfur limit on fuel emissions.

Proactivity is the driving force behind the success and stability of shippers looking for solutions for sustainability. Seatrade Maritime News presents three options that shippers should take into consideration sooner rather than later: install exhaust gas cleaning systems; purchase fuels within compliance (which are at a higher cost); or run ships on liquid natural gas. Whatever the choice might be, the demand for each of these tangible solutions is bound to increase drastically and change the pace for the global refineries.

“Global refiners will be put under enormous strain by the shifting product slate,” explains the International Energy Agency. “If refiners ran at similar utilization rates to today, they would be unlikely to be able to produce the required volumes of gas oil. If they increased throughputs to produce the required gas oil volumes, margins would be adversely affected by the law of diminishing returns. In order to increase gas oil output, less valuable products at the top and bottom of the barrel would be produced in tandem, which would likely see cracks for these products weaken and weigh margins down.”

Beyond proactivity and preparation, global deep-water ports focus on redefining infrastructure while evaluating opportunities for significant increases in cargo intake. But what about the ports that aren’t seeing the results they want? Let’s take a look at the European ports and the challenges and proposed solutions featured in an article from Port Strategy. Of all the solutions presented and discussed, the first was the need for infrastructure evaluation.

“The challenge ports everywhere face now,” details a report shared by the ESPO, “is to implement projects which often are financially unattractive to the port authority and even less attractive to external investors, but which are essential for wider societal and economic reasons. Some ports are financially strong enough to finance such projects and accept the low financial returns. Other ports are challenged to implement projects which are essential but are entirely beyond their means.”

Another challenge is the demand for increased cargo but a limit in capacity, as many ports claim they are close to reaching max capacity but can’t provide an opportunity for competitors to swoop up that for which they can’t make room. Gauging these issues requires a carefully thought out and strategic approach to ensure shippers evaluate the next steps for 2019.

In the theme of modernization, Port of Oakland shared insight into its 2018-2022 strategic plan, which is inclusive of growing net revenue, modernizing and maintaining infrastructure, care for the environment and improving customer service. The use of technology to streamline operations was one of the highlighted objectives and strategies (impacting almost every area of the business) that the report emphasized on. In the age of information technology, automation and technology solutions, this goal would provide more than just a seamless flow of information, but it would supply owners, customers and employees improved efficiencies and reduced room for error. There seems to be a trend among these ports.

“Each of our businesses has specific modernization and maintenance objectives to meet, notably development of long-term asset management plans,” states the Port of Oakland report. “Moreover, those objectives require careful attention to environmental, social responsibility and human resources issues.”

The key to implementing strong logistics solutions can be found in an all-in-one approach that is inclusive of your company goals and vision, the well being and safety of your employees, customer satisfaction, competitive advantage as well as cost-effectiveness and proactivity. The common denominator is found in digitization through advanced technology solutions, fully integrated within the service platforms, touching on all bases of the operations and supply chain.

For 2019, more of these solutions will become the wining differentiator with competitors, and the demand for digital integration will continue to rise. Take advantage of the opportunities to research and learn the primary areas of improvement, addressing those first. The primary issues will ultimately impact the remaining areas of your business–start at the root and go from there. Implement proactive measures to ensure your company is well prepared for changes in regulations, considering long-term solutions over short term. Consider analyzing what competitors are doing; this is just as important as knowing what they are not doing to stay ahead in the markets.

Vincent Campfens, author of IBM’s THINK blog, put success initiatives into perspective: “Being a smart port is much more than merely introducing awesome new technology into a port to make it safer, more efficient and more sustainable. It is also about looking further ahead in time, making strategic choices to ensure that the port still exists in the future, whilst responding to changes in climate, politics, technology, industries and cargo flows. One of our recent strategic choices is a targeted commitment to digital innovation.”

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Report Shows Counterfeit Trade Increase in 2019

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A report released by OECD and the EU’s Intellectual Property Office confirmed that counterfeit and pirated goods in trade reached 3.3 percent this year. With the majority of the counterfeit goods being picked up in China and Hong Kong, the spotlight is focused on concerns surrounding consumer health and safety with fake goods such as medical supplies, car parts, toys, food and cosmetics brands and electrical goods.

Excluding domestic produced and consumed fake goods, the customs data seizure reports state the overall value of global fake goods at $509 billion, with the European Union representing 6.8 percent of counterfeit trade from non EU countries. Items such as footwear, clothing, leather goods, electrical equipment, watches, medical equipment, perfumes, toys, jewelry and pharmaceuticals were the top goods that made the list.

“Counterfeit trade takes away revenues from firms and governments and feeds other criminal activities. It can also jeopardize consumers’ health and safety,” said OECD Public Governance Director Marcos Bonturi, launching the report with the Director of the EU Observatory on IPR infringements at the EUIPO, Paul Maier, and the EU Ambassador to the OECD Rupert Schlegelmilch. “Counterfeiters thrive where there is poor governance. It is vital that we do more to protect intellectual property and address corruption.”

Other countries impacted the most in 2016 include the United States, France, Italy, Switzerland, and Germany.

To read the full report, please visit: OECD.org

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What to Expect from Sub-Saharan Africa Economy in 2019

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The IMF economic outlook presents a picture of what to expect from each economy or region annually. For Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in 2019, a GDP growth rate of 3.4 percent is projected at the aggregate level; a slight improvement over the 2.9 percent actual growth rate of 2018. Poor performance in the three big economies (Angola, Nigeria and South Africa) continues to weigh down the overall economic position of the region. Thus, when excluded, the growth projection for the rest of SSA rises above 5 percent since eighteen out of forty-five countries are anticipated to grow at five percent or higher in 2019. Over the last few years, countries like Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Ghana, and Tanzania have consistently exceeded the region’s average GDP growth rate.
Sub-Saharan Africa has continued to recover from the commodities market crash that brought its GDP growth rate down to 1.4 percent in 2016; its lowest level in decades. This growth pattern is influenced by a combination of factors which include improved global economy, increased public investment, strong agricultural production, relatively stable political environment across the continent and more. Improvements in policy frameworks and economic reforms also played an important role in the progress recorded. World Bank Doing Business 2019 reported that one out of three of all business regulatory improvements captured between June 2017 and May 2018 were in SSA. Sub-Saharan Africa has been the region with the highest number of reforms every year in the last seven years.
Although the Doing Business annual report is not the only measure of a country’s competitiveness since it is limited in scope and does not take into account other key market determinants such as market size, macroeconomic conditions, foreign investment, security and political stability. However, it provides valuable information to market players about government’s willingness and efforts to create a conducive marketplace for business.
The private sector, especially the service industry, is the largest beneficiary of the improved business environment contributing more than half of the region’s economic output. The service sector has played a more prominent role with an average growth rate of more than six percent over the last ten years. The region’s growth trend is expected to continue at least in the short and medium term. It is estimated that Africa will have over 160 million people in the middle class by 2030. Transition to middle class will be powered by a huge base of young and working age population which is growing at the rate of 1.7 million per month according to the IFC. Africa offers enormous business and investment opportunities in many sectors including transportation, information and communication technology (ICT), housing and education.
While the region has returned to a path of economic growth, certain conditions can threaten the realization of those projections on the long term – slow growth rate, high debt levels and upcoming elections. The current aggregate GDP growth rate is not strong enough to absorb any sudden economic shock or deliver rapid economic transformation across the continent. Escalating debt levels is very concerning as they pose serious risks to the region. Also, critical elections to watch include Nigeria, Senegal, Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana, Malawi and Namibia. Political situation in SSA has been relatively stable but fragile. Power shifts sometimes come with policy reversals; this can erode investors’ confidence in the market and adversely affect economic growth. Nevertheless, Africa remains a key destination for growth and market expansion.

Top African Economic Performers of 2018-2019

Table: Brookings Institute

Kemi Arosanyin is an International Trade Development Specialist and Director, Africa Trade Expansion Program at the World Trade Center Miami. She writes, speaks, and advises on trade and investment in sub-Saharan Africa.

Archives, Global Trade Daily, International Trade

The Trade War Latest: What Supply Chain Professionals Should Consider

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With the May 10 increase in duty rates on certain Chinese-made imports—and China’s subsequent retaliation on U.S.-made goods—I think we can all safely agree the United States and China are in a fully-fledged trade war. So, in an atmosphere of uncertainty, what are the key elements supply chain professionals should consider to stay ahead?

Impacts to cash flow

Over the last six months, increasing duty rates from both countries have impacted cash flows in several ways.

For U.S. exporters (especially in agricultural products), China sales are down, resulting in cash flow constraints on the income side. For U.S. importers, duty payments have increased substantially on certain products, leading to much higher cash flow consumption on the cost side.

The old adage that two things move in transportation, goods and money, has never been truer than in today’s climate. As I’ve been discussing the latest tariff changes with importers, a few recurring questions seem to be on most companies’ minds:

-Will our supply chain be more impacted by the policy changes affecting China-to-U.S. freight or U.S.-to-China freight?

-What ripple effects will those impacts have on other areas of our business?

-Will we need to increase our U.S. customs bond?

At C.H. Robinson, we’re constantly monitoring the situation and communicating with our customers on potential consequences for their businesses. Because we’re a comprehensive third-party logistics (3PL) provider—offering customs brokerage and trade compliance services as well as global ocean and air freight logistics—we use our unique market perspective to see end-to-end impacts and help manage our customers’ complete supply chains in unpredictable times.

Will there be a surge of imports trying to beat List 4?

In late 2018, many U.S. importers pulled forward inventory in anticipation of potential tariff increases threatened for January 1, 2019. That threat was ultimately delayed until May 10, but talk of a next round of tariffs has already begun.

This new list of tariffs would be known as List 4 and would affect almost all currently unimpacted Chinese-made goods. That list still must make its way through a formal review process, but the new tariffs could be implemented as soon as late July or early August. Whether we will see importers again pull forward their inventory to try and beat potential duty increases remains to be seen.

Changing U.S. domestic freight flows

One of the repercussions of the U.S.-China trade war that has not received as much attention is the impact of the dispute on domestic freight patterns.

Indeed, the trade war has disrupted some U.S. trucking lanes, including an out-of-cycle surge in demand in Southern California related to the pull-forward of inventory in late 2018. Additionally, frozen pork and chicken, typically exported to China, has been routed to domestic cold storage instead, straining domestic refrigerated trucking capacity.

Now that the cost to import from China has increased, companies may find it cheaper to fulfill product with pre-tariff inventory from a warehouse 1,000 miles away (instead of new inventory assessed a 25% duty). As a result, several questions are beginning to emerge: Will companies in fact try to draw inventory from far-away domestic warehouses with lower landed costs? Will new suppliers require the establishment of new lanes? How would these shifts impact carrier networks that gain or lose freight? Only time will tell.

When will this trade war end?

Whether your company has been positively or negatively impacted by the trade war, uncertainty abounds; current policies and rules (in addition to new ones) may or may not be in effect six months, one year, or five years from now. Therefore, for many businesses, scenario planning increasingly appears to be essential:

-What will your company do if current tariff levels are maintained for one month? Three months? Six months? Longer?

-What will your company do if tariffs increase? Are you making any process adjustments now to prepare for such a possibility?

-How would your company react to an announcement of a deal ending the trade war?

As you plan, make sure to bring your transportation provider and customs broker into the conversation to assess the transportation costs of new lanes, new suppliers, and shifting regulatory and compliance concerns. With close collaboration, deep business intelligence, and proactive planning, providers and businesses can make the most of these unpredictable times by mitigating risk and finding opportunity.


This originally appeared on chrobinson.com. Republished with permission.



Archives, Global Trade Daily, International Trade, News

GLOBAL ECONOMY EXPECTED TO SLOW

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History imparts many lessons, and among them are that all good things come to an end. In the early stages of 2019, all signs are pointing toward slowing economic growth both domestically and internationally.

Global economic growth appears to have peaked in 2018 at 3 percent, and analysts at the trade credit insurance firm Atradius estimate global growth to ease to 2.8 percent this year. The slowdown will be felt in both developed and emerging markets and will be driven by monetary policy decisions, a fading U.S. fiscal stimulus, increased volatility in financial markets and rising uncertainties about future trade relations.

Theme of the Moment: Uncertainty

While global trade growth remains relatively strong, it is decelerating, reaching 4.7 percent in 2017, 3.7 percent in 2018 and predicted to further slow to 3 percent in 2019. The overarching threat to global economic growth in 2019? Uncertainty.

No matter what form uncertainty takes, it tends to have the same effect: lower business investment. A large source of uncertainty at the moment is the unfolding trade war between the U.S. and China. While conversations have begun and will be focused on intellectual property and technology transfer, should these countries significantly ramp up their trade conflict, the forecasts for 2019 economic growth would likely be revised downward.

Another big area of uncertainty is another looming U.S. government shutdown. Although a short-term agreement was reached at the end of January, it remains to be seen what will happen next. Will the government remain functional for some time? Or will it come to another impasse? At this point, it’s nearly impossible to say, and the 35-day shutdown has already made its mark on consumer confidence.

A Snapshot of the U.S.

The U.S. is not immune to the slowdown trend, but several economic tailwinds continue. According to Oxford Economics, real GDP growth is predicted to slow from 2.9 percent in 2018 to a still robust 2.5 percent in 2019, with increased downside risks related to trade and monetary policy decisions.

By the middle of this year, if the current pattern holds, the economic expansion in the U.S. will have lasted 13 years, the longest on record. So far, private consumption has been the engine behind the economy’s growth, aided by record low unemployment and wage growth in line with inflation.

All that said, various factors are making the U.S. economy increasingly fragile. Business investment and overall growth face challenges from trade protectionism and monetary policy, which are simultaneously increasing input costs and borrowing costs. In addition, U.S. housing data is beginning to look weaker, which is not much of a surprise given rising uncertainty, a lack of material wage inflation and a rising rate environment.

The Federal Reserve increased interest rates again in December 2018 to 2.5 percent, reflecting the Fed’s perception of ongoing strength within the domestic economy but quickly shifted to a more dovish tone by January. Although analysts expect the pace of tightening to slow, with no further hikes forecasted in 2019, the future is currently difficult to predict with monetary policy expected to be data dependent moving forward. Based on historical data, the flattening yield curve and tight treasury yield spreads could suggest a looming recession though the Fed balance sheet looks significantly different from past economic cycles.

The Corporate Sector

U.S. corporate insolvencies decreased a respectable 8 percent last year, but as business risks mount due to the recent rise in interest rates, significant levels of corporate debt and overall trade policy uncertainty, business failures are expected to decline by only 2 percent in 2019, according to the Economic Update published by Atradius in January.

A similar slowdown is expected elsewhere. Although 2018 brought a 3.6 percent decline in insolvencies in advanced markets in North America, Asia-Pacific and Europe, analysts at Atradius predict 2019 will likely see a more modest 1.7 percent decrease. In emerging markets, the picture is slightly worse, as global financial conditions become more volatile and some countries face unfavorable domestic policy situations.

One current area of concern the business sector faces is credit risk. Corporate balance sheets show significantly more leverage than they’ve had in previous economic cycles, with a large proportion of BBB-rated debt. As a result of the fiscal stimulus following the 2008 financial crisis, many companies took advantage of the easy (and cheap) access to financing in order to fund growth. However, heavily leveraged corporate balance sheets could now face meaningful refinancing risk in light of the significant interest burden coupled with expectations for earnings growth pressure.

Event risk also remains inescapable within the corporate sector. In worst case scenarios, event risk can drive insolvency situations as seen recently with both PG&E and Toys R Us. Event risk refers to a business facing material financial risk after a specific external event, such as when PG&E filed for bankruptcy after facing significant potential liabilities related to the California wildfires. In the case of Toys R Us, media coverage suggesting the toy retailer had hired well known restructuring advisors resulted in supplier fear leading to global supply chain issues and ultimately, insolvency. The lesson here is that anything can happen—whether it’s natural disasters, a fast-paced media controlling a company’s narrative, or sudden unexpected changes in trade relations that translate to disruptions in supply chains.

Areas of Opportunity

As early indications suggest slowing global economic growth in 2019 and the continued uncertainty surrounding trade policy are cause for concern, the need to know your customer increases in importance. Whether trading domestically or internationally, areas of opportunity exist and businesses across industry sectors reflect varying degrees of financial health and stability. No matter the economic cycle, businesses should take steps to mitigate risks. Trade credit insurance, for instance, protects company’s accounts receivables, providing peace of mind for continued growth and sustainable cash flow. It is always a smart idea to monitor corporate debt levels and the payment practices of trading partners in an effort to understand whether they have a balance sheet that can weather a slowdown.

 

 

David Culotta, CFA, is the senior manager of U.S. Buyer Underwriting for Atradius Trade Credit Insurance Inc. located in Hunt Valley, MD. In his role, David is responsible for providing strategic direction for the U.S. underwriting platform and for monitoring the development of the U.S. portfolio and adapting the risk management approach as necessary. David earned his MBA at Loyola University Maryland and is a CFA charterholder.

Credit: Atradius

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Archives, Global Trade Daily, International Trade

Realign Your Trade Compliance Program with a Midyear Review

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The complexities of importing and exporting goods in the United States means it’s easy to overlook process changes and forget to make updates in a timely manner. However, if not caught quickly, outdated information or imprecise processes can add unnecessary fees and penalties. If left to accrue over the course of a full year, these costs can be staggering.

That’s why I recommend a midyear customs review. If something is off base with your customs compliance program you can rapidly realign as needed. Use C.H. Robinson’s comprehensive checklist to guide your own midyear customs process review.

Midyear customs clearance checklist

1. Review customs broker powers of attorney

Revisit powers of attorney (POAs) and revoke any from U.S. customs brokers with whom you no longer wish to work. Remember, any POA you extend should have an expiration period, providing a natural time to review. If you aren’t sure of existing POAs, you can see all U.S. customs brokers transacting business on your behalf by requesting your Importer Trade Activity (ITRAC) data (see #11)

2. Update names and addresses on file with U.S. Customs

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) uses contact information from CBP Form 5106 to communicate with Importers of Record. If you have recently moved, or have not reviewed the information listed on CBP Form 5106 in a while, re-validate the information you have on file so you will receive all pertinent and time-sensitive correspondences the CBP sends.

3. Ensure bond amount is sufficient

If your import activity has changed, or you anticipate a large increase in activity during the remaining half of the year, your bond may need updating. CBP can determine your bond is insufficient and may require you to increase your bond amount. A midyear review and update is a proactive move.

4. Consider changing listing multiple principals on the same bond

Having multiple entities on one bond can bring cost savings. But be sure to decide if the risks are worth the reward. When sharing a bond, each entity shares liability if CBP issues a demand against the bond. In addition, if any entities terminate the bond, this can disrupt the other entities within the bond.

5. Check customs broker instructions

Review and document any customs broker instructions you send to U.S. customs brokers regularly—from Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification rules and related party verification instructions to anti-dumping/countervailing duty instructions—to ensure your customs broker declares entities to the CBP according to your wishes.

6. Request updated certificates of origin

Be proactive with foreign suppliers and obtain updated annual blanket certificates of origin (COO) for any program in which you’d like to claim preference. And provide any updated COOs to your U.S. customs broker. Not obtaining COOs in a timely fashion may lead to unnecessary annual duty costs.

7. Update free trade agreement instructions

Revise any instructions pertaining to free trade agreements (FTAs) so your U.S. customs broker has proper direction about how you would like to file entries that may be eligible for FTAs.

8. Obtain your manufacturer’s affidavits

If you utilize a U.S. goods return program, found under Heading 9801, be sure you have obtained your manufacturer’s affidavits for the rest of the year. Share these affidavits with your U.S. customs broker and record them within any customs broker instructions.

9. Review anti-dumping/countervailing duties products

The CBP can investigate any potential anti-dumping/countervailing duties (AD/CVD) evasion allegations. Accurate case numbers, rates, etc. are critical for reporting upon entry. Even if you are disclaiming AD/CVD, document your product details internally, explaining why your product does not fall within the scope of the order.

10. Provide reconciliation flagging instructions to U.S. customs broker

If you are a reconciliation participant, approved by CBP, flagging of entries is the responsibility of the importer. Now is the time to send your U.S. customs broker written direction with any flagging instructions you would like established or changed.

11. Request import activity records from CBP

ITRAC provides a wealth of information you can use to create or improve your import compliance program. Likely, you’ll need tools, like C.H. Robinson’s Global Trade Reports®, to transform the raw ITRAC data into user-friendly dashboards and reports.

12. Sign up for the ACE Portal

The ACE Secure Data Portal is a powerful way to manage trade compliance programs. This powerful tool enables you to receive paperless notifications from CBP, monitor your brokers, audit entries in real time, and much more.

13. Request export activity data

Similar to ITRAC data for import activity, request your Electronic Export Information (EEI) from the Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division. If you are the filer in the Automated Export System (AES) using the ACE Export Portal, you can review your EEI on a regular basis.

14. Check U.S. Import HTS Classification and Export Classification

Review and communicate any updates to your HTS Classification Database and your Export Schedule B Number to proper stakeholders—both internally and externally.

15. Reduce liability with marine cargo insurance

Steamship lines and air cargo providers have limited legal and financial responsibility for international cargo. Marine cargo insurance plans can reduce your company’s financial exposure and bring new efficiencies.

16. Protect trademark and trade names

Make sure the CBP has any and all of your trademarks and trade names protected and recorded. This allows CBP to help you combat potential counterfeit products or infringement.

17. Request manifest confidential treatment

You can request confidential treatment of inward and outward manifest information. However, note that there are mandatory biannual renewal requirements. In addition, account for all possible variations of names within your request.

18. Review your denied party screening program

Look at which parties you are screening, and how often. This can ensure your program is appropriate for your current business model and bring potential risks to your attention.

19. Perform internal and external training

Regularly schedule time to ensure adequate training is happening with appropriate stakeholders. This keeps all parties, especially new employees, up to date with changes.

20. Address priority trade issues

Be sure that your compliance program addresses each one of the CBP’s initiatives to mitigate the risks of priority trade issues.

Smooth customs clearance doesn’t just happen

Careful planning and regular reviews of your customs processes are critical components to a strong trade compliance program.

If a midyear review seems unfeasible or this list seems daunting to conduct all at once, consider bringing in an outside expert like C.H. Robinson to guide you through the process. The most important part is to ensure you review, update, and communicate any changes to these areas of your compliance program on a consistent basis.

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Report: Global Expansion Addressing Talent Recruitment for U.S. Tech Companies

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A report released by Velocity Global revealed an interesting approach U.S. technology companies are planning to tap into a broader talent pool. The State of Global Expansion 2019 report, which surveyed 500 U.S. and 500 UK tech companies, confirmed 85 percent of firms plan to implement global expansion efforts in markets known for having the highest potential for the best global talent, such as Europe (23%) and Asia (23%).

“The survey provides a fascinating snapshot of the way U.S. tech firms are feeling about their global ambitions,” CEO of Velocity Global Ben Wright said. “It reveals an outward-looking sector that has the confidence to pursue growth internationally and recognizes these companies understand the benefits that global expansion can bring to businesses.”

“Crucially, the businesses we polled recognize that when it comes to tech, people are everything,” Wright continued. “Many of them are expanding overseas not just because U.S. tech carries with it a reputation for innovation and excellence, but also because they want to ensure they have a presence in markets with the brightest talent.”

The survey also revealed talent recruitment continues to be a primary challenge above employee immigration management, long-distance client communication, finding expert consultancy, and managing new payroll processes. International expansion is the common solution among U.S. tech companies, as more results from the research confirmed companies seeking to add talent are looking beyond U.S. borders, and into foreign markets. Out of the 54 percent surveyed companies operating strictly in the U.S., the report revealed that this number will drop to only 22 percent by the end of 2019.

“It’s understandable that some businesses continue to have reservations about taking those first steps into unfamiliar overseas markets. Yet more often than not, the myriad opportunities outweigh the risks. And with the right advice and an expert partner on hand to simplify processes, it can be hugely rewarding and the route to future growth.”

To read more about the report’s findings, visit: VelocityGlobal.com

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The World’s First Digital Trade Database to Increase Trade Data Visibility

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The world’s first digital trade database will soon be the product of a recently announced partnership between Coriolis Technologies and
Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA). The goal of this new platform will help solve issues related to global trade visibility, risk assessment, and critical information on the growth and pace of international trade.

“We are delighted to be working with the GTPA to improve the availability of good quality trade data, through the development of a digital trade database,” added Dr. Rebecca Harding, CEO of Coriolis Technologies. “Collecting and collating data has historically proved difficult, and this problem has been further compounded by the growth in digital trade, which is far harder to track than the movement of physical goods. The Coriolis-GTPA database will allow trade originators to understand precisely where the risks and the opportunities are around the world in politics, in economics and in reputation.”

The innovative database will provide visibility into the flow of global goods, services and strategic trade for banks, governments and investment communities, ultimately enabling them for strategic decision making. The companies confirmed the database will provide insight for the
Asia-Pacific region during the first stage of development.

“The benefits of international trade are currently the subject of debate in various contexts, however, it has long been demonstrated that, even with its systemic imperfections which must be acknowledged, trade has been a powerful driver for economic value creation, inclusion and poverty reduction, as well as peace and security,” commented Lisa McAuley, CEO of Global Trade Professionals Alliance. “The GTPA is pleased to partner with Coriolis Technologies as trade and investment data collection is imperative to drive robust trade policy decisions, analysis on the implementation and success of Free Trade Agreements and more importantly data that can be used to communicate the role of trade in a countries best economic interests to the general public.”

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Budapest Airport Connects Hungary and China with New Agreements

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Budapest Airport continues bridging the gap in aviation connectivity between China and Hungary through its most recent airport agreements signed during the Hungarian-Chinese Forum last week. The agreement involves two Chinese airports (Xi’an Xianyang and Zhengzhou Xinzheng International) that further support Budapest Airport’s goal for providing primary logistics and distribution support for China in the Central and Eastern European regions.

Péter Szijjártó, minister of foreign affairs and trade, represented Hungary at the forum and commented on the agreement at the signing ceremony:

“Between two countries ­like these – with quite a distance between them geographically – strong economic cooperation is only possible if they are well-connected, which is why aviation connections, direct flights between Hungary and China, are of key importance. For this reason, we are delighted that a cooperation agreement between the airport of Xi’an and Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport is signed, as this agreement may link additional Chinese cities to the network where direct flights are available from Hungary, from Budapest. In addition to economic ties, our connections in tourism can also be developed further. Last year, a record number of 256 thousand Chinese tourists visited Hungary, representing a growth rate of 14 percent.”

Budapest Airport reported that it doubled its weekly capacity in cargo flights between Budapest, Hong Kong and Zhengzhou as a result of support from Hungarian diplomats and trade promotion experts. Additionally, the recent agreement further enhances opportunities to develop freight flows between Chinese locations and Budapest.

“The foundation stone was laid with the direct connection to Zhengzhou, and now it is time to further intensify our cooperation with our new Chinese partners, and thus exploit the enormous potential in the freight business in particular. Zhengzhou, Xi’an and Budapest share a great dynamic of growth, and we are very confident that we can mutually benefit from this cooperation,” said Jost Lammers, the CEO of Budapest Airport.


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE SUPPORTS MORE THAN 4.7 MILLION CALIFORNIA JOBS: STUDY

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A recently released Business Roundtable study finds that international trade supports 4,710,600 jobs in California, representing one out of every five jobs in the state. 

Trade with Canada and Mexico alone supports 1,470,700 jobs in California, which should be a key factor before members of Congress deciding the fate this year of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Exports from California to Canada and Mexico have increased by 235 percent since the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

“We stand united to preserve and modernize North American trade, which supports over 12 million jobs and a strong U.S. economy,” says Tom Linebarger, chairman and CEO of Cummins Inc. and chair of the Trade & International Committee for Business Roundtable, whose CEO members lead companies with more than 15 million employees and $7.5 trillion in revenues.

The study – prepared by Trade Partnership Worldwide with the latest-available employment data from 2017 – examines the net impacts of both exports and imports of goods and services on U.S. jobs in all 50 states. It also compared 2017 data to pre-NAFTA data from 1992. The study found that trade-supported jobs in California increased by 88 percent from 1992 (when NAFTA was implemented) to 2017 – nearly three times faster than total employment. 

Find the study here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/brt.org/Trade_and_American_Jobs_2019.pdf