1
September
2006
Everyone knows the distintive shape of the Zippo lighter. In fact, four years ago, Zippo went so far as to trademark its design. Now it wants the International Trade Commission to help it fight knockoffs, which the company says “consume” 30 percent of its market. In its filing with the ITC, it points the finger at Chinese companies and U.S. distributors. Zippo, which was founded in 1932, in the early years of the U.S. Depression, sells more than 12 million lighters a year, and even claims a fan base that makes collectibles of them.
Ken Roberts 
International trade, China, Manufacturing, Trademark 
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31
August
2006
Clipped this one from an email from Business Traveler magazine’s email… “Since the beginning of the year, airfares have been on the rise, fueled by record oil prices, reduced seating capacity and a surge in demand. Last week, United raised business-class fares $5 each way or $10 per round trip. American Airlines and Delta matched the fare hike, but no other U.S. carriers followed suit. The result: United, American and Delta rolled back the increase. In the last two years, the airlines have successfully raised fares industry-wide 21 times — and failed 17.” I, for one, liked having the plane virtually to myself but understand that airlines need to make money. But I will take the crowds over paying for empty seats with big increases in fare prices. People who fly long distances might see it differently.
Ken Roberts Airlines, Business Travel No Comments »
31
August
2006
Some little nuggets for your consideration …1. Deficit, deficit, deficit. It’s all you hear. But while the the United States had trade deficits with 118 nations in 2005, it had trade surpluses with 112.
2. Of course, that’s not the whole story. The record $201 billion U.S. deficit with China in 2005 was more than three times greater than the total of all those surpluses combined.
3. Canada is overwhelmingly the nation’s leading trade partner and is on course to surpass one half trillion dollars in trade in 2006, the first nation to cross the $500 billion mark.
4. The U.S. could surpass $100 billion in exports to the world in 2006, surpassing that milestone for the first time, when annual figures are released.
5. Only one of the nation’s leading Customs districts has had a trade surplus every year the last decade: Miami.
6. Los Angeles has the nation’s biggest trade deficit.
7. Many U.S. airports have trade surpluses while most seaports have deficits. That is due to the nature of their trade.
8. Houston has been the nation’s fastest-growing Customs district, in dollar terms, the last couple of years because of one thing – the rising price of oil.
9. Detroit leads the nation in exports, and surpassed $105 billion in 2005, the first Customs district to ever pass $100 billion. Detroit is the nation’s third-ranked Customs district overall, behind Los Angeles and New York.
10. China, which only recently Japan to become the United States’ No. 3 ranked trade partner, is likely to surpass Mexico and become the nation’s No. 2 trade partner when 2006 figures are released.
11. The Savannah Customs district, which includes Atlanta and the rest of Georgia, is likely to surpass Buffalo and leap into the Top 10 in 2006.
12. The United States’ second-largest trade deficit is with Canada followed by Mexico.
Ken Roberts International trade, Import Export Statistics, Trade Deficit, China, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, New York, Detroit, Canada, Mexico, Oil, Savannah, Atlanta, Japan No Comments »
30
August
2006
I am hooked on globalization, international trade, multinationals and the way new communication forms like this one can tie it all together.
I believe in their power to improve the lives of people all over the globe. Not a perfect system, not always, not ever, but nothing else is really in second place.
I believe I need to hear from you — your thoughts, where you agree and disagree, what insights you can add.
My name is Ken Roberts, the president and CEO of a Miami-based media company called WorldCity Inc. I founded it in the 20th Century. OK, 1998.
To give you a sense of the changes wrought in the last handful of years, when we first printed our business cards, people were still reluctant to include their email addresses on them. That’s how far we have come and how fast. It is safe to say the word blog was not part of the lexicon.
We started as a newspaper. Now we call ourselves a media company. We publish what has evolved into a magazine for the Miami area, host a couple of dozen monthly events per year, produce a couple of annual import-export publications, and compile a multinational directory.In addition, we are producing TradeNumbers publications in and Web content for Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Boston and for Georgia (Atlanta and Savannah).
In Atlanta and Houston, we have already hosted events to launch the publications; New York’s event is Oct. 19, Los Angeles is in November. We are also doing a November event in Atlanta for the launch of our fourth annual TradeAmericas publication, which looks at U.S. trade within the hemisphere. And now I am behind a blog.I plan to write about things related to international trade, to offer my thoughts on global and globalization issues, and to post interesting links to articles available on the web the world over.
Five quick opinions to give you a sense of where we stand:
1. Dubai Ports World. Traditional U.S. media, particularly U.S. television media, and U.S. politicians on both sides of the aisle showed an alarming lack of understanding of international trade and a glaring anti-Arab sentiment. The United States’ fastest-growing trade surplus last year was with the United Arab Emirates, home to Dubai. The reason? the number of U.S. made Boeing jets being sent there. It is a remarkably moderate and pro-globalization country. And it wasn’t “taking over our ports,” merely taking over the operations of terminals at those ports from another “foreign” company, P&O Ports. Finally, terminal operators are not responsible for security.
2. Free Trade Area of the Americas. The FTAA would come to fruition in a snap if the United States quit protecting sugar and citrus against competition from Brazil. the only nation needed to get FTAA to fruition.
3. Speaking generally and not specifically, ditto for the World Trade Organization. The Europeans are perhaps the bigger villains but the United States can and should lead the way. Quit protecting agriculture.
4. International trade is good because it lowers prices and offers consumers greater choice, because it is a net creator of jobs, and because it is ultimately good for global stability.
5. The countries, companies and people that will lead the way in the rest of the 21st Century will do so not by protecting their past but by forging into the future. That means biotechnology, alternative energies, pharmaceuticals, nanotechnology. And blogging! Your turn. What’s burning you up? What are some great articles you might have read? What are we failing to see when it comes to international issues?
Ken, aka Mister Trade
Ken Roberts International trade, Import Export Statistics, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, Atlanta 1 Comment »
