Import/Export News

Obama Job Drive Earns Business Plaudits at Davos

Wall Street executives welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama’s plan to create jobs and a softening of his attack on banks, but questioned on Thursday whether proposals in his State of the Union address would become law. Obama pushed job creation …

Louisiana AG Sues Chinese Drywall Manufacturers and Distributors

Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell filed suit in Orleans Parish against multiple Knauf entities, other international and domestic manufacturers, distributors, importers of alleged toxic Chinese drywall. Several builders were also named in the lawsuit. Caldwell’s lawsuit alleges the State of …

P/C Industry Must Strengthen Underwriting to Counter Weak Investments

The most recent reports of property/casualty insurers indicate a return to profits, thanks in large measure to a quiet hurricane season. But behind the rosy reports is a thorny problem — lower investment income. According to Dr. Robert Hartwig, president …

Uneven Expectations

Economy to Recover in Some States Before Others The most recent reports of property/casualty insurers indicate a return to profits, thanks in large measure to a quiet hurricane season. But behind the rosy reports is a thorny problem — that …

New Markets

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WTO Members Narrow Gaps on Standards in Doha Round Advance

Trading powers have made significant progress this week narrowing their differences on non-tariff barriers — the health or safety standards that can be abused to block imports, a senior diplomat said on Thursday. The movement is a rare sign of …

Chubb Encourages Chinese Firms to Adopt Risk Management Practices

Chubb Group recently co-hosted a seminar near Shanghai, which focused on the “increasing number of Chinese exports exposed to product liability claims and litigation in the United States and Europe.” As a result presenters called for Chinese companies to make …

IMF Head Eyes Global Currency Change; Presses China on Yuan

The imperative of greater global currency stability means the world can no longer rely, as it has done since the end of the gold standard, on a currency issued by a single country, the head of the IMF said on …

Montana Councilman Wants $2 Million Related to Asbestos Site

A city councilman in Libby, Mont., said Thursday that the Environmental Protection Agency owes the asbestos-plagued Superfund community $2 million for the demolition of several contaminated buildings. The city-owned buildings included an export plant for asbestos-laden vermiculite that was shipped …

Climate Change Treaty and Doha Round Top International Agenda

Climate change and Doha Round agreements remain doubtful, as last minute efforts to construct a deal all parties can accept remain stymied by national priorities. Although negotiations have been continuing, it now seems as if yet more meeting will be …