Import/Export News

EU Official Says US ‘Serious’ about Getting Doha Round Trade Deal

A top European Union official said Monday she believed President Barack Obama was serious about reaching a deal in long-running world trade talks, but the time has come for all countries to show their cards. “I think first of all …

WTO Head Says Doha Round Agreement May Be ‘Out of Reach’

The goal of signing a new global commerce deal in 2010 is out of reach unless countries accelerate their negotiations, the World Trade Organization’s Director-General Pascal Lamy said on Friday. The WTO’s 153 members must turn vague discussions on the …

Brazil Plans Doha Trade Meeting in late November

Brazil plans to organize a meeting of trade ministers in late November to discuss progress in the World Trade Organization’s long-running Doha round, a senior Brazilian official said Monday. The meeting would be an opportunity to take stock of the …

People

Michael “Mike” R. Donohoe of Mankato, Minn., was installed as vice chairman of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America at the association’s recent Leadership Conference in New Orleans, La. Donohoe is an owner of and an independent agent …

Kroll Adds Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Cramer in Chicago Office

Global risk consulting firm Kroll has added Jeffrey H. Cramer, formerly assistant United States attorney and senior litigation counsel in the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, in its Business Intelligence and Investigations practice as a managing director and head …

US May Target Insurers, Gasoline Imports in Iran Sanctions Strategy

The White House is weighing sanctions targeting Iran’s dependence on gasoline imports and insurance firms that underwrite the trade, even as U.S. officials focus for now on diplomatic efforts to resolve a nuclear standoff. President Barack Obama warned Iran last …

RMS Analyzes Philippine Flood

Tropical cyclone Ketsana made landfall on Northern Luzon in the Philippines on Saturday as a tropical storm with wind speeds of around 40 mph (64 kph). Although the velocity of the wind wasn’t strong enough to cause serious damage, “the …

Business Moves

Fairfax/Odyssey Re Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. will sell $1 billion in stock to fund the purchase of the shares of Odyssey Re Holdings Corp. that it does not already own. Fairfax reduced its stake in the reinsurer a few years …

Obama to Push G20 Leaders to Rethink Global Economy

President Barack Obama said Sunday he would push world leaders this week for a reshaping of the global economy in response to the deepest financial crisis in decades. In Europe, officials kept up pressure for a deal to curb bankers’ …

New York Eases Rules for Placing Difficult Risks in Excess Market

In a move widely supported by industry advocates, the New York State Insurance Department has approved new rules that would make it quicker and easier for to write some categories of higher-risk insurance that are typically placed in the excess …