China continues to grow at jaw dropping levels across many different industries and the most recent mobile phone, internet and e-commerce data does not fail to impress.
According to consulting and research firm, BDA, China has surpassed the United States as the world’s largest internet population with over 216 million users. Based upon current growth trends, [...]
Alibaba Group - China’s E-Commerce Giant
B2B Trade Sites Fail to Learn from the Consumer Internet
Over the past few years there have been a number of improvements in how consumer websites work. No doubt everyone has heard the buzzwords, “Mash-ups”, “Web 2.0” and “The People Internet” many times over the past years. Below is an attempt to define the buzzwords into three basic categories:
New Technologies
Sites are utilizing new technologies such [...]
Is China Getting Expensive?
Industry Week recently reported that China’s Producer Pricing Index increased 6.6% in February (over the previous year.) This represents the highest rate of growth in three years. Full Article
Meantime inflation has hit its highest rate in over 11 years. February inflation was 8.7% across the board with food prices up 23.3% year on year.
The current [...]
Piracy Online & Offline
We are all familiar with the many issues involved with the global trade of pirated goods. Groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition estimate global counterfeit sales to be $650 billion per year or 5%-7% of all world trade.
That being said, most of the news we see points fingers [...]
Q.C. OR JAIL
The United States is sending a strong message to importers through recent legislation as well as criminal charges against importers responsible for tainted products.
This past Thursday the U.S. Senate passed legislation that will:
1. Create a database that will aggregate customer complaints related to specific products and their respective manufacturers. This database will be made free [...]
To India & Beyond
Trade media companies are pushing steadily into India but with varying degrees of commitment.
In December 2007, Alibaba.com claimed India to be a priority and mentioned an aggressive expansion plan; however, no follow on announcements have been made since.
This past February, Global Sources, who has been on the ground in India since 1989, put forward aggressive [...]
Paul Woodward says…
Our good friend and B2B media guru, Paul Woodward, recently shared his thoughts on B2B media trends.
A summary of this interview can be found on Thomas Crampton’s blog.
New Developments in Intellectual Property Rights
Chinese manufacturing has long enjoyed a relative freedom from IP enforcement. Entire cities manufacture fake Gucci, LV, and Prada bags, and the latest DVDs and CDs are all available on the streets for US$1. International buyers and inventors have long lived in fear of their designs being copied in China.
Some have argued that China’s poor [...]
China’s Infrastructure Boom - The Advantage
I read an excellent article in the Feb 16-08 edition of The Economist detailing some of China’s infrastructure projects and they are impressive to say the least. Some extracts below:
…Beijing’s new airport terminal…The world’s largest, designed in the gently sinuous form of a Chinese dragon, it was planned and built in four years by [...]
Toy Costs To Increase
Further to my February 19th posting on the toy industry, it appears that they have more to worry about than only managing product quality. According to Eric Johnson, Professor of Operations Management at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, toy prices will increase anywhere from 5 to 10 percent later this year.
You are going to see [...]
Trade News
- NRC amends regulations on export, import of nuclear equipment, material and waste - PennEnergy Petroleum Products (press release)
- Frozen Fish: European Union Market Outlook 2010 and Forecast till 2015 - Market Research Agency
- Exclusive report by Gjergj Thanasi (Albania-Katyusha arms trade) - International Analyst Network
- Tips for tricky import-export trade in Ukraine - Kyiv Post
- The Half-a-Loaf National Export Initiative - Forbes (blog)
- China: Behind the Screen - PharmExec.com
- SJ mayor participates in Brookings Institution panel - KGO-TV
- GDP Economic Growth Lowest In A Year - Damego
More Trade News
- Congress Moves to Establish National Manufacturing Strategy
- Flooring Tool Manufacturer to Expand Indiana Plant
- Economic Growth Stalls, Amid Fed Worries about Deflation
- China Denies Forcing Foreign Firms to Transfer Technology
- OSHA Cites Aircraft Parts Maker for Widespread Safety Hazards
- Republicans Block Small Businesses Lending Bill
- India to Add 110 Million to Global Workforce
- IW 50 Best: Intuitive Surgical Puts Robots in the Operating Room
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Blogroll
- 2.6 Billion - China and India related trade issues
- All Roads Lead to China - China Trade and Business Commentary
- BSG Asia - A specialist business intelligence and consultancy focused on media in the Asia Pacific region.
- China Law Blog - Business Law in China from Harris & Moure
- China Supply Chain Council - Logistics, Sourcing, Procurement and Supply China Management in China
- Crossroads - A review of corporate social responsibility in China
- The China Vortex - Internet, Marketing, Advertising in China