Over the past years, free trade agreements have proven to be to open up foreign markets for businesses looking to export overseas. Trade agreements help reduce barriers for these businesses and eliminate costly tariffs on imports. The creation of more transparent trading promoted by also contributes to an easier environment for the exporting of goods and services. This past week, the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement entered into full force, creating many opportunities for increased trade between the two countries.
globalEDGE Blog - Page 221
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Small businesses in China for a long time have depended on small firms, wealthy investors, and loan sharks for funding. Some of these tactics, depending on the terms, are illegal, but often times have been the only source for small businesses in need of loans. This is the case because China’s major state-owned banks focus on lending money to large enterprises that are owned by the state. The has recently announced that authorities are looking for ways to , in hopes of transforming existing underground lenders into licensed investors and potentially small-loan companies.
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The unemployment rates in the have been a concern for several years now. Until recently, these unemployment rates had seen nothing but increases. Still, other countries around the world have had very low unemployment rates – even through the global recession. So what is the difference?
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, a world leader in domestic and international trade receivable management, is hosting their annual at the Sentry Center in New York City on Thursday, May 10, 2012. Featured speakers include business leaders, economists, and forecasting analysts discussing the short-term economic situation on a region by region basis in North America for the rest of the 2012 calendar year. They will focus on hot spots, booming regions, and the global economic power bases. It is a wonderful event that spotlights major international trade and investment opportunities in today’s business arena.
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As increases, small businesses are gaining many opportunities to export their products overseas. However, less than two percent of all companies export to foreign markets. With the , the United States plans to turn this surprising fact around and double U.S. exports within the upcoming years. Small businesses can play a crucial role in helping the United States accomplish its exporting goals. In fact, some small businesses in the United States have already found success in markets abroad.
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Parisian influence is growing in Asia as looking for economic hotspots in luxury retail, commercial and residential real estate, and business services. Recently, World Economic Forum rated . The country’s booming economy, coupled with Europe’s debt crisis, has significantly increased the rate at which French citizens are immigrating to . Since 2006, the French community in Hong Kong has grown by more than 60%. But Hong Kong is not the only country where Westerners are flocking; mainland , , , and have been expanding rapidly as their markets open up.
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In an attempt to decrease its carbon footprint, China is asking its energy-intensive industries to reduce their energy consumption by a greater percentage than previously mandated. These efforts by China are also a result of growing domestic and international pressure to decrease its reliance on fossil fuels. Last year, fell short of the government’s goals for and pollutant emissions, but the government is optimistic about firms meeting this year’s targets due to new and improved policies and controls.
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With concerns of a changing global climate, many around the world are looking for efficient sources designed to lower carbon emissions and combat global warming. One well-known energy project is harnessing the power of the wind with turbines to produce electricity. While many wind farms are built on land, offshore wind turbines are expected to grow rapidly as these climates are filled with constant driving winds. These offshore wind turbines hold and new technology is changing the way wind farms operate.
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In , those that have grown accustomed to downloading free, illegal music and videos from the internet have found themselves facing . Since the inception of the 2009 HADOPI law, which promotes the distribution and protection of creative works on the internet, French officials have noticed a sharp decline in illegal file-sharing. The three-warning system, which by the end of 2011 had sent out 822,00 warning e-mails, 68,000 second warnings, and 165 cases where offenders have been fined around $2,000 (USD), has had an immense impact on the in France. Following the implementation of the law, French music industry revenues have been stabilizing, digital sales markets are growing, and iTunes sales have risen more strongly than in any other European country, most notably by bringing an extra €13.8 million a year worth of iTunes music sales into the economy.
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has grown immensely in the global gold market. has been the largest gold consuming nation for many years, but in 2012 China is predicted to take over the top spot. reached around 770 metric tons in 2011. This demand is a 20% increase from the previous year. This growth is strong, and experts see the demand continuing to skyrocket in China. There are several factors that have caused this increase in demand.