Trade of paper and paperboard products has been roiled by recent environmental initiatives in China. In January 2018, the Chinese government began enforcing its National Sword policy, which banned imports of recycled paper with contamination (presence of foreign objects) rates over 0.5%. Furthermore, as part of the US-China trade war, China has levied tariffs on recovered paper imports. How has this impacted the US paper recycling industry?
October 9, 2019The aluminum industry is looking up. Historically low aluminum prices have finally risen due to the effect of the US government’s tariffs on imported primary aluminum. However, the future of the industry may not be quite so bright if the tariffs are repealed.
April 10, 2019The US footwear market is heavily dependent on Chinese sourcing; as of 2018, the country accounted for 53% of all footwear imports. While this makes China the largest provider of footwear to the US, China’s market share has been falling from a 2010 peak of 76%.
August 7, 2019On January 26, 2017, the Trump administration suggested a 20% tax on imports from Mexico, in order to fund construction of a wall separating the countries. As Mexico represents the US’ second-largest source of general imports (which includes the value of goods intended for re-export), this begs the question: which US industries and markets could be impacted by a tax on imports from Mexico?
January 30, 2017The natural gas boom associated with expanding tight oil (oil from shale) production has left the US with more natural gas than it can use. This has suppressed prices and made US natural gas highly competitive on the global market. While pipeline exports to Canada and Mexico have increased rapidly, they are still quite small, leaving US suppliers wishing for additional accessible markets. The solution? Liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.
November 7, 2019As the Trump administration mulls over making changes to the US ethanol mandate and China proposes tariffs on US agricultural imports, US farmers are growing increasingly anxious. Two key field crops may be significantly impacted by the decisions.
May 9, 2018US aluminum production is at a historic low. Is this the result of anti-competitive practices by foreign suppliers, or an uncompetitive US industry?
June 13, 2017Despite a global push for reduced carbon emissions, energy crises facing countries like China and India are driving demand for coal. Can US producers facing a dying domestic market seize the opportunity?
October 26, 2021Tariffs on imported washing machines have created a favorable pricing environment for US manufacturers
January 13, 2020Unlike conventional supermarkets, Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s are destinations: places consumers seek out and travel to over long distances. The two chains’ retail strengths echo similar market strategies as they seek to capitalize on growing consumer interest in natural and organic products. In many ways, they also have very similar-and actually often the same-customers. Yet, the striking differences between the two chains are what keep the same consumers shopping at both. At Whole Food...
March 5, 2014