Trade Clippings - April 21 to April 27, 2014

Dear International Trade and Investment Committee Members, 

Here are the international trade and investment articles and publications of interest for the week of April 21 to April 27. This week’s edition has been curated by Dr. Paresh Pandya. 

News

Alan M. Field, “Ukraine’s Agribusiness Prospects Blossom”, JOC.com (21 April 2014) – free registration required

• The Russian invasion of the Ukrainian province of Crimea is shining a spotlight on the economic vulnerability of its smaller neighbor.

Hisane Masaki, “Surging Imports Narrow Japan’s Trade Surplus with US”, JOC.com (21 April 2014) – free registration required

• Japan’s trade surplus with the United States narrowed for the second month in a row in March on a year-on-year basis, as imports surged at a much faster pace than exports, according to preliminary figures released by the Finance Ministry.

Andrew Higgins and Andrew Roth, “Biden Offers Strong Support to Ukraine and Issues a Sharp Rebuke to Russia”, the New York Times (22 April 2014)

• Vowing that the United States would never recognize Russia’s “illegal occupation” of Crimea, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Tuesday reiterated America’s support of Ukraine, declared that “no nation has the right to simply grab land from another” and called on Russia to stop supporting masked gunmen who have seized government buildings across the east of the country.

Hisane Masaki, “Japan’s Container Trade Seen Flat in FY2014”, JOC.com (22 April 2014) – free registration required

• Japan’s containerized cargo trade will remain almost unchanged in fiscal 2014, which started on April 1, from the previous fiscal year, a Tokyo-based research firm predicted in a new report.

Peter T. Leach, “Trans-Atlantic Auto, Parts Trade on Strong Growth Track”, JOC.com (23 April 2014) – free registration required

• In the mature and stable, some would say boring, trans-Atlantic trade, one category of containerized shipments is booming. The volume growth of U.S. auto exports and auto parts imports ranks first among the top five commodities shipped.

Government Announcements/Press Releases

Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada, “Baird Promotes International Response to Ukraine Crisis in Czech Republic” (22 April 2014)

• Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird paid his first bilateral visit to the Czech Republic today to promote a common international response to Russia’s acts of aggression in Crimea and eastern Ukraine.

Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada, “Federal Government Highlights Canada’s Most Ambitious Pro-trade Plan in History” (23 April 2014)

• Minister Fast also announces federal contribution to Saskatchewan Economic Development Association and Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority

Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada, “Baird Visits Slovakia, Promotes International Response to Ukraine Crisis” (23 April 2014)

• Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird paid his first official visit to Slovakia today as part of a week-long visit to Eastern and Central Europe, where he is meeting with key allies to promote a common international response to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada, “Export Win for Canadian Extractive Sector” (23 April 2014)

• Canada’s potash workers to benefit from export contract to Bangladesh.

Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada, “Baird Wraps Up Successful Trip to Latvia, Promotes Coordinated Response to Crisis in Ukraine” (26 April, 2014)

• Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today wrapped up a successful visit to Latvia, where he continued to speak out against Russia’s increasing use of provocation and aggression toward Ukraine and underscored the importance of strong coordination among allies.

Commentary and Editorials

Davies LLP, “Canada: The Impact Of Trade Agreements On Public Sector Procurement In Canada - International Trade Agreements” (21 April 2014)

• Continuing with our review of trade agreements, this blog looks at Canada's existing international trade agreements.

World Trade Organization, “The trend towards increased regionalism could be reversed, new WTO research suggests” (23 April 2014)

• A new attempt to paint a picture of the world economy in 2035 shows that the share of trade within major regional trade agreements might decline.

Murithi Mutiga, “Africa’s Path to Prosperity”, the New York Times (24 April 2014)

• Every two or three years, African heads of state travel to a foreign capital to be wooed by one or another of the major powers jockeying for position on the continent. China has been among the more prominent organizers of these “Africa summits,” while Japan, India, Turkey, Brazil and the European Union have all held their own versions. In August, President Obama will join the fray when he invites 47 African leaders to talks on trade and security in Washington.