In this months issue...

U.S. Wins WTO Dispute with China over Raw Material Export Restraints

The World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body ruled in favor of the United States in a dispute over China's export restraints on several industrial raw materials. WTO officials originally found in favor of the U.S. in July 2011, and this most recent ruling affirms the original one. ...read more

Russian Unrest Growing as Election Nears

In February, U.S.-based agency Fitch Ratings noted deep concern with what appeared to be growing civil unrest with the Russian government, more specifically Prime Minister/soon-to-be second-time President Vladimir Putin. Little has happened in the interim to paint the decision to downgrade its long-term prospects as outside the lines, as so many ratings agency downgrades have been criticized of late. ...read more

An Economy in Reverse

The economic boost from post-disaster reconstruction in Japan has not been realized nearly as much as originally predicted or enough to offset other Japanese economic problems. Though, as Shuichi Matsuta, Economic Affairs Counselor for the Embassy of Japan told Business Credit, credit lending attitudes towards Japanese-based businesses have been improving, bankruptcy filings have remained very low compared to businesses in other nations and payment expectations have rarely dipped out of a favorable range....read more

pdf l html

Past Issues

2012

January 2012 pdf l html

2011

December 2011 pdf l html

November 2011 pdf l html