According to the latest issue of the IDB’s Trade and Integration Monitor, Latin America’s exports of goods shrunk at annualized rates of 14.8% in 2015 and 8.5% in the first seven months of 2016. Likewise, exports of services contracted for the first time since the financial crisis (-2.4% in 2015). This two-year downturn marks a contraction phase that is now longer than the one … [Read more...] about Latin America Needs to Adapt to the Downshift in Global Trade
Trade & Investment Agreements
How trade, investment and cooperation between Japan and Latin America and the Caribbean can inspire our future trade relationship with Asia
From the perspective of Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) trade, the first decade of the 21st century was all about Asia. Driven by China’s strong growth and soaring demand for natural resources, trade between LAC and Asia grew at an annual average rate of 24 percent between 2003 and 2011. However, this once-dynamic relationship has now encountered serious headwinds. Trade … [Read more...] about How trade, investment and cooperation between Japan and Latin America and the Caribbean can inspire our future trade relationship with Asia
Indirect Exports: A Simple Route to Internationalization for SMEs?
In practically every country in the world, the percentage of large companies that export is much higher than the share of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that do so. This is due, among other factors, to the fact that large companies tend to have higher profit margins than SMEs and can thus underwrite the additional costs associated with the export process (e.g., … [Read more...] about Indirect Exports: A Simple Route to Internationalization for SMEs?
How Can Latin America and the Caribbean Improve Trade Relations with China?
The 10th China-LAC Business Summit, organized by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) will start this Friday, October 14, in Tangshan, China. The summit aims to strengthen and expand trade relations between China, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) with panel discussions by business executives and … [Read more...] about How Can Latin America and the Caribbean Improve Trade Relations with China?
The Importance of Inclusive Trade in Economic Development
This past two weeks, leaders from around the world gathered in New York to attend the United Nation’s General Assembly. One of the topics of discussion was the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a set of 17 goals focused on improving the prosperity of people and the planet. One of the recurring themes in the 2030 Agenda is the role of trade in supporting economic growth … [Read more...] about The Importance of Inclusive Trade in Economic Development