U.S. Commitment to Free Trade

President Obama visited India and reassured the people of his strong support for a strategic partnership along with encouraging words about his commitment to free trade.

Read more here.

Related article:  Time to advance free trade pacts

Posted by:  The Global Small Business Blog

China: Prop Up Currency Or Else?

Is the United States threat to China right or wrong?

You decide.

Andrew Busch: This Threat to China is All Wrong

Sara Murray and Douglas Belkin: American Sour on Trade

Larry Ringler: Bill Could Be a Boon

Keith Fitz-Gerald: Controversial House China Tariff Bill Will Take America Down the Wrong Road

Dan Froomkin: Drawing A Line with China

Bob Davis and Andrew Batson: Geithner Stuck in the Middle on China

And in the meantime (separate but related a bit), Buffet and Gates entertain China's super rich here.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Which Country is Still the Single Largest Source of Global Demand?

United States!

U.S. consumers remain the single largest source of global demand, even if their clout isn't what it once was. J.P. Morgan estimates U.S. consumer spending will account for one-fourth of the global total in 2010, down from about 35% in 2003. Still, the global recession spread to Latin America and Asia when U.S. buyers put away their credit cards.

According to Bob Davis's April 19, 2010 WSJ article, "IMF to Ponder China, Jobs and the U.S.'s Wallet," a number of forecasters are looking for 4% global growth in 2010 and 2011 -- with more than 3% growth in the U.S., somewhat slower in Japan and a double-digit advance in China.

Read more here.

Graph source: J.P. Morgan/WSJ

Adapt to Global Trade

In the past, China has taken a conservative profile in organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO). But now, its getting more adapted and flexing its muscles to global trade rules, as exemplified in its recent complaint to the WTO on an anti-dumping dispute with the European Union (EU).

Read more here and here.

No Matter Where You Are In the World, Take a Break

Photo credit: Laurel Delaney, Rogers Park, Illinois, United States