The Administration kicked off 2012 with what appears to be a full court press on trade enforcement and export promotion.
“Without a doubt, more than ever, the world needs today the sum of talents, the sum of ideas to explore alternatives, to find innovative solutions that will enable the international economy to deal with the challenges it faces, to recover its balance and to get back onto the path of growth.” With these words, Mexican President Calderón launched Mexico’s presidency of the G-20.
As global economic growth begins to pick up, there are decidedly two types of trains on the move – the steam locomotive (most of the world’s developed economies) and the bullet train (high-growth emerging markets).
In the days leading up to his visit to Washington, D.C., Mexican President Felipe Calderón expressed increasing frustration with comments made by U.S. diplomats in Mexico (made public by WikiLeaks) noting colorfully that “Embajadores le echan mucha crema a sus tacos.”
As anyone who has lived in a foreign country and tried to learn the local language knows, there is a time when you start to think you’re really getting it, when suddenly you realize that what you’ve really just figured out is when to nod at the right times. This same feeling of being ‘lost in translation’ also applies to everyday business people trying to navigate the increasingly complex G-world.
International trade is a substantial component of the U.S. economy. While U.S. policymakers understandably emphasize the importance of U.S. exports; imports and foreign investment also play a crucial role in a healthy economy.