Management Dynamics’ Trade Import has everything needed to automate, streamline and manage the entire import process within your organization. Download a free brochure to find out more.

The poor infrastructure, vast regional differences and laws limiting foreign firms to cash-and-carry wholesale outlets and franchise tie-ups with local partners in the $450 billion retail market, it’s been a challenge all three large retailers have agreed to take. Since the recession has begun and Westerners are slow to pick-up their spending, these retailers believe it’s crucial to expand into the Indian marketplace.

“The supply chain is one of the big challenges,” Raj Jain, chief of Wal-Mart India. “We are willing to invest whatever it takes in the supply chain, the back-end. But that in itself won’t deliver all the efficiencies,” he said, arguing for fully opening up the sector.

Carrefour also struggles to maintain it’s supply chain.

“There are many, many layers, with commission agents, wholesale markets, distribution agents which increase time to market and costs,” said Yannick Douville, a Carrefour director.

Even the wealtiest of the world’s top retailer, India is a challenging market to step into because of things such as tiny farms and differential policies and taxes in every state.

ABC News gave a example of what the retailers are doing to ensure quality and accuracy in their supply chain and business plan. In the village of Haider Nagar in Punjab state, where Wal-Mart sources vegetables such as cauliflower and gourd, the retailer built toilets to prevent soil contamination, and teaches farmers about transplanting and nutrient management and the use of low-cost innovations to get a higher, better yield.

Recently, the government unveiled concessional duties and tax exemptions for refrigeration units and allowed external commercial borrowings for cold storage facilities. 

But, is it enough to invest? 

“Unless there is a big front-end no one’s going to invest billions of dollars in a cold chain or supply chain just to sell to some mom-and-pop stores,” said Technopak’s Singhal.

“Higher tariffs have never proven to be a wise solution for American economic growth,” said Stephanie Lester, RILA vice president for international trade. “RILA supports economic engagement with China and addressing our trade gap with China. We firmly oppose legislation that threatens to cut off access to the U.S. market and drive up prices for consumers.”

RILA has warned that higher tariffs would negatively effect U.S. businesses and its consumers.

To read more about RILA’s reaction, click here.

Link to register: http://ow.ly/1wDDg

 “There is almost limitless potential for growth in trade between our two countries, and that can contribute to economic recovery and job creation in the United States and continued economic growth in India,” Ron Kirk, U.S. Trade Representative said in a statement.  

In October 2009, Mr. Kirk and Anand Sharma, Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry met at the Trade Policy Forum meeting to create the necessary framework to support small to mid-sized companies and encourage trade. This week the two representatives will met again to host an advisory meeting of American and Indian trade experts to enhance their efforts for this new program.

“We can realize that potential by working together toward the goals set forth in the framework agreement, such as developing and enforcing policies that encourage technological innovation; increasing agriculture, services, and industrial goods; and increasing investment flows,” Ron Kirk added.

To continue reading…

Imports rose a more than 44.7 percent from a year ago, the Chinese customs bureau reported on its Web site today. The surplus was $7.61 billion, and exports gained 45.7 percent.

“The sustained strength in China’s imports is a source of support for the global economy,” said David Cohen, an economist with Action Economics in Singapore.

On March 6th, Commerce Minister Chen Deming said that the trade surplus fell 50.2 percent in January and February from a year earlier, adding that domestic demand had boosted imports. He said it was too early to say if exports had recovered from the global financial crisis.

To continue reading, click here.

U.S. importers face significant increases in the cost of doing business and potentially higher penalty fines for non-compliance. Yet, according to recent Gartner research, few importers have systems or processes that can capture and disseminate the required information for 10+2 compliance.

Management Dynamics offers a whitepaper, “Automating the Import Supply Chain,” detailing best practices in international compliance, your business will soon move goods across borders in a cost – efficient, centralized manner with complete readiness to support 10+2

Find out more information on Management Dynamics’ solution, Customs 10+2.

Register to received this complimentary Management Dynamics’ whitepaper.

Sufficient exposure from regularly sucking or biting jewelry with high cadmium content can hinder brain development in children. Wal-Mart has pulled several jewelry items after reports indicated cadmium. Furthermore, H&M has taken action after some of its hand bags had been tested and came back positive for this type of metal. The concern is that the metal can rub off on hands and can get in the mouths of children. H&M will enforce higher lead standards in the future.

Import safety has become a greater priority for CBP following recent scares of tainted products from China and other countries. CBP and CPSC inspectors are co-located at several locations now, including at a container examination station near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

For more information about the American Shipper article.

According to the Washington Post, Hillcrest’s technology allows users to select movies, browse the Web, control their cable box or otherwise interact with content — not by pressing a button on a conventional controller, but by moving a device left, right, up and down in front of a television or computer screen.

“While Hillcrest Labs has a great deal of respect for Nintendo and the Wii, Hillcrest Labs believes that Nintendo is in clear violation of its patents and has taken this action to protect its intellectual property rights,” the company said in statement, adding that it would not comment further.

Nintendo spokesman Charlie Scibetta said, “We have not been served with any lawsuit or other action by Hillcrest and therefore have no comment.”

It was not disclosed onto when the  International Trade Commission will makes its decision.

To read the full article, click here.