US Trade Deficit Shrinks in July

Goods deficit with China declines 10% from last year By Steven L. Byers, PhD, CPA Senior Economist The US trade deficit in goods and services for July 2019 decreased by 2.7 percent, to $54.0 billion, down $0.2 billion from $55.5 billion (revised) in June.  The July decrease is due to a decline in the goods…

GM Is Now Detroit’s Smallest Auto-Making Employer

Editors note: General Motors is now the biggest exporter of vehicles from Mexico to the United States. General Motors Co. now employs fewer union-represented American workers than its domestic rivals for the first time since the United Auto Workers started organizing Detroit’s carmakers eight decades ago. [David Welch | August 29, 2019 | Bloomberg] GM’s…

Senators Want Answers About Listings for Unsafe Merchandise on Amazon.com

Excerpt: The senators called on Amazon to conduct a large-scale internal investigation of its enforcement and consumer safety policies and to institute changes to keep unsafe products off its platform. Lawmakers call on Jeff Bezos to initiate investigation of company’s consumer safety policies following report of unsafe items sold on site [Alexandra Berzon, Justin Scheck and Shane Shifflett |…

Beijing Gaining Ability to Subvert US Transport

Editor’s note: More reasons why a deal with China is wishful thinking.  Recent purchases by a Chinese automaker raise the prospect of China being able to interfere with our transport system. [Jon Toomey | August 29, 2019 | The Epoch Times] Geely automotive (Zhejiang Geely Holding Group)—a Chinese global automotive group headquartered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang…

More than 160 business groups urge administration to delay tariff boosts on Chinese goods

Editors’ note: Members of the “Americans for Free Trade” astroturf coalition are the import/offshoring MNC lobby, including the trade associations they fund or control. They were a powerful lobby under past administrations.  The Americans for Free Trade coalition, which represents more than 160 U.S. business associations, is urging the Trump administration to postpone “all tariff rate increases”…