Tag: international trade

MODEX 2022 Supply Chain Event Sets Attendance Record

The manufacturing and supply chain community came together in March for a return to in-person trade shows with a record-setting MODEX event, according to show producer MHI. More than 37,047 visitors connected with over 857 exhibitors across 405,000-square-feet of exhibit space at Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center. 

This was the largest MODEX event to date for MHI, with 20% more visitors than the last pre-pandemic show – MODEX 2018. Additionally, the direct economic impact of this event to the Atlanta area is estimated to be $45 million.

“MODEX 2022 was a huge success and a dramatic return to in-person events for the supply chain industry, said John Paxton, CEO of MHI. “After two years, exhibitors and attendees were excited to be there and energized by the opportunity to connect and get back to the business of discovering the latest supply chain technology and innovation in-person.”

The excitement on the show floor and the educational events is a sign not only of the pent-up demand for the latest solutions and technology, but also the overall strength of this industry. “Attendees representing the Fortune 500, the top 100 retailers and consumer goods firms brought large teams to MODEX to source the latest innovations and to learn leading trends impacting supply chains,” said Daniel McKinnon, executive vice president of Exhibitions at MHI. “They came to MODEX with plans in hand and budgets in place to make large deals on-site.”

The dominant trend at MODEX surrounded digital supply chain solutions including automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, augmented reality, the Internet of Things (IoT), and data analytics. “We’re seeing a revolutionary acceleration in the adoption of these technologies in manufacturing and supply chain operations,” said Paxton. “The solutions on display this year reflected this trend.” 

The next MHI-sponsored trade event will be ProMat 2023 held March 20-23 in Chicago’s McCormick Place. For more information on exhibiting at ProMat, or to register as an attendee, visit promatshow.com. The next MODEX will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center in 2024.

The Global Economy: Post-COVID-19

Biden Nominates Katherine Tai as Next U.S. Trade Representative

Biden’s pick will be responsible for repairing economic ties with allies that were hurt as result of Trump’s trade wars, while fulfilling the president-elect’s campaign pledge to stay tough on China.

President-elect Joe Biden has nominated Katherine Tai to serve as the next United States Trade Representative. Tai is a veteran international trade expert who has spent her career working to level the playing field for American workers and families. If confirmed, she would be the first Asian American and first woman of color to serve in this position.

As a Politico report noted, Biden’s pick will be responsible for repairing economic ties with allies that were hurt as result of Trump’s trade wars, while fulfilling the president-elect’s campaign pledge to stay tough on China.

Tai currently serves as the chief lawyer on trade for the House Ways and Means Committee, and previously served in the Office of the United States Trade Representative as chief counsel for china trade enforcement.

Prior to her work for the House committee, Tai served in the USTR’s Office of the General Counsel, first as Associate General Counsel from 2007 to 2011 and then as Chief Counsel for China Trade Enforcement with responsibility for the development and litigation of U.S. disputes against China at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Before joining USTR, Tai worked in the international trade departments in various Washington, D.C. law firms. She is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, and is fluent in Mandarin.

According to the Biden transition team, Tai’s deep experience will help the Biden-Harris administration to hit the ground running on trade, and harness the power of our trading relationships to help the U.S. dig out of the COVID-induced economic crisis and pursue the President-elect’s vision of a pro-American worker trade strategy.

“Her deep experience will allow the Biden-Harris administration to hit the ground running on trade, and harness the power of our trading relationships to help the U.S. dig out of the COVID-induced economic crisis and pursue the President-elect’s vision of a pro-American worker trade strategy,” noted a prepared statement from the Biden transition team.

If confirmed, Tai will succeed Robert Lighthizer, whose has overseen a hard line in terms of U.S. trade policy with China.

Enterprise Florida: Making International Business Your Priority

 

By Manny Mencia

Enterprise Florida is one of America’s leading trade, export development, and foreign direct investment organizations. International is big business in our state and we know what it takes to make it happen.

As North America’s principal gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean, billions of dollars in goods flowed through our airports and seaports last year, making Florida the seventh largest exporting state in the U.S., and a leading international business hub. Since 1996, Florida exports have more than doubled, growing from $21 billion to $52 billion in 2016.

Florida’s 60,000 exporters are second only to California and keep goods moving through the state 24 hours a day, while services exports of more than $38 billion rank Florida fourth in the U.S.

The state has significant advantages as a destination for foreign direct investment, ranking sixth in the U.S.in employment and first in the Southeast. Just ask the 260,000 workers who are employed by foreign-owned companies how important that is to them.

Ready to learn more about expanding, relocating, or exporting? Start by contacting Enterprise Florida’s International Trade & Development Division at 305-808-3660 or visiting www.enterpriseflorida.com.

Manny Mencia is Senior Vice President for International Trade & Development at Enterprise Florida Inc.