Drug Trade in Bangladesh

Crime in Bangladesh is at hand in various forms. Organized crime include drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion, murder for hire, fraud etc. Other criminal operations engage in human trafficking, robbery, corruption, black marketeering, political violence, terrorism, abduction etc.

Bangladesh is a transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries. According to the Annual Report for 2007 in print by the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Bangladesh has become the main transit point for trafficking of heroin to Europe from Southeast Asia. The report noted that the porous borders between Bangladesh and India make a payment to the cross-border trafficking of narcotics.There are three routes used for trafficking of heroin into Bangladesh: by courier from Pakistan, by commercial vehicle or train from India, and by sea (Bay of Bengal) or by road from Myanmar.

An estimated 100,000 people work in the drug trafficking commerce in Bangladesh.

According to police reports, homicide has increased in the country in recent years. Between 2001 and 2003, a total of 10,331 cases of homicide were reported in Bangladesh^.

Bangladesh is on top of the list in Software piracy in the Asia Pacific region^.Software vendors lose 102 million US dollars every year^.There is no strict law to stop the crime in this country.

In our recent political history corruption became a buzzword in all our public sectors and even in our private organizations.Bangladesh has been acknowledged as the most corrupt country in the world for consecutive four years by Transparency International.Corruption means to draw any profit or benefit that goes touching law and harms others interest.Corruption done by many ways like bribery,favouritism,extortion,fraudulence and deception etc.Corruption is a social crime.Capitalistic economic system,unequal distribution of wealth,gap between wealth and poverty,economic insolvency,high living cost,unemployment are the social and economical causes of corruption. In a poor and underdeveloped country like Bangladesh the effects of corruption in country and politics are very devastating.If government officials are corrupt people do not get good service from them.If politicians and policy-makers are corrupt .It affects country's overall development.By corruption a group of people earn lots of means and lead luxurious life.This creates social gap between poor and rich people. Corruption in the educational systeam lowers down standard of education .All this corruption seriously harms the image of our nation and also create economic and social crimes. It is also a social problem.Due to corruption only a group of people gain but a majority of people suffer.It has became a serious national problem.we must eliminate the problem from the society.

Among the trafficking routes to Bangladesh, the vast forests and terrain areas of hill tracts and the Bangladeshi, Myanmar and Thai Fishing Trawlers are being safely used for trafficking heroin into Bangladesh.

It is alleged that heroin produced in North Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and India is by and large trafficked into  foreign countries through Calcutta, Madras and Mumbai routes of India and through Thailand and Rangoon. But the International drug barons and the Mafia network also find Bangladesh as a out of harm's way and alternate  trafficking  routes when the Indian and Myanmar routes become risky.

Bangladesh, with its longest borders with India on 3 sides and with Myanmar to the northeast has become very risky and vulnerable for drug trafficking and abuse. 

It has been spread over from urban areas to rural areas. The most frequently used drug is heroin, thereafter, phensidyl (Codeine based cough syrup) illegally transit from India and the third highest is cannabis. Bangladesh have borders with India on its three sides excluding the south, which stands on the Bay of Bangal. The three border routes are as follows:

The western routes with India are – Darshana, Zibannagar of Chuadanga, Hili and Birol of Dinajpur and Moghulhat, Aditmari, Durgapur, Fulbari, Nageshwari of Kurigram and Nawabgonj, Rajshahi, Meherpur & Debhat and Kaligonj of Khulna and Benapole, Chowgacha of Jessore.

n the otherside of Indian boundaries, there are factories/industries of manufacturing codeine based narcotics (with ‘Phensidyl’ as trade name) and are being trafficked into Bangladesh, where BSF and BDR are  guarding borders on their respective sides.

Codeine – ‘A’ class narcotic liquid has been trafficked into Bangladesh by bus, truck packed in different baggages and luggages through the above border areas in the trade name of phensidyl and also drugs are smuggled into by ships, fishing trawlers and by airways. It seems that Bangladesh has been all the time more used as a ‘transit country’ for heroin shipments using Dhaka Airport and the seaport of Chittagong as exit-points.

About 100,000 people, including 30,000 women and children, are involved in illegal drug trade in Bangladesh, the country's Department of Narcotics be in charge of (DNC) said Wednesday.

drug trade

"It is unfortunate for us that we have failed to control the use of narcotics," DNC director general (DG) Humayun Kabir told reporters Wednesday, on the eve of the globally observed anti-drugs day on June 26.

Drug addicts spend at least 460 million taka (about 6.57 million U.S. dollars) on narcotics every day, leading English newspaper The Financial Express reported Thursday quoting the DNC DG.

Kabir said there was no specific government data on the number of drug addicts or drug use in the country.

Two weeks ago, an odd incident took place while this reporter was en route to Dhaka from Cox's Bazaar, riding a renowned luxurious AC bus. The expedition was smooth all the way; however, it came to a halt when the bus suddenly stopped near the Kanchpur Bridge. It was at the crack of dawn; the passengers were waking up, all bleary eyed, some wondering what was going on. They found the bus blocked by a police vehicle. Another police vehicle was blocking the way behind the bus. A few police officers in civilian clothing carrying pistols got on board. They claimed to have been tipped off that there was a member of a drug peddling ring travelling with us, smuggling heroin and 'yaba' to Dhaka. Each and every passenger was searched, along with their luggages. After pointed for half an hour, the officers found four small packets of heroin, tucked inside a mobile phone packing box along with the phone, in the luggage carrier of the bus. While everyone was getting over the shock from what had just been found, two of the officers got busy estimating the worth of the catch. "I think each of those packs has around 250 grams of heroin," whispered one cop to the other. According to them, the total amount of heroin was about one kilogram, approaching from Myanmar through Cox's Bazaar. Police search is almost a usual occurrence on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, as it is in Nageshwari alongside Rangpur-Dhaka highway, and on the Jessore-Dhaka highway. But drug traffickers are still mostly out of reach of the law enforcement agencies. According to a source, more than 400 drug dealers are administration this illegal business at about 374 spots in Dhaka city. A number of godfathers, including ward commissioners of Dhaka City Corporation (DCC), and one listed fugitive 'top terror' are in control of the entire business in the capital. Despite law enforcers' routine and special raids to combat the prohibited drug trading, the situation virtually remains unchanged as most of the arrested drug dealers resume their businesses after securing bail from the court. The arrested drug peddlers can easily get out of jail due to the loopholes in police reports in connection with the cases The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) sources said that the amount of drugs seized is only 10 per cent of the total drugs smuggled into the country. Some 100,000 people are engaged in this illegal trade, and 30 per cent of those charged with drug industry are women and children. Most of the drugs sold in the drug dens are heroin, cannabis and phensedyl, as they are most preferred by the drug addicts; yaba, on the other hand, is a 'fashionable drug'. Sale of these drugs, especially phensedyl, openly takes place under the very nose of the law enforcing agencies. Drug addicts, mostly youngsters - both male and female - gather at different drug spots from afternoon till midnight. The traders normally adopt new ntactics to increase their business.According to some intelligence sources, the
highest number of illegal drug spots has been identified in Dhaka's Jatrabari, Demra, Shyampur and Kadamtoli thanas, where 93 drug dens are active. About 87 sellers are dealing at those spots. "I think it will be very difficult to remove drugs from the city because Bangladesh lies on one of the most central drug trafficking routes in the world," said an official from DNC. According to DNC, there are two major drug trafficking routes that are being used to smuggle huge amounts of illegal substances around the world, with each consignment being significance thousands of dollars. One of these routes starts from Golden Triangle, ending up in Canada via Myanmar, Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Middle East, Europe and the US. The other route starts from Golden Crescent, ending up in Canada via Pakistan, Middle East, Africa, Europe and the US. Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent are the two major opium-producing areas in Asia. Golden Triangle covers the mountains of Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand; Golden Crescent overlaps the mountainous territories of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. Apart from this, NDC marked another route that goes from beginning to end Bangladesh, India, Middle East, Indian Ocean, Europe, the USA and Canada. The vast forests and hilly terrains of Southeast Bangladesh provide shelter to the drug smugglers. Bangladeshi, Burmese and Thai fishing trawlers are recurrently used to bring heroin into Bangladesh. As mentioned in various intelligence reports, heroin produced in North Myanmar, Laos,Thailand and India is generally trafficked to foreign countries through Kolkata, Chennai(formerly named Madras) and Mumbai of India, Thailand and Yangon of Myanmar. However,international drug barons and the mafia find Bangladesh as a safe alternative way when the Indian and Burmese routes become risky. Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, professor of International Relations at Dhaka University, stated that goods worth more than US $3.5 billion are smuggled every year. Visiting extensively alongside the Bangladesh-India border, this reporter found that Indian border authorities help smugglers in trafficking drugs into Bangladesh; they are even involved in human trafficking. This watching was also backed up in a top national intelligence source. According to the Border Guards Bangladesh headquarters, drugs worth more than Tk 4.538 billion including heroin, cocaine, opium, charas, phensedyl and marijuana was seized earlier this year from the Bangladesh-India border. Phensedyl, a cough syrup that is banned in Bangladesh and one of the choicest substances namong the youngsters, is quite easy to supply. nThere are more than hundreds of mini factories near the Indian wall of the border that produce
phensedyl. It is strictly prohibited in Kuchbihar, Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya; any physician who prescribes this drug will be punished. Reliable sources from the Indian side of the border said to this reporter that these drugs originate from India and gain access to Bangladesh
through the porous border, under the patronage of RAW officials.A senior official of the Directorate of Narcotics admitted that the inflow of drugs from India can hardly be checked. Despite many attempts, only 5 per cent of the total quantity of smuggled drugs is seized by Bangladesh border authorities; the drug pushers manage to smuggle the rest using road, rail and water ways. Bangladesh is a signatory to all the three UN Conventions of 1961, 1971 and 1988 and the SAARC Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1990. Obligated under these conventions and being in the close proximity of the two major heroin-producing areas, Bangladesh has full various measures to stop, or atleast restrict, imports. However, there has been very little progress. There are several drug trafficking routes between India and Bangladesh. The western routes go through Darshana, Jibonnagar ofChuadanga, Hili and Birol of Dinajpur,Moghulhat, Aditmari, Durgapur, Fulbari, Nageshwari of Kurigram, and Nawabgonj, Rajshahi, Meherpur and Debhat, Kaligonj of Khulna, and Benapole, and Chowgachha of Jessore. Eastern routes are through Akhaura, Jhautala, Sadullahpur, Nawgaon, Singer Beel, Col Bazaar, Gangasagar and Kasba of
Brahmanbaria, Bibirbazar, Chagalnaiya, Maharajganj and Gutuma of Feni, Barkal and Baghaichari of Rangamati, Chittagong, Teknaff of Cox's Bazaar, and Dighinala, Panchari, and Matiranga of Khagrachari. Northern routes include Haluaghat (Telikhali/Karaitali/Surjyapur/Bandarkata/Munsirhat/ Munshipara) of Mymensing and Durgapur (Bijoypur and Bhabani area) of Netrokona and Bangla Banda, Bhurungabari, Jhenaigati, Sunamgonj and Tamabil. Investigation by this reporter revealed that there are three important drug wholesaling spots in Dhaka city: Amin Bazar at Gabtali, Ashulia at Uttara and Chittagong road near Jatrabari. These three locations are the safe spots for the rewarding drug trading and dumping house. 'The drugs are carried into the capital through Jessore Road inside coconuts," said a drugs carrier from Amin Bazar. The 'goods' are then sold at various points of Mirpur 1, Gabtali and Amin Bazar, currently single-handedly controlled by the notorious armed group GangchilBahini."Besides drugs, they also sellarms which are smuggled through the Indian border," said a tea stall owner from Ashulia. "Most of these drugs and arms are wrapped in plastic and dumped under water in the lake in Ashulia, or are hidden near the lake premises," he shared. "When daylight breaks, the retailers fro mthe city arrive to buy them, which they in turn sell to their customers in Dhaka,"added the tea stall owner.Interestingly, last year the expense of DNC to extract illegal substances was Tk 183,199,589 but drugs recovered were worth much less. It is funny that DNC claimed to have held only 9.5 kg heroin last year, while a DNC insider told this reporter that the actual quantity was a lot more. DNC is headed by a director general. It has a sanctioned manpower of 1,283, but the existing manpower totals 868. A DNC official asserted that it is difficult to run the operation with such inadequate manpower. However, the intelligence agencies regarded the statement as a funny excuse. All we can do now is hope that the concerned authorities will get just about to take appropriate and effective means to put a stop to drug trafficking in this country. 

drug trade

Dhaka: Bangladesh has become the prime transit route for trafficking heroin to Europe from Southeast Asia, according to a report from the International Narcotics Control Board 2007 annual report that was released on Wednesday.

Dhaka: Bangladesh has become the prime transit route for trafficking heroin to Europe from Southeast Asia, according to a report from the International Narcotics Control Board 2007 annual report that was released on Wednesday.An independent and quasi-judicial monitoring body which implements UN drug-related conventions, the INCB also blamed a lack of resources and training of law enforcement agencies for Bangladesh's failure to 'properly implement' its drug control policy.

Bangladesh police are quoted in the report as saying that the Chittagong seaport is the "main exit point for drugs leaving the country," while the rest is smuggled out through Sylhet and Chittagong airports.

The report also cites press reports of couriers trying to smuggle heroin to Europe on their way from Pakistan through the Zia international airport in Dhaka.

The report observed that the use of Bangladeshi courier services for drug trafficking is on the rise, with drugs shipped primarily to Canada and South Africa, citing the seizure of 550 kilograms of ephedrine in February 2007. 

On July 28, 2010 an article was published in the Telegraph (Kolkata, India) under the heading 'Glare on African drug cartels' written by Pankaj Sharma. The article focused on the increased participation of African nationals, especially Nigerians, in the regional drug trade. Among other things, the article quoted one unnamed customs official as saying that these African (Nigerian) syndicates who traditionally operate from the heroin trafficking routes (the drugs are trafficked from the Golden crescent in Afghanistan through Pakistan) in the Western border of Pakistan and India are increasingly using the North Eastern states (in this case the drugs are trafficked from the Golden triangle of Myanmar) for achieving their business purposes.

So what does this have to do the current or future scenario in Bangladesh? Barely 24 hours after this article was published in Kolkata, only 252 km away in a city called Dhaka, a Nigerian national Afolayan Oladipupo Zaccheaus was apprehended in the Shahjalal International Airport trying to smuggle six kilograms of heroin estimated to be worth 6 crore taka to Malaysia using Bangladesh as the transit country. Credit for this discovery lies with a customs official named of Rasheda Parveen. The customs official at Departure gate no. 3 noticed some anomaly in the colour of the steel handle of the luggage. She immediately suspected that something was amiss. Had the steel handle been vacant i.e. if there was nothing inside the handle, the scanners would have displayed a slightly different colour. As it turned out, she was right, the steel handles did contain something -- 58 small foil packs with white powder inside a total of 10 aluminium packs. Zaccheaus tried to flee the scene but was quickly apprehended by the Armed Police Battalion. His partner Ratmi Aziz however, managed to escape. examination in the case is currently ongoing.

This is hardly the first time that foreigners have been caught for drug trafficking in Bangladesh. As his passport shows, Zaccheaus himself has been to Bangladesh seven times. This year alone, he has been in Bangladesh four times. "He is very familiar with our country," comments Shahidul Mannaf Kabir, Superintendent, Department of Narcotics Control, Airport in-charge, the agency that is handling the exploration. "I asked him in Bangla, 'what is your name' and he replied promptly. As he was taken to the prison cell, he shook hands with all the other prisoners and exchanged courteous greetings. I was astounded by the astuteness of this foreigner. He knows that he is likely to languish here for some time and under such circumstances he needs to be on good terms with the other local prisoners."

His words were echoed by an officer of an elite law enforcement agency: "He has been in Bangladesh seven times. What do you think he was here for? Playing football for Rahmatganj?" quips the officer on condition of anonymity. "Since the 80s, Nigerians are regular visitors to this country. The High Commission of Bangladesh has been giving them tourist visas on a regular basis, no questions asked. Bangladesh is not exactly a tourist's paradise, especially not for citizens of another third world country situated in another part of the world. There are many international students who come to Bangladesh from those parts of the world and their presence in our country is mutually beneficial. About the others I have my reservations." while we're on the subject, Zaccheaus was posing as a stock lot broker of ready-made garments, although he has always been travelling to Bangladesh on a tourist visa. An identity card found on him dating back to 2008 reads that he is a member of Rahmatganj Muslim society.

Zaccheaus's passport has revealed that he is a regular traveller and his places of frequent visits include India, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, UAE, Nepal and the Philippines.

In recent years, Nigerians have been heavily involved in Indian drug trafficking, ranging from Mumbai on the West coast to the North Eastern states, often known as the seven sisters. UAE, the last destination of Zaccheaus, has also been suffering from operations of international crime syndicates.

The world’s major heroin smuggling route.

In June 2006 the arrest of a footballer Ozor Michael in Nepal revealed the existence of a flourishing global drug syndicate linked to Afghanistan and Europe. Michael was a footballer in a top Nigerian club. His passport raised worries among Nepalese narcotics officers as it revealed that he had travelled on a very suspicious route -- Afghanistan, Dubai and Doha. Like many Nigerian drug traffickers arrested before and after him, Michael claimed that it was his love for football that brought him to this country.

In Thailand, Nigerians also have a heavy hand in drug trafficking operating from the capital city Bangkok. The presence of foreigners in other places is too conspicuous and drugs are brought from the Burmese border by Thai local smugglers who then sell it to the Nigerian 'mules' who carry the merchandise by air to their destined places. Bangkok has one of the world's busiest airports and accordingly this makes smuggling drugs a lot easier. Proximity to the Golden Triangle of Myanmar has made Thailand a haven for local and international drug syndicates. Nigerian syndicates also activate in other South Eastern countries in conjunction with local criminals.

Zaccheaus has himself claimed that in the last few days he has been to Cox's Bazaar and Comilla. Cox's Bazaar lies near Teknaf, the main border town with Myanmar, which is the second largest producer of heroin after Afghanistan. Comilla lies in close proximity to the border with Tripura, the gateway to the seven sisters. As mentioned earlier, Nigerian organised groups are very active in the North Eastern states of India. So it would have seemed appropriate that he had good reasons to be in Comilla or Cox's Bazaar for his 'business' purposes.

However, there is one setback in this initial testimony. In Bangladesh, foreigners are a rare sight, especially in the countryside, and they attract a lot of attention from curious onlookers, many of whom have never seen an outsider in their life. Consider the fact that this particular foreigner is a drug trafficker and it would be literally impossible for him to be involved in underhanded dealings in most places in Bangladesh without attracting the undue attention of hundreds of locals. “He is definitely not telling us the truth. By stating Comilla and Cox's Bazaar as the places he last visited, he is only trying to misdirect the investigation and cover up the point in Dhaka from where he actually receives the supplies,” says Shahidul Mannaf Kabir. “We shall hopefully get to the bottom of the whole affair once he is placed on remand.” The magistrate court granted three days remand on August 3.

A law enforcement official specialising in Narcotics expresses similar views. “The Nigerians cannot operate clandestinely unless they are in the posh areas of Banani and Gulshan where the sight of foreigners are more common and they can mix among their own people,” he says. The official requesting anonymity also expressed disappointment concerning the immigration system of Bangladesh.

“The airport is operated by 18 different agencies. There is little co-ordination between the different agencies. As far as the Immigration Police is concerned, they can only check the passports, make sure they are not forged and then authorise the traveller. They cannot open the baggage, which is done by the Customs officials. The background officials have played little role in stopping the flow of drugs from the international airports,” says the official. “Most custom officials are more occupied with other affairs from where they can derive an income.” He, however, praised the efforts of the official who had detected the white powder but maintained that such people were a rarity. “The system needs an overhaul. Bangladesh has long been a transit point for trafficking drugs to other countries and the vast majority of the consignments pass through the international airports, especially the one in Dhaka.”

The international illegal drug syndicates change their modus operandi almost instantly when their contraband goods are seized by the law enforcing agencies, he said. They also change their routes and the system of carriage making it extremely difficult for DNC members to detect their movements.

Meanwhile another official of the department said that a total of 7,881 kilograms of heroin, 25,961 bottles of contraband Indian Phensidyl syrup, 240 kilograms of cannabis, 49 of cannabis plants and 1437 ampoules of Pathedine, 14,50,210 poppy foliage and other contraband drugs were seized between January and May".

Despite attempts to stop smuggling of drugs, such as heroin and Yaba tablets from Burma to Bangladeshthe armed forces and other law enforcing agencies cannot seem to control the rampant trade in drugs. It continues unabated, an intellectual said.

In Bangladesh the middle class, including students are into the use of Yaba tablets and other drugs coming from Burma forcing the Bangladesh government to crack down against drug users and dealers. The surplus drugs, including Yaba tablets are dispatched to other countries, said an observer.

The members of law enforcing agencies and the staff members of the DNC are in a position to nab the dealers and retailers. But the ring leaders of the drug mafia and godfathers remain out of reach as they are well organized and equipped with sophisticated firearms and telecommunication gadgets.
 

 The governments of Pakistan and Bangladesh on Monday decided to initiate cooperation in counterterrorism, counter narcotics and drug trafficking.
The fifth round of Pakistan-Bangladesh bilateral consultations was held here with Pakistani side led by Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Bangladesh handing over by its Foreign Secretary M Mijarul Quayes.
During the three hour-long discussion, including the lunch hosted by the foreign secretary in honour of the foreign secretary of Bangladesh, the two sides held a detailed overview of political, economic and trade, defence, cultural, educational and consular issues.
"The two foreign secretaries agreed to give fresh impetus to the promotion of bilateral relations and a comprehensive partnership," said the foreign office spokesman, Abdul Basit, in a statement. They agreed to the holding of next meeting of Joint Economic Commission and biannual consultations at senior officials' level."
It was also decided to initiate support in counterterrorism, counter-narcotics and drug trafficking besides facilitating visas and enhancing connectivity by direct shipping and more air links, he said. Basit said the next round of bilateral consultations would be held in Dhaka in 2011.

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There is a yawning chasm between the way the Tory government treats its friends in the City and the public at large. 

UK trade

After the latest rate fixing scandal, Bank of England governor Mervyn King described the banks' behaviour as shoddy and deceitful, but Cameron is still not backing a public inquiry. Why?

Instead, we learn that one of Barclays' top bosses has been appointed to the NHS Commissioning Board and given a say over its finances. What a disgrace - we don't want a banking culture - mired in deceit - brought into our NHS.

While the bankers and financiers enjoy smoked salmon and champagne at Wimbledon, families across the public sector have had their pay frozen and struggle to put food on the table and to pay their bills.

It's time to stop the cronyism and start building an economy based on fairness and opportunity for all - not just for the few. 

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Economists said that net trade did probably make a positive contribution to the UK economy in the final quarter of 2011 but would probably not be enough to avoid overall growth being virtually flat or even negative thanks in part to a slump in consumer spending.

There were also warnings that the government's hopes of rebalancing the economy away from domestic demand towards manufacturing and foreign trade will be hard to realise this year.

"Exports appear to have regained a modest upward trend in recent months, which is likely to have persisted into December. Trade is nevertheless unlikely to contribute strongly to UK economic growth in 2012, which looks set to be a challenging year as signs of improved demand from countries such as the US and China are likely to be countered by weak demand in the eurozone," said Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit. "The longer term outlook is one where 2012 looks set to be a challenging year for UK exporters."

The news of falling exports and official figures showing a dip in growth in Britain's key European trading partner Germany renewed calls for exporters to look further afield to emerging markets.

"The UK is pinning much of its hopes on exports to power the recovery, but with our main markets struggling it's imperative that exporters look to new, faster-growing, markets if they are to play their part," said Andrew Goodwin, senior economic adviser to the Ernst & Young Item Club.

"The UK lags well behind other developed economies, such as Germany, in its penetration of emerging markets, but with our traditional markets facing a long, hard struggle, the time is right for UK exporters to make that move."

In November, despite the ongoing eurozone crisis, there was a slight rise in exports from the UK to its most important trading area. Exports to the European Union edged up – albeit by less than £0.1bn – while exports to non-EU countries fell £0.4bn from October.

Vicky Redwood at Capital Economics the rise in exports to EU countries was surprising but unlikely to be sustained.

"We doubt that the recent resilience will last as eurozone demand weakens. The recent rise in the pound to a 16 month high against the euro won't help either," she said.

The ONS said the overall drop in exports was driven by lower exports of silver to non-EU countries, including India.

At the same time, imports rose £0.4bn, driven largely by goods coming in from EU countries and slightly higher imports from non-EU countries, which reached a record level. The overall rise in imports was driven by higher imports of chemicals largely from EU countries, including Ireland.

The ONS said the trade deficit for goods and services taken together widened to £2.6bn from £1.9bn as the services surplus held steady.

trade balance

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FOREIGN TRADE is the official source for U.S. export and import statistics and responsible for issue regulations governing the reporting of all export shipments from the United States. If you're searching for import or export statistics, information on export regulations, commodity classifications, or a host of other trade related topics, this is the place to get the information you need.

A trade secret is a formula, practice, process, design, instrument, pattern, or compilation of information which is not generally known or practically ascertainable, by which a business can obtain an economic advantage over competitors or customers. In some jurisdictions, such secrets are referred to as "top secret information", but should not be referred to as "classified information", due to the nature of the word in the USA.

Trade secrets are by definition not disclosed to the world at large. Instead, owners of trade secrets seek to protect trade secret in sequence from competitors by instituting special procedures for handling it, as well as technological and legal security measures. Legal protections include non-disclosure agreements (NDA) and non-compete clauses. In exchange for an opportunity to be employed by the holder of secrets, an employee may sign an agreement not to reveal his or her likely employer's proprietary information. An employee may also surrender or dole out to his employer the right to his own intellectual work produced during the course (or as a condition) of employment. breach of the agreement generally carries the possibility of heavy financial penalties. These penalties operate as a disincentive to reveal trade secrets. Though proving a breach of a non-disclosure agreement against a former employee who is legally working for a competitor can be very difficult. A holder of a trade secret may also require similar agreements from other parties he deals with, such as vendors or licensees.

Protection of trade secret can, in standard, extend indefinitely and then may provide an advantage over patent protection, which lasts only for a specific period of time. Coca-Cola, for model, has no patent for its formula and has been very effective in protecting it for many more years than the twenty years of security that a patent would have provided. In fact, Coca-Cola refused to reveal its trade secret under at least two judges' orders.The inconvenience is that there is no protection once information protected as trade secret is uncovered by others through reverse engineering, for example, whereas patent has a guaranteed time of protection in exchange for disclosing the in order to the community.

World trade

To acquire rights in a trademark under U.S. law, one must simply use the mark "in commerce." It is possible to register a trademark in the U.S., both at the federal and state levels. (Registration of trademarks confers some advantages, including stronger protection in certain respects, but it is not required in order to get protection.) Registration may be required in order to file a lawsuit for trademark infringement. Other nations have different trademark policies and this information may not apply to them. Assuming the mark in question meets certain other standards of protectibility, it is protected from infringement on the grounds that other uses might confuse consumers as to the origin or nature of the goods once the mark has been associated with a particular supplier. (Similar considerations apply to service marks and trade dress.) By definition, a trademark enjoys no protection (qua trademark) until and unless it is "disclosed" to consumers, for only then are consumers able to associate it with a supplier or source in the requisite manner. (That a company plans to use a certain trademark might itself be protectible as a trade secret, however, until the mark is actually made public.)

A company can protect its confidential information through non-compete and non-disclosure contracts with its employees (within the constraints of employment law, including only restraint that is reasonable in geographic and time scope). The law of protection of confidential information effectively allows a perpetual monopoly in secret information - it does not expire as would a patent. The lack of formal protection, however, means that a third party is not prevented from independently duplicating and using the secret information once it is discovered.

urveillance of national trade policies is a fundamentally important activity running throughout the work of the WTO. At the centre of this work is the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM). All WTO members are reviewed, the frequency of each country’s review varying according to its share of world trade. 

The World Trade Organization (WTO) deals with the global rules of trade between nations. Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.

This website is a one-stop national resource to learn about the crime of identity theft. It provides detailed information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft.  

On this site, consumers can learn how to avoid identity theft – and learn what to do if their identity is stolen.  Businesses can learn how to help their customers deal with identity theft, as well as how to prevent problems in the first place.  Law enforcement can get resources and learn how to help victims of identity theft.

Read on to find out more about identity theft and what you can do about it.

Here's an example of a "yen carry trade": a trader borrows 1,000 Japanese yen from a Japanese bank, converts the funds into U.S. dollars and buys a bond for the equivalent amount. Let's assume that the bond pays 4.5% and the Japanese interest rate is set at 0%. The trader stands to make a profit of 4.5% as long as the exchange rate between the countries does not change. Many professional traders use this trade because the gains can become very large when leverage is taken into consideration. If the trader in our example uses a common leverage factor of 10:1, then she can stand to make a profit of 45%. 

World trade organization

The big risk in a carry trade is the uncertainty of exchange rates. Using the example above, if the U.S. dollar were to fall in value relative to the Japanese yen, then the trader would run the risk of losing money. Also, these transactions are generally done with a lot of leverage, so a small movement in exchange rates can result in huge losses unless the position is hedged appropriately.

A strategy in which an investor sells a certain currency with a relatively low interest rate and uses the funds to purchase a different currency yielding a higher interest rate. A trader using this strategy attempts to capture the difference between the rates, which can often be substantial, depending on the amount of leverage used.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act guarantees you access to your credit report for free from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — every 12 months. The Federal Trade Commission has received complaints from consumers who thought they were ordering their free annual credit report, and yet couldn't get it without paying fees or buying other services. TV ads, email offers, or online search results may tout "free" credit reports, but there is only one authorized source for a truly free credit report. 

Many companies claim to offer free credit reports – and some do. But others give you a report only if you buy other products or services. Still others say they’re giving you a “free” report and then bill you for services you have to cancel. If you go to www.AnnualCreditReport.com and follow the prompts for your free credit report, you can be sure the reports you get really are free. 

Looks like the Nets aren’t waiting for Dwight Howard’s situation to get resolved before making moves. According to Nets Daily, they just went ahead and traded for Joe Johnson, whose contract will have Brooklyn unable to re-sign Deron Williams and still make a deal for the Orlando big man this summer. More details: “The Nets have all but completed a trade for Joe Johnson, the six-time all-star, league sources tell NetsDaily. In return, the Hawks get expiring contracts and a first round pick. NOT included in the trade: MarShon Brooks and Gerald Green. The Nets also didn’t have to give up their own first round pick in the trade. The trade will not be finalized until July 11. Johnson, who is still owed $89.3 million over the next three years, was dealt for Anthony Morrow; Jordan Farmar, who will be bought out at Atlanta’s expense; Jordan Williams, Johan Petro, a signed-and-traded DeShawn Stevenson and the Rockets 2013 lottery protected first round pick.”

Trade agreements usually involve a detailed list of rights that nations must provide to authors of new works -- including any original content from books to software. But while the deals often include general provisions, permitting countries to adopt exceptions to those rights, they have never been explicitly required.

Those exceptions are what allow for the existence of everything from libraries to movie reviews. They're also critical for a host of internet operations, which frequently reference or make use of copyrighted material under well-established "fair use" standards and other key exemptions.

We're encouraged that the USTR (United States Trade Representative) has acknowledged that we can have strong and balanced copyright," said Matthew Schruers, vice president of law and policy at the Computer and Communications Industry Association, a tech lobbying organization. "There is still much more to be done, on this issue, other IP issues, as well as issues outside of the IP space. Nevertheless, this is an important first step toward modernizing the trade framework for the twenty-first century."

The USTR -- the White House agency, led by Ron Kirk, that's responsible for negotiating the Trans-Pacific deal -- said this new outline aims to enhance the framework of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

"The TPP is intended to be a 21st century agreement, covering a number of emerging issue areas, and it’s clear that this is an issue of major importance to many stakeholders," said USTR spokesperson Carol Guthrie in a written statement. "After consulting with them and with our trading partners, we’ve decided to further enhance our framework."

Tech policy and transparency in the Trans-Pacific deal have generated some concern among a few members of Congress, who have said that key staffers were denied access to draft negotiation documents, even though more than 600 corporate officials were able to view the documents through positions on advisory panels. 

Fair trade

Tarde and garments

Cotheeka Trading Agency is one of the leading trading companies in Bangladesh specialized on Export-import, Local Trading and Marketing of various products ranging Computer & Electronic Accessories to Jute Products.

Cotheeka Trading Agency is reputable worldwide for its excellent Quality Control and Fast Turnaround time for delivering all kinds of products or services. Our commitment to customer services and passion for providing the best consumer value have enriched our spectacular growth since 2001. Our experience in management, including a wealth of experience in the areas of finance, strategy and operational management with distribution and direct marketing helped us to be established as one of the best trading companies in Asia. We have extensive experience developing inventive and original marketing campaigns that build our customer relationships in the retail and consumer product industries.
Web site of Cotheeka Trading Agency is updated with new information and fresh product offers on daily basis. So, don't forget to bookmark the site and visit often.

Your search for clothing industry trade fairs, fashion & textile exhibitions, apparel trade shows, garment technology trade fairs, optics & eyewear trade show, clothing accessories tradeshow, kidswear/children expositions and bridalwear tradefairs & expos from across the globe ends on this encompassing section. Here you can get access to the well-ordered data of Apparel & Clothing sector expositions based on knitted cloths & accessories, denims, scarves, lingerie, sportswear, gold/silver/platinum/crystal/metal jewellery, watches and other fashion ornaments & accessories helping you to opt from around 300 related expos.


International Trade Garments has been operating in the casual clothing industry since 2001.
You can have a look at our new updated Spring-Summer and Autumn-Winter collections in our showrooms in Bergamo , where we are located. Our highly qualified staff follows the 

There is a considerable increase in the textile and ready garment import trade in USA. Off late the USA garments importers have been importing huge quantities of garment from the Indian Exporters.

Due to the rising effects of globalization and technology transfer, setting up an international trade deal with the garments importers of any other country is not a big deal anymore. If you are dealing in garment / readymade garment or textile export trade, you might like to consider extending your business to USA. Almost every person exporting textile wants to establish trade links with USA importers of garments. One of the prime reasons that attract a lot of sellers to this place is the fact that they are able to earn dollars. Also, USA garments importers are known for being extremely professional and particular about their payment terms. Though it is easy to set up trade with these traders, but you will need the right sources to reach them. If you don’t have any existing links with these traders, you will have to find out ways to approach those who would be interested in buying your products.

The best help would be taking aid from the services of online export import database companies like Infodrive India. The database companies provide genuine export import data that is collected right from the ports and Customs offices. Whether you want to find US readymade garments importers or US textile and garment importers, you can always depend on their accurate list of active importers / buyers. The database includes all the important fields like US garments importers Name and Address, US Notify Party, Exporters Name and address, and Bill of Landing details. The Bill of Landing column has entries like BL number, Arrival Date, Weight kg, Pieces, Piece Unit, TEU, Measure cm, HS Code, and container number. Besides this information, the data also states Port of Embarkation, Port of Arrival, Product Description, and Marks number. 

 

The data service of the export import database companies enables you to extend your business to new destinations and more prospective clients. With some business intelligence and a proper analysis of the latest database, you can also enhance your product’s demand in international market. development of the collections, from design up to the realization of the item, studying each single article in details always considering the new fashion trends of the market.
Thanks to a wide range of articles always available and a very good relation between quality and price, International Trade Garments is able to satisfy all the customers’ needs, guaranteeing prompt deliveries or programming them in advance time. Our production capacity in the Far East, in particular in China and Bangladesh, is one of our main asset, as we are able to produce not only our collections but also to make customized productions in Private Label. Thanks also to a very efficient logistic we are able to deliver quickly all over Italy and Europe.
International Trade Garments is characterized by a dynamic professional young team and bases its work on important values like competence, seriousness, flexibility, loyalty.

trade industry

LGE is returning this summer for its second year and has joined forces with Fashion Capital’s event PROFILE; bringing you a spectacular three days of trading, networking, catwalks and entertainment!

Held at The Business Design Centre, LGE is the must-see show for young designers, manufacturers and emerging brands. Showcasing the very best of womenswear, menswear, lingerie, swimwear and fabrics, LGE is where you will find buyers from the biggest names in the industry mixed in with new designers and world famous manufacturers.

LGE strives to create a hub of activity and excitement for 2012 by hosting exclusive catwalks, seminars, trend reports and B2B meetings, plus the chance to be a part of the VIP Gala where exhibitors can network with buyers, high profile decision makers and the most prominent apparel associations in the world.

 

Based on our analysis of the latest standards for Fair Trade Certified Apparel & Home Goods products and our knowledge of other initiatives towards high-road apparel production, we worry that the proposed standards for apparel to bear a fair trade label will fall short of today’s best
industry practices. We grant that—if there is a robust enforcement program—workers producing under these fair trade standards will enjoy working conditions better than the industry norm. But going just beyond the norm—sweatshop and, at times, near slave-labor conditions— should not be enough. To be the purveyor of a label that would claim to signify a high mark in terms of labor standards, wages, and working conditions, TransFair must truly push the envelope of reform, and only bestow its blessing on workplaces that provide an environment of dignity and respect, and ensure workers a meaningful voice and a decent standard of living, consistent with
the very best industry practices. There is significant risk in a fair trade label that fails to meet this bar. It can mislead consumers, lower the aspirations of major companies, and, in effect, push down standards from the top. This program does not occur in a vacuum. Other efforts that are attempting to implement good labor standards may face more obstacles if TransFair sets a low bar.
We would be proud to openly support real fair trade standards, and happy to promote the pioneering companies that seek to realize those standards for workers. But the present draft standards are not yet strong enough that we can offer our public endorsement.
 

 

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• The Court agreed that goods such as those listed above in Nike's application were destined for the general public.  However, Nike could not assert that the level of this public’s attention would be higher than that of the average consumer in that the garments covered by the mark applied for were what were described somewhat coyly as ‘intimate garments’.  Even such garments are everyday consumer goods, in Spain at any rate. In any event, this argument would not wash: the goods covered by Nike’s application included those items of clothing which were not intimate as well as those which were.
• Nike’s submission that the initially average distinctiveness of the word "jump" as a trade mark had become diluted was unconvincing. "Jump’ was not part of the basic vocabulary of the general public in Spain and would thus be perceived as a fanciful term.
• Nike could not both (i) concede that it was likely that the relevant public did not attach a direct and unequivocal meaning to the term ‘jump’ and that, therefore, a conceptual comparison may not be established and (ii) argue that the word ‘jump’ bore for the average Spanish consumer – above all in connection with footwear, a connotation which was associated mentally with the idea of a sudden vertical movement or propulsion from the ground. If the word was not understood in Spain, it could have no meaning for the Spanish.
• If the word ‘jump’ had no meaning to the average Spanish consumer, that word was not made more meaningful through the addition of the word ‘man’. The Board was correct to find that there was a likelihood of confusion, on account of the distinctive character of the word ‘jump’, the identity of the goods concerned and the visual and phonetic similarities between the signs at issue.

 

Trade in Brazil

Brazil reported a trade surplus equivalent to 807 Million USD in June of 2012. in times gone by, from 1991 until 2012, Brazil Balance of Trade averaged 1310.5900 Million USD reaching an all time high of 5659.4000 Million USD in July of 2006 and a record low of -1845.3000 Million USD in December of 1996. Brazil has an export-oriented economy. The main exports are transport equipment, iron ore, industrial raw materials, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos, automotive parts, machinery. Brazil imports machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products, automotive part and electronics. The primary trading partners of Brazil are The United States, European Union and Argentina. This page includes a graph with chronological data for Brazil Balance of Trade.

The balance of trade is the difference between the monetary value of exports and imports in an economy over a certain period of time. A positive balance of trade is known as a trade surplus and consists of exporting more than is imported; a unconstructive balance of trade is known as a trade deficit or, informally, a trade gap. The balance of trade forms part of the current account, which also includes other transactions such as income from the international investment position as well as worldwide aid. If the current account is in surplus, the country's net international asset position increases correspondingly. Equally, a deficit decreases the net international asset position. The Balance of Trade is identical to the difference between a country's amount produced and its domestic demand - the difference between what goods a country produces and how many goods it buys from abroad; this does not include money respent on foreign stocks, nor does it factor the concept of importing goods to produce for the domestic market.

The EU is Brazil's biggest trading partner, accounting for 22.5% of its total trade (2009). It is part of Mercosur and part of the EU's ongoing negotiations for a free trade conformity with that regional group. Brazil is the single biggest exporter of agricultural products to the EU, accounting for 12.4% of total EU imports (2009) and ranks as the EU's 10th trading partner. In goods, the EU runs an overall trade deficit with Brazil of over €4.1 billion (2009but has a surplus in commercial services trade of €2.4 billion (2009). The EU  is the biggest foreign investor in Brazil with nest egg in many sectors of the economy.

The Brazilian market is relatively highly protected with an applied customs averaging tariff of 12% and the EU consistently encourages Brazil to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers, and to maintain a stable regulatory situation for European investors and traders. Brazil is a key interlocutor for the EU in the on-going WTO Doha Round of world trade talks.

The backbone of the EU's future bilateral trade relations with Brazil will be a wide-ranging EU-Mercosur Association Agreement which will also result in the creation of a vast free trade area. This agreement which is currently under compromise should provide a boost to regional trade integration among the countries of Mercosur and stimulate new opportunities for trade with the EU by removing tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade. The Mercosur-EU AA will cover, among other issues, trade in goods and services, investment, intellectual property rights (IPR) aspects including protection of environmental indications, government procurement, technical barriers to trade and sanitary and phytosanitary aspects.

Trade in Brazil

Until summer 2004 there was gradual but substantial progress in the negotiationwhich, however, stalled in September 2004. Since then, regular acquaintances have taken place both at ministerial and technical level in order to explore ways on how to re-engage the process.  The Madrid Summit, which brought together Heads of State and Governments from Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, as well as imperative non-state actors, resulted in a decision to re-launch negotiations of the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement - a process which is now under way.

Brazil was the United States' 8th largest goods export souk in 2011.

U.S. goods exports to Brazil in 2011 were $42.9 billion, up 21.2% ($7.5 billion) from 2010, and up 180% from 2000. U.S. exports to Brazil accounted for 2.9% of taken as a whole U.S. exports in 2011.

The top export categories (2-digit HS) in 2011 were: Machinery ($7.9 billion), Mineral Fuel ($6.3 billion), Aircraft ($5.4 billion), Electrical Machinery ($4.6 billion), and Plastic ($2.1 billion).

U.S. exports of agricultural products to Brazil totaled $800 million in 2011. Leading categories include: cotton ($323 million), dairy products ($40 million), wheat ($30 million), and sugars and sweeteners ($21 million).

U.S. exports of private commercial services* (i.e., excluding military and management) to Brazil were $19.9 billion in 2011 (preliminary data), 21% ($3.4 billion) more than 2010 and 219% greater than 2000 levels. Other private services (business, professional, and technical services, telecom services, and financial services), travel and royalties and license fees categories accounted for most of the U.S. services exports to Brazil.

Brazil was the United States' 17th largest supplier of goods imports in 2011.

U.S. goods imports from Brazil totaled $31.4 billion in 2011, a 30.9% increase ($7.4 billion) from 2010, and up 126% from 2000. U.S. imports from Brazil accounted for 1.4% of overall U.S. imports in 2011.

The five largest import categories in 2011 were: Mineral Fuel and Oil (crude) ($10.5 billion), Iron and Steel ($3.5 billion), Machinery ($2.3 billion), Spices, Tea, and Coffee (coffee) ($2.0 billion), and Wood Pulp ($1.0 billion).

U.S. imports of agricultural products from Brazil totaled $4.1 billion in 2011, the 4th largest supplier of Ag imports. Leading categories include: coffee (unroasted) ($1.9 billion), fruit and vegetable juices ($321 million), tobacco ($278 million), and raw beet and sugar cane ($270 million).

U.S. imports of private commercial services* (i.e., excluding military and government) were $6.9 billion in 2011 (preliminary data), 32% ($1.7 billion) more than 2010 and up 254% from 2000 level. The other private services (business, qualified, and technical services), travel services, and royalties and license fees categories led U.S. services imports from Brazil.

U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in Brazil (stock) was $66.0 billion in 2010 (latest data available), up 19.7% from 2009.

U.S. direct investment in Brazil is led by the manufacturing and finance/ indemnity sectors.

Brazil FDI in the United States (stock) was $1.1 billion in 2010 (latest data available).

Brazil’s reported direct investment in the U.S. is led by the comprehensive trade sector.

Sales of services in Brazil by majority U.S.-owned affiliates were $24.7 billion in 2009 (latest data available), while sales of services in the United States by majority Brazil-owned firms were $972 million.

 OPPOSITE Rio de Janeiro's best-known shopping mall, just before the tunnel that takes drivers to the beach resorts of Copacabana and Ipanema, stands a gleaming new showroom for JAC Motors, a state-owned Chinese car maker. The importance of the location is appropriate: imported Chinese cars have suddenly become a visible presence on Brazil's roads. This has alarmed Brazil's car industry and President Dilma Rousseff's government. Last month a 30-percentage-point tax increase on cars with less than 65% local content took effect, taking the tax on some imported models to a punitive 55%—on top of import tariffs.

The government's response is a mix of short-term protectionist measures combined with modest steps towards more constructive longer-term policy changes. The tax rise on cars was announced last September, as part of a new engineering policy. The aim was to bully carmakers without plants in Brazil to hurry up and build them. This seems to be working: JAC Motors, BMW, and Jaguar Land Rover, a unit of India's Tata Motors, have all announced plans to build factories in Brazil since the import tax was unveiled.

The industrial policy also features an experimental cut in the payroll tax for footwear, textile, furniture and software firms. But officials are at pains to point out that, rather than help specific industries, the main thrust of the new policy is to try to boost competitiveness more generally by promoting innovation, higher schooling and training.

The second emollient is that the real has depreciated by 17% against the dollar since its peak in late July. That is partly because investors fled emerging markets but also because of government intervention, in the form of taxes on short-term capital inflows. At the same time, the Central Bank has taken advantage of the economy's soft patch to cut its benchmark interest rate, from 12.5% in August to 11%. With inflation at 6.5%, the real interest rate is much lower than at any other time in the past decade.

But industry also wants to see fewer taxes, cheaper energy, less bureaucracy and better transport networks, says Paulo Skaf, FIESP's president. On these things the government is moving far more slowly, if at all. However narrowly targeted, protectionism will not only raise prices in Brazil but risks sending the wrong message to businesses. Across Latin America, trade with China is growing but partly at the expense of intra-regional trade in manufactures. Brazil should lead a move to tear down all trade barriers within Latin America, thus turning the Chinese challenge into an opportunity, says Mr Amaral.

In 2005, Brazil's total exports more than doubled to US$118 billion from $58 billion for 2001. Over that same period, imports into South America's largest country grew some 30% to $74 billion from $56 billion.

Brazil's trade surplus has expanded more than 16-times to $47 billion from $2.6 billion over the past 4 years.

With a population of almost 200 million, Brazil is the world's leading exporter of sugar, coffee, beef and orange juice. Soybeans are Brazil's fastest-growing shipments, powered by the appetites of China's 1.3 billion consumers. Other major exports include aircraft, vehicles, iron ore, steel, textiles and footwear.

o remain an agricultural superstar in global trade, Brazil has to deal with growing pains. The recent collapse of World Trade Organization talks in Doha shut the door on an initiative to remove U.S. and European farm subsidies and trade tariffs that would have spurred Brazil's exports onto new heights of success. Also, a weak American dollar makes Brazilian products more expensive and therefore sensitive to international competition. And Brazil is notorious for poorly constructed and maintained roads, railways and seaports. Three hour delays at airports are common. This is further aggravated by an inefficient customs service.

Brazil is one of the top ten world economic powers. Its cautious taxation and monetary policies, together with the necessary microeconomic reforms, have given the Brazilian economy solid basis allowing it to withstand the global economic crisis.

Brazil has abundant natural resources and its economy is relatively diversified. 

Trade in Brazil

A major agricultural power, Brazil is the world's first producer of coffee, sugar cane and oranges, as well as one of the largest producers of soy. It also attracts many world groups in the food industry and biofuels. Brazil has the world's largest commercial livestock herd. Nevertheless, agriculture's contribution to the GDP is relatively small, accounting for only 6.6%, yet the sector represents 40% of its exports. Forests cover half of the country, with the largest ombrophilous forest in the world situated in the Amazon Basin. Brazil is the world's fourth largest exporter of timber.

Brazil is also a great industrial country. It benefits from its mineral ore wealth and is the second world exporter of iron and one of the main producers of aluminum. As an oil producer, the Brazil is aiming to become self-sufficient in the near future. The country is asserting itself more and more in the textile, aeronautics, pharmacy, automobile, steel and chemical industry sectors.

and France enjoy a close bilateral relationship based on values shared by the two countries: promotion of democratic principles and human rights, strengthening of international law and multilateralism, promotion of the development and respect of social justice, preservation of peace and security, commitment to non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and to disarmament, protection of the environment and cultural diversity.

France has recognized Brazil as its special partner in South America and as a global player in international affairs. The two countries are committed to strengthening their bilateral cooperation in the areas for which working groups have been created: nuclear energy, renewable energies, defence technologies, technological innovation, joint cooperation in African countries and space technologies, medicines and the environment.

France and Brazil entered a formal strategic alliance in 2008. France supports Brazil's ambition to become a global player on the international scene, and has been a strong supporter of the Brazilian bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.Through significant technology transfers, France intends to help Brazil acquire key technologies of a major world power in the military, space, energy and technology sectors.

Brazil and France share a 673 km border between the state of Amapá and French Guiana. The cross-border cooperation between the two countries has enjoyed increased vitality. This cooperation makes it possible to better integrate French Guyana into its geographical environment, to respond to the concerns of both parties about the various cross-border risks, to encourage human exchanges and trade and to develop the economy of the Amazon region, respecting the local populations and extraordinary environment. The granting to France, on the initiative of Brazil, of observer status within the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, will strengthen this cooperation. The construction of the Oyapock River Bridge over the Oyapock River, decided during President Lula’s visit to France, will make the Cayenne-Macapá road link possible. The bridge is scheduled to be completed in 2010. In May 2012 Brazil sent troops to guard its border with France (Guiana)

Although Brazil has made substantial progress in reducing traditional border trade barriers (tariffs, import licensing, etc.), tariff rates in many areas remain high and continue to favor locally produced products. Brazil's barriers to trade are a cause for concern for the US Government and the European Union (EU), both of whom continue to work through regional trade accord negotiations and at the WTO level to influence tariff and non-tariff barriers. This report touches upon a broad range of trade regulations that may affect US companies seeking to export to Brazil. 

Mexico Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa downplayed prospects for a free-trade agreement with Brazil, saying Latin America’s biggest economy has dragged its feet in trade talks with other nations.

“Brazil currently has trade negotiations under way that date far back with many different countries,” Espinosa said in an interview in Bloomberg’s Mexico City offices yesterday. “This makes us think that it’s a country in which there isn’t much flexibility for a negotiation.”

Mexican President Felipe Calderon and former Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva vowed last year to start talks on a free-trade pact. A deal would help Mexico diversify trade away from the U.S., which buys 80 percent of its exports, though it may be thwarted by Brazil’s efforts to boost protection for manufacturers being hurt by a rally in its currency and increased competition from China.

 Trade flow problems between Argentina and Brazil continue to exist” revealed Brazilian Industry Ministry Executive Secretary Alessandro Teixera in direct reference to the non automatic trade licenses conflict that flared between both countries a few months ago.

Non automatic import licences are an instrument contemplated by the World Trade Organization given certain periods of time and certain conditions.

“There are still trade flow problems. However, a little trouble is always expected between the Mercosur trade bloc members,” Teixeira stated from Asunción, at the Mercosur summit.

Teixeira explained that in order to move forward with negotiations to solve the trade dispute, several private meetings between Brazilian and Argentine negotiators were taking place in Paraguay.

"Doing Business in Brazil" is a follow-up to the 1999 publication "Doing Business in Latin America". Along with the portfolio’s annual "Capture the Americas — Latin America" seminar series, it is another tangible sign of the Government’s commitment to promoting Australian trade and investment in Latin America, and supporting the efforts of the business community.

The importance of expanding Australia’s relations with Latin America was highlighted by the report, tabled in September 2000, on "Australia’s Trade and Investment Relationship with South America" by the Trade Sub-Committee of the Joint Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade of the Australian Parliament. The report assessed that the region had considerable market expansion potential and could play a more important role from Australia’s trading perspective.

The Government has responded positively to the thrust of the recommendations. In particular, at the time of his visit to Brazil in March 2001, my colleague, Mr Downer, and I jointly announced the creation of the Council on Australia Latin America Relations (COALAR). The Council, which will include prominent business representatives with experience in Latin America, will advise government and business on ways to further Australia’s commercial, economic and political interests in the region.

Of all the region’s markets, Brazil stands out. It is already Australia’s largest trading partner there, and, due to its economic size and diversity, offers significant potential.

My first official overseas assignment as Australian Trade Minister in September 1999 included a visit to Brazil. I was struck by the warm and positive relations that exist between our two countries. I was able to speak to Australian business people on the ground and obtain first-hand assessments of the opportunities for our exporters.

While the commercial relationship is growing, it remains less than optimal: Brazil, the ninth largest economy in the world, accounts for only 0.5 per cent of Australia’s total exports. Clearly, the potential for further commercial cooperation is substantial.

Trade in Brazil