New Radio Resource for American Entrepreneurs

live from Coral Gables American entrepreneurs and small businesses have historically taken the leadership position when it comes to innovationand helping the U.S. work its way out of past economic downturns; and they will certainly play a vital role in ending the current recession. Now Atlanta entrepreneurs can get a weekly dose of sound advice and insights into the benefits of free enterprise from The Neal Asbury Show, broadcast each Sunday from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM on WGKA-920. Guests on his show have included: former Director of National Intelligence, Ambassador John D. Negroponte; former U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Carlos Gutierrez; former United States Trade Representative Ambassador Susan C. Schwab; former U.S. Under Secretary of International Trade, Christopher Padilla; and Congressman... Read More

America Must Win The Free Trade Race

If America was in a foot race against Europe, Asia and even Canada for negotiating the greatest number of free trade agreements, America would barely get out of the starting blocks. Consider that America has free trade agreements with only 14 countries. While according to the Asian Development Bank, 150 bilateral free trade agreements have either been signed or are under negotiation in Asia; and the European Union (EU) is negotiating trade agreements with more than 100 developing countries. The EU finalized a free trade agreement with Mexico in 2000 — the second largest market for U.S. exports. Against a backdrop of conflicting and confusing statements coming from the new U.S. administration concerning NAFTA Canada has begun allying itself more closely with Europe evidenced by the ongoing... Read More

Imposing Trade Sanctions on Perceived Foreign Foes Only Punishes U.S. Exporters

As a nation of immigrants, it’s hard to explain how xenophobic this country can be.   For whatever reason, if we believe that the U.S. is slighted in any way, our inclination is to lash out diplomatically, economically, or when all else fails, by force. We are currently engaged in an economic battle with many nations who we perceive as having an adversarial relationship with America.  In such cases, we punish them by imposing trade sanctions, which rarely have the anticipated effect.  Instead, such sanctions usually only hurt American manufacturers and workers. A recent article from Bryan R Early for The Christian Science Monitor bears this out.  Early conducted a study spread over 50 years (from 1950-2000) of 100 cases where the U.S. imposed sanctions   His conclusion was that “the... Read More

Exporter Neal Asbury is on a Trade Mission

By Patrick Danner PDANNER@MIAMIHERALD.COM Exporter Neal Asbury operates a Weston company that represents 40 American manufacturers in the commercial food service industry in 130 countries. He also owns a handful of companies that make commercial and home appliances, everything from heavy-duty mixers to drink dispensers to blenders. And he just spent millions to buy two iconic companies: Omega, which makes juicers, and Zeroll, whose novel ice-cream scoop earned a place in New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Yet Asbury says he has a more pressing purpose. ”I’m on a mission,” he says. “I’m on a mission bigger than running a couple of businesses and making a couple of acquisitions. [I] want to change the world.” Asbury, president of Greenfield World Trade... Read More

As Free Traders It Is Our Obligation to Support NAFTA

Neal Asbury At a time when our country is fixated on a protracted political process passionately promising to cure all our ills, this would be an excellent time for our incoming president to put forward his vision to solve the most critical economic issue of our time: our degenerative trade deficit. While Congress grapples with car companies, real estate and a down economy, they are ignoring the greatest accelerator for job creation: exports. Unlike other seemingly impossible challenges we face, our trade deficit is something we can correct in a relatively short period thus creating millions of well-paying jobs. It is as straightforward as establishing an environment where U.S. exporters are allowed to compete. First, we the people must demand that the new administration understand trade, be... Read More

THE NEW NEW DEAL

There is nothing new under the sun in politics and history always repeats itself with devastating effect. The parallels between today and the 1930’s are bloodcurdling, yet we go headlong down a path of failed policy reminiscent of empty-headed farm animals. I guess if you spread enough pork around Washington social welfare can come to mean economic stimulus. On March 4th, 1933 the Democratic administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was sworn in replacing the unpopular Republican Presidency of Herbert Hoover. The country was in the grips of a severe financial crisis that threatened everything. The winds of isolationism were howling like a blustery blizzard in the dead of winter. Global trade was tied to the whipping post, beaten and bled. President Roosevelt wasted no time to... Read More

WHERE IS THE LEADERSHIP VISION FOR AMERICA’S TRADE FUTURE?

At a time when our country is fixated on a protracted political process passionately promising to cure all our ills, this would be an excellent time for our new administration to put forward their vision to solve the most critical economic issue of our time: our degenerative trade deficit. Unlike other seemingly impossible challenges we face, our trade deficit is something we can correct in a relatively short period thus creating millions of well-paying jobs. It is as straight forward as establishing an environment where American exporters are allowed to compete. First, we must demand that this government articulate a comprehensive strategy in dealing with our global competitors. Number one should be reversing any calls to “fix” the evils of NAFTA or “opt out”. NAFTA is by far the most... Read More

MAIN STREET NEEDS A HERO!

MAIN STREET NEEDS A HERO! We enter the new year with desperate hopes that a new direction can provide us with bold and lasting cures for our gasping economic situation. Politicians and pundits alike fill the media with recommendations for how to stop the bleeding and inspire consumer confidence as the world looks to America to restore its leadership position as the engine of economic growth. Our international competitors realize that a teetering American economy is very, very bad for their own business. In times of great economic upheaval misguided sentiments seem to rise as irrationally as stock values decline. After the numbness of economic insecurity takes hold, it is difficult to believe in anything other than your own weakness. Weakness turns to defeat and defeat is always bitter. Bitterness... Read More

PICK UP THE GAUNTLET AND RESTORE AMERICAN SOVEREIGNTY

PICK UP THE GAUNTLET AND RESTORE AMERICAN SOVEREIGNTY When did America lose its social conscience in regards to conducting commerce on the world stage? In the face of rising global poverty, unbridled corruption and the destruction of the Earth’s fragile environment, Congress, by ignoring its oversight responsibilities on harmful trade arrangements with corrupt governments, while failing to ratify comprehensive Free Trade Agreements, becomes culpable for the malfeasance that is eroding the U.S. and world economies. Not so very long ago, the American economy was the envy of the world. Our economy, along with the American Constitution, exemplified the power of our ideals for fair business dealings domestically and internationally. After the bloody end of World War II, as much of the world... Read More

FIVE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS THAT SHOULD BE MADE BY THE NATION’S EXPORTERS

The start of the New Year is traditionally a time to project some accomplishments you hope to accomplish during the coming year.  Looking at 2009, I’m hoping that my fellow exporters will make some New Year’s resolutions to help our industry. RESOLUTION 1 Put pressure on Congress to pass the stalled free trade agreements for South Korea, Panama and Colombia. Instead of languishing in some committee, they could be fueling the economic recovery by creating millions of new jobs.  Since no one in government seems to be willing to promote these agreements, it will up to U.S. exporters and entrepreneurs looking to open foreign markets, to convince Congress that it is in the best interest of the U.S. to pass these vital agreements. RESOLUTION 2 Starting communicating today with the office of... Read More