Trump disappoints in first budget, say airport officials

Airport hotels

By Ed Zwirn

(published on March 31, 2017 in IHS Jane’s Airport Review)

Senior US airport industry officials have reacted negatively to the first proposed budget from the Trump administration, which would see cuts in Department of Transportation funding to help offset increased military spending. Continue reading

Trump eyes cuts to USDA, FDA cash this fiscal year

By Ed Zwirn

(originally published in just-food on March 29, 2017)

Trump has set out cuts to budgets he wants to see in current fiscal year

Donald Trump has set out cuts he wants the US Congress to make on the budgets of the US Department of Agriculture and the US Food and Drug Administration in the remaining months of the current fiscal period. Continue reading

US apparel sector braces for potential cost hikes

By Ed Zwirn

(Published on Feb. 15 2017 in Just-Style.com)

Fresh from their disappointment at seeing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade

The Border Adjustment Tax could raise prices by as much as 20%

deal abandoned last month with an executive order by President Donald Trump, the US apparel and footwear sector is bracing itself for even greater cost increases to come. Continue reading

Asia’s textile and apparel exporters await impact of bilateral FTAs

By Ed Zwirn, Jens Kastner 31 January 2017 (Read in WTIN.com)

asia-flags-app-leaderAs US President Donald Trump pulled America out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) on 23 January with an executive order, he signalled he will instead ask Asian TPP members for bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs). This includes countries such as Vietnam that rely on apparel and textile exports. The TPP was also to have included Canada, Mexico, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

But it is unclear whether there will be much enthusiasm among these former TPP partners for straight one-on-one trade deals with the US. Continue reading