Thirteen of Miami’s Top 25 trade partners are at record levels, according to WorldCity analysis of U.S. Census bureau data released today, July 13. Miami is one of just three Top 25 U.S. Customs districts running at a record level through the first five months of the year. The other two are No. 6 Laredo and No. 15 El Paso, both domianted by trade with Mexico. Miami is the nation’s No. 11-ranked Customs district. Through the first five months of the year, Miami’s trade with the world stood at $27.19… Read More
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Tony Ojeda and the ITC has mission to Brazil coming
With trade in retreat, efforts to boost it matter more than ever
South Florida’s trade with the world might not be falling as rapidly as the rest of the nation’s but it is falling fast nonethless. (See earlier story.)
Each of the three speakers at WorldCity’s quarterly Trade Connections event yesterday put it into context.
For Tony Ojeda, the executive director of Miami-Dade Country International Trade Consortium, it means his organization and this community must work with ever greater diligence to compete against communities looking to snatch business.
Quinter: Sept. 11 restrictions went too far.
For Peter Quinter, an attorney with Becker & Poliakoff, it means it is more important than ever than the U.S. government, which imposed numerous roadblocks to free trade in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, it means it is time to the numerous federal agencies involved in international trade to facilitate it rather than make it more difficult.
For Keith Koenig, the president of City Furniture, which sources the overwhelming majority of its wooden bedroom, dining room and other furniture in China, the drop in trade, imports in particular, means his business is suffering from diminished sales.
“Most of my buddies say, ‘You’re kicking butt.’ I don’t feel like I am kicking butt,” Koenig told the audience for the Trade Connections event, at which the ninth annual Miami TradeNumbers was released. “I feel like I am getting my butt kicked.”
He said revenues for the Fort Lauderdale company reached a high of $340 million but would drop to $240 million this year. Sales seem to be steadying somewhat, but are nevertheless down about 13 perent. The industry average for public furniture companies is a decrease of 25-30 percent.
As far as trade policy goes, he mentioned the law of unintended consequences. After a successful anti-drumping compaint from U.S. manufacturers against China, Koenig and other began sourcing in Vietnam to avoid increased duties on the Chinese-made product.
The biggest concerns in China, which he still visits frequently? “They have a concern that everyone in the United States has swine flu,” he said. “They are also concerned that all U.S. companies are going bankrupt.”
Ojeda, whose ITC is the county-sanctioned organization for trade missions, recently returned from Taiwan and Japan. He too knows something of misperceptions —that Miami can be a tough place to conduct trade — and also constantly has to compete against well-known markets like Houston and New Orleans, as well as some lesser known ones as well.
Talking about an upcoming trade mission to Brazil, he said, “The week before we get there, the state of West Virginia is going to be there. And when we were in Shanghai (in a previous trip), we were told a delegation was coming from Oklahoma City.”
Ojeda said his goal is to tell business and government leaders in other countries “what Miami has to offer and, by not being here, what they are missing.”
Quinter, the attorney, understands the challege Ojeda faces with perception. “I travel all over,” he said. “There is more enforcement in Miami.”
In the aftermath of the 9-11 terrorist strikes, that perception hurts the entire country, and not just South Florida. “Where’s the balance?” he asked. “After 9-11, we went way off track. I think we’re coming back.”
One example. A Mexican man was stopped bringing in medicine for personal use that was not approved in this country. On every subsequent trip, he was stopped, detained, searched and questioned. His name, unfortunately, had made it to a list. The man hired Quinter to help and is not being treated more fairly.
The Trade Connections event was sponsored by Seaboard Marine, the Port of Miami, Miami International Airport and the International Trade Consortium.
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