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Department of
International Trade and Marketing (ITM)
ITM News -
Fall 2008 |
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Great News!
Posted: Dec.. 17, 2008
NICOLE HAS BEEN PROMOTED!
ITM is very pleased to announce that
Ms. Nicole Martin-Lewis has been
promoted to Administrative
Assistant retroactively from November, 2008. Nicole has taken
on significant responsibilities with admirable
fervor since she joined ITM in May 2007 and has been
exemplary in demonstrating to the FIT community what it
takes to be a role model, student-oriented team player.
Nicole functions as our office manager, and coordinates
the Talking Trade at FIT lecture series, field trips,
faculty and Advisory Board meetings, assists with the
Practicum and various other activities that make ITM a
successful department. CONGRATULATIONS! |
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Trade and the Obama Administration
posted: Dec.. 17, 2008
SEARCH CONTINUES FOR NEW USTR
WASHINGTON — The search is on again for President-elect
Barack Obama’s trade chief after the leading contender,
Rep. Xavier Becerra (D., Calif.), took his name out of
the running on Tuesday. Ron Kirk, a former mayor
of Dallas, and Harold Ford Jr., a former congressman
from Tennessee, are two names that have surfaced in the
past 48 hours as leading candidates for the
cabinet-level post, according to news reports and
industry lobbyists. Becerra, a California Democrat who
has served in the House of Representatives since 1992
and holds a coveted position on the House Ways and Means
Committee, issued a statement Tuesday night saying he
had decided to stay in the House, where he will become
vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and
withdraw his name from the running. Becerra told
La Opinion, a Spanish-language newspaper, that he was
concerned Obama would not make trade a top priority in
his administration.
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The Recession of 2008 (and 2009?)
Posted: Dec.. 1, 2008
RECESSION BEGAN LAST YEAR, ECONOMISTS SAY
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The U.S. economy entered a recession
in December 2007, a committee of economists at the private
National Bureau
of Economic Research said Monday. The economy reached a peak
of activity in December 2007 and has been declining since,
according to the business cycle dating committee of the NBER.
The government, academics and the private sector generally defer
to the NBER's judgments about recessions.
The committee does not judge a recession as two consecutive
quarterly declines in gross domestic product; rather, it
examines quarterly data along with four key monthly economic
indicators: employment, incomes, industrial output and sales.
Employment and incomes peaked in December, industrial output
peaked in January, and sales peaked in June, the NBER committee
said. The committee's definition of a recession is as follows:
"A recession is a significant decline in economic activity
spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months,
normally visible in production, employment, real income, and
other indicators."
The committee, which includes academic economists, met on Friday
by conference call. Several members of the committee had said
earlier that the economy was likely in a recession, but said
they were waiting for more information before making the call
about when the recession had begun.
ARTICLE
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Position Available
Posted: Nov.
22, 2008
ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR
(F09-10-18 Position #363)
Department:
FIT's Career Services
Supervisor: Daisy Alverio, Acting Director
Days/Hours: 35 hrs/wk; Mon– Fr, 9am-5pm.
Schedule subject to change based on the needs of the dept.
Salary: $51,594 (Salary Group 93/0) -
Effective:Immediately
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree or completion of four years in an
accredited post secondary institution of learning and five
years of appropriate experience; or Associate's degree and
seven years of appropriate experience; or high school
diploma and nine years of appropriate experience. The
candidate must have excellent organizational skills, be
detail oriented and have the ability to be pro-active and
follow through on completion of assignments. Candidate must
have experience working independently and using initiative;
strong time management and goal-setting skills. S/he must
have the ability to deal effectively with frequent
interruptions and support multiple personnel with competing
priorities in work assignments. Ability to compose and
proof read correspondence and prepare administrative
reports, as necessary. S/he will have evaluative/ problem
solving abilities and the ability to work with a certain
amount of autonomy. Must have experience in office
procedures and be highly proficient in the use of Microsoft
Office Suite software. Show a willingness to learn and use
new technology. High degree of discretion, and ability to
maintain confidentiality required. Must possess and
demonstrate excellent customer service skills,
resourcefulness, tact and the ability to work with a diverse
constituency.
DUTIES
AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Provide
administrative support for the Director of Career Services
in a variety of administrative activities. Anticipate,
coordinate and follow-up on Director’s calendar, projects
and deadlines. Plan, arrange and follow up on commitments
for meetings; prepare agendas and a variety of
correspondence, send notices, take and prepare notes/minutes
at meetings as required. Review mail and compose
correspondence under own signature or under Director’s
signature. Serve as a liaison, contact and troubleshooter.
Establish procedures as needed and apply these to enhance
administration of the office. S/he will coordinate
departmental activities which include: information
compilation and retrieval, preparation of budgets, track
budgetary expenditure, maintain supply inventory and enter
purchase requisitions and expense reports into Bitech.
Organize and maintain both computer and administrative files
with accuracy. Resolve situations independently or refer to
appropriate parties. Handle multiple projects
concurrently. Screen and respond to inquiries; interact
with administrators, deans, faculty, staff and vendors to
support initiatives. Work on special projects as required.
This is a general description and is not to be construed as
all-inclusive.
TO
APPLY:
Qualified
candidates from within the College who are interested in
this position should file their application with FIT's Human
Resources, 236 West 27th Street, 11th floor.
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Intelligence Report Foresees Year 2020
Posted: Nov. 21, 2008
RAPID GLOBAL POWER
SHIFT
The risks of nuclear weapons being used
and wars being fought over dwindling resources will grow
during the next 20 years as diminishing U.S. power, a
shift of wealth from West to East, the rise of India and
China, and climate change reshape the world, a new
U.S. intelligence study warns "The international
system - as constructed following the Second World War -
will be almost unrecognizable by 2025 owing to the rise
of emerging powers, a globalizing economy, an historic
transfer of relative wealth and economic power from West
to East, and the growing influence of non-state actors,"
the report said. The U.S. "will remain the single most
important actor but will be less dominant," in part due
to its military power and also because many nations will
continue looking to U.S. leadership on issues such as
climate change and non-proliferation, the report said.
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economic upheaval could hasten those
trends, but it's unlikely to trigger "a complete
breakdown" in the international financial and political
order, said the report, "Global
Trends 2025: A World Transformed."
Among its optimistic notes, the report
projected life-improving technological breakthroughs in
energy and other areas, and the likely "diminished
appeal" of Islamic extremism, with
al-Qaida becoming an "aging group" that could "decay
into marginality." Terrorism, however, likely will
remain a threat, the report said. The report, the fourth
in a series that examines the forces that are driving
international developments, was written by the
U.S. National Intelligence Council, which is
composed of the top U.S. intelligence analysts, with
input from experts around the world. The studies, which
are timed to coincide with the advent of new
administrations, aim "to stimulate strategic thinking"
by incoming officials about how "the places, the
personalities, the developments in their areas of
responsibility" affect the wider world, NIC Chairman
Thomas Fingar told a news briefing.
FULL REPORT |
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Latin American Countries Pursuing FTAs
with Europe, Asia
Posted: Nov. 20, 2008
A number of Latin American countries, having already negotiated
and, in many cases, implemented free trade agreements with the
U.S., are now pursuing similar efforts with major trading
partners in Europe and Asia.
EU to Seek Bilateral FTAs with Andean Countries. The
European Union has broken off talks on a bloc-to-bloc FTA with
the four-member Andean Community and will instead pursue
bilateral FTAs with Colombia and Peru, according to press
sources. The CAN had been negotiating an FTA with the EU since
last year but there has been little progress due to differences
between Peru and Colombia on the one hand and Ecuador and
Bolivia on the other. In explaining the EU’s decision to take a
different approach, EU foreign relations commissioner Benita
Ferrero-Waldner said that “Colombia and Peru have repeatedly
shown their willingness to make progress in trade negotiations
with the European Union … [and] I think we should continue down
this track.”
Ecuador has indicated that it is interested in a bilateral trade
deal with the EU as well. Foreign Minister Maria Isabel Salvador
noted, however, that such an agreement would not be an FTA and
would have to include “fairer” terms that take Ecuador’s
relatively low level of economic development into account.
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A SEA OF UNWANTED IMPORTS
Posted: Nov. 20, 2008
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Gleaming new Mercedes cars roll one
by one out of a huge container ship here and onto a
pier. Ordinarily the cars would be loaded on trucks
within hours, destined for dealerships around the
country. But these are not ordinary times. For now, the
port itself is the destination. Unwelcome by dealers and
buyers, thousands of cars worth tens of millions of
dollars are being warehoused on increasingly crowded
port property.
And for the first time, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and
Nissan have each asked to lease space from the port for
these orphan vehicles. They are turning dozens of acres
of the nation’s second-largest container port into a
parking lot, creating a vivid picture of a paralyzed
auto business and an economy in peril. “This is one way
to look at the economy,” Art Wong, a spokesman for the
port, said of the cars. “And it scares you to death.”
The backlog at the port is just part of a broader rise
in the nation’s inventories, which were up 5.5 percent
in September from a year earlier, according to the
Commerce Department. The car industry has been hurt
particularly, with sales down nearly 15 percent this
year. General Motors has said it would run out of
operating cash by the end of the year if it does not
receive a government bailout.
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Position Available
Posted: Nov. 18, 2008
TEMPORARY
SECRETARY I
Department: FIT's Office of
International Programs
Supervisor: Georgianna
Appignani
Days/Hours: 35 hrs/wk; Monday
–Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm Schedule subject to change
based on the needs of Dept.
Salary: $19.19/hour
(Schedule 87) - Effective:Immediately
through June 30, 2009
QUALIFICATIONS
High school
graduate and completion of two years in an accredited
post-secondary institution of learning plus two years of
appropriate experience; or high school graduate and four years
of appropriate experience. Proficient computer skills,
especially with database and imaging programs with an emphasis
on data entry, particularly Exel. Strong verbal and written
communication skills and ability to effectively to respond to
and communicate information required. Must be highly organized
and possess excellent customer service skills. Experience in
college Student Services or Customer Service preferred.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide reception/telephone front desk coverage as needed
including trouble shooting and student problem resolution.
Provide basic information on established policies, procedures,
such as: program offerings, dates, costs, application deadlines,
etc. Maintain a phone and e-mail log of student inquiries.
Distribute incoming mail and process outgoing mail of important
documents. Assist in the scheduling of meetings and orientation
sessions; organize production of and distribution of flyers and
posters. Order and keep inventory of office supplies. File,
reproduce and distribute students’ documents as required.
Process documents electronically for student payments, travel
advances, expense reimbursement. Become competent in FIT
electronic systems: Bitec, Banner and others as required. This
is a general description and is not to be construed as
all-inclusive.
TO APPLY
Qualified candidates from within the College who
are interested in this position should file their application
with Margaret Hanrahan, FIT's Personnel office, 236 West 27th Street,
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World’s
poorest economies meet to talk trade issues
Posted: Nov. 18, 2008
Phnom Penh, Nov 18 (Xinhua)
Trade and industry ministers from the
poorest countries have arrived in
Siem Reap
to explore ways and means of integrating
their economies into the global trading
system, said a press release here Tuesday.
The ministers will be joined in the coming
two days by donors and development agencies
active in trade at the regional and global
levels, said the release from the
United
Nations Industrial Development Organization
(UNIDO) and the World Trade Organization
(WTO). This year’s Least Developed
Countries (LDCs)
Ministerial Conference is
organized jointly by UNIDO and WTO and
hosted by the government of Cambodia from
Nov 19-20. One of the main topics is
“Aid
for Trade” (AfT), a package of incentives
designed to help the LDCs overcome
structural and resource constraints in
exchange for more speedy trade reforms, it
said.
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Author David Birnbaum
Posted: Nov. 17, 2008
SPEAKS AT FIT -TUESDAY DEC. 9
6:00pm - 7:30pm - Seminar Room SR9 (Basement Bldg D)
FIT's Global Fashion Management program invites ITM
majors to hear the author of
Birnbaum’s Global Guide to Winning the Great Garment War,
a textbook used in IN433 Global Sourcing, and as well as
“The Birnbaum Report”. He’s a recognized authority on
apparel industry production, sourcing, trade, and
economic development. His presentation will be "The Role
of the Garment Professional in the New World Economy":
- 30 years ago, the garment professional was a
production specialist, able to teach the factory to
press a dress shirt without shine or a pants pattern
with room for the customer's ass and ship them on time.
- 20 years ago, the garment professional was a
duty/quota specialist, able to engineer the garment to
the lowest duty rate and ship the garment with lowest
quota premium.
- 10 years the garment professional was someone with an
enormous rolodex with access to reliable factories all
over the world.
- Today those skills have little value. The industry,
and particularly its role in the global economy, is
undergoing tectonic change. Professionals with the right
education and skills have opportunities unforeseen even
five years ago.
Mr. Birnbaum is working on some interesting projects in
the Dominican Republic and Peru and has agreed to take
time out of a packed schedule for this discussion with
FIT students.
Those interested in attending, should RSVP to Kelelyn:
Kelelyn_Lemay@fitnyc.edu Please note: Priority will be given
to GFM students |
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Position Available:
Posted: Nov. 13, 2008
Interactive Associate Project
Manager
Company: Createthe Group
Industry Advertising Agency/Interactive Luxury
Job Requirements: Createthe Group has an immediate
opening for an energetic and motivated Associate Project manager
with 1-2 years experience + tech preferred to serve our fashion
and luxury clients. The PM is responsible for managing the
internal creative and technical team and ensuring timely
deliverables.
Responsibilities:
• Draft scopes of work, project plans and other project related
documentation with team leads and Account Managers
• Manage multiple projects (large and small) for the entire life
cycle of the project
• Partner with Account Manager to develop project strategy
• Responsible for requirements, information, merchandising
and training with createthe solutions and front end web build
• Manage the creative, technical, production and IA team
throughout the project life cycle
Requirements:
• Strong technical interest of WWW and the software
• Knowledge of usability, quality assurance process and strong
knowledge and use of project management best practices and
software
• Strong interest and love of fashion
About Our Company: Createthe Group is the leading
full-service interactive agency for luxury, fashion & retail
brands. We are experts at delivering effective and highly
creative interactive solutions: world class brand and eCommerce
websites, strategic online marketing campaigns, and cutting-edge
technology tools. We are proud to partner with our clients in
the US and Europe including: Americana Manhasset, Balenciaga,
Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Calvin Klein, David Yurman, Donna
Karan, Estee Lauder, Ferragamo, Gucci, Interview Magazine, Krug,
Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu, Movado, Nicole Miller, New York Times,
Stella McCartney, Tom Ford and more.
Contact:
www.createthegroup.com
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ITSA Represents ITM at
Posted: Nov. 12, 2008
USA-ITA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
This year's conference of the
U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel
(USA-ITA) was an exciting learning experience
for ITM majors who volunteered to help at the event and
staff the
ITSA
booth. The conference brought together professionals in
logistics, importing, exporting, sourcing and other
international trade areas. ITM majors attended the
workshops and met people from APL, Maersk, International
Trade Commission, U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
Ann Taylor, and MAGIC. ITSA looks forward to
assisting with many more USA-ITA conferences in coming
years! |
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ITM Scholar addresses
Posted: Nov. 11, 2008
CGS ANNUAL
CONFERENCE - LAS VEGAS
Soo Jin Yoon, the 2009 Rep.
Lantos International Studies Scholarship delivered an
inspiring speech at Computer Generated Solutions’
annual conference in Vegas on Oct 27. She spoke about
her career goals and Rep. Lantos’ interest in global and
humanitarian issues. In this three-day conference, CGS's
clients, partners and industry experts addressed how to
prepare for the future by leveraging efficiency with
sustainable growth. CEO Phil Friedman and
Senior VP Paul Magel announced the establishment of
the Lantos Scholarship at FIT's ITM and the creation of
a Blue Cherry University to provide training
services to clients.
Speech |
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A Serendipitous Encounter
Posted: Nov. 10, 2008
ITM MAJOR RUNS INTO A COTTON
FARM |
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While visiting friends in
Phoenix, Arizona, a few
weeks ago, Nadia Pereira who is taking IN312 this semester,
decided to drive around and see the country side. She had
been using much of this trip's time to finish reading
The
Travels of a T-shirt and write a book report which would
be due upon returning to New York.
As she drove outside Phoenix, she suddenly recognized cotton plants and
immediately stopped the car to take pictures of several tractors
busily harvesting the white pods. She introduced herself to
Sonny Hatley, who has been farming cotton for the last 33 years in his
2,000 acres farm. He sends his cotton
CalCot, a farmers' co-op
in California which sells it to China and Mexico; the seeds are
used to feed cattle. Mr. Hatley will turn 74 years young this
November 21st. Happy Birthday, Farmer Hatley! |
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Election 2008
Posted: Nov. 5, 2008
READING OBAMA'S TRADE
TEA LEAVES
Asian countries are bracing themselves for the impact Obama's victory
will have on trade policy. His win could delay a major trade pact with
South Korea and could intensify pressure on China on the related issues
of its currency valuation and the U.S. trade deficit. Obama has suggested he would push for a revision of the terms of a
historic free trade agreement signed in 2007 by South Korea and the U.S.
after nearly a year of tough talks and yet to be ratified by the two
countries. The agreement would abolish most tariffs on goods traded
between the two countries and would add tens of billions of dollars to
bilateral trade. "Koreans are all worrying about the FTA," said Dong Hyu Yang, an
economist at
Seoul National University. "Mr. Obama would like to renegotiate the
agreement, but I wonder if this is possible from this side." The South
Korean government may not be ready to renegotiate, but "it all depends
on how tough Mr. Obama will get about this issue," he added.
Article
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Monterrey,
Mexico October 22-24
Posted: Nov. 3, 2008
OWIT's
CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABILITY
FIT's Department of International Trade and Marketing (ITM)
was well represented at this year's
Organization of Women in International Trade's (OWIT)
17th
Annual World Conference, held in Monterrey, Mexico.
Professor Shireen Musa conducted a workshop, and
ITM major Michelle Weiss, who is an exchange
student studying at
Tecnológico de Monterrey this fall semester,
volunteered and attended the conference, "Trade and
the Triple Bottom Line: Societal, Economic and
Environmental Sustainability." Professor Musa's
workshop, "Educating Future Leaders on Sustainability,"
focused on the fashion industry and it covered the
United Nations Global Compact, Life Cycle Assessment,
designing for the environment and international business
ethics. Michelle is the first ITM major to take
advantage of a new student exchange program with
Tecnologico de Monterrey, available starting this
semester. Students interested in learning more about a
semester in Monterrey, should see
Prof.
Pomeranz and
send an email to Michelle to learn about her
experiences in Mexico. |
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Explosion of FTAs
Posted: Nov. 1, 2008
BILATERAL
TRADE-OFF
The latest sign that
the postwar era of "multilateral"
trade
liberalization has ended came in September in
Singapore. The event was an
Association of
Southeast Asian Nations ministerial meeting,
where the 10-member grouping and India formally
agreed to a "free trade" deal to take effect in
January. At the same meeting, Asean leaders also
agreed to establish yet another so-called "free
trade agreement," this one with Australia and
New Zealand. That brings to
roughly 400 the number of regional and bilateral
trade agreements
that have been notified to the
World Trade Organization. Meanwhile, another try
to keep the
Doha Round of world trade talks
alive will be made in Geneva later this month.
But the prospects are not bright, and all of
this has been very predictable. Scores of
observers -- not only academics -- have
regularly warned that bilateral and regional
trade pacts, which are in fact preferential
rather than free trade agreements, are both a
cause and a consequence of a breakdown of the
WTO system.
Article
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Talking Trade at FIT
Posted: Nov. 1, 2008
WHOSE DUTY IS IT ANYWAY?
by ITM majors: Christina
Napolitano (article), Laura Pedrol-Ripoll (photos)
This year’s first lecture of ITM's Talking Trade series,
Designing Goods to Lower Customs Duties for
Increased Profits, was sponsored by NEXCO and
ITM. Guest speakers for this event were Robert L.
Eisen, a partner at Baker & McKenzie specializing in
tax and customs as well as international trade, and
Diane L. Weinberg, a partner at Meeks, Sheppard, Leo
& Pillsbury, a customs and international trade firm.
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ITSA Raises Funds
Posted: Oct. 25, 2008
FALL 08 FLEA MARKET
On October 23, members of the
International
Trade Student Association (ITSA) had a table in one of the
several flea markets scheduled for this Fall 2008 semester.
Volunteer ITM majors braved the cold whether staffing the table
from 8 am until 7pm. This fundraising was successful and they
are planning several other activities before the end of the
semester. To learn about ITSA's activities or to volunteer
contact
Angellina Correa,
ITSA Secretary. |
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British Baroness Catherine Ashton
Posted: Oct. 22, 2008
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES
NEW EU TRADE CHIEF |
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The European Parliament overwhelmingly approved
British Baroness Catherine Ashton to replace
Peter Mandelson as the
European Union Trade
Commissioner. The vote was 538 in favor and 40
against, with 63 abstentions including the British
Conservatives. Britain's Tory leader in the European
Parliament Philip Bushill-Matthews acknowledged that she
had performed "positively" at her confirmation hearing
in front of MEPs earlier this week, and promised that
the Tories would work with the Baroness "in an effort to
deliver Britain's interests." He added: "There is a
great deal of important work to be done, and we will
work with the new Commissioner towards the objective of
promoting more open trade across the world." "Our group
felt that, although Baroness Ashton is competent
politically,
she lacks the technical knowledge of the
Commission trade dossier," explained a spokesman. "She
will acquire that in time, and it was decided not to
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Catherine Ashton, a
Labour
Party member of the
British
House of Lords, won
the endorsement of the European
parliament yesterday to replace Peter Mandelson as
European Union trade commissioner. Soon after her
confirmation, Lady Ashton travelled to Geneva to assure
WTO chief Pascal Lamy
that the
WTO and pursuing a successful
Doha Round remains absolutely central to Europe's
trade. Earlier, Ashton told the parliament's trade
committee that her priority would be to revive
the long-stalled Doha Round of global trade talks,
and urging the United States to play its role.
Elsewhere, her confirmation was welcomed as a boost for
efforts to reach a global trade deal, which failed after
intense talks in Geneva last July. At the confirmation
hearing on Monday, Baroness Ashton vowed to keep the
seven-year Doha Round of the world trade talks alive in
her role as negotiator on behalf of the
27 EU countries. She also said her appointment would
bring a change of style, since Peter Mandelson was
considered a bully in many quarters and referred to as
The Prince of Darkness.
The London-based Trade Justice Movement commented in a
statement: "A fresh start is sorely needed to repair
relations damaged by Peter Mandelson's bullying approach
- especially to the raft of unfair trade deals currently
being negotiated with developing countries, including
some of the poorest, most vulnerable and poverty
stricken countries in the world."
Source:
Financial Times |
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Mercosur-India
Free Trade Agreement
Posted: Oct. 22, 2008
SOUTH AMERICA TO INCREASE TRADE WITH INDIA
A free trade
agreement between
India and the
Mercosur trade bloc moved closer to reality recently when
Brazil and India approved the text of an agreement giving each
side preferential tariff treatment to the other’s market. The
pact will not take effect until 30 days after all parties have
completed the necessary internal procedures, but it will then
remain in force until the creation of a full FTA between India
and Mercosur.
The preference agreement is composed of a base text and five
annexes. The base text sets forth the general rights and
commercial obligations of the parties with respect to rules of
origin; customs valuation;
antidumping, compensatory and safeguard measures; technical
barriers; and sanitary measures. Annex I and II list the
products that will be granted tariff preferences, which will
generally range from 10 to 20 percent but can go as high as 100
percent. Approximately 450 items totaling about 900 tariff lines
will be covered. These include meats, footwear, machines,
devices and electronic materials in India and chemical products,
machines, pharmaceutical products, plastic and rubber in the
Mercosur countries.
Annex III establishes the specific disciplines for the rules of
origin, Annex IV lays out safeguard measures and Annex V sets
for the rules for the settlement of disputes on the application
or interpretation of the agreement. The parties have also agreed
to cooperate in the areas of animal health and plant protection,
food security and mutual recognition of sanitary measures
through their respective governing authorities.
According to official figures, in 2007 Brazilian imports from
India totaled $2.2 billion and were led by mineral fuels,
mineral oils, ores, slag and ash, aircraft, spacecraft, animal
and vegetable fats and oils, rubber, and raw hides and skins.
India’s imports from Brazil amounted to $958 million and
consisted primarily of mineral fuels, mineral oils, organic
chemicals, pharmaceutical products, nuclear reactors, boilers,
machinery and mechanical appliances, manmade filaments, iron and
steel, plastics, manmade staple fibers and electrical machinery.
source: WorldTrade Interactive |
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Warnaco Group, Inc.
Posted: Oct. 22, 2008
ITM's WARNACO SCHOLARS ACKNOWLEDGED
The summer 2008 issue of Warnaco One magazine, which is
published tri-annually by the company to recognize its successes
around the world and share best practices among its employees,
includes an article about the 2008-09 ITM recipients of the
2008-09 Warnaco scholarships: Andrea Reyes and John Garcia.
Article
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Director-General Pascal Lamy
Posted: Oct.
20, 2008
WTO CHIEF TRYING TO AVERT ECONOMIC CRISIS
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The World
Trade Organization (WTO) will coordinate with member
economies to avoid protectionism and help the global
economy tide over the fast-expanding financial crisis,
the global trade body's chief said Sunday. "The primary
role of the WTO at this moment is to serve as an
insurance policy against protectionism; especially for
developing countries, whose expansion relies very much
on trade,"
Pascal Lamy, director-general of the WTO, told
China Daily in an exclusive interview.
Admitting the financial crisis would inevitably hit
international trading, he said global trade is being
protected by commitments made by WTO members. "We see
the big difference between the financial system and the
trade system worldwide, which is that in trade we have
rules, we have commitments and we have regulations," he
said. |
He cited the
Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s, during
which no protectionist measure was enacted and Southeast
Asian countries pulled themselves out of the mire mostly
through international trade. The WTO chief also urged
countries to make sure the financial crisis does not
hurt trade finance: Around 90 percent of the $14
trillion worth of trade is financed by trade credits.
Trade finance is relatively unsophisticated, and deals
are clearly and concretely collateralized with the
cargoes.
The WTO created a taskforce last week to look into the
effects of the financial crisis. Lamy added the crisis'
impact on the
Doha Round of world trade negotiations "remains
to be seen". Trade ministers from over 30 major WTO
members failed in July to narrow their differences on
agriculture, trade and industrial market access, leading
to a collapse of the talks. Lamy said the impact of the
financial crisis on the talks might be "minus" because
people's minds are concentrated on financial areas
rather than trade, but it might be "plus" because
countries would have to make sure their insurance policy
is good.
Source:
www.ChinaDaily.com
Oct. 20. 2008 |
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Donate your Old Jeans
Posted: Oct. 14, 2008
CHANGE THE WORLD ONE PAIR OF JEANS AT A
TIME
FIT's chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of
America (PRSSA) has been chosen by Cotton, Inc. to
take part in a nationwide “Denim Drive” collecting
old denim and recycling it into insulation for Habitat
for Humanity, a non-profit organization that builds homes for those in need. Donation bins
marked “Change the World One Pair of Jeans at a Time” are
located in FIT dorms and in buildings A, B, C and D. Jeans will
be accepted until October 31, 2008. Special information tables
will be available in A building on the following dates:
Tuesday Oct. 14 12-5PM
Wednesday Oct. 15 12-1PM and 4-5PM
Wednesday Oct. 22 4-5PM
Bring your denim to these tables and you will receive a free
Denim Drive T-Shirt from Cotton, Inc. |
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| First Tom Lantos Scholar
Posted: Oct.
10, 2008
ITM MAJOR SOO JIN YOON
We are pleased to announce that Phil Friedman, President and
Chief Executive Officer of Computer Generated Solutions (CGS),
and Paul Magel, Senior Vice President of CGS and ITM advisory
board member, have chosen Soo Jin Yoon as the recipient of the
2009 Representative Tom Lantos International Studies Scholarship.
Soo Jin will receive $10,000 in scholarship funds, an all-expense
paid trip to Las Vegas to speak at CGS’ annual International
User Conference, and a summer internship with CGS.
Soo Jin has five years of merchandizing experience, having worked
for prestigious companies in South Korea such as Handsome Corp.,
where she managed a $45 million fashion brand; Gucci Group
Korea; and Mine, S.A. She holds Master of Human Ecology in
Fashion Marketing and Bachelor of Home Economics in Clothing and
Textiles degrees from Seoul National University.
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In her selection as the scholarship recipient, Soo Jin was
recognized by CGS primarily for her ability to connect her
background and goals with the ideals of Rep. Tom Lantos, the
depth of her experience, and her demonstrated capacity to
succeed in her chosen career. In her application for the
2009 Tom Lantos International Studies
Scholarship, Soo Jin indicated her goal of pursuing a career in
global marketing and using it as a means to build a bridge
between the fashion industry and society by expanding her role
to also protect intellectual property rights.
The judges were very impressed with all of the scholarship
candidates, noting the professionalism of their applications,
their impressive backgrounds, and their drive to make a special
contribution to international business and humanitarian causes. |
Rep. Tom Lantos was a distinguished U.S. Congress Representative
from 1981 until his death in February 2008. Rep. Lantos was
Chairman of the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs
and a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. He was a
vocal speaker on issues undertaken by U.S. Congress’
International Relations Committee. Early in his career, Rep.
Lantos was a professor of economics, an analyst on international
affairs, and advisor of U.S. senators. He was also a well-known
advocate of the environment, receiving consistently high ratings
from the League of Conservation Voters and other environmental
organizations. He also passionately championed human rights.
A close personal friend of Mr. Friedman, Rep. Lantos was very
interested in the international aspects of the fashion industry
and was a regular participant in CGS’s annual International User
Conference. Mr. Friedman established the scholarship to honor
Rep. Lantos and to promote his humanitarian values as well as
global views to future generations.
Founded in New York City in 1984 as a systems integrator to the
fashion industry, CGS currently serves North America, Europe,
and Asia with 20 global locations and 2500 employees worldwide.
CGS enables mid-market enterprises, Fortune 1000 companies, and
government agencies to drive business transformation and improve
operating performance by adapting and implementing advanced
technology solutions. Congratulations, Soo Jin!! |
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Talking Trade @FIT: A
Guest Lecturer Series - Fall 2008
Posted: Oct. 9, 2008
ITM
& PROD. MGNT.
CAREERS: STRATEGIES FOR DREAM JOBS
Wednesday, October 29,
2008
6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at John E. Reeves Great Hall at
28th St. and 7th Ave.
Co-sponsored by
Panjiva, International Trade Students
Association and International Trade Alumni Network
Professor Shireen Musa will moderate a panel consisting
of ITM Alumni and sourcing experts regarding their
experiences, responsibilities, and challenges in working
within the global fashion industry. The panelist are:
- Josh Green, CEO, Panjiva
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Joanne Krakowski, U.S. Sales & Marketing Manager,
Abhishek Industries Ltd.
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Bich Thu Cao Minh, Social Compliance Consultant, Cal Safety
Compliance Corp.
- Laura T. Cupelli,
Production Management, Carolina Herrea, PUIG USA Beauty
and Fashion Group
Panjiva will host a networking event with complimentary
refreshments at the conclusion of the program. |
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Computer Generated Solutions
Posted: Oct. 8, 2008
A TOOL FOR THE FASHION
INDUSTRIES: BLUECHERRY ENTERPRISE
During critical financial times, effective computer
solutions can provide fashion companies the tools needed
to survive and grow.
Computer Generated Solutions' (CGS)
BlueCherry Enterprise, a suite of applications designed
specifically for the fashion industries, includes shop
floor control, warehouse management, merchandise
planning , distribution, product lifecycle management,
business intelligence, back office systems and other
essential features that empower fashion executives to
make the right decisions. Paul Magel, CGS' Senior
Vice President, and an active member of ITM Advisory
Board is actively promoting BlueCherry in the United
States and globally and has been profiled in the October
issue of Fashion Manuscript.
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POSITIONS HAS BEEN FILLED Revised
Oct. 22, 2008
Congratulations: Nataki & Donju
INTERNSHIP AVAILABLE AT
CREATETHE
GROUP Posted: Oct. 2, 2008
Interactive Project Manager Intern
Company: Createthe Group
Industry Advertising Agency/Interactive Luxury
Job Requirements:
Createthe Group has an immediate
opening for an energetic and motivated Interactive intern with
an interest in understanding web development to serve our
fashion and luxury clients. The PM intern is responsible for
assisting their associate and project manager to manage the
internal creative and technical team and ensuring timely
deliverables.
Responsibilities: (Assistance)
• Draft scopes of work, project plans and other project related
documentation with team leads and Account Managers
• Manage multiple projects (large and small) for the entire life
cycle of the project
• Partner with Account Manager to develop project strategy
• Responsible for all requirements, information, merchandising
and training with createthe solutions and front end web build
• Manage the creative, technical, production and IA team
throughout the project life cycle
Requirements:
• Strong technical interest of WWW and the software
• Knowledge/Interest of usability, quality assurance process and
strong knowledge and use of project management best practices
and software
• Strong interest and love of fashion
About Our Company: Createthe Group is the leading
full-service interactive agency for luxury, fashion & retail
brands. We are experts at delivering effective and highly
creative interactive solutions: world class brand and eCommerce
websites, strategic online marketing campaigns, and cutting-edge
technology tools. We are proud to partner with our clients in
the US and Europe including: Americana Manhasset, Balenciaga,
Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Calvin Klein, David Yurman, Donna
Karan, Estee Lauder, Ferragamo, Gucci, Interview Magazine, Krug,
Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu, Movado, Nicole Miller, New York Times,
Stella McCartney, Tom Ford and more.
Contact Nicole Baez, ITM '08, at
nbaez@createthegroup.com to express interest in the position
and for questions. |
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Worst Time for U.S. in 30 Years
THE RETURN OF THE MISERY INDEX
It has been almost three decades since the term “misery
index” gained political currency, as President Jimmy
Carter confronted the twin problems of rising inflation
and unemployment. Now that almost-forgotten index is
rising more rapidly than at any time since Mr. Carter’s
last year in office — 1980. The index is the sum of the
unemployment rate and the inflation rate over the
preceding 12 months. In normal times, the two indexes
are likely to move in different directions, with
inflation easing when unemployment rises, and climbing
as the economy gets stronger and unemployment ebbs. This
year, however, both have been rising.
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2009 Representative Tom Lantos International Studies
Scholarship
NEW SCHOLARSHIP FOR ITM MAJORS
Posted: Sept.
10, 2008
ITM is happy to announce a new scholarship available to
full-time ITM majors who will be taking at least four
courses in the Spring 2009 and four courses in the Fall
2009 semesters. This $10,000 scholarship is being
funded by Computer Generated Solutions, Inc. (CGS) and
it honors U.S. Congressman Thomas Lantos who died in
February. The scholarship is for a full-time ITM student
with a strong academic record and excellent written and
oral skills as well as an interest and desire to
participate in global issues during their career. The
recipient is expected to speak at CGS’ annual conference
in Las Vegas on Monday, 27 October, 2008 with travel
expenses paid by the company. In addition, the recipient
will be eligible for a summer (2009) internship with the
company with possible permanent career opportunities
there. Deadline to submit application is 3 pm of
Wednesday, October 1, 2008.
APPLICATION |
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For IN312 all ITM courses
Posted: Sept.
9, 2008
TUTORS
NEEDED IMMEDIATELY
FIT's Academic Skills Tutoring Center
is searching for ITM juniors and seniors who have
completed ITM courses with good grades to tutor new
students. Tutors meet with students on a one-to-one
basis and develop studying strategies to complete a
semester successfully. For more information, see
Professor Debby Levine in room A608b , or call (212)
217-4080.
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Who Will Be the Next Big Thing in Fashion?
Posted Sept. 7, 2008
WANTED: GENIUS DESIGNER
WHO will be the Next Big Thing? That’s the question that
perennially fuels the rave of creativity, stitchery and circus
nerves that is New York Fashion Week. It’s the tease that
attracts the thousands of designers, buyers, editors,
photographers, stylists, models, bookers, trend forecasters,
sharp-tongued blogosphere sibyls and the strung-out accountants
who attempt to ride herd on all of the above to the Bryant Park
tents twice a year. It’s the dream we all dream of a sartorial
Lotto win. Even with an economy dazed and numbed, the United States
remains the world’s largest market for fashion, and New York is
unquestionably the center of the global fashion image machine.
True, consumer pocketbooks seem to be on temporary lockdown. But the
assembly line keeps cranking all the same; the maw must be fed.
ARTICLE. |
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U.S. Tariffs on Footwear's Can Reach 67%
Posted Sept. 6, 2008
SHOT IN THE FOOT
Trade protectionism is typically defended as a way to protect
American jobs, even if it doesn't. But who wins when we impose
tariffs even if there are no American jobs to defend? With the
exception of high-end footwear, more than 95% of the shoes
Americans wear are produced outside the U.S. Yet the U.S. still
imposes a tax on imported shoes that can reach as high as 67%, a
legacy (believe it or not) of the Smoot-Hawley tariff of 1930.
Shoe tariffs raise more money than auto tariffs, and the tax is
applied most heavily on the lowest-priced imported footwear.
"This is the most regressive policy in America today," says Ed
Gresser of the Progressive
Policy Institute. "The biggest victims are poor, single
mothers." He's right. The tariff steals about $5 billion a year
from U.S. consumers, and a family that shops at Payless or
Wal-Mart typically pays a $5 duty on a $15 pair of sneakers.
As with all tariffs, this one also creates perverse winners.
Under current trade law, tariffs on fabric-soled shoes are only
about one-third as high as tariffs on rubber-soled shoes. So one
company, E.S. Originals of New York, has a patent for a process
to imbed fabric into rubber soles. The sole purpose of this
process is to get around the higher tariff. Shoe companies spend
$40 million a year on royalties to pay for the imbedding
technology -- which is an income transfer from low-income
Americans to one company. One of the firms lobbying for
retaining shoe tariffs is . . . E.S. Originals.
A coalition of retailers and shoe companies has been trying to
build support to repeal the shoe tax, and it already has support
from 157 U.S. House Members of both parties. The argument for
doing so has gained momentum as import prices have climbed more
than 20% so far this year thanks to the weak dollar. We hear
that Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel would like to repeal
the tariff but feels constrained because under Congressional
rules he'd have to raise taxes or cut spending by $2 billion a
year to replace the lost revenue. Congress could always save the
$2 billion by spending less, but it's politically so much easier
to reduce the standard of living of working families by keeping
an unjust tax.
Both parties talked about a lot about burdens facing the working
class in their conventions. Repealing the shoe tariff is one
quick way to make that more than just another political slogan.
-The Wall Street Journal - Sept. 6, 2008.
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TALKING TRADE @ FIT Posted Sept. 4, 2008
Designing Goods to Lower Customs Duties
for Increased Profits
Tuesday, September 9, 2008 - 9:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Great Hall
at 28th St. and 7th Ave.
Co-sponsored by NEXCO
Robert L. Eisen, Baker and McKenzie LLP, and Diane
Weinberg, Meeks, Sheppard, Leo & Pillsbury
Over the years importing companies have been very clever in
designing their goods so as to pay the lowest possible customs
duties (and, in the past quota costs) especially in industries
such as apparel, accessories and footwear where duty rates can
be as high as 20%-40%. The first segment will discuss actual
examples of products legally designed to lower duty costs as
well as some which were found to be violations of the customs
laws. A company can dramatically reduce its cost of goods by
taking into account the duty impact of the materials used in
production, the method of construction as well as the way the
goods are marketed and sold. The second segment will focus on
the opportunities presented for companies to obtain duty free
treatment under various free trade agreements by using knowledge
of free trade agreement rules and classification principles in
designing garments.
Fall Program
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POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED
Revised Sept. 15, 2008
PAID NON-CREDIT INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Posted Sept. 4, 2008
WITH THEORY'S PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT TEAM
The successful candidate would be expected to work full-time (40
hours a week) although the company will consider part-time
candidates if two apply and are accepted.
The product development team works directly between the design
and production teams as well as side by side with merchandising
and fabric. The team covers both Men’s and Women’s lines.
The intern will also have the opportunity to gain exposure from
Helmut Lang.
This position is available immediately.
The intern will assist my team with the following:
• Develop trims each season and order trims for sales samples
• Passing patterns, sketch details, stitch details and cut
tickets to factories to make prototypes and sales samples.
• Pass development swatch ideas to factories to submit
embellishment trials.
• Request fabric from fabric dept and physically pass to
factories to make show samples.
• Request all sample trims required for show samples and pass to
factories
• Track, receive and distribute show samples.
• Update delivery tracking info for show samples.
• Issue Purchase order for sales samples and track all
development sampling
• Follow-up with tech department that tech packs are sent on a
timely basis for development.
• Answer daily correspondence pertaining to all of the above
functions
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ITM Welcomes New Full-Time Professor
Posted Aug. 27, 2008
Professor Shireen Musa, MBA
Shireen Musa graduated from FIT in 1994 with a B.S. in
Marketing/International Trade, earned a MBA from
Saint Peter’s College, and is a licensed U.S. Customhouse
Broker. After doing an internship at The Donna
Karan Company she was offered a position managing
import, export and Customs compliance programs . In 1999 she
became Project Manager in the Global Supply Chain
Organization at Lucent Technologies, Bell Labs
Innovations. She came back to FIT in 2002 as a part-time
adjunct, developed and taught the course IN323
Import/Export Regulations, launched its online version a
year later, and in 2005 piloted ITM's Mentoring Program.
As a full-time professor, Shireen serves as ITM's liaison to
the Admissions Office and is responsible for developing
ITM's field of global sourcing mainly through its senior
course IN433 Global Sourcing and other elective sourcing
courses such as International Corporate Responsibility,
sourcing of textile and home products, and sourcing principles
for designers. Students are invited to visit her during her
office hours, Tuesday and Thursdays 2pm-4pm, room B-449. |
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Politics and Trade
Posted Aug. 27, 2008
DEMOCRATS AIM FOR BALANCE ON TRADE
DENVER — Democrats aim to strike a balance between free and fair
trade principles in their 2008 party platform that was set to be
adopted Tuesday night at the convention — and while some
industry and labor groups said the party accomplished that goal,
others contended the plan was inadequate and a cause for
concern, particularly on global trade. Delegates at the Pepsi
Center here heard a full lineup of speakers Tuesday, focusing on
the faltering economy, job losses and personal hardship stories.
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THE WARNACO GROUP, INC. SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED Revised
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Posted Aug 26, 2008
TWO ITM MAJORS RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS WORTH $4,350 EACH
We are pleased to announce that the Warnaco Scholarship
Selection Committee has chosen John Garcia and Andrea
Reyes as the recipients of the 2008-09 The Warnaco Group,
Inc. Scholarships.
John is a remarkable ITM student and Project Manager at
Adrenalina, a | |
