Biden could reduce inflation, mitigate a recession, and strengthen democracy with a new EU-US trade agreement

Posted on August 31, 2022 by | Leave a comment

This article from Brookings offers a way to reduce inflation, add jobs, and improve commerce by making a bilateral trade agreement with the European Union.

It’s got lots of support for expecting good outcomes for the American economy and American workers. And it quantitatively spells out what the gains might be.

This is one of the trade relationships the Trump administration fouled up. And especially in these times, with the Ukraine war and Chinese threats, we need reliable trade partners to ‘near-shore’ our sources of supply with. And the EU needs us and our export capabilities as well.

It’s a well-reasoned and thought-provoking article.

Trade agreements take time, and it’s not early to begin.

Sanjay Patnaik and James Kunhardt Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Biden could reduce inflation, mitigate a recession, and strengthen democracy with a new EU-US trade agreement

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US freight rail links reach deal with unions

Posted on August 31, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Unions have reached a deal with rail lines on a contract for the next five years.

There will be a 24% wage increase over the next five years, with 14.1% immediate, and five payouts of $1000 per worker.

The terms are along the lines recommended by the Presidential Emergency Board (PEB). The board was appointed to prevent workers from striking for 30 days while the disputants continued talking, and to make recommendations for a reasonable settlement.

This agreement should provide a framework for the additional unions that have not reached agreements yet.

It’s good to know that it’s likely there will not be a rail strike this fall to disrupt supply chains that use rail. We have enough disruptions now, and need to get back to something approaching normal in the rail industry.

Rail is currently viewed in the US as one of the major factors in port congestion today. The rails claim that they have labor shortages. The increased salaries might help them keep and recruit workers. The other factor is work load, and that will be determined by the interaction between the union workers and the management at the rail locations throughout the country.

August 30, 2022 ByJack Donnelly

US freight rail links reach deal with unions – Port Technology International

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Back to the future – TOWT to become ship owner-operator with growing cargo schooner fleet

Posted on August 30, 2022 by | 1 comment

ARe sailing cargo vessels the wave of the future? The French company TOWT thinks so.

Sailing cargo vessels reduce emissions by 90%. That’s a draw for some European shippers. But they also offer the ability to visit ports that don’t have deep channels, and they provide cargo space that is equivalent to around 100 containers. The cargo may also receive better handling than it would in a cargo slot on a megaship.

TOWT says they are targeting transatlantic routes for their runs, and they are building more vessels.

Others are experimenting with sail. Hyundai’s Hi-Rotor sail has obtained approval from the Korean Register to be used on ships.

By Charlie Bartlett, Technology Editor 30/08/2022

TOWT to become ship owner-operator with growing cargo schooner fleet – The Loadstar

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Posted in Logistics, Shipping, Sustainability

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