When Juan Manuel Santos takes over as Colombia’s president in August, the Harvard-educated economist will continue many of the same pro-business, pro-U.S. policies of President Alvaro Uribe that helped transform their South America country into a magnet for foreign investment. But Santos, 58, plans to boost emphasis on creating jobs and modernizing the economy, now that the two-term Uribe has wrestled down Colombia’s once severe security problems — with Santos’ input as his former defense minister. Those are among the upbeat conclusions from participants at WorldCity’s Global Connections event held… Read More
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Annual statistics: Dallas among nation's fastest-growing districts
Dallas has become one of the United States fastest-growing Customs districts.
Imports and exports through the Dallas-Fort Worth Customs District jumped 17.5 percent to total nearly $58.3 billion in 2006, according to WorldCity analysis of statistics released by the U.S. Census Department.
Overall U.S. trade growth rose 12 percent, and only three of the country’s Top 20 Customs districts outpaced Dallas. Houston-Galveston’s trade rose 18.9 percent, Seattle’s spiked more than 19.2 percent and Philadelphia saw its trade climb 19.3 percent.
Dallas-Fort Worth is the United States 15th most important Customs district, a distinction it earned in 2005 and retained in 2006.
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China, the district’s biggest trade partner, saw its exchange gain 24.5 percent to fall just short of the $17 billion mark. The Asian powerhouse accounts for 29 percent of all Dallas trade.
Other highlights:
Dallas posted a 2006 trade deficit just shy of $17 billion. In 2005, the deficit was $13.9 billion.
Thirteen countries did more than $1 million in trade with Dallas in 2006.
All but three of Dallas’ top import commodities posted growth. Passenger vehicle imports grew the most, jumping 137.5 percent to close the year at $685 million.
Among the roster of Dallas’ Top 20 traders, Poland experienced the greatest gains. Trade between Dallas and the European nation leaped to $546 million in 2006. A year earlier, it was less than $39 million. Exports fueled the increase.
Total U.S. trade reached $2.9 billion. Canada was the nation’s No. 1 trade partner, followed by China, which passed Mexico in 2006.
Los Angeles remained the nation’s top-ranked Customs district, followed by New York, Detroit and Houston.
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