13. January 2012 by Jim Sutliff.

According to the Commerce Department, the U.S. trade deficit increased by 10.4% to 47.8 billion in November.  The increase was larger than economists had expected and was the widest trade deficit since June.  Petroleum products accounted for a significant amount of the increase in imports.

To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-13/u-s-trade-deficit-widened-more-than-forecast-to-47-8-billion.html

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Economy, Budget, Trade, General, Business, Administrative | No Comments »

11. October 2011 by Jim Sutliff.

The Senate voted 63-35 in support of the currency bill.  The currency bill was supported by Republican and Democratic Senators and is hoped to address the trade imbalance due to undervalued currencies.  Although the Senate supported the measure, the House may not even vote on the bill.  House Speaker Republican John Boehner does not support the legislation and the bill may not advance for a vote.

To read a related Reuters article, please click here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/11/us-usa-china-idUSTRE79A5AO20111011

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Trade, Economy, International, Republican, Regulatory, Business, Democrat, General, Administrative | No Comments »

27. September 2011 by Jim Sutliff.

Democratic Senator Harry Reid has indicated that he will introduce legislation relating to undervalued currencies.  The measure will address the effect that undervalued currencies have on trade.  The Chinese Yuan is one currency that is considered  to be undervalued and acting as a subsidy to China.

To read a related Reuters article, please click here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/27/us-usa-china-currency-idUSTRE78Q4Y720110927

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Trade, Economy, Budget, International, Republican, Regulatory, Business, Democrat, General, Administrative | No Comments »

27. July 2011 by Jim Sutliff.

The Republican controlled House passed a bill that would require the Obama administration to approve or deny a permit for an oil sands pipeline by November 1st.  The bill passed the House with a vote of 279-147.  The Canadian pipeline would provide 700,00 barrels of crude oil a day.   

To read a related Reuters article, please click here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/26/us-house-keystone-deadline-idUSTRE76P7GX20110726?feedType=RSS&feedName=GCA-GreenBusiness&rpc=43

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Infrastructure, Congress, Trade, Economy, International, Presidential, Republican, Regulatory, Democrat, Business, Energy, Environment, Politics, General, Administrative | No Comments »

24. June 2011 by Jim Sutliff.

U.S. firms are heading to tax havens in greater numbers than in the past.  Increased regulations and tax burdens are factors considered by companies that are going public or relocating.  Bermuda and the Caymen Islands are two popular locations for American firms.

To read a related Wall Street Journal article, please click here:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304906004576367451807842440.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection

James Sutliff

Posted in Trade, Economy, International, Tax, Regulatory, Business, General, Administrative | No Comments »

16. June 2011 by Jim Sutliff.

Congress is set to pass free trade deals for South Korea, Columbia, and Panama.  The free trade deals are expected to be sent to Congress from the Obama administration.  The trade agreements have strong support in the Republican controlled House and enough Democrats in the Senate.

To read a related Investor’s Business Daily article, please click here:

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/575483/201106151835/Free-Trade-Deals-OK-Near-Say-Supporters.htm?src=HPLNews

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Congress, Tax, Trade, Economy, International, Republican, Regulatory, Business, Democrat, General, Politics, Administrative | No Comments »

25. May 2011 by Jim Sutliff.

Senator Max Baucus has tied the renewal of the Trade Adjustment Assistance program with trade deals for Korea, Columbia, and Panama.  The Senate Democrat is the Finance Committee Chairman and has the support of at least 41 Senators on this matter.  Republican Senators are open to providing additional funding for the Trade Assistance Program.  Trade pacts must be approved or rejected within 90 days under the fast track rules.

To read a related Reuters article, please click here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/25/us-usa-trade-deals-idUSTRE74M4UD20110525

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Trade, Economy, Presidential, International, Congress, Republican, Business, General, Politics, Regulatory, Administrative | No Comments »

22. April 2011 by Jim Sutliff.

Dodd-Frank financial regulations impact many areas of finance including credit ratings.  Implications of the Dodd-Frank regulations and proposals by the SEC are discussed in a recent article by Reuters.

To read the Reuters article, please click here:

http://www.reuters.com/finance/deals/regulatory

James Sutliff

Posted in Economy, Dodd-Frank, Treasury, Trade, Regulatory, Business, General, Administrative | No Comments »

16. April 2011 by Jim Sutliff.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner addressed the need for major currency floatation.  In a statement to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) steering committee, Geithner stated the need for major economies to allow their currencies to adjust to market conditions.  The Chinese Yuan is one of the major currencies that need to become more market driven.

To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-16/geithner-says-major-economies-should-let-currencies-adjust-1-.html

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Economy, Treasury, International, Trade, Republican, General, Regulatory, Business | No Comments »

16. March 2011 by Jim Sutliff.

The Drudge Report is a premier site that provides coverage of business, politics, and world events.  The Drudge Report has valuable links to sites and articles in an easy to read format. 

To visit The Drudge Report, please click here:

http://www.drudgereport.com/

James Sutliff

Posted in Governor, Federal Reserve, Congress, Tax, Republican, Infrastructure, Trade, Dodd-Frank, Presidential, RNC, Economy, Regulatory, Real Estate, Election, Energy, Democrat, DC, Business, Environment, Estate Tax, Politics, Healthcare, General, Fundraising, Administrative | No Comments »

8. February 2011 by Jim Sutliff.

Senate Democrats are attempting to eliminate tax breaks for the oil industry.  In a recent letter, Senate Democratic leaders asked House Speaker Boehner to remove tax breaks for the oil industry to help cut spending.  The letter was signed by Senate Democrats that included Reid, Schumer, and Durbin.  The move seems to be mostly political and is not likely to result in any significant change in tax breaks.  The Democrats had control of Congress and the White House for two years without eliminating the tax breaks that are referenced in the letter.

To read a related article in The Hill, please click here:

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/142747-top-dems-call-on-gop-to-eliminate-oil-industry-tax-breaks

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Congress, Tax, Infrastructure, Trade, Presidential, Economy, Republican, Regulatory, Democrat, Business, Election, Energy, Politics, General, Administrative | No Comments »

23. December 2010 by Jim Sutliff.

The Obama administration is expected to approve the expansion of an existing Canadian pipeline.  The pipeline expansion will increase the amount of oil imported from Canada’s oil sands by over 300,000 barrels a day.  Keystone, the pipeline expansion project, will create hundreds of American jobs and provide the oil sands with worldwide distribution capabilities.

To read a related CNN article, please click here:

http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/23/news/economy/oil_sands_pipeline/index.htm

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Trade, International, Infrastructure, Energy, Business, Democrat, Administrative | No Comments »

5. November 2010 by Jim Sutliff.

A recent Business In The Beltway article on Forbes discusses the priorities of the new Congress.  Republican victories in the House and Senate have changed the political landscape and are likely to shift policies on tax.  Tax will almost certainly be the top priority of the Republican House.  Democrats still have the edge in the Senate but the agenda is likely to be dictated by Republicans. 

To read the Forbes article, please click here:

http://blogs.forbes.com/brianwingfield/2010/11/03/republicans-win-big-first-order-of-business-taxes/

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Republican, Regulatory, Tax, Congress, Economy, Trade, Politics, Healthcare, Democrat, Business, Election, Energy, General, Estate Tax, Administrative | No Comments »

10. October 2010 by Jim Sutliff.

 Larry Kudlow has written an article on the economy, stock market, and the coming elections.  The article can be found on Real Clear Politics and it is well worth the time to read.  Kudlow discusses recent economic data, possible trade and currency wars, as well as monetary policy.

To read the Real Clear Politics article, please click here:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/10/09/jobs_tepid_dems_out_stocks_up_107507.html

James Sutliff

Posted in Republican, Regulatory, Tax, Congress, Trade, Politics, General, Business, DC, Democrat, Election, Administrative | No Comments »

29. September 2010 by Jim Sutliff.

The House is attempting to pass legislation directed at the Chinese Yuan.  The goal is to  persuade China to allow their currency to increase in value.  The legislation would consider the undervalued Yuan a subsidy and allow for extra duties to be placed on Chinese goods. 

To read a related Reuters article, please click here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68S0NJ20100929

James Sutliff

Posted in Regulatory, Republican, Congress, Trade, Politics, General, Business, Democrat, Election, Administrative | No Comments »