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IHA’s blog features informative posts written to keep the housewares industry educated and informed about key strategic issues and IHA member services.

Trade and Tariff Developments for 2020

Significant progress has been made with regard to the issue of tariffs in the trade dispute between the United States and China. The USTR announced on Dec. 13, 2019, the completion of a Phase One trade agreement with China. U.S. tariffs on List-4B products that were subject to 15% duties set to commence on Dec. 15, 2019, were cancelled, and tariffs on List 4A products…

Global Retail Intelligence – December

December 13 – Costco Plans Additional Openings in ChinaAfter the success of the August opening of a Costco outlet in Shanghai, the retailer plans another store in China in 2021. More than 240,000 membership have been sold since the August 2019 opening of the Shanghai outlet. From Nikkei Asian Review December 13 – Amazon Opens New Distribution Center in PolandAmazon…

Efforts to Correct the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Problem Spark Further Changes

In a recent article posted on the Bloomberg website, IHA member Mighty Mug was singled out for successfully drawing the President’s attention to a vast disparity in shipping rates between U.S. and Chinese companies. The efforts to correct the United Postal Union (UPU) problem are possibly leading to other changes in US foreign policy and specifically with the U.S.’s…

Scrubbers Could Provide Significant Cost Savings

Carriers that took the risk to install scrubber installations on their ships will likely have a competitive advantage in the containership industry. Effective January 1, 2020, vessels will be required to produce sulfur emission levels less than 0.5%. Scrubber installations allow carriers to buy the less expensive higher sulfur fuel. In principle, a scrubber cleans the…

Trade and Tariff Saga Continues

Trade and tariff issues are a priority on the IHA’s government affairs agenda, with tariffs on China being the main concern. Hopefully, a “phase one” deal between the U.S. and China can be finalized to bring some relief from the 16-month trade war that’s disrupted global supply chains, but until a deal happens the tariff exclusion process and/or sourcing alternatives to China…

IHA Plans Sourcing Mission to Vietnam

To help members investigate alternatives to sourcing from China, the International Housewares Association will hold a sourcing mission to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, next year. The 2020 Vietnam Sourcing Mission will be offered in two sessions: April 20-22 or April 23-25. Each session is limited to just six companies to provide a high level of service and allow for private…

Global Retail Intelligence – November

November 18 – UK’s John Lewis and Waitrose Create New Concept Store The retailers will launch a customer-centric concept shop at which services and experiences, led by expert staff, will offer unique opportunities for customer to experience product. If the concept is successful, John Lewis may roll it out throughout the country. From John Lewis Partnership November 18 –…

Stats: Sustainability Aware

Sustainability is on the minds of many consumers and they are bringing the topic to both retailers’ attention and product assortments. Sustainability—the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance, according to research firm The NPD Group’s Health Aspirations & Behavioral Tracking Service—also is used in a broader sense to…

Trends: CBD Mainstreams

We’ve told you this before, but now a new study confirms that Cannabidiol (CBD) continues its mainstream appeal. According to a new NPD Group study, “With cannabis becoming legal in more states, it’s impossible to ignore the potential ramifications for the food and beverage industry.” That’s because CBD isn’t just for a select few people. Nearly 20 percent of adults have…