MAPI – Manufacturers Alliance Economic News and Reports

Issues in Brief

Between a Rock and a Conflict Minerals Hard Place
The SEC’s conflict minerals rule is on the rocks, with the D.C. Circuit Court and two sitting SEC commissioners questioning its viability. Meanwhile, the SEC insists the June 2 reporting deadline stands, creating uncertainty for manufacturers.

Untangling the Trans-Pacific Partnership’s Economic Relations
In this first part of a series on the TPP, Yingying delves into the trade relationships between the U.S. and its fellow negotiating countries. Trade between the U.S. and these nations represents about 40% of total U.S. trade in goods.

CAFE Olé?
The CAFE standard calls for the fleet average for passenger cars and light trucks to rise to 54.5 mpg by model year 2025. The change will reduce gasoline consumption and CO2 emissions but result in higher vehicle costs, thereby decreasing auto sales.

The Chaotic Road to Brazil’s World Cup and the “Jeitinho Brasileiro”
The World Cup kicks off in three weeks and key infrastructure projects are still unfinished. Brazil is a fairly disorganized and chaotic country; to succeed, U.S. companies should be conscious of the culture, including “jeitinho brasileiro” — Brazil’s “way of doing things.”

Economic Update

China May Become the World’s Largest Economy in 2014
According to a summary report released by the World Bank today, China’s GDP measured in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) dollars was $13.5 trillion in 2011. This is significantly higher than the $7.3 trillion estimation based on the nominal exchange rate between the U.S. and China.

Europe’s Recovery Continues at Only Modest Pace
Senior Economist Kris Bledowski believes the European economic picture improved somewhat over the past year, with output growth finally taking off. At the same time, other indicators paint a darker picture, such as falling prices and dwindling credit.

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