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TOP NEWS
What’s New for 2022?
TGA
Las Vegas is open for business and is ramping up for an explosive trade show boom in 2022! Buyers are excited and optimistic about the future of retail. The travel industry is on the upswing and forging new ground as we head into 2022. According to a recent survey by The Freeman Company, the impact on business, brand, and local economies makes participation in such events essential. Now is the time to make plans to attend The 74th Annual Travel Goods Show, February 27-March 1, 2022 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. We’re co-locating for the first time with ASD Market Week, one of the nation’s longest-running wholesale merchandise shows. Take advantage of early-bird pricing on booth space available now until October 1. Click here for details or contact Cathy Trecartin at cat@travel-goods.org, 877-842-1938, x-702.
A Win for Mr. Sandman
TGA
On Show at the Travel Goods HUB are Clöudz’s neck pillows and sleep sacks, so soft and cozy you’ll never need to count sheep. Learn more about these items at the HUB now and then visit them at The 2022 Travel Goods Show, February 27-March 1, 2022, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
TGA Supports Bipartisan Shipping Reform Legislation
TGA
On September 14, TGA and TGA members joined over 150 other organizations in urging Congress to approve the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 (OSRA 21) (H.R. 4996). The bipartisan bill would require the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to establish/enforce rules that would prevent the next shipping crisis, including minimum service requirements for carriers, as well as rules barring contract breaches and excessive and unjust detention and demurrage fees.
Last Chance — We Need You to Support Renewal of GSP
TGA
When Congress returns to Washington, DC on September 20, TGA and many other organizations will launch a huge push for renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program. As part of those efforts, TGA urges your company to join hundreds of other organizations in signing a letter calling on Congress to renew GSP immediately. GSP expired on Dec. 31, 2020, meaning that U.S. travel goods imports from a wide range of developing countries, including Thailand, Cambodia, Burma (Myanmar), Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Pakistan have paid full duties since January 1, 2021. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued instructions on how importers can retain the right to collect refunds of duties paid if GSP is retroactively renewed. In 2020, U.S. travel goods imports from GSP countries increased 8.4%. GSP countries supply 16.3% of all U.S. travel goods imports today. Please sign the letter TODAY! The deadline is this Friday, September 17.
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Biden, Xi Discuss Avoiding Confrontation in Second Phone Call of New U.S. Administration
CNBC
Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden spoke for the first time since February last Friday. It marked the second call between the leaders since Biden took office in January, as tensions between the world’s two largest economies simmer. READ MORE
U.S. Airlines Warn of Recovery Slowdown
BUSINESS TRAVELER
U.S. airlines are warning of a slowdown in their bookings because of the rise in COVID-19 cases related to the highly contagious delta variant. READ MORE
San Pedro Bay Sets Four New Records in One Day as More Vessels Arrive
THE MARITIME-EXECUTIVE
Four new records were established today for the volume of ship traffic in the Southern California port complex at San Pedro Bay led by the continuing surge in imports. While the number of containerships arriving at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach might decline slightly in the coming days, the overall outlook is for a steady flow of ships and a continued record-setting inbound flow of containers. READ MORE

The Consumer-Driven Revolution: Where Are We Headed?
TOTAL RETAIL
The pandemic made for one of the most organic and authentic tests of the world’s progress towards digital innovation, demonstrating how resilient all businesses were. One of the greatest, long-lasting effects of COVID-19 on the retail industry is the digital movement it accelerated. READ MORE
U.S. Mulls Investigation into China’s Industrial Subsidies
TAIWAN NEWS
The Biden administration is reportedly looking to investigate Beijing’s rampant use of industrial subsidies in a move that could place even more tariffs on Chinese goods with the aim of increasing pressure in the trade war. READ MORE

A Perfect Storm for Container Shipping
THE ECONOMIST
A giant ship wedged across the Suez canal, record-breaking shipping rates, armadas of vessels waiting outside ports, COVID-induced shutdowns: the business of container shipping has rarely been as dramatic as it has in 2021. The average cost of shipping a standard large container (a 40-foot-equivalent unit, or FEU) has surpassed $10,000, some four times higher than a year ago (see chart). The spot price for sending such a box from Shanghai to New York, which in 2019 would have been around $2,500, is now close to $15,000. Securing a late booking on the busiest route, from China to the west coast of America, could cost $20,000. READ MORE
The Top 3 Mistakes E-Commerce Entrepreneurs Need to Avoid
WOMEN IN RETAIL
Starting an e-commerce business is simpler than most women think. Whether you’re considering starting a business from scratch, moving your brick-and-mortar store online, or transitioning a pop-up shop online, the options for selling online seem to be unlimited. The abundance of customers, platforms and products can cause great excitement, but also great confusion to a new online entrepreneur. READ MORE
6 Questions to Ask About COVID and Air Quality at Work
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Ventilation improvements, adding portable air cleaners and simply opening windows can lower the risk of infection in the office. READ MORE
TRENDING ARTICLES
Missed last week’s issue? See which articles your colleagues read most.
- We’re Back! Live and In Person (TGA)
- We Need You to Support TGA-Endorsed Bill and Send Letters to Biden/Congress on Shipping Crisis (TGA)
- Amazon is Finally Acting Like a Retailer, and What That Means for Brands (TOTAL RETAIL)
- U.S. Cracks Down on Imported Goods Made by Uyghurs and Other Victims of Forced Labor (NBC NEWS)
- Post Your Classified Ads at No Charge (TGA)