Anthonywski's List: International Trade

• Malaysian plastics industry has developed into a highly diversified sector producing an array of products including automotive components, electrical and electronics parts, components for the telecommunications industry, construction materials, housewares, packaging materials and toys
• Through various attractive investment policies, incentives and infrastructure, Malaysia managed to draw investments from multinational corporations in Japan, the U.S., and Germany to build large resins production facilities in Malaysia
• In 2002, the total market demand of plastic resins was estimated at 1.25 million metric tons (of which 60% consumed were polyethylene and polypropylene
• Total local production was at around 1.4 million metric tons in 2002, of which more than 50% was exported. Thus, Malaysia imports approximately 513,000 metric tons, accounting for 43% of the total market demand
• Asian and ASEAN countries have increased dramatically due to highly competitive prices offered by these countries
• in addition to the privilege of low tariff rates enjoyed when trading within the ASEAN region under the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) agreement
• engineering resins remain the best prospect sector for U.S. suppliers because they have gained a good reputation for product quality and advanced technology

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• measurement system employed in the USA, known as United States customary units, is very similar to the imperial system employed in the UK prior to the adoption of metric units.

• Equivalent Terms and Conversions  USA UK Kilograms Pounds  Metric Ton Tonne 1,000 2,205  Ton Short Ton 907 2,000  Long Ton Imperial Ton 1,016 2,240
• short ton was adopted in the USA prior to UK imperial standardization
• USA should switch fully to the metric system
• As a result, metric measurements are normal only for scientific, medical and military purposes, and the short ton is still the standard for common use.
• considerable resistance from commerce and consumers
• International System of Units (SI)
• most common ones are kilotonne and megatonne

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