MesaZona > Table of Contents : Here's The Menu. Enjoy

Wednesday, June 07, 2017

Not So-Sweet A Deal ?

Commentary

June 7th, 2017 | Written by Peter Buxbaum

US Sugar Industry Opposes New US-Mexico Deal

Claims Loophole Will Allow Continued Export-Import Dumping

US sugar producers are complaining that an agreement announced yesterday between the United States and Mexico will allow Mexican exporters to continue to dump sugar in the US.

US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross denied that contention saying,
“We have gotten the Mexican side to agree to nearly every request made by US industry to address flaws in the current system and ensure fair treatment of American sugar growers and refiners.”

At issue is an agreement to end a dispute dating back to 2014 between the US and Mexico with regard to Mexican sugar imports.
Ross and Mexican Secretary of Economy Ildefonso Guajardo announced the new agreement in principal yesterday to suspend antidumping and countervailing duties against Mexican sugar imports into the United States.

Ross contended the agreement—between the governments of the United States and Mexico and the Mexican sugar industry—prevent dumping of Mexican sugar and corrects for subsidies the Mexican sugar industry receives.

Among the elements of the agreement, the price at which raw sugar must be sold at the mill in Mexico is increased from 22.25 cents to 23 cents per pound, and for refined sugar, from 26 cents to 28 cents per pound. The new agreement also reduces the percentage of refined sugar that may be imported from 53 percent to 30 percent, increasing the amount of raw sugar available to US sugar refiners. Mexico agreed to increased enforcement measures and to accept penalties for violations, including a reduction in the amount of sugar allowed to be imported equal to twice the amount—or three times the amount, under some circumstances—of any sugar found to be in violation of the agreements.

Under a section entitled Additional US Needs, Mexico accepted these conditions in exchange for a right of first refusal to supply 100 percent of any “additional need” for sugar identified by the US Department of Agriculture after April 1 of each year.

It is the Additional US Needs clause that bothers Phillip Hayes, a spokesman for the American Sugar Alliance, a group representing US producers, who said the section contains a major loophole. “Mexico could exploit this loophole to continue to dump subsidized sugar into the US market and short US refineries of raw sugar inputs,” he said. “This loophole takes away the existing power of the US government to determine the type and polarity”—the degree of purity that separates raw from refined sugar—“of any additional sugar that needs to be imported and cedes that power to the Mexican government.”
Ross lamented the lack of support for the agreement among US industry, but added that “we remain hopeful that further progress can be made during the drafting process. We look forward to continuing discussions with them as we finalize the agreement.”

Absolutely Awesome! Totally Organic! Whoa! Here in DTMesa

Last Thursday with little fanfare except for friendly buzzes, the Organic Bean Café had a 'soft opening' at 40 N MacDonald Street here in the New Urban Downtown Mesa.
After the monthly meeting of the City of Mesa Economic Development Board, your MesaZona blogger needed a dose of fresh air and time-away from discussion of big deals in commercial/industrial real estate taking place on tech corridors and employment opportunity zones. . .
It was time to take a walk-around downtown zig-zagging west onto Pepper Place from Center/First Street to a pleasant NWC at the intersection across the street from the AZ Museum of Natural History.

If you don't know some of the 'small wonders' off-Main Street, here's a map to find OBC and - surprisingly quite a number of other small businesses, all small-scale all in one building: Jerry's Barber Salon is in the front of the very-retro front to the left of an open entryway to an open atrium.
Also located here are Zuzu's Petals, 87 Bikes, Taffy Salon & Brow Bar, and Serendipity Cinematography - all have been on-premises for quite some time growing beyond the stage of incubation or start-ups.

It was a pleasure to say hello to OBC new business owner Rachael Boontjer, who already knows the coffee business very well after working for five years with major franchise Starbuck's and opening two stores - now she's taking on the risk and the entrepreneurial leap into her own small enterprise going totally organic here in downtown Mesa, with help from her mother who together have invested about $7,000 opening the new small business. Four months after signing the lease it's ready and open-for-business
It's all 'the right stuff' in one place if you like your hot and cold brew organic. She even gets the Organic Fair Trade Coffee beans from a local roaster in Gilbert, grinding them to-order for every single 16 or 24-ounce cup [make that re-cyclable cup, please].
Here's an image taken yesterday of the natural sunlight open-air atrium to help you find the entrance

Tomorrow there's a GRAND OPENING - Check it out

Look Who's Talking About Diversity & Inclusion

Cubic’s Chief Diversity Officer to Highlight the Importance of Diversity & Inclusion at the Second Annual OPM Research Summit

Cubic to be the sole defense industry representative to provide insights into diversity in the workplace

SAN DIEGO – June 7, 2017 – Cubic Corporation (NYSE: CUB) today announced the participation of Darryl S. Albertson Ph.D., vice president, chief human resources and diversity officer, as a panelist to discuss the challenges and value of diversity and inclusion (D&I) at the Second Annual U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Research Summit in Washington, D.C. on June 7. Co-hosted by the School of Public Affairs at American University and the OPM with the theme, “Transforming Human Capital Management Policy through Research, Innovation and Analytics,” the annual event brings together academic researchers, federal practitioners and industry partners to exchange, collaborate and participate in critical conversations about pressing policy issues.
Albertson will be the only private industry representative on the panel titled, “The Simple Complications of Enhancing Diversity & Inclusion,” to speak on the importance and difficulties of D&I initiatives in the workplace. The panelist will address the issues of D&I practices in the workplace as well as the challenges in executing and fulfilling the D&I needs of a federal organization.

“An organization’s diversity is much more than race, nationality, gender or ability; it can also be a set of skills, experience and lifestyle that each individual brings to their work environment,” said Albertson. “There is a need for sharing best practices and strategies to create and maintain a diverse, inclusive workforce to achieve optimal performance at any organization. I look forward to highlighting some of Cubic’s efforts in cultivating culture and diversity with my fellow practitioners at this event.”
“For the second year in a row, OPM is bringing together industry, government and academia to share research, findings and best practices in the spirit of collaboration and continuous improvement,” added panel moderator Jill Rogers, president and CEO of JRogers Consulting. “As a coach and a change agent, I’m thrilled to be part of the conversation that shares innovative approaches and sparks transformation in the area of diversity and inclusion and grateful to OPM for their commitment in providing these forums.”
Albertson will participate in the following panel:

The Simple Complications of Enhancing Diversity & Inclusion
Wednesday, June 7, 10:35 a.m. (local time); American University School of Public Affairs Ward Circle Building; 4400 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Washington D.C.
Panel participants: Dr. Mary C. Byers, deputy director, Academy of Defense Intelligence, Defense Intelligence Agency; Chris Armstrong, senior executive and culture lead, Defense Intelligence Agency;
Moderator: Jill Rogers, president and CEO of JRogers Consulting, LLC

This event is not the first time for Cubic to work cooperatively with OPM.

Cubic was awarded a Notice-to-Proceed on a $5.75 billion Multiple Award, Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (MA-IDIQ) task order contract from the General Services Administration (GSA) in partnership with OPM for Human Capital and Training Solutions (HCaTS) in October 2016. Under this contract, Cubic is providing customized training and employee development, human capital strategy and organizational performance improvement services across the federal government at all levels.
Follow Cubic Corporation at @CubicCorp on Twitter or hashtag #OPMResearchSummit to join the conversation on social media.

About Cubic CorporationCubic Corporation designs, integrates and operates systems, products and services focused in the transportation, defense training and secure communications markets. Cubic Transportation Systems is a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services to create intelligent travel solutions for transportation authorities and operators. Cubic Global Defense is a leading provider of live, virtual, constructive and game-based training solutions, special operations and intelligence for the U.S. and allied forces. Cubic Mission Solutions provides networked Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities for defense, intelligence, security and commercial missions. For more information about Cubic, please visit the company's website at www.cubic.com or on Twitter @CubicCorp.

Media Contact
Laura Chon
Corporate Communications
Cubic Corporation
PH: +1 858-505-2181
laura.chon@cubic.com