Coral reef ecological pump for gathering and retaining nutrients and exporting carbon:a review and perspectives

How coral reefs with high productivity and biodiversity can flourish in oligotrophic tropical oceans has inspired substantial research on coral reef ecosystems.Increasing evidence shows that similar to water in an oasis in the desert,there are stable nutrient supplies to coral reefs in oligotrophic oceans.Here,with emphasis on the fluxes of organic matter,we summarize at the ecosystem level(1)the multiple input pathways of external nutrients,(2)the storage of nutrients in reef organisms,(3)the efficient retaining and recycling of dissolved and particulate organic matter within coral reef ecosystems,(4)the distinctly high phytoplankton productivity and biomass inside and near oceanic coral reefs,and(5)the export of reef-related organic carbon to adjacent open oceans.These properties enable coral reefs to function as ecological“pumps”for gathering nutrients across ecosystems and space,retaining and recycling nutrients within the ecosystem,supporting high phytoplankton productivity,and exporting organic carbon to adjacent open oceans.Particularly,the high phytoplankton productivity and biomass make waters around coral reefs potential hotspots of carbon export to ocean depths via the biological pump.We demonstrate that organic carbon influx is vital for coral reef ecosystems’carbon budget and carbon export.The concept of the coral reef ecological pump provides a framework to improve the understanding of the functioning of the coral reef ecosystem and its responses to disturbance.Prospects of the coral reef ecological pump in coral reef studies are discussed in changing oceans driven by human activities and global change in the Anthropocene.

Does Green Food Certification promote agri-food export quality?Evidence from China

The construction of a food certification system plays a vital role in upgrading export quality, which previous studies have largely overlooked. We match China's industry-level data of Green Food Certification with its HS6-digit export data of agri-food products to quantify the impact of Green Food Certification on export quality. We identify the significant and positive effect of Green Food Certification on export quality. The 2SLS estimation based on instrumental variables and a range of robustness checks confirm the validity and robustness of the benchmark conclusions. Further analysis discloses that Green Food Certification improves export quality by raising agricultural production efficiency and brand premiums. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the effect of Green Food Certification varies across regions, notably improving the quality of agri-food products exported to developed regions and regions with high levels of import supervision. Furthermore, among various product types, Green Food Certification significantly improves the export quality of primary products and products vulnerable to non-tariff measures. The above findings could guide the future development of agri-food quality certification systems, potentially leading to a transformation and promotion of the agri-food trade.

Changes in calcium accumulation and utilization efficiency and their impact on recycling,immobilization,and export across the oil palm cycle

Effective calcium(Ca)management is crucial for optimizing oil palm cultivation and enhancing crop yield.This study aimed to gain insights into the dynamics of Ca concentration,accumulation,exportation,immobilization,and recycling in various oil palm organs relative to plant age.The experiment was conducted at the Agropalma enterprise site in the northeastern region of Para State,Brazil,evaluating seven plant age treatments:2,3,4,5,6,7,and 8 years old.Employing a completely randomized design with four replications.The results demonstrated an age-related increase in Ca concentration in petioles,rachis,arrows,male inflorescences,peduncles,and fruits.Furthermore,Ca accumulation exhibited an upward trend in all organs with progressing plant age.Notably,the study revealed an enhanced Ca use efficiency across all plant organs in correlation with the age of oil palm cultivation.These findings underscore the dynamic nutritional demands of oil palm,influencing Ca immobilization,cycling,and export throughout its developmental stages.

Impact of BRICS Trade Facilitation on China's Exports Using Cross-Border E-Commerce

With the rapid growth of the global digital economy, cross-border e-commerce, as an emerging form of trade, has gradually become a powerful engine to promote the development of global trade. BRICS is an important force in the global economy, and the progress of the BRICS countries' trade facilitation level has an important impact on the global trade environment. This paper conducts an in-depth study of the dynamic changes in BRICS trade facilitation from 2013 to 2022, and uses an extended gravity model to analyze the specific impact of this change on China's exports using cross-border e-commerce. The results show that although the BRICS countries have made some progress in trade facilitation, the overall level still needs to be improved, and there are obvious differences among member countries. However, the improvement of trade facilitation among BRICS countries has undoubtedly brought significant positive effects to China's exports using cross-border e-commerce.

The “New Three” Brings More Growth for China-E.U. Railway Express

Recently,a China-Asia transit train,loaded with second-hand cars,auto parts,and electronic products,set off slowly from the China-Kazakhstan Logistics Base in Lianyungang,heading to stations such as Almaty in Central Asia,and to more distant European stations.This express marks the 410th China-Europe(Central Asia)train launched from Lianyungang this year,indicating that the first half target had been completed 25 days in advance.Public data shows that the annual transportation value of the China-E.U.Railway Express has increased from USD 8 billion in 2016 to USD 56.7 billion in 2023.Export goods have gradually expanded from initial IT products such as laptops and printers to more than 50,000 categories including clothing,shoes,hats,auto parts,daily necessities,food,wood,furniture,chemical products,and machinery equipment.

Pairing Off for Sustainability

Chinese“sustainable city”expertise is leading globally now and could contribute to African urban development with French expertise.I made my first trip to China in the fall of 2004.I was in charge of a project that provided training to 150 Chinese graduates by French architecture firms within AFEX(French Architects for Export,a non-profit association).

An analysis of agarwood trade patterns,historical perspectives,and species identification challenges:repercussions for importing nations

Background:Agarwood,primarily derived from the Aquilaria and Gyrinops genera,holds significant economic importance.However,there is a lack of comprehensive investigations providing guidance to importing nations regarding cultivation quantities and expected yields of Agarwood from distinct species.This study aims to address this gap by exploring the historical context and trade evolution of Agarwood,highlighting its global importance,and the challenges associated with securing accurate species information.Method:On-site visits to Agarwood cultivation sites were conducted to gain a nuanced understanding of Aquilaria species and their cultivation requirements.Additionally,a thorough analysis of global export and import data for Agarwood products over the last decade was undertaken.Results:China Mainland emerged as the leading exporter of Agarwood,averaging an annual export value of USD 1 million.India’s substantial exports challenge the prevailing notion of limited Agarwood production within its borders.Hong Kong and Singapore are pivotal distribution hubs,while Hong Kong and Taipei feature prominently as import destinations.Our analysis uncovers anomalies in the representation of Agarwood producers from 2001 to 2008,suggesting potential misclassification of Aquilaria Agarwood as Gyrinops in global export information.These findings underscore the urgency of investigating classification and reporting practices in the Agarwood trade.Furthermore,A.filaria emerges as a notable source,while A.malaccensis is decline in prominence.Conclusion:This study provides crucial insights for policymakers,stakeholders,and industry players seeking to make informed decisions in the Agarwood trade landscape.The results highlight the need for accurate species identification,classification,and reporting practices to ensure sustainable cultivation and trade of Agarwood.

Analysis of the Impact of Technical Trade Barriers on the Export of Toys-Based on Analysis of Zhejiang,China

Technical barriers to trade,as a non-tariff barrier,have an increasing impact on the international market.As a major province in toy exports,Zhejiang Province’s toy export trade is therefore greatly hindered.This article aims to explore the impact of technical trade barriers on toy exports in Zhejiang Province and analyze countermeasures.Through literature review and some empirical analysis,it is found that technical trade barriers have greatly promoted the development of Zhejiang’s toy industry;however,they have also subjected it to impacts and pressures such as cost and technology.In response to the impact of technical trade barriers on toy exports,this article proposes corresponding countermeasures to avoid such barriers:firstly,establish a quality management system that complies with export product regulations to ensure that the products produced can meet international requirements and standards;secondly,reduce dependence on overseas markets;then enhance one’s own technology,and strengthen product innovation,in order to enhance the international competitiveness of the product and oneself;in addition,we should also explore diversified markets and expand the sales channels and coverage of our products.

Export Competitiveness and Sustainable Development of the Ukrainian Timber Industry

This paper conducts a comprehensive analysis of the export dynamics within the Ukrainian timber industry, emphasizing its pivotal role in the national economy. The study begins by outlining the research objectives, context, and innovative methodologies, setting the stage for a deep dive into the theoretical underpinnings of sustainable and competitive trade. It explores Ukraine’s rich forest biodiversity across varied vegetation zones and its geopolitical significance. Detailed evaluations of forest resource management, policy frameworks, and institutional support form the core of the analysis. Challenges such as imbalanced export structures and legal inconsistencies are critically examined. The research employs trade gravity models and competitive indicators like the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) and Market Share (MS) to assess factors influencing exports and to forecast potential growth areas. The findings inform strategic recommendations aimed at enhancing export capacity through market diversification, brand development, and legal stability. The conclusion highlights the need for strategic interventions to harness Ukraine’s timber resources sustainably, balancing economic gains with environmental stewardship.

The Regional Economic Impacts of Coal Mining: A Case Study of Signal Peak Energy

This paper quantifies the regional economic contributions of coal exports from the US using a case study of Signal Peak Energy in Montana. Two methods of estimating economic contributions are compared, contribution and impact analysis. The latter is adopted because the industry impact analysis is more accurate, especially since it is based upon accounting records from Signal Peak. Our estimates of regional economic and fiscal impacts do not vary significantly with the price of coal because we explicitly account for swings in royalty income. Our analysis finds that Signal Peak Energy supports 678 jobs, over $55 million in tax revenues, more than $90 million in royalties, $111.7 million in value added, and $62.3 million in labor income. Curtailing or halting Signal Peak’s coal production for environmental reasons as some environmental groups have argued would eliminate these economic contributions.

The Turkish Economy in the Period between 1990 and 2000 in the Light of the Open Economy Policies of the 1980s Developments

The structure of the economy seems to have been reshaped for the post-1980 period with the decisions of January 24,1980 and the structural changes that followed.In the 1980s,which can be called the transition process to a Free-Market Economy and an open economy,on the one hand,the privatization of state institutions and the determination of the prices of goods and services in free market conditions were tried to be ensured in order to withdraw the state from economic life,on the other hand,it was tried to grant freedom to foreign trade and capital movements.While these two main issues were being realized,the import substitution industrialization strategy was abandoned and the export-led growth model was started to be implemented.The last step of this process of opening up and liberalization was realized with the decision numbered 32 in 1989.While the change in the economic structure was achieved through domestic borrowing in the 1980s,with the liberalization of capital movements in the 1990s,it was seen that economic growth and development were tried to be achieved with hot money inflows rather than foreign direct investments.This orientation made the economy more open to crises,and for the first time there was a crisis in the form of the 1994 economic crisis,which was understood to be caused by hot money.The 1994 economic crisis could only be overcome by giving government guarantees to bank deposits and issuing high-interest Treasury Bills.Even the new banking regulations could not prevent the emergence of similar new economic crises in the following years.Because,we can say that the economic crisis experienced in the 2000s brought about a political transformation along with creating great economic problems.

Building the ARIMA Model for Forecasting the Production of Vietnam’s Coffee Export

Coffee is a significant industry, accounting for 3% of Vietnam’s GDP, with annual export turnover consistently exceeding USD 3 billion. Despite global economic challenges affecting purchasing power at various times, Vietnam’s coffee exports in December 2023 continued to surge, reaching the highest level in the past 9 months at 190,000 tons, a 59.3% increase compared to November 2023, but still a slight 3.5% decrease from the same period last year. The export turnover reached USD 538 million, a 51% increase from November 2023 and a 26.4% increase from the same period last year. Therefore, forecasting the coffee export volume holds significant importance for coffee producers nationwide. This research employs the Box-Jenkins method to construct an ARIMA model for forecasting Vietnam’s coffee export volume based on annual data published by the General Statistics Office. Results indicate that among the models considered, the ARIMA(1, 1, 2) model is the most suitable. The study also provides short-term forecasts for Vietnam’s coffee export volume. However, the current model is limited to forecasting and is not yet optimized, as the assumed linearity in the model is a simplification.

Mysterious Exporter for Brassinosteroid First Identified

It is impossible for plants to grow and reproduce without being regulated by phytohormones.One of the phytohormones is the brassinosteroid(BR)hormones,also named as the sixth phytohormone.

Briefs

Increasing Bicycle Exports China’s bicycle exports expanded in the first quarter of this year,continuing the recovery momentum since the second half of 2023,according to an industry association.In the first quarter,the country’s bicycle exports reached nearly 11 million units,an increase of 13.7 percent compared to the fourth quarter of last year,according to data from the China Bicycle Association.In breakdown,China exported about 2.3 million bicycles to the US during the period,surging 47.2 percent year on year.The country’s exports to Russia climbed 52.1 percent year on year to 930,000 units.The value of bicycle parts and accessories from China reached$746 million,up 10.8 percent from the same period in 2019.

Research on the Threshold Effect of China’s Pharmaceutical Export Trade on Internal and External R&D Investment

Objective To study the threshold effect of export trade on internal and external R&D investment in China’s pharmaceutical industry,and to provide reference for some pharmaceutical enterprises to improve the investment.Methods The panel data of pharmaceutical industry in 25 provinces and cities in China from 2009 to 2019 were selected to conduct empirical analysis by establishing a threshold regression model,and a better export trade interval was obtained.Results and Conclusion There is a threshold value for the effect of new product export on both internal and external R&D expenditures,and the threshold values are 845.2788 million yuan and 318.4198 million yuan,respectively.There is a single threshold effect of export trade on both internal and external R&D investment in China’s pharmaceutical industry,and the effect of export trade on internal and external R&D investment changes from negative to positive as the export trade develops from low to high.

China:In the fourth quarter of 2023,exports of yarn and fabric to ASEAN ceased declining and rebounded

On January 8th,the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles released data showing that in the fourth quarter,China’s textile and clothing exports gradually stabilised.The proportion of intermediate exports in textile and clothing exports continued to rise,providing a new impetus for the substantial expansion of exports to traditional markets and international supply chain cooperation.

China's rare earth import and export analysis in the 1st half of 2024

1.Export situation from January to June 20241.1 Overall export situation of rare earth products Export value of rare earth products showed a wholistic down trend affected by the continuousdecline in rare earth prices in the first half year,however,export volume increased.According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs,from January to June 2024,China's cumulative export of rare earth products was 29,095 tons,an increase of 11%year-on-year,with a cumulative export value of 256 million US dollars,a decrease of 43% year-on-year,Figure 1.

Where Pakistan Stands Among Top Rice Exporting Countries, an Analysis of Competitiveness

Under the umbrella of WTO, the reduction in trade barriers has forced the policy makers to focus on the export competitiveness. Rice is an important source for foreign exchange earnings for the economy of Pakistan, keeping in mind of this fact, the competitiveness of Pakistan＇s rice with other major exporters was examined by applying revealed competitive advantage. The domestic consumption trends of rice among the major rice exporting countries were also analyzed in the current study. The results revealed that as compare to other major exporters of rice in the world, Pakistan had high competitive and comparative advantage in the production of rice. The comparison of the movements in comparative advantage indices for Pakistan with the major world rice competitors/exporters showed that Pakistan possessed relatively high comparative and competitive advantages in rice production. The declining domestic per capita consumption of rice and increasing trends in competitiveness for Pakistan clearly revealed the expected potential of higher growth which meant that rice exports from Pakistan could continue to play an important role for the earnings of foreign exchange. In order to exploit the potential benefits of rice exports, we need to strengthen the competitiveness in rice sector of Pakistan.

Exporting to Internationalise： Only a Small Percentage of Emerging SMEs From Developing Countries Succeed When a Large Majority Fail

Small and Medium Enterprises （SMEs）, account for more than 95% of all businesses in many countries. These foster economic development and are significant contributors to employment and wealth generation. An observed phenomenon is the increased momentum of internationalization of SMEs in the developed world. A concern however, is the small percentage of the SMEs from developing countries emulating this trend. Also unexplained are： （1） What makes a small percentage of SMEs in developing countries succeed in internationalizing their businesses when the large majority fail？ （2） What provides the differential advantage to the growth businesses？ Therefore, this paper attempts to address the research question ＂what impacts the owner-managers＇ （OMs＇） perceptions of internal and external barriers have on the internationalization process of the SMEs in a developing country？＂ The data was gathered from OMs of SMEs using a mail survey. Export growth was used as the dependent variable in the study. The differential performance of growth and non-growth SMEs in foreign markets is elucidated in relation to the OMs＇ perception of informational, operational, marketing, and environmental barriers to growth. Significant differences were found between growth and non-growth businesses in relation to the OMs＇ perception of the above barriers investigated.

Development and Outlook of the Four Major LNG Exporting Countries in the World

Overview of global LNG trade development In recent years,the global trade volume of liquefied natural gas(LNG)has maintained a rapid growth trend,breaking the 300 million tons mark for the first time in 2018,with an average annual growth rate of 7.7%in the past five years.In 2020,the trade volume of LNG increased to 487.9 billion m3(356.1 million tons).Due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on LNG supply and demand,the increase of LNG trade in 2020 was quite limited,standing at only 4.1 billion m3,far below the growth level in 2019(50.2 billion m3)(Fig.1).