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It's All Politics
6:06 pm
Fri September 28, 2012

In Ohio, Obama and Romney Duel Over Trade With China

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Credit MANDEL NGAN / AFP/Getty Images
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks during a roundtable discussion on manufacturing this Wednesday in Bedford Heights, Ohio.
Credit Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP
President Barack Obama speaks at a campaign event at Ohio's Kent State University on Wednesday.
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If there is a boogey man in the Ohio presidential sweepstakes, it's China. According to Bloomberg, the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates have aired nearly 30,000 ads that mention trade with China, many airing in the key swing state of Ohio.

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The Two-Way
6:01 pm
Fri September 28, 2012

Tomato Wars Ahead? U.S. Dubous On Extending Mexico Trade Deal

Credit Gregory Bull / AP
A worker separates tomatoes at a market in Mexico City. The Commerce Department says it might act to end a 16-year-old trade deal governing fresh Mexican tomatoes sold in the U.S.
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Originally published on Sun September 30, 2012 9:09 pm

Talk of a Tomato War is simmering in agricultural circles, after the U.S. Commerce Department issued a report Thursday that recommends ending an agreement on how fresh tomatoes grown in Mexico are sold in the United States. The issue could create an expanding trade conflict; Mexican officials have said they would retaliate to defend the tomato growers.

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Afghanistan
5:31 pm
Fri September 28, 2012

Can't Change Your Money In Iran? Try Afghanistan

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Credit Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson / NPR
A money-changer in the Afghan city of Herat counts a stack of Iranian bills. More and more Iranian currency is being brought in by smugglers to exchange for dollars, which then go back to Iran.
Credit Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson / NPR
Money-changers in the Afghan city of Herat carry large stacks of Iranian currency.
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Originally published on Fri September 28, 2012 6:24 pm

The western Afghan city of Herat has become a thriving hub for the money exchange business, a consequence of geography and politics. Money-changers throng the currency market carrying thick stacks of Iranian currency, much of it brought in by the hundreds of thousands of Afghan workers who earn their living in Iran.

While the stacks of crisp 100,000 rial notes that money-changers bring to the market might look like a small fortune, the 10 million rials in each of these stacks is worth less than $400, because the Iranian currency recently lost more than half of its value.

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Presidential Race
5:16 pm
Fri September 28, 2012

In Ohio, China's A Top Campaigning Point

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Originally published on Fri September 28, 2012 6:24 pm

Transcript

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

According to Bloomberg, President Obama and Mitt Romney have aired nearly 30,000 TV spots addressing the issue of trade with China, and that's just in the past month. Many of those ads aired in Ohio where both candidates are spending a lot of time. NPR's Sonari Glinton explains the Ohio-China nexus.

SONARI GLINTON, BYLINE: If there's a boogeyman in the Ohio presidential sweepstakes, it's China.

(SOUNDBITE OF AD)

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Afghanistan
5:15 pm
Fri September 28, 2012

Iran Turns To Afghanistan When Laundering Money

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There may be international sanctions against Iran, but not in Afghanistan's border provinces with the Islamic Republic where trade and money-laundering are thriving. Every day, millions in Iranian currency are brought in by taxis ferrying passengers. The Iranian money is exchanged for dollars, which are then shipped back to Iran. American officials recently ordered the Afghan banks to crack down on this phenomenon and it appears to be having some effect.

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