英语论文网

esses. Additionally, while Paris created a $25 billion strategic investment fund to protect French companies from foreign takeovers, a $52 billion plan for strategic investments in science and technology was proposed by the country’s President. However, these various stimulus and investment measures are contributing to the deterioration of France's public finances and France's tax burden remains one of the highest in Europe (nearly 50% of GDP).

In North Africa, economic growth was 5.8 per cent on average in 2008, up from 5.3 per cent in 2007 and is expected to increase to 4.1 percent by 2010. The 2008 growth rates reflected strong performances in nearly all the countries of the region. With global recovery in 2010, resumption of demand for exports from North African countries is expected to reverse many of the negative factors, leading to better figures for growth. Additionally, inflation in North Africa accelerated to 8.1 per cent in 2008, up from 6.8 per cent in 2007. While the inflation rate for Egypt is expected to fall, the average rate of inflation in North Africa is projected to decline throughout 2010 to an overall average of 5.3 percent.

Regulatory Environment

The U.S. claims to be free trade focused; however, there are a variety of products that are not freely traded. Overall, the expansion of trade builds economies and holds down prices, resulting in Free Trade Agreements and allowing for tariff free movement of goods between many countries. NAFTA allows for free trade between Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The agreement was formed to open markets, provide access to low cost labor, counter EU market expansion, reduce immigration, and commonly address environmental issues. The intent of NAFTA’s bilateral trade was immediate elimination/elimination over time on the tariff structure itself. In addition to NAFTA regulations, US companies in the private sector as well as those in federal, state, or local government must ensure all employees are treated fairly under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This regulation not only sets standards regarding minimum wage and overtime, but also addresses issues related to hours worked, recordkeeping, and youth employment. Likewise, while Spain and France are not regulated under FLSA, these countries operate under similar regulations such as the Spanish Statute of Workers and French Labour Code.While not all countries around the world are regulated with specific labor laws, many are part of the International Labor Organization.

Additionally, in 2005, the U.S. government passed tax legislation that renewed tax credits for generating wind power and energy legislation to strengthen the transmission grid infrastructure and reliability of power availability, increasing the demand for General Cable's distribution and transmission cables. Furthermore, deregulation in the European Electrical Power Industry is expected to increase spending in European countries, as the rest of the developing world must increase spending on infrastructure in order to grow.Additionally, General Cable is subject to numerous federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to the storage, handling, emission and discharge of materials into the environment, including CERCLA, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act (including the 1990 amendments) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. GCC has paid millions of dollars over the last se