Trading Blocs (I need a holiday!)

Since my last post, it seems the world has become a much smaller place.

Since the beginning of 2025 there has been a shift towards countries closing doors in the world of trade, at the forefront is USA. Working on the premise that "everybody needs us", the USA has been making trade with them very difficult even for the 'nickel and dime' items that I offer people.

It got to the point that there was so much trouble doing trade with USA (even to family members!) that I blocked all order access from American clients - nothing personal but the US Administration has created this extremely difficult situation. I am not alone in this thinking and now Australia Post also has basically refused to accept packages for USA destinations.

Taking the lead from USA, other trading bloc's have emerged such as the EU and the emerging bloc called BRIC's (founding countries are China, Russia, India and a number of 'other countries' both in the Asia region and South America.

The world of trade is breaking up into trading blocs, a far cry from the "open trading" attitudes in the past.

The most recent experience that I am having with the 'EU Bloc' is their introduction of new, quite draconian import restrictions and requirements for ALL imported goods. All items (no matter what their value or whether they be for commerical or sent as "gifts") attract not only taxes but flat charge processing fees and in order for items to be accepted as imports into the EU, special importer registrations are now required.

This effectively means (to small time operators such as myself) that the EU, like the USA, is saying "we don't want your imports - go away" and they use regulations and taxes as their means to achieve this aim.

Latest example of this was an item I sent to an EU country, item value was just A$10. All required customs documentation was completed and the item was categorised as a 'gift'

Upon receipt at the border of the EU country, I was told a) I am not registered to send items to EU and b) there will be an import processing fee of EU50! This is for an import sent as a gift, with a value of a measly A$10

The item was returned to Australia (to continue with the transaction was just not financially viable) and lesson learned ... no further website access to EU countries for ordering. The EU bloc has spoken loud and clear - we don't want your stuff here! Paradoxically, the item was manufactured in the EU originally (50 years ago!)

I should point out that I did send a lot of items to EU countries prior to April 2025 with no problems at all, they were straightforward and simple transactions - no more!

I am now in the process of removing ordering access from ANY EU bloc country ... sad (and I feel for the citizens who are being caught up in this "trade bloc war") but absolutely necessary.

Ordering access on the website will now only be to our "local" trading friends such as New Zealand and throughout the Asia region plus countries in South America.

As a sideline to all this world trading instability and more specifically the stress that the USD is under, country soveign funds, investor funds etc are moving OUT of the traditional US Dollar and into the precious metal Gold. The spot price of Gold is skyrocketing and the end isn't in sight yet! If you had told someone that Gold was about to hit A$5000+ just a few years ago, they would think you are crazy ... well it is happening right now! The USD is being dumped and Gold is king

Here is a chart which tracks the market pricing of Gold per ounce on the spot market

HOLIDAY TIME

While stress and uncertainly is a part of everyday life, I need a break from all this turmoil!

At the end of September I will be disabling all ordering access to my website, although all items will remain visible but no purchasing will be possible. New products and Featured products will not change over this period.

At this stage I expect to be "taking a break" for around two weeks and should be 'back on deck' around mid October 2025

I ponder what sort of world I will be returning to! There is a LOT of talk about a global financial crash is imminent ...