The US Dollar's Status As the World's Reserve Currency

©iStock/breeze393

Is the world giving up on the US dollar?  America’s national debt recently hit a new milestone of $40 trillion. It is estimated that interest payments on the national debt are now the second largest expense in the US government budget, trailing only social security. 

How was the US able to borrow so much and for so long? 

One answer, according Harvard economist Kenneth Rogoff, is the US dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency.

A Global Sell-Off in Government Bonds Pushes Borrowing Costs in Some of the World's Largest Economies

©iStock/Tatsuya Ozaki

A global sell-off in government bonds intensified on Tuesday (9/1/26), pushing borrowing costs in some of the world’s largest economies to the highest levels in decades. The moves threaten to ripple through a wide range of debt, including business loans and mortgages for already-stretched consumers.

A combination of factors are prompting investors to demand higher returns to hold government debt: a flood of borrowing by the world’s richest nations, expanding budget deficits, persistent inflation and few signs that countries are able or willing to take steps to improve these conditions.

Read the entire article here.

Growing Global Markets for Women’s Handmade Craft With Susan Hull Walker (9/2/26)

©2026 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

Have you ever wondered how to build a global brand without sacrificing authenticity; why purpose-driven businesses have a competitive advantage; and the importance of trust-based partnerships in global business?

Then this is the wegginar® for you.

Susan Hull Walker, Founder and Creative Director, Ibu Movement, will present, "Growing Global Markets for Women’s Handmade Craft," and will discuss all of the above and more.  

To learn more and to register free of charge thanks to wegg's sponsors, visit: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/2026/08/18/growing-global-markets-for-womens-handmade-craft/.

Discover practical strategies for scaling a mission-led business and how women entrepreneurs are reshaping the future of luxury.

Today in Global Small Business: Women-led MSMEs Need Stronger Links to Scale Up

©iStock/MDV Edwards

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Women-led micro, small and medium enterprises [in the Philippines] need stronger links to buyers and corporate supply chains if they are to move beyond small-scale operations and compete in larger markets, business leaders said.
• United Airlines to add 10 new international routes starting next year.  See where.
• Special report:  2026 Global Trade Report.
• Quote of the week: “The challenge is not just to float with the current of globalization, but to change its direction." – Mary Robinson
• Tengen has expanded its retail and logistics consumables operations into new verticals as it transforms into a one-stop global operation.
• UPS announced plans to invest $2 billion in its international, healthcare and supply chain solutions businesses through 2028 (requires subscription).

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement!     

Why Did I Ever Leave?

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Every time I'm in Chicago I think, 'Why did I ever leave?' This is the greatest city in the world." – Stephen Colbert, comedian and writer

In Loving Memory of Dolly Parton: Her Greatest Hits

Tariff Barriers Cannot Solve Productivity Problems

©iStock/Midnight Studio

Chinese experts on Tuesday [8/25/26] urged the US to recognize the basic economic reality that tariff barriers cannot solve its productivity problems and to allow US companies to share in the opportunities created by China's manufacturing development. 

They said the US' sizable trade deficits with multiple major trading partners should prompt Washington to recognize that the problem lies at home, rather than continue hyping the so-called issue of Chinese "overcapacity."

A Long Rest Stop for the Global Music Legend Dolly Parton

©iStock/fotoguy22

In true Dolly fashion, the country music legend made her final appearance with fans not at a black-tie gala but at a rest stop off I-65 in Tennessee. Not any rest stop, it's Dolly's very own rest [truck/travel] stop and one of her very last business ventures. 

Dolly Parton died Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at the age of 80.  Her last public appearance was at 3686 Pulaski Highway, just off I-65, at a Tennessee truck stop that was being christened in her honor. “I could not be prouder,” Parton said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, before explaining one of the reasons she wanted to lend her name to the venture. “I’ve spent my whole life traveling down the road.” 

She went on further to say, “Good food, real rest, a little music, and people who are genuinely glad you stopped in,” she told the crowd. “That’s what the road has always deserved, and that is what you will find here. Welcome home.”

Home she is. May she rest in peace.

New Sanctions Against Iran Aim to Cut the Country Off From the Global Economy

©wildpixel

The Trump administration unveiled a series of new sanctions against Iran Monday, aiming to cut the country off from the global economy and block its sources of revenue.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent outlined measures that extend beyond Iran’s borders to penalize foreign banks, companies, and countries that conduct specific business with Iran.

Bessent says [8/24/26], "Any entity that facilitates money laundering on behalf of Iran will be removed from the U.S. dollar system. The clock just started ticking."

Today in Global Small Business: What You Need to Know About the Canada-U.S. Trade War

©iStock/wildpixel

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Canada suspended trade negotiations, triggering President Trump’s 50 percent tariffs on a range of Canadian goods. Mark Carney said he would retaliate “dollar for dollar.”
• The lists of hundreds of goods from Canada subject to new 50 percent tariffs from the United States are long and seemingly organized at random.
• U.S., Canada spiral toward a trade war.
• Quote of the week: “We can chart a new course by building Canada strong at home and diversifying our trading relationships abroad." – Prime Minister Carney of Canada
• As Canada readies retaliatory tariffs, Mark Carney says his nation is 'at war' with U.S.
• Canada says it has come under economic attack from the U.S.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement!    

It Just Blooms

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms." – Zen Shin [Koshin Ogui]

EXIM Hitting the Road with Exporting and Business Growth Resources

©iStock/bankrx

The EXIM Roadshow will help companies learn how to take advantage of the power of exporting – allowing them to further build on their success, reach new markets and bring lasting economic benefits throughout a state.

The EXIM Roadshow will focus on three areas:

1. Financing options for businesses and customers to assist with expansion projects
2. Accessing local, state and national resources for international trade and business growth
3. Strengthening resources for the small business ecosystem through evolving partnerships

Learn about the Kansas EXIM Roadshow here.