Exports from big states like Texas, California and Michigan have soared since the 1990s when the North American Free Trade Agreement opened U.S. markets to Mexico. But not every state has been as savvy promoting cross-border trade.

A key component for building cars both here and around the world has has been nearly decimated by an explosion a couple of weeks ago in Germany.

Today the Bank of Japan is holding a meeting to talk about monetary policy for the third largest economy in the world, one year after the earthquake tsunami and nuclear disaster there.

U.S. factories boosted their output in January, and experts like Harvard's Willy Shih see that as a positive sign.