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The State of the Jade Business
While signs of life are seen at the gem markets abroad, the U.S. jade business has been struck by two huge blows: the precipitous fall of the economy almost concurrent with the enactment of the JADE Act (forbidding new supply of only 'certain' Burmese products. These products are nowhere near the top in export value to the ruling regime, but were singled out, small as they are, because there is no significant lobby to worry about; neither the jade business nor the ruby business has a trade group that lobbies in Washington on its behalf, like maybe natural gas, and teak). Meanwhile, the apparent lack of the availability of fine jade has made those pieces already here all the more costly, and added a bit of cachet at the same time. Meanwhile, the Asian market is starting to awaken, especially in China, and fine jade goods are costlier than ever. Back to News List |