JCB's recent Queen's Award for international trade is a reminder about the globalisation of the forklift industry. When we consider that the UK is an expensive market in terms of labour costs, land values and compliance costs, it is indeed impressive that JCB is able to dominate a market niche globally. And this triumph of design, production and marketing is reflected in the recent ITA business survey results which, while noting an increase in Chinese production, see US manufacturers holding their own against the new manufacturing powerhouse. The survey paves the way for increased global co-operation and demonstrates that these are, as the Chinese proverb states, interesting times.