"The Soviet Union has ceased to be a major economic force. In fact, it may shortly cease to be a world power, and may even simply disintegrate under the weight of its own internal economic cataclysm."

That dismal report came from Stephen M. Studdert, chairman of the Studdert Group Ltd. and former advisor to President Bush, during the Wednesday evening awards program for the World Trade Association of Utah in the University Park Hotel."The Soviet economy, indeed the economies of most of the nations of the Soviet bloc, are in shambles," Studdert said, noting that by next month, elections will be held in several Eastern European countries.

"Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of employment, entrepreneurship - extraordinary and exciting changes are occurring. But these political and policy reforms will be accompanied by substantial economic disruption, inflation and higher prices for consumer goods and previously unknown real unemployment," Studdert said.

During the banquet, Stanley K. Rees, association president and trade specialist for the U.S. Department of Commerce, presented plaques to the international person of the year and the international company of the year.

International person of the year is Robert R. Mallinckrodt, a partner in the law firm of Mallinckrodt and Mallinckrodt, which specializes in patent, trademark and copyright law. Mallinckrodt has been involved in helping clients protect their products in foreign countries.

He has been active in the association for several years, was president in 1987-88 and a member of the board of directors for several years. He also is a member of the Utah Export Council, an organization whose role is to encourage exporting, and currently is writing an export resource directory to list various services available to help exporters.

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Mallinckrodt said patent and trademark protection in foreign countries isn't a requirement, but the protection gives exporters an entrance into a market and preserves the market.

Accepting a plaque from Rees was Dr. H. DeWayne Ashmead, president of Albion Laboratories Inc., Clearfield, a company that exports its health products and services to Europe, the Middle East, Central America, South America, the Pacific Rim, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Canada.

Albion was founded in 1956 by Dr. Harvey H. Ashmead and originally was a distributor of nutritional supplements and pharmaceuticals for the veterinary field. Within two years, Albion began to manufacture the products it sold and Harvey concentrated on research into minerals and nutrition.

The company received its first patent in 1965 and now holds 35 patents and has evolved into a world leader in nutritional technology, said Rees. Harvey turned the company leadership over to son DeWayne in 1982.

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