The witch phenomena obscure Salem's other claim to fame: its glory days as a centre for the clipper-ship trade with China and its preeminent trader, Elias Derby, became America's first millionaire.

BBC: Historical day trips from Boston

As a global trader, even the biggest of them, India, is dwarfed by China.

ECONOMIST: China has won; but so far, South Asia has not lost

In November China Agri-Industries, a subsidiary of COFCO, established a partnership with Wilmar, the world's largest trader in palm oil.

ECONOMIST: No matter how bad things get, people still need to eat