BRANDS IN AN AGE OF ANTI-AMERICANISM BusinessWeek/Interbrand's annual ranking of the world's most valuable brands shows that American labels are still potent

Luckily for the stewards of America's largest brands, plenty of consumers around the world are making a distinction between political independence from America and liking American brands. America's go-it-alone attitude in recent years, which has shaped its position on everything from environmental issues to Iraq, has aroused plenty of anti-U.S. sentiment. So far, however, that antipathy is not spilling over into a widespread rejection of U.S. hamburgers or packaged goods. Whatever the world thinks of the U.S. these days, American labels dominate this year's annual BusinessWeek/Interbrand Corp. ranking of the 100 most valuable global brands. U.S. brands claimed 62 places, including 8 of the top 10 spots.