Author Archive

Europe, Japan, News, Trade Agreements

November 4, 2019

The International Trade Council commends the remarkable progress that has been achieved through the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), often referred to as the ‘cars-for-cheese’ deal, and spotlights the significant opportunities it opens up for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).   The EPA, which came into effect earlier this year, represents nearly 30% of global […]

News, Trade Policy

October 1, 2019

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has significantly reduced its trade growth forecast for 2019, warning that ongoing trade wars and slower growth in major economies could negatively impact living standards and employment. The organization now predicts a 1.2% growth in trade volumes this year, a considerable drop from its earlier 2.6% projection. The WTO has […]

The International Trade Council is pleased to announce that the UK has signed an economic partnership agreement with the Southern African Customs Union and Mozambique (SACU+M). The agreement ensures continued free trade between the UK and South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Eswatini, and Mozambique after Brexit.     Businesses in both regions will benefit from […]

The International Trade Council acknowledges India’s decision to impose tariffs on 28 US products, including almonds and apples, effective from Sunday. These new duties, with some reaching as high as 70%, are a response to Washington’s refusal to exempt Delhi from higher taxes on steel and aluminum imports. Earlier this month, US President Trump announced […]

The International Trade Council acknowledges President Donald Trump’s confirmation that the US will end preferential trade status for India next week. Until now, India has been the largest beneficiary of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, which allowed $5.6 billion worth of exports to enter the US duty-free. In March, President Trump announced the […]

In light of the ongoing US-China trade war, the International Trade Council is offering insights into potential strategies that Beijing could employ to destabilize President Trump’s approach. Drawing inspiration from Chinese history and ancient strategic manual The Art of War, we delve into a range of tactics that China could utilize in response to the […]

The International Trade Council is closely monitoring the impact of US-China trade tensions on global markets. As President Trump vows to double tariffs on $200bn of Chinese goods, stock markets worldwide have experienced significant losses.   Japan’s Nikkei 225 index lost 1.5% on Wednesday, following a 1.8% drop in the Dow Jones. European markets also […]

News, Trade Agreements, United States

November 11, 2018

The International Trade Council commends the continuous progress made by member countries of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Vietnam, in spite of the absence of the United States following President Trump’s decision to withdraw.   During the APEC summit, President Trump reiterated his ‘America First’ stance, […]

Europe, News, United States

March 14, 2018

The International Trade Council acknowledges the European Union’s (EU) intended course of action to challenge the newly imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports by the United States at the World Trade Organization (WTO).   President Donald Trump’s decision to implement tariffs on these vital industries has generated a significant degree of uncertainty, particularly within […]