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Archive for the ‘News’ Category

China Cuts Tariffs for New Zealand Wood and Paper: International Trade Council Acknowledges Positive Development

China, New Zealand, News, Trade Policy

April 7, 2022

The International Trade Council acknowledges the recent announcement by China’s Ministry of Finance to cut tariffs on wood and paper from New Zealand. The decision is expected to boost trade and investment between the two countries and foster economic growth. China will eliminate tariffs on 12 wood and paper products imported from New Zealand from […]

US Congress Votes to Suspend Russia Trade Status: International Trade Council Provides Insight

News, Russia, Trade Policy, United States

April 7, 2022

Washington, D.C. – The International Trade Council provides insight into the recent vote by the United States Congress to suspend Russia’s ‘most favoured nation’ trade status and ban imports of Russian oil. The Council urges all parties to engage in constructive dialogue to ensure that international trade and economic stability are maintained. With the US […]

Australia and India Forge Closer Trade Ties with Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement

Australia, Bilateral Trade Relation, India, News

April 2, 2022

The International Trade Council welcomes the recent signing of the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, which signals an intention by the two nations to forge closer trade ties. The virtual ceremony took place on April 2, with Australia’s Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, witnessing the event. According […]

International Trade Council Announces Israel-UAE Free Trade Agreement

Economic Development, News, United Arab Emirates

April 1, 2022

The International Trade Council is pleased to announce the conclusion of negotiations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates for a free trade agreement. The deal, which was reached after four rounds of negotiations, including a meeting in Egypt last month between Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and the UAE’s de facto leader, Abu Dhabi […]

EU Conflict Minerals Regulation (2017) – Third-Party Audit Best Practices (2021)

April 1, 2022

EU Conflict Minerals Regulation (2017) – Third-Party Audit Best Practices (2021)

The implementation of the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation (2017/821) has continued to reshape supply chain governance, particularly for sectors where tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold—so-called 3TG minerals—are essential inputs. Nowhere has this been felt more keenly than in the automotive industry, where Tier 1 suppliers find themselves navigating complex global sourcing relationships under intense scrutiny. […]

Australia’s Modern Slavery Act (2018) – First Reviews and Open Data Gaps (2021)

March 15, 2022

Australia’s Modern Slavery Act (2018) – First Reviews and Open Data Gaps (2021)

The release of the first parliamentary review of Australia’s Modern Slavery Act (2018), published towards the end of 2021, marked an important, though perhaps somewhat sobering, milestone in the country’s effort to combat forced labour and exploitation in supply chains. For those of us tracking the Act’s implementation, the review’s findings were hardly surprising, yet […]

International Trade Council expresses its support for Ukraine

News, Supply Chain, Ukrain

March 10, 2022

International Trade Council expresses its support for Ukraine amidst the catastrophic impact of the ongoing war on the country’s economy. The World Bank recently warned that the war in Ukraine would cut global economic growth, and the president of the World Bank, David Malpass, has called it “a catastrophe” for the world. The International Trade […]

International Trade Council expresses solidarity with Ukraine in ongoing conflict

International Relations, News, Ukrain

March 3, 2022

The International Trade Council stands in solidarity with Ukraine in the face of ongoing attacks from Russia, as Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland announces the country is stripping Russia and Belarus of their status as “most favoured nation” trading partners. “We strongly condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and support Canada’s move to impose […]

US Farm to Fork Act (Proposed 2021) – Supply Chain Traceability for Fresh Produce

March 1, 2022

US Farm to Fork Act (Proposed 2021) – Supply Chain Traceability for Fresh Produce

The 2021 introduction of the Farm to Fork Act into the U.S. legislative pipeline was, for many in the agri-food sector, a long-anticipated signal that supply chain traceability was about to become more than just a voluntary best practice. Though still a proposal at this stage, the Act’s underlying ambition—mandating comprehensive traceability for produce supplied […]

International Trade Council Celebrates the Resumption of Mexican Avocado Imports to the US

Bilateral Trade Relation, Mexico, News, United States

February 18, 2022

The International Trade Council welcomes the decision of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to lift the ban on Mexican avocado imports to the US. The ban, which was triggered by a threat to a US food inspector, had halted the primary supply of avocados to the US. The import ban had a […]

International Trade Council Comments on the Philippines and New Zealand Rejecting Myanmar’s Inclusion in RCEP

International Relations, New Zealand, News, Philippines

February 15, 2022

The International Trade Council acknowledges the decisions made by the Philippines and New Zealand to reject the inclusion of Myanmar in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest free trade agreement. This move broadens international opposition to the military takeover in Myanmar, which has led to violence, democratic setbacks, and trade and diplomatic […]

EU Plastics Strategy (2020) – Supply-Chain Implications for Recycled Content (2022)

February 15, 2022

EU Plastics Strategy (2020) – Supply-Chain Implications for Recycled Content (2022)

The European Union’s Plastics Strategy, formally adopted in 2020, was ambitious from the outset. By setting out targets like the requirement for 30% recycled content in all PET bottles by 2030, the EU signaled that voluntary commitments were no longer sufficient. It was always going to be about moving the market, not merely nudging it. […]

International Trade Council Comments on China-Lithuania Trade Issues

China, International Relations, News

February 11, 2022

The International Trade Council expresses concern over China’s suspension of beef imports from Lithuania amid the growing trade spat with the Baltic nation and its Western allies over Taiwan. The suspension took effect on Wednesday, and the General Administration of Customs did not give a reason for the suspension. However, the agency typically halts imports […]

International Trade Council Applauds US-Japan Steel Deal

Japan, News, Trade Relations, United States

February 10, 2022

The International Trade Council welcomes the truce between the United States and Japan, which allows most steel shipments from Japan to enter tariff-free for the first time since 2018. The agreement will remove the 25% levy on incoming steel imports from Japan, up to 1.25 million metric tons a year, and will take effect from […]

Japan’s Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation (2021) – Electronics E-Waste Transparency (2022)

February 1, 2022

Japan’s Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation (2021) – Electronics E-Waste Transparency (2022)

Japan’s efforts to manage electronic waste have always stood out for their structure and precision, but with the 2021 amendments to the Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics and Electrical Appliances, a new phase began. The amendments, in effect from February 2021, made it unmistakably clear: manufacturers can no longer afford to look […]

Canada’s ESG Transparency Regime (2021) – Mining Sector Supply-Chain Delineation (2022)

January 15, 2022

Canada’s ESG Transparency Regime (2021) – Mining Sector Supply-Chain Delineation (2022)

Canada’s mining sector is no stranger to public scrutiny. But with the federal government’s 2021 ESG transparency guidelines now in effect as of 2022, metal producers face a fresh imperative: map and disclose their supply chains in far greater detail than before. These aren’t just nice-to-have disclosures anymore. They’re fast becoming the baseline for credible […]

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