Archive for the ‘News’ Category

International Trade, News, Ukrain

April 26, 2022

April 26, 2022 – The International Trade Council (ITC) is concerned about the impact of the Ukraine-Russia war on global commodity prices, with the World Bank forecasting the “largest commodity shock” since the 1970s. The ITC acknowledges the warning from the World Bank and is supportive of Ukraine as it faces this challenging situation.   […]

Islamabad, Pakistan – The Pakistani Finance Minister, Miftah Ismail, has announced that Pakistan is seeking an increase in the size and duration of its $6bn International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. Following discussions with the IMF in Washington, Ismail requested that the fund extend the programme for another year and enhance the funding available to Pakistan […]

Supply Chain

April 15, 2022

The introduction of the US Senate’s “Right to Repair” bill in early 2022 marked a significant moment in the long-running debate over consumer rights, electronics durability, and supply-chain transparency. For years, advocates had been calling for measures that would curb what they view as artificial barriers to product longevity—whether that means locked-down software, unavailable replacement […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Supply Chain

April 1, 2022

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. […]

Supply Chain

March 15, 2022

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]