Archive for the ‘News’ Category

News, Transport and Logistics

March 26, 2021

The International Trade Council has reported that an estimated $9.6bn ( £7bn) worth of goods are held up every day due to the stranded Ever Given mega-container ship in the Suez Canal. The canal is a vital passageway between the East and West, with approximately 12% of total global trade moving through it. Shipping expert […]

Abu Dhabi Investment Fund Mubadala has committed to investing £800 million in the UK’s life sciences sector over five years, marking the first of what could be several billion pounds of investments in the UK. Abu Dhabi is also reportedly planning to invest heavily in British health, tech, green energy, and infrastructure. The exact size […]

Economic Relations, Ireland, News

March 18, 2021

The Republic of Ireland recorded a 65% decrease in British imports, resulting in almost â‚ ¬1bn ( £856m) less of British goods in January 2021, in contrast to the same period last year, according to the Central Statistics Office of Ireland. The decline was even steeper for food imports, which plummeted by 75%, marking a […]

Supply Chain

March 15, 2021

The introduction of Canada’s Sustainable Jobs Act, known as Bill C-12, back in June 2020 set the stage for a legislative framework that aims to guide the country through the complexities of a just transition toward a low-carbon economy. While the bill is still pending passage, the expectations it has already generated are shaping decisions […]

The International Trade Council (ITC) welcomes the decision by the United States and the European Union to temporarily suspend the tariffs on each other’s goods, which were imposed as retaliation over subsidies provided to Airbus and Boeing, respectively. The four-month suspension, which affects billions of dollars’ worth of goods, including wine, cheese, and tractors, comes […]

Sydney, 1 March 2021 – The International Trade Council (ITC) expresses its concern over the recent 61% drop in Chinese investment in Australia in 2020, marking a six-year low. The drop comes amid growing diplomatic tensions between the two countries, and signals a major challenge to Australia’s economy, which has long benefited from Chinese investment. […]

Supply Chain

March 1, 2021

With the Royal Assent of the U.K. Environment Bill on November 9, 2020, attention has turned swiftly to the practicalities of implementation. The bill represents one of the most significant overhauls of environmental governance in the United Kingdom in decades. While much of the public focus has been on biodiversity, air quality, and water management, […]

News, Supply Chain

February 24, 2021

Washington, D.C. – The International Trade Council has welcomed President Joe Biden’s order for officials to find ways to bolster supply chains amidst the global shortage of computer chips that has hit car manufacturers around the world. The initial review is focused on computer chips, pharmaceuticals, rare earth minerals, and large batteries, such as those […]

Supply Chain

February 15, 2021

The enactment of the U.S. Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) in December 2020 marked a pivotal development in efforts to combat financial crime, with ripple effects now reaching deeply into supply chain governance. While the legislation’s immediate intent focused on preventing money laundering and terrorist financing, its requirements for beneficial ownership disclosure create a significant opportunity—and […]

Supply Chain

February 1, 2021

The release of the first annual implementation report for the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation in January 2021 provided a timely window into how sectors such as automotive and electronics are responding to the increasingly complex task of auditing their tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold (commonly referred to as 3TG) supply chains. The Regulation, which came […]

Supply Chain

January 1, 2021

Since the introduction of Canada’s Bill C-14, the Modern Slavery Act, in June 2020, many retailers and importers have found themselves facing an uncomfortable but necessary reckoning. The bill, though still progressing through the legislative process, has already sent a strong signal: the era of voluntary modern slavery reporting is drawing to a close. For […]

News, Trade Policy, United States

December 22, 2020

The International Trade Council is closely monitoring the recent move by the United States to blacklist more than 100 Chinese and Russian companies with alleged military ties. The US government has placed export restrictions on these companies and US exporters will be required to obtain a license before they transfer “designated items” to companies on […]