Archive for the ‘News’ Category

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 […]

Supply Chain

March 1, 2022

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 […]

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 […]

Supply Chain

February 1, 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 […]

Supply Chain

January 15, 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 […]

The International Trade Council is pleased to announce the launch of negotiations between India and the United Kingdom on a free trade deal. This ambitious agreement is expected to significantly boost bilateral trade, marking one of the most notable negotiations for the UK following Brexit. British International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan met with India’s Minister […]

Supply Chain

January 1, 2022

The arrival of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) on January 1, 2022, marks a significant new chapter in the evolving relationship between corporate governance and supply chain risk management in the United States. For years, supply chain managers, compliance officers, and procurement professionals have struggled with the thorny challenge of identifying beneficial owners lurking behind […]

The International Trade Council is delighted to announce the signing of a free trade agreement between Australia and the United Kingdom. The deal was signed virtually by Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan in Adelaide and Britain’s Secretary of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan in London. This landmark agreement will eliminate 99% of taxes on […]