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The International Trade Council Team

Archive for the ‘News’ Category

News, Supply Chain

October 13, 2023

At the heart of vibrant Marrakesh during the esteemed annual assembly of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, a pressing issue found its way to the forefront of discussions: the critical need to expand access to trade finance, especially for small and women-led businesses striving for a foothold in the global market. […]

News, Trade Compliance

October 12, 2023

In a significant development for international trade, an Advanced Course focusing on the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) began on October 10th at the WTO. This comprehensive two-week training program boasts the participation of 26 government officials from diverse member nations. The course’s primary goal is to equip […]

China, International Trade, News

October 11, 2023

In the midst of complex global economic conditions, China, the world’s second-largest economy, exhibits signs of trade stabilization, as indicated by expert forecasts gathered by Reuters. Data anticipates a deceleration in the decline of exports for September, marking a consequential shift in the nation’s trade performance. Projections for September suggest a 7.6% decrease in exports […]

News, Trade Policy

October 9, 2023

In a significant stride towards understanding the trade and development priorities of developing economies and least-developed countries (LDCs), WTO members launched the Aid-for-Trade monitoring and evaluation exercise during a Committee on Trade and Development meeting on October 9th. This exercise aims to scrutinize how development finance, provided by partners, is addressing the unique needs of […]

News, Trade Policy

October 9, 2023

The International Trade Council applauds the recent strides made by the Informal Working Group on Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), as detailed during their meeting on October 9th, in preparation for the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) slated for February 2024. Under the astute guidance of Coordinator Ambassador Matthew Wilson of Barbados, the group has […]

International Trade, News

October 9, 2023

October 9, WTO members initiated the sixth “Fish Week” of the year, marking the shift into the text-based phase of negotiations aimed at establishing regulations on subsidies linked to overcapacity and overfishing. Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Ambassador Einar Gunnarsson of Iceland, who chairs the negotiations, emphasized the intensifying negotiations in anticipation of the WTO’s Senior […]

In a climate of persistent economic uncertainty, particularly regarding U.S. employment data, markets across the Asian sphere presented a largely positive front, despite subdued trading activity, the International Trade Council reported on Friday.   While Japan’s Nikkei 225 experienced a slight contraction, decreasing by 0.3% to settle at 31,129.06, other key market indicators in the […]

Indonesia, International Trade, News

October 6, 2023

Indonesia has revealed its intentions to bolster customs monitoring procedures for specific imported goods, encompassing cosmetics, footwear, apparel, toys, and electronics, as part of the country’s efforts to manage its import volume.   The decision to introduce this regulation comes in response to concerns raised by business associations regarding a surge in imported goods, which […]

Economic Development, News

October 6, 2023

At the 2023 Annual WTO Conference organized by the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard delivered a keynote speech highlighting the transformative effects of technological developments on international trade. She emphasized the growing role of services, particularly digitally-delivered services, in the global economy and how new technologies have facilitated trade […]

International Trade, News

October 5, 2023

The International Trade Council, based on notifications from developing and least-developed country members, has identified five specific measures within the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) where implementation assistance is most frequently sought for the upcoming two years. This update was presented by the WTO Secretariat during a meeting of the Committee on Trade Facilitation, which was […]

Brazil, International Trade, News

October 5, 2023

The Brazilian auto export industry is poised for a substantial downturn in 2023, according to the recent announcement by the automaker association, Anfavea. This projected decline comes as a direct consequence of the severe economic challenges currently facing Argentina, a key trading partner. Anfavea, in a statement released on Friday, revised its export projections for […]

International Trade, News

October 5, 2023

The latest release of the “Global Trade Outlook and Statistics” by the World Trade Organization (WTO) offers revised projections for global trade in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, the WTO has revised its forecast for the growth of world merchandise trade volume, downgrading it to 0.8%. This is less than half of the 1.7% growth […]

News, Supply Chain

October 5, 2023

GENEVA (International Trade Council) – The World Trade Organization (WTO) has adjusted its forecast for global goods trade growth in 2023, citing several factors, including inflation, higher interest rates, challenges in the Chinese property market, and the ongoing Ukraine conflict as influencing its outlook. The Geneva-based trade organization announced that it now expects merchandise trade […]