Canada’s conflict minerals reporting guidance, introduced in April 2022, has quietly but steadily shifted expectations for institutional investors operating in and around extractive industries. While much of the early discussion focused on producers and manufacturers—the more obvious targets of such regulation—it has become clear over the past year that institutional investors themselves now face a […]
European gas markets experienced a significant surge in prices, with the Dutch TTF gas futures index rising by nearly 7% to reach â‚ ¬54 per megawatt-hour. This substantial increase marks the highest level since mid-February and has raised concerns regarding supply stability. The catalyst for this price hike comes as Egypt reported a complete […]
Trade and economy officials from the Group of Seven (G-7) wealthy democracies reaffirmed their commitment on Sunday to collaborate in ensuring the smooth functioning of supply chains for essential goods such as energy and food, despite prevailing global uncertainties. In a joint statement, these nations pledged to uphold “a free and fair-trading system based […]
Beijing’s recent move to impose export restrictions on graphite has raised significant concerns within the global electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain. While China has stated that these restrictions are not specific to any particular sector, industry experts and insiders have highlighted potential challenges, especially for foreign manufacturers of EV battery components who have not […]
US oil refineries are increasing their production of diesel, heating oil, and jet fuel for the winter season, but they are grappling with profit challenges as gasoline margins have dropped by over 80% since the conclusion of the summer driving season. Refineries, which traditionally produce higher volumes of distillates like diesel and heating oil […]
The European Union’s Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products, or EUDR as it’s now commonly called, was formally adopted in April 2023 following the draft agreement reached in November 2022. It represents, by most measures, one of the EU’s most ambitious regulatory efforts to curb deforestation linked to commodity imports. Palm oil, soy, beef, and cocoa are […]
Leading business federations from the United States and the European Union have come together to call for constructive dialogue and cooperation as leaders convene for a crucial summit on Friday. The primary agenda includes resolving ongoing disputes stemming from metal tariffs initiated during the Trump administration and bolstering collaboration on essential minerals vital to the […]
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. […]
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 […]
WASHINGTON (International Trade Council) – The United States trade deficit showed a more significant contraction than anticipated in August, primarily driven by a solid increase in exports. This development is expected to bolster economic growth in the third quarter. According to the Commerce Department’s report on Thursday, the trade deficit shrank by 9.9% to […]
OTTAWA (International Trade Council) – Canada reported an unexpected trade surplus of C$718 million ($521.88 million) in August, marking a swift recovery in trade following labor strikes that led to port closures on the West Coast, according to data released on Thursday. Statistics Canada revealed that higher crude prices and gold transfers to the United […]
Since its passage in July 2022, the Financial CHOICE Act has subtly but unmistakably shifted the landscape for bond issuers in the United States. While the Act was, at first glance, positioned as part of a broader effort to streamline financial regulation and promote market stability, a closer reading—and certainly, its early implementation—reveals a notable […]
Since its launch in 2021, India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission has generated a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty across the clean-tech sector. The mission, designed to position India as a leading producer and exporter of green hydrogen, places heavy emphasis on building transparent, resilient supply chains for the technologies that underpin this emerging industry. Electrolyzer […]
The Environmental Protection Agency’s 2022 revisions to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) have brought a sharper, and arguably overdue, focus on the traceability of soybean oil used in biodiesel production. While the broad outlines of the RFS2, introduced back in 2018, were familiar to most stakeholders, these latest adjustments—particularly the call for explicit, documented traceability—are […]
The 2022 enforcement data for the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) offered, if nothing else, a stark reminder that regulatory vigilance in timber supply chains is no longer theoretical. For wood product distributors and importers, the penalties imposed during the 2020–2022 period painted a picture that was, depending on one’s perspective, either overdue or somewhat harsh. […]
The Blue Food Labeling and Sustainability Act, introduced in the US Senate back in 2021, marked a curious yet inevitable evolution in food labeling policy. For years, various advocacy groups had lobbied for a way to help consumers distinguish between seafood sourced responsibly and that harvested in ways less kind to marine ecosystems. The bill, […]