Bill C-13, also known as the Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2021, represents one of the most significant overhauls of Canadian privacy law in decades. With the legislation taking effect in November 2022, many Canadian firms—particularly those engaged in cross-border trade and logistics—have been steadily waking up to its profound implications. For supply chain managers, compliance […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 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 European Union’s Plastics Strategy, formally adopted in 2020, was ambitious from the outset. By setting out targets like the requirement for 30% recycled content in all PET bottles by 2030, the EU signaled that voluntary commitments were no longer sufficient. It was always going to be about moving the market, not merely nudging it. […]
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 […]
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 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 adoption of the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) in November 2021 represents a decisive step in redefining the responsibilities of online marketplaces, platforms, and intermediaries operating within the European Union. Set to take effect in February 2022, the DSA aims to create a safer digital environment by strengthening transparency obligations and clarifying liability for […]
The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (HFCAA), enacted in December 2021, represents a significant shift in how the United States seeks to manage transparency risks tied to foreign corporate issuers. While the law’s immediate purpose is to protect investors by requiring foreign firms listed on U.S. exchanges to submit to audit inspections by the Public […]
Australia’s National Forest Industries Plan, introduced in October 2021, laid the foundation for one of the most ambitious timber traceability efforts seen in recent memory. The Plan’s provisions, calling for full digital tracking of timber origins by November 2022, reflect a growing recognition of the need to balance commercial forestry with sustainability and compliance imperatives. […]
The first round of compliance audits under the EU Regulation on Conflict Minerals, introduced at the start of 2021, has begun to reveal both the strengths and shortcomings of corporate due diligence efforts across sectors. Preliminary findings from late 2021 audits suggest that while many companies—particularly large electronics OEMs—have made meaningful strides in formalizing policies […]
The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, signed into law in early January of that year, introduced a suite of measures aimed at reshaping the strategic landscape for rare earth element supply chains in the United States. These provisions, perhaps overdue in the eyes of some policymakers, reflect growing concern in Washington over the nation’s longstanding […]
In June 2021, Global Affairs Canada released its enhanced due diligence guidance targeting forced labor and child labor risks in supply chains. The guidance primarily focuses on clothing and agricultural imports, given the well-documented vulnerabilities in these sectors. The guidance came at a time when the international scrutiny of Canadian importers was growing, and the […]