Australia’s National Plastics Plan, released in November 2023, marks a significant regulatory advance in the country’s efforts to reduce plastic waste and promote circular economy practices. At its core, the Plan imposes mandatory upstream reporting requirements on producers, importers, and users of plastic packaging materials. The goal is to create full transparency across the plastics […]
The US Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Climate Rule, finalized in September 2023, represents a landmark development in the federal government’s efforts to integrate climate risk and sustainability into its procurement practices. The rule mandates that major federal contractors—defined as entities with more than $50 million in annual federal obligations—disclose their Scope 1, 2, and 3 […]
The EU Conflict Minerals Regulation, which came into full effect on January 1, 2021, marked a critical step in the European Union’s efforts to prevent the financing of armed groups through the trade of tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold (commonly referred to as 3TG minerals). The regulation imposes mandatory due diligence obligations on EU importers […]
The final rule issued under the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Supply Chain Cybersecurity framework, effective January 2022, has reshaped how telecommunications providers manage vendor risk across critical infrastructure. Developed in response to growing threats against US communications networks, this rule compels telecom carriers to systematically assess the cybersecurity posture of their hardware […]
Japan’s 2022 amendment to the Act on Promotion of Transparency in Public Procurement marked a significant shift toward ensuring accountability and sustainability in the construction sector. Effective from April 2023, the amendment introduced new requirements for the disclosure of sources of construction materials in all public works projects. This reform was driven by increasing public […]
Canada’s 2022 Critical Minerals Strategy represents a pivotal move to position the country as a global leader in the responsible sourcing and production of materials essential for clean energy technologies. As the global demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage solutions surges, the strategy focuses on strengthening the transparency, security, and sustainability of battery […]
The 2023 impact report on the EU Conflict Timber Regulation (EUTR), which has been in force since March 2013, offers valuable insights into the progress and remaining challenges of improving transparency across wood and paper product supply chains. Over the past decade, the regulation has served as the EU’s principal tool for preventing illegally harvested […]
The introduction of the US “Right to Repair” Act in August 2022 has sparked a significant shift in the practices of electronics manufacturers regarding the transparency of spare-parts availability. Although the proposed legislation has yet to be enacted at the federal level, its influence is already visible across various sectors. The Act aims to require […]
Australia’s Modern Slavery Act, enacted in 2018, established a mandatory reporting framework requiring large entities to disclose the steps they have taken to address modern slavery risks within their operations and supply chains. The publication of the first updates to the Modern Slavery Transparency Register in December 2023 marks a significant milestone in the evolution […]
Since the EU’s new Battery Regulation took effect in February 2023, battery manufacturers across the bloc have been navigating a complex landscape of compliance demands, technical challenges, and evolving market expectations. The regulation, ambitious in scope, aims to impose strict sustainability and transparency standards on the entire lifecycle of batteries, from raw material extraction through […]
In a recent announcement, Trade Ministry official Syailendra revealed that Indonesia successfully met its domestic palm oil sales obligation for the year 2023, reaching a notable 3.26 million metric tons. This accomplishment was complemented by the issuance of export permits totaling 25.2 million tons. Syailendra further disclosed that, out of the granted permits, approximately […]
Since its enactment in January 2021, the US Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act has reshaped not only the compliance expectations for foreign issuers in US capital markets but also, indirectly perhaps, the risk management frameworks of the US institutions investing in or doing business with them. While its primary thrust is to ensure that foreign […]
Eight of the world’s leading commodities traders have made a significant commitment to cease purchasing soy from farms that harm South American grasslands, reinforcing their prior promises to avoid suppliers involved in forest clearing. This landmark announcement was made during the COP28 climate summit. This pledge holds immense potential for the conservation of […]
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is set to embark on a trip to Mexico City from December 5th to 7th, with a focus on enhancing collaboration with Mexican officials to combat illicit finance and the trafficking of fentanyl. Additionally, the visit aims to reinforce Mexico’s role in U.S. supply chains, as stated by Treasury officials. […]
The first wave of reports under the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), submitted in June 2023, has drawn both praise and criticism in policy and financial circles. What’s striking—perhaps more than the content itself—is the diversity in the approaches large enterprises have taken, particularly in supply-chain disclosures. Some firms appear to have embraced the […]
In a groundbreaking session held on November 21, experts from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international organizations gathered to delve into the concept of supply chain resilience. This meeting, the first in a series of thematic sessions, aimed to establish a comprehensive understanding of supply chain resilience, providing a platform for members to […]