Distinguished international trade law practitioner and diplomat to lead national trade initiatives and strengthen South Africa’s international business connections SINGAPORE / JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — The International Trade Council (ITC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Roger Latchman as Chairperson for South Africa. In this role, Dr Latchman will spearhead the Council’s […]
Dr Roger Latchman outlines a practical roadmap to position South Africa as a key global trade hub by 2035 June 18, 2026 – The International Trade Council has published Trading Up: How South Africa Can Anchor the Next Economic Growth Engine, a comprehensive new book by trade expert Dr Roger Latchman. This publication provides […]
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Americas is seeing a significant boost as global corporations deploy billions of dollars to expand their manufacturing and distribution footprints. Recent announcements from pharmaceutical leader Novo Nordisk in the United States and food conglomerate Nestlé in Brazil underscore a growing corporate commitment to localizing production and securing regional supply […]
New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) officially concluded negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), marking a significant milestone in bilateral relations. According to reports from Reuters and Gulf News, the trade pact is designed to substantially lower trade barriers and foster deeper economic integration between the two nations. The conclusion of […]
Global supply chains are experiencing significant shifts as shippers seek alternatives to traditional ocean routes and major ports adapt to resilient consumer demand. According to the Financial Times, shippers are increasingly turning to overland rail networks, leading to a record number of China-Europe freight train trips. This surge is driven by ongoing security concerns in […]
At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on June 14, 2026, Hong Kong and Peru officially signed a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA). As reported by the South China Morning Post and Reuters, the landmark agreement is designed to strengthen bilateral trade and investment channels between the Asian financial hub and the South American nation. [...]
The European Union is actively advancing its trade agenda in Southeast Asia, marking significant progress in bilateral negotiations with both Thailand and the Philippines. According to the European Commission, the EU and Thailand concluded their latest round of negotiations for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Bangkok on June 12, 2026. As reported by [...]
Global technology corporations are significantly expanding their foreign direct investment (FDI) footprints, committing billions of dollars to cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), and satellite infrastructure across Europe and Southeast Asia. These strategic moves highlight a growing corporate focus on digital transformation and regional infrastructure resilience. In Europe, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced a substantial expansion [...]
According to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, and The Wall Street Journal, Toyota Motor Corp. has committed an additional $8 billion to its electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing facility currently under construction in Liberty, North Carolina. This expansion brings the total projected investment in the site to approximately $13.9 billion. The facility is designed [...]
Bilateral trade landscapes in Asia and the Middle East are undergoing significant transformations as nations work to finalize new agreements and upgrade existing frameworks. According to a report by Reuters on June 15, 2026, India and Oman are currently in the final stages of completing the legal scrubbing for their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), [...]
Singapore signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement with the Mercosur bloc, which comprises Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore and reports from The Straits Times and Reuters. This agreement represents Mercosur's first trade pact with a Southeast Asian nation. The deal aims to facilitate trade by lowering [...]
The Customs Tariff Commission of China's State Council announced a comprehensive plan to adjust its import and export tariff codes, as reported by Xinhua. The primary objective of these adjustments is to optimize the country's import and export structures, aligning them with current economic and environmental priorities. According to reports from Reuters and Bloomberg, the [...]
The African Union has finalized and adopted the Protocol on Digital Trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), marking a significant step forward for e-commerce across the continent. According to the World Economic Forum, this protocol establishes a unified legal framework designed to facilitate cross-border digital trade, protect data privacy, and promote digital [...]
The World Customs Organization (WCO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) published a joint classification reference list aimed at assisting customs administrations and traders globally. According to the WCO and WHO, this joint guidance is designed to help identify the correct Harmonized System (HS) codes for rapidly evolving digital health technologies. The new reference list [...]
International regulatory bodies and national governments are taking decisive steps to close loopholes exploited by trade-based money laundering (TBML) schemes. Recent updates from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and legislative action in New Zealand reflect a growing global consensus on the need for greater transparency in corporate ownership and trade transactions. On June [...]
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced the substantive conclusion of negotiations for the Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA). According to reports from Reuters and the Government of Canada, the announcement was made on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru. This bilateral agreement is [...]
