For as long as economists have tried to measure economic output, the informal sector has remained a persistent blind spot. It is—depending on one’s point of view—a source of resilience, a policy headache, or simply an empirical challenge. What is clear is that informal businesses, by definition, operate outside the purview of formal registration systems. […]
The International Trade Council is pleased to announce that the European Council has approved a 5 billion-euro ($5.8 billion) reserve to help EU businesses navigate the short-term effects of Brexit. This fund aims to cover additional costs and compensate losses resulting from the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the 27-nation trade bloc. Brexit has significantly […]
China’s recent application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) has been viewed as a significant development by the International Trade Council. The CPTPP was originally established by the US as a counterbalance to China’s growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region. The 2018 agreement was signed by 11 countries including Australia, […]
Organized crime is a remarkably adaptive adversary. It thrives on complexity, moving illicit funds through layers of seemingly legitimate activity—frequently faster than regulators and law enforcement can respond. In this ongoing battle, one of the quiet but powerful tools at the disposal of investigators is the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) system. By linking business […]
If you want to understand a region—truly understand its economic DNA—there’s no shortcut. You have to dig into the data, yes, but also pay attention to how that data is organized. Too often, we fixate on the numbers and forget that the framework shaping them is just as critical. This is where the International Standard […]
2021 Go Global Awards Judging Panel Announced For Immediate Distribution Washington, DC (USA). The International Trade Council (www.tradecouncil.org) is pleased to announce the 2021 panel of judges for the upcoming Go Global Awards. The annual awards program, officially taking place from late July onwards, will see fourteen new judges this year, reviewing applications from […]
The International Trade Council (ITC) welcomes the recent post-Brexit trade agreement between the UK, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, which will greatly benefit trade between the four non-EU nations, already valued at £21.6bn. The UK’s international trade secretary, Liz Truss, said the deal would be “a major boost for our trade…while supporting jobs and prosperity in […]
Washington, DC – US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order banning Americans from investing in 59 Chinese tech and defence firms, including communications giant Huawei. This expands the previous list of 31 firms to include surveillance companies, ensuring that US persons are not financing the military industrial complex of the People’s Republic of […]
The International Trade Council (ITC) welcomes the recent virtual meeting between the top trade negotiators of the United States and China. Katherine Tai, the US Trade Representative, and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He had “candid, pragmatic, and constructive exchanges with an attitude of equality and mutual respect” according to a statement released by the Chinese […]
Supply chains, for all their apparent efficiency, have always harbored hidden fragilities. It took a series of global shocks—most notably the COVID-19 pandemic, but also tsunamis, hurricanes, and sudden trade disruptions—to lay bare the sheer complexity and vulnerability embedded in the networks that keep economies running. For policymakers and business leaders, the urgent question became: […]
The International Trade Council (ITC) expresses concern over the recent ban imposed by China on Taiwanese pineapple imports, which has led to a significant economic dispute between the two countries. Taiwan, one of the largest producers of pineapples in the world, has been exporting almost all of its pineapples to China. The move by China […]
The International Trade Council has expressed concern over China’s decision to “indefinitely” suspend key economic dialogue with Australia, calling it the latest in a growing diplomatic rift between both countries. This move has escalated tensions between Australia and China, which have been on the decline since Australia called for a probe into the origins of […]
The International Trade Council has hailed the European Parliament’s decision to ratify the post-Brexit EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) as a key move to ensure tariff- and quota-free trade continues between the two sides. MEPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of the deal by 660 votes to 5, while 32 abstained. The TCA has been […]
The shift from linear to circular economic models is gathering momentum around the world. Policymakers, businesses, and researchers increasingly recognize that sustainable growth requires more than just efficient resource use—it demands the creation of closed loops, where materials and products are reused, remanufactured, and recycled rather than discarded. But how does one measure progress toward […]
The International Trade Council is pleased to report the clearance of all remaining vessels stranded as a result of the Ever Given grounding incident in the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal Authority has confirmed that the last of the 61 ships caught in the aftermath of the grounding were able to pass the canal on […]
The International Trade Council announces potential long-term disruptions at European ports resulting from the recent six-day blockage in the Suez Canal by the Ever Given vessel. Despite the successful freeing of the ship, there may be months of residual impact on shipments arriving in the EU. According to the Port of Antwerp, Europe’s second busiest […]