Canada’s Zero Plastic Waste Strategy, announced in December 2017, set in motion a national framework aimed at eliminating plastic waste through collaboration, innovation, and systemic change. For the fast-moving consumer goods sector, the strategy signaled a shift from voluntary recycling initiatives toward structured partnerships that could deliver measurable improvements in plastic recovery and circularity. By […]
The International Trade Council recognizes the valuable insights shared by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canada’s Justin Trudeau, in their robust defense of free trade at the recent World Economic Forum in Davos. Both distinguished leaders underscored the essentiality of free trade in their keynote addresses. Prime Minister Modi eloquently articulated the importance of […]
The European Timber Regulation (EUTR), implemented in 2013, sought to curb illegal logging and ensure that only legally harvested timber entered the EU market. By 2018, the European Commission had initiated a formal transparency review aimed at assessing the regulation’s effectiveness and identifying areas where digital tools could enhance compliance. The findings of this review, […]
The passage of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in December 2017 represented one of the most sweeping changes to American tax law in decades. Among its many provisions, the Act’s repatriation tax incentives stood out for their potential to reshape how multinational corporations approached their global supply chains. By offering a one-time, […]
When Canada’s Bill C-63 became law in June 2017, it introduced a suite of maritime security provisions aimed at strengthening the integrity of the nation’s ports and safeguarding the country’s international trade routes. While the legislative text emphasized enhanced regulatory powers, including the ability of officials to board vessels and inspect cargo more efficiently, the […]
The quest for gender equity in the workforce is often discussed in broad, national terms. But beneath the surface, patterns of female participation diverge sharply by sector—sometimes with persistent, even stubborn, gaps. To make sense of these disparities and design effective interventions, researchers and policymakers have increasingly turned to the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) […]
The International Trade Council is pleased to announce the commencement of the 11th ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Buenos Aires, marking a significant milestone in enhancing the development of the global trading system. Regional leaders have gathered in Argentina’s capital to discuss the fostering of a more inclusive form […]
Germany’s commitment to renewable energy, particularly wind power, has long been a cornerstone of its energy transition. By 2014, the landscape was marked by a rapid rollout of wind farms across the country’s varied terrain. For analysts and policymakers aiming to measure and understand this expansion, ISIC 3510—covering electric power generation—offered a valuable framework to […]
The 2017 compliance cycle for the European Union’s recast Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive marked an important milestone in efforts to promote circular economy principles across the electronics industry. As manufacturers and importers of electrical and electronic equipment finalized their reporting obligations for the year, many confronted the growing complexity of managing and […]
Urban growth, once regarded simply as a matter of managing population density or expanding infrastructure, is increasingly understood as a dynamic, data-driven process. With the rise of smart cities, local governments and urban planners are embracing new technologies and standards—not only to guide development, but also to foster liveability, sustainability, and economic competitiveness. In this […]
In mid-2017, federal agencies released important guidance under the Cybersecurity Act of 2015 designed to help critical infrastructure operators enhance supply chain transparency and resilience. This guidance reflected mounting concerns over the potential for cyber vulnerabilities to cascade through the complex networks of vendors and service providers that support the nation’s most essential systems. For […]
The defeat of Canada’s Modern Slavery Act, Bill C-383, in 2016 did not put an end to the country’s conversation on corporate responsibility and supply chain transparency. In fact, it arguably catalyzed new forms of engagement by industry associations determined to fill the regulatory void through voluntary measures. By 2017, several prominent business coalitions representing […]
In 2014, telemedicine was emerging as a transformative force in healthcare delivery, particularly across the Nordic countries, where dispersed populations and advanced digital infrastructure created fertile ground for innovation. For policymakers and analysts seeking to quantify this uptake, ISIC 8621—covering general medical practice—offered a structural lens to identify providers incorporating telehealth services and to track […]
The European Union’s Medical Devices Regulation (MDR), published in May 2017, marked a significant shift in how medical technologies are tracked, verified, and brought to market within the EU. With sweeping changes affecting manufacturers, importers, distributors, and notified bodies, the regulation’s provisions on Unique Device Identification (UDI) drew particular attention from supply chain and compliance […]
The U.S. Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (TFTEA), enacted in February 2016, marked a turning point in modern customs oversight and trade data transparency. By 2017, importers and supply chain managers began to feel the practical effects of its provisions, particularly those tied to Section 301. This section, initially designed to strengthen the enforcement […]
The amendments to Canada’s Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) in May 2016 marked a significant tightening of regulatory expectations across the country’s medical cannabis sector. By 2017, the impact of these amendments could be felt in every part of the supply chain, from cultivation sites to patient sales points. The central requirement […]