The 2018 revisions to the European Union’s Waste Framework Directive marked a notable evolution in how policymakers sought to embed circular economy principles into industrial practice. While the Directive had long been a cornerstone of European environmental regulation, the updated text sharpened the focus on product design—particularly the expectation that manufacturers, especially in electronics, would […]
By 2018, solar power in Europe had evolved from boutique experiment to a vital pillar of the energy transition. Yet, beneath the continent’s ambitious climate targets, the nuts and bolts of progress were mapped one project at a time. For analysts, policymakers, and investors, tracking this expansion required more than just counting megawatts; it called […]
As discussions around digital equity grew louder in the United States toward the end of 2018, anticipation mounted regarding the forthcoming Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act, or DATA Act. By March 2019, the legislation had formally entered into force, signaling a significant shift in how broadband coverage was to be reported and, just […]
When Canada’s draft Impact Assessment Act under Bill C-69 was released in June 2018, it marked, perhaps more than policymakers at first admitted, a shift in how offshore petroleum production and export projects would be expected to manage—and disclose—their supply chains. While most commentary at the time focused on the broader environmental review provisions, those […]
The International Trade Council commends the continuous progress made by member countries of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Vietnam, in spite of the absence of the United States following President Trump’s decision to withdraw. During the APEC summit, President Trump reiterated his ‘America First’ stance, […]
The launch of the U.K. Plastics Pact in April 2018 marked a significant, though arguably long overdue, shift in how packaging supply chains were expected to engage with circular economy goals. By November that year, the initial excitement surrounding the initiative had given way to the complex, often messy, work of translating its principles into […]
The informal sector is a defining feature of many economies, especially in low- and middle-income countries. It is a space where millions of people make their livelihoods—often outside the reach of regulation, taxation, and basic legal protections. For governments, the drive to formalize these businesses is both a policy imperative and a formidable challenge. Increasingly, […]
The pharmaceutical sector has long stood out for its commitment to research and development. Yet, behind the headlines of breakthrough drugs and global mergers, the task of measuring R&D investment remains surprisingly complex. For policymakers, economists, and industry leaders, ISIC 2100—covering the manufacture of pharmaceuticals—provides a structured approach to understanding not just who spends, but […]
If the integrity of economic data rests on a single pillar, it is probably the accuracy of industry classification. For decades, national statistical agencies have relied on the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) system to bring order to the messy diversity of economic activity. ISIC is now the bedrock of headline statistics—GDP, productivity, employment, wage […]
When NSPM-33 was signed in February 2018, it was framed as a decisive step in securing critical technologies, with domestic semiconductor manufacturing placed squarely at the heart of the national security conversation. For many in the industry, this presidential memorandum marked the culmination of years of quiet concern. But for others—particularly those more focused on […]
The launch of Canada’s digital ESTMA Registry in 2018 signaled a significant shift in how transparency obligations were expected to be met by firms in the extractive sector. For many companies, this transition to a digital-first reporting framework wasn’t just a matter of compliance—it reflected a broader trend toward making financial data more accessible, both […]
The 2018 guidance issued by the European Commission on the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) marked a subtle yet meaningful tightening of expectations around corporate disclosure, particularly in relation to supply-chain transparency. For many firms—especially large retailers operating across multiple jurisdictions—this wasn’t entirely unexpected. The signals had been there for some time. What stood out in […]
The year 2017 saw the IT sector accelerate at a pace that caught many off guard. From startups innovating in cloud computing to established firms expanding digital consultancy, the surge in activity reshaped markets and employment landscapes alike. For analysts aiming to quantify this growth, ISIC codes 6201 (Computer programming) and 6202 (Computer consultancy) provide […]
When the U.S. Trade and Development Agency launched its Open Data Initiative in 2017, the move was framed as part of a broader effort to promote transparency and encourage U.S. exporters to engage more effectively with emerging markets. For firms operating in cleantech sectors—those engaged in renewable energy, water management, grid modernization, and related technologies—the […]
Canada’s ban on microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics, formalized under Bill C-62 and effective from July 2018, marked a significant shift in how personal care product supply chains were expected to operate. While public focus at the time was largely on the consumer-facing impact—removing visible microplastics from scrubs, cleansers, and toothpaste—the practical implications for manufacturers and […]
The enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on May 25, 2018, introduced sweeping changes to how organizations manage personal data. For the supply-chain sector, and particularly for vendors of supply-chain software platforms, the impact was immediate and multifaceted. Where previous regulatory frameworks may have allowed greater flexibility in the handling of personal data […]