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 sectorsâ€â€those engaged in renewable energy, water management, grid modernization, and related technologiesâ€â€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 impactâ€â€removing visible microplastics from scrubs, cleansers, and toothpasteâ€â€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 […]
The circular economy, once a niche concept, began making tangible inroads in 2017, fueled by startups experimenting with material reuse, waste reduction, and closed-loop systems. Measuring this early momentum, however, requires moving beyond broad sustainability slogans to concrete data on material flows and recovery activities. ISIC 3811, which covers the collection of non-hazardous waste, offers […]
The 2018 revision of the U.S. Department of Justice’s guidance on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) marked a significant shift in how manufacturers and exporters were expected to monitor their third-party relationships. The new guidance emphasized the need for companies to take concrete, documented steps in verifying the integrity of overseas agents, distributors, and […]
For decades, the promise of microfinance has captured the imagination of development economists, policymakers, and practitioners alike. Yet while microfinance institutions (MFIs) have expanded access to credit for millions, questions persist about how to make their outreach both broader and deeperâ€â€especially in diverse and underserved communities. Increasingly, the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) system is […]
When Environment Canada introduced the Clean Fuel Standard (CFS) framework in May 2018, it signaled a major shift in the way oil and gas companies would be expected to account for and report their supply-chain emissions. Designed to drive reductions in the carbon intensity of fuels used across Canada, the CFS placed new obligations on […]
In 2016, India’s growing industrial base leaned heavily on electric motorsâ€â€key components powering everything from manufacturing lines to consumer appliances. Understanding the flow of these imports, especially in the context of evolving tariff policies, became essential for policymakers seeking to balance domestic industry support with supply chain efficiency. ISIC 2710, the classification for manufacture of […]
Vietnam’s June 2018 supplementary decree, designed to bolster enforcement of the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), marked a significant step forward in the country’s efforts to assure international markets of the legality of its timber exports. For logging companies and wood product exporters, the decree introduced new obligations that required greater transparency in sourcing and more […]
The May 2017 repeal of the United States’ Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (MCOOL) requirements, following years of dispute at the World Trade Organization, triggered a wave of supply chain adjustments across the meat and produce sectors. By 2018, suppliers and processors were grappling with the operational consequences of this regulatory shift. The repeal removed federal obligations […]
With the impending full implementation of Canada’s Cannabis Act in October 2018, agricultural supply chains in the cannabis sector faced significant operational and compliance challenges. The legislation introduced a national framework that required end-to-end traceability, encompassing cultivation, processing, distribution, and retail sale. Licensed producers were among the first to feel the weight of these new […]
By 2018, as the Czech Republic moved ahead with its pilot program to help domestic firms comply with the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation, the policy landscape for electronics supply chains in Central Europe had become noticeably more intricate. While the EU regulation itself, adopted in 2017, aimed at curbing the financing of armed groups via […]
Automation’s rise in manufacturing has been a defining story of the past decade, promising increased efficiency, precision, and competitive advantage. But beneath the headlines about robots replacing workers lies a more nuanced realityâ€â€one of gradual adoption, varied applications, and complex supply chains. To understand how robotics and related automation equipment progressed in 2016, analysts turn […]
The intersection of pharmaceutical supply chains and financial institution oversight took on a new dimension in 2018, as banks and other lenders began adjusting their due diligence frameworks to account for regulatory shifts in the drug industry. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Final Rule under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, known […]
By 2018, the conversation around modern slavery in Canadian supply chains had regained momentum, even though Bill C-383â€â€the proposed Modern Slavery Act introduced as a private member’s bill in 2016â€â€had failed to pass. That legislative defeat did not put the issue to rest. If anything, it created space for new coalitions of lawmakers, industry groups, […]
The rise of offshore software services in South Asia has been a quiet revolution, transforming economies, employment, and global IT landscapes. By 2015, this sector was firmly established as a key engine of growth for countries like India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, yet measuring its true size and trajectory required more than surface-level indicators. Analysts […]