The April 2022 draft of the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) signaled a step change in what is expected from large companies operating within, or with significant exposure to, the European market. It expands environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure obligations in ways that many compliance teams are still grappling to interpret fully. With […]
The International Trade Council reports that US President Joe Biden has committed to investing $150 million in Southeast Asia, supporting infrastructure, security, and anti-pandemic efforts. This announcement comes during the two-day summit held in Washington between the US and the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The goal is to counterbalance China’s increasing influence […]
Istanbul, Turkey – The Global Economic Impact Forum on Ukraine (TGEIF) will be held on July 21-22, 2022, in Istanbul. This invitation-only event will bring together high-level political, public sector, and business leaders from Fortune 500 companies from across the globe to look at rebuilding Ukraine, discuss investment and trade opportunities, and address the challenges […]
The International Trade Council is urging for a full embargo on Russian energy imports, in order to support Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia. Ukraine’s Finance Minister, Sergeii Marchenko, stated that the embargo would make it harder for Russia to finance their military needs, whilst also levelling the playing field between the two countries. […]
The International Trade Council announces that the US trade deficit has widened to an all-time high in March, as companies relied on foreign producers to meet strong domestic demand. According to the Commerce Department, the gap in goods and services trade grew by 22.3% to $109.8 billion. The widening of the trade deficit during […]
Bill C-13, also known as the Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2021, represents one of the most significant overhauls of Canadian privacy law in decades. With the legislation taking effect in November 2022, many Canadian firms—particularly those engaged in cross-border trade and logistics—have been steadily waking up to its profound implications. For supply chain managers, compliance […]
Karachi, Pakistan – The International Trade Council has announced that Pakistan has a plan in place to boost its shrinking foreign exchange reserves, despite being heavily reliant on imports of essential fuel, cooking oil and pulses. The country’s finance minister, Miftah Ismail, has confirmed that the government has a “strategy” in place to increase its […]
April 26, 2022 – The International Trade Council (ITC) is concerned about the impact of the Ukraine-Russia war on global commodity prices, with the World Bank forecasting the “largest commodity shock” since the 1970s. The ITC acknowledges the warning from the World Bank and is supportive of Ukraine as it faces this challenging situation. […]
Islamabad, Pakistan – The Pakistani Finance Minister, Miftah Ismail, has announced that Pakistan is seeking an increase in the size and duration of its $6bn International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. Following discussions with the IMF in Washington, Ismail requested that the fund extend the programme for another year and enhance the funding available to Pakistan […]
The introduction of the US Senate’s “Right to Repair” bill in early 2022 marked a significant moment in the long-running debate over consumer rights, electronics durability, and supply-chain transparency. For years, advocates had been calling for measures that would curb what they view as artificial barriers to product longevity—whether that means locked-down software, unavailable replacement […]
The International Trade Council acknowledges the recent announcement by China’s Ministry of Finance to cut tariffs on wood and paper from New Zealand. The decision is expected to boost trade and investment between the two countries and foster economic growth. China will eliminate tariffs on 12 wood and paper products imported from New Zealand from […]
Washington, D.C. – The International Trade Council provides insight into the recent vote by the United States Congress to suspend Russia’s ‘most favoured nation’ trade status and ban imports of Russian oil. The Council urges all parties to engage in constructive dialogue to ensure that international trade and economic stability are maintained. With the US […]
The International Trade Council welcomes the recent signing of the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, which signals an intention by the two nations to forge closer trade ties. The virtual ceremony took place on April 2, with Australia’s Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, witnessing the event. According […]
The International Trade Council is pleased to announce the conclusion of negotiations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates for a free trade agreement. The deal, which was reached after four rounds of negotiations, including a meeting in Egypt last month between Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and the UAE’s de facto leader, Abu Dhabi […]
The implementation of the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation (2017/821) has continued to reshape supply chain governance, particularly for sectors where tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold—so-called 3TG minerals—are essential inputs. Nowhere has this been felt more keenly than in the automotive industry, where Tier 1 suppliers find themselves navigating complex global sourcing relationships under intense scrutiny. […]
The release of the first parliamentary review of Australia’s Modern Slavery Act (2018), published towards the end of 2021, marked an important, though perhaps somewhat sobering, milestone in the country’s effort to combat forced labour and exploitation in supply chains. For those of us tracking the Act’s implementation, the review’s findings were hardly surprising, yet […]