With the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) strategic plans now in force since January 2023, the European Union has taken a definitive step toward making agricultural supply chains more transparent. The strategic plans for 2023–2027 introduce a layered set of obligations for member states, particularly around reporting data on farm inputs. The intention is clear […]
The International Trade Council (ITC) recognizes the recent $3bn ( £2.4bn) bailout provided to Sri Lanka by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a crucial lifeline for the country amidst its severe economic crisis. Sri Lanka’s struggling economy, compounded by the impact of the pandemic, rising energy prices, populist tax cuts, and high inflation, […]
Since the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in January 2021, there has been heightened attention to the vulnerabilities in the rare earth element (REE) supply chains. Section 817, in particular, represents one of the more decisive policy moves aimed at fortifying the United States’ position in securing these critical inputs. The provision […]
Despite escalating diplomatic tensions, trade between the United States and China reached a record high in 2022, with imports and exports totaling $690.6 billion, according to official figures. This development showcases the continued interdependence between the world’s two largest economies, even in the context of an ongoing trade war since 2018. The new data reveals […]
The year 2022 marked a significant turning point in the enforcement of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) provisions under the EU’s Single-Use Plastics Directive of 2019. For beverage manufacturers, the shift was more than just regulatory noise—it forced a deeper reckoning with supply chain transparency and accountability. Producers of plastic beverage containers, among others, now carry […]
The passage of Canada’s Digital Charter Implementation Act, better known as Bill C-27, in November 2022 has stirred fresh debate among logistics professionals, legal experts, and policymakers alike. Its implications for supply-chain data privacy are only beginning to be fully digested. At its core, the legislation aims to modernize privacy law, introducing stricter standards for […]
The issue of e-waste, though hardly new, has in recent years grown into something of an unavoidable topic within both regulatory and corporate circles in Japan. The 2020 Act on Promotion of Resource Recycling was designed with a clear objective: to move beyond scattered initiatives and impose a coherent framework that would drive transparency and […]
The International Trade Council (ITC) takes note of the recent statements by Business Secretary Grant Shapps expressing concern that President Joe Biden’s green subsidies could potentially lead to a rise in protectionism, which could prove “dangerous” for world trade. The President’s $430bn ( £350bn) scheme, inclusive of tax credits for green technologies, is aimed at […]
By the close of 2022, the first compliance reports under the US Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act had begun to trickle in, offering a preliminary glimpse into how importers—particularly in the apparel and textile sectors—are responding to one of the most stringent supply chain due-diligence mandates in recent memory. The UFLPA, which came into force […]
The International Trade Council has warned that the global economy is perilously close to falling into recession. According to the latest report from the World Bank, the global economy is predicted to grow by only 1.7% this year, a significant decrease from the 3% forecast in June. The report blames Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and […]
In a positive outlook for Thailand’s fruit industry, the Commerce Ministry aims to achieve a 4% growth in both the volume and value of fresh and processed fruit exports this year. Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai expressed optimism, projecting an increase to 4.19 million tons and 300 billion baht, respectively. The expected growth encompasses fresh […]
With the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz, or LkSG) set to take effect in January 2023, the final implementing regulations released in December 2022 offer long-awaited clarity for firms grappling with compliance preparations. These rules, issued after months of consultation and revision, provide more precise direction on risk-assessment thresholds, reporting requirements, and documentation […]
The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) draft, which underwent public consultation during the first half of 2022, has attracted widespread attention across industries, investor circles, and civil society groups. The feedback collated and analyzed by mid-2022 presents, in some ways, a surprisingly coherent set of demands, though naturally the nuances are where things get […]
The International Trade Council commends the recent announcement of a comprehensive energy partnership between the United States and the United Kingdom. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unveiled the agreement, known as the U.K.-U.S. Energy Security and Affordability Partnership, with the aim of reducing global reliance on Russian energy exports, stabilizing Western […]
The International Trade Council commends the recent announcement of a comprehensive energy partnership between the United States and the United Kingdom. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unveiled the agreement, known as the U.K.-U.S. Energy Security and Affordability Partnership, with the aim of reducing global reliance on Russian energy exports, stabilizing Western […]
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, December 7, 2022  â€” The International Trade Council addresses the tensions that arose during the recent Mercosur summit, as Uruguay expressed its desire to pursue foreign markets despite opposition from Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou highlighted the need for his country to “open up to the world,” expressing intentions […]