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 […]
When the European Union adopted the Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) in May 2017, it set in motion one of the most significant overhauls of medical device oversight in decades. By 2018, attention had turned from the text of the regulation to its implementation. That year saw the emergence of early pilot projects across Europe, as […]
The International Trade Council acknowledges the European Union’s (EU) intended course of action to challenge the newly imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports by the United States at the World Trade Organization (WTO). President Donald Trump’s decision to implement tariffs on these vital industries has generated a significant degree of uncertainty, particularly within […]
The International Trade Council raises concerns over the brewing tariff dispute between China and the United States, warning that such a trade standoff could pose significant risks to the ongoing global economic growth. According to recent data, global trade has expanded at its most rapid pace in six years in 2017. The future outlook […]
When the Build Act was signed into law in March 2018, it marked a fundamental shift in how the United States approached development finance, particularly in relation to global supply chain infrastructure. By consolidating and expanding the capabilities of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) into the […]
The European Union’s Plastics Strategy, announced in January 2018, marked a turning point in efforts to reduce environmental harm from plastics while promoting circular economy principles. At its core, the strategy called for systemic changes in the production, use, and disposal of plastic materials. One of its most significant implications for industry was the increased […]
The mid-2010s marked a pivotal moment for mobile applications, transforming the way people interact with technology and creating entirely new markets overnight. By 2015, the mobile app industry was rapidly evolving, spawning countless startups and attracting significant investment. Yet, capturing the scale and pace of this growth required more than anecdotal accounts and app store […]
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 sectorâ€â€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) […]