In the world of geopolitics and economics, trade policy is typically guided by consistent principles, clear objectives, and a recognition of long-term consequences. But when it comes to Donald Trump’s trade policy, such logic falls apart. Attempting to understand his approach—rooted in unpredictability, contradictory actions, and rhetoric over substance—becomes an exercise in futility. Here’s why.

Since Brexit, the UK has sought to forge a "Global Britain" narrative, looking beyond Europe to strengthen trade ties with the rest of the world. A key focus has been on enhancing trade with the United States. While the USA is an attractive market due to its size and economic power, the complexities, costs, and challenges of doing business there make the EU a more practical and profitable focus for UK businesses. Here’s why.

Members should not lose time on process and swiftly resume substantive talks in the new year, said the Chair of the agriculture negotiations, Ambassador Alparslan Acarsoy of Türkiye, in year-end meetings on 4 December.

WTO states that global action needed to make trade inclusive for persons with disabilities.

Diversifying supply chains is essential for SMEs looking to reduce risks and ensure the longevity of their operations.

CBP issued the final Federal Register Notice on November 1, 2024 with the critical dates for this program.

• Education Providers can submit courses and activities starting from November 1,2024.
• Licensed Brokers can start taking courses toward their 20 credits on January 1, 2025.

ESG and sustainability have become dominating issues in the world economy. But ESG regulation is evolving and to date no internationally recognised standards have emerged. This presents a huge challenge for banks, which are struggling to integrate ESG into their risk management framework. The challenge is especially acute for commodity trade finance, which is exposed to multiple ESG risks that are poorly understood. And with compliance and reporting standards strengthening by the day, the banks that finance commodity trade need to overhaul their risk management approach urgently.

The 2024 ICC Trade Register report, measuring global risk in trade and export finance, is now available for download and purchase.

The fifth review of the trade policies and practices of Paraguay takes place on 20 and 22 November 2024. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Paraguay.

Trade in intermediate goods (IGs) is playing an increasing role in Africa's economic development. In recent years, IG exports have risen much faster than imports, leading to a significant reduction in the continent's IG trade deficit. Africa’s IG exports (excluding fuels) in 2022 were estimated at US$ 312 billion compared with US$ 196 billion in 2019.

Africa's IG exports are mostly composed of raw or semi-processed materials and primary products supplied at earlier production stages in global value chains (GVCs). They cover a wide range of products, from ores, minerals and precious stones (e.g., iron, rhodium, non-monetary gold and diamonds) and agricultural inputs (e.g., cocoa, coffee and cotton), to manufactured parts, components and accessories (e.g., car wiring kits) used by industries to produce final products.

Africa's IG exports (excluding fuels) in 2022 represented around 77 per cent of total non-fuel merchandise exports from the continent, the highest share in the world.

At a meeting of the Informal Working Group (IWG) on Trade and Gender on 18 November 2024, members took stock of the Group’s achievements in 2024 in advancing gender equality in global trade. Attention was drawn to the paragraph on trade and gender included in the Abu Dhabi Ministerial Declaration, the launch of a new policy tool supporting the financial inclusion of women entrepreneurs, and the inaugural International Prize on Gender Equality in Trade.

The World Health Organization (WHO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the WTO will hold the 11th Trilateral Technical Symposium on “Strengthening Manufacturing Capacities to Respond to the Non-Communicable Diseases Burden” on 13 December 2024 at the WTO. The deadline for registration is 9 December.

As we face the possibility of new tariffs in 2025, let's look back at the impact of the last major trade dispute between the United States and China.

Supply chain refers to the interconnected network of businesses, individuals, activities, and resources involved in the production and distribution of goods and services to end consumers. It involves the coordination of various activities such as design procurement, production processes, transportation, and logistics to ensure that products are delivered to customers in a timely, efficient, and cost-effective manner.

Congratulations! You've achieved your Customs Broker's license. The journey begins here. Where do you go from here?

With new U.S. tariffs on the horizon, now is the time to strengthen and diversify your supply chain. GTPA and EMTC are here to help with an exclusive offer to support your business resilience and expansion!

As a valued member of the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA), you now have exclusive, FREE access to our Supply Wise toolkit and strategy template! This powerful resource is crafted to help you streamline your supply chain and expand into new markets with confidence.

Boost Your Career with Global Pathways.

The Global Pathways Program is more than just a certification—it's a journey of growth, recognition, and global opportunity. Whether you're just starting out or looking to cement your position as a leader, this program provides the tools and community to help you chart your course to success.

For the first time ever, all continuing education programs must be accredited by CBP’s selected partners.

The goal? Raising the bar for expertise and professionalism like never before!

Meet the Global Pathways Program—a seamless way to earn your required credits and much more!

With the Federal Register Notice released on November 1, 2024, all U.S. Customs Brokers must now complete 20 credits of accredited training by January 31, 2027 to meet the updated regulatory requirements under 19 CFR 111. This world-first initiative not only aims to boost expertise and ensure compliance but also introduces a new standard of professionalism across the industry.

The Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) is offering FREE access to the Supply Wise toolkit and strategy template—designed to streamline your supply chain and open doors to new markets.

In the rapidly evolving global economy, success in trade and supply chains requires a professional to nimbly interact with professional colleagues across a wide array of specialisations. For professionals and businesses working in or impacted by international trade, a broad skill set is vital to navigating complex global dynamics. This article explores the key areas where developing diverse capabilities can help both individuals and organisations thrive.

Trade is the backbone of the global economy, connecting markets, industries, and people across borders. However, modern trade is far more complex than the simple exchange of goods and services. It is shaped by a range of factors, including regulations, technological advancements, geopolitical shifts, sustainability concerns, and more.

Job Description

As the Customs & Trade Operations Leader, your primary responsibility will be the implementation and management of bonded warehouses in both the UK and the Netherlands.

You will handle all trade operations across the EMEA region, with a particular focus on goods movement to and from the Distribution Centres in these countries, ensuring compliance with customs warehouse requirements.

Ready to unlock new global career opportunities?

Apply for your Global Pathways Passport and start earning digital badges today! 

GTPA is pleased to announce that together with EMTC, our ISO certification partner, we have been selected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as an Accreditor and reviewer of U.S. Licensed Customs House Broker Continuing Education.

EMTC & GTPA are honored to be selected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as an Accreditor for training that supports the professional growth of our Licensed Custom House Brokers. CBP selected a limited number of accreditors to review training presented by educators and organizations in the industry. CBP’s Office of Trade is implementing an accreditation process for broker training educational activities not offered by a U.S. Government Agency.

In a world where borders blur digitally, mastering e-commerce and digital skills is not a choice but a necessity. The e-commerce Toolkit and the NSW Government, City of Sydney and GTPA’s program empower businesses to thrive:

1. Global Reach: E-commerce enables businesses to transcend borders, reaching a global audience.
2. Adaptability: Digital skills equip businesses to swiftly adapt to evolving market trends.
3. Efficiency: Automation and AI streamline processes, enhancing operational efficiency.
4. Competitive Edge: Businesses with advanced digital skills gain a competitive advantage.
5. Market Expansion: Digital strategies open doors to new markets and diverse opportunities.

In a rapidly evolving global landscape, staying ahead requires not just adaptation but mastery. The NSW Government and GTPA e-commerce Toolkit is your key to unlocking digital potential, ensuring your business not only survives but thrives.

Whether you're an e-commerce novice or a seasoned player, our resources cater to your specific needs.

The Climate Smart Business Program equips leaders with essential skills to navigate climate challenges in today's global marketplace. 

At GTPA, we are committed to fostering gender equality and empowering women across the globe to thrive in the realms of trade, business, and leadership.

As we venture further into 2024, the landscape of international trade and supply chains is marked by unprecedented unpredictability. In this dynamic environment, success lies in fortifying businesses with resilience and adaptability.

The Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) has unveiled the innovative format of its 2025 Festival of Inclusive Trade. Set to redefine international trade events, the festival promises a blend of hybrid experiences, inclusive participation, and tailored content, making it the premier destination event for trade professionals worldwide.

Set for mid-2024 and 2025, the Festival of Inclusive Trade, an initiative of the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA), seeks to transform the trade landscape, employing a hybrid model that blends physical and virtual elements. This approach aims to cultivate stronger connections, collaborations, and opportunities, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive experience for all participants. The festival will take participants on a transformative journey: online from July to December 2024, and through a range of immersive events in Australia in March 2025.

The Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) is thrilled to announce the plans for our upcoming Festival of Inclusive Trade, following the unprecedented success of our virtual events.

Set for mid-2024 and 2025, the festival seeks to transform the trade landscape, employing a hybrid model that blends physical and virtual elements. This approach aims to cultivate stronger connections, collaborations, and opportunities, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive experience for all participants. The festival will take participants on a transformative journey: online from July to December 2024, and through a range of immersive events in March 2025.

EMTC and GTPA are thrilled to unveil a groundbreaking collaboration that positions EMTC as the inaugural Approved Certification Body for GTPA's prestigious Global Trade Professional (GTP) Programme. This partnership solidifies our commitment to elevating standards in international trade (ISO/IEC 17024) and empowers individuals worldwide with unparalleled certification in the field.

This volume’s collection of articles traverses a wide terrain. Doses of pessimism and optimism — perhaps not in equal measure — abound. Broadly, contributions can be divided into those covering cross-cutting drivers of change; “architectural” arrangements, or trade agreements; and Australia’s positioning in a changing global and regional order.

Eligible businesses can apply for free support to export Creative Technologies including Digital Games to the USA. Applications open on Wednesday 18 October and close on Sunday 19 November.

The GTPA is thrilled to announce the return of the Festival of Inclusive Trade!

Initiated in 2020 by the GTPA, The Festival of Inclusive Trade is an innovative convergence of global trade and the arts sector (which represents a significant 7% of the world's GDP). The Festival underscores the symbiotic relationship between sustainability, innovation and creativity, and focuses on the importance of inclusivity.  And it’s this symbiosis that makes the Festival of Inclusive Trade so special! 

GTPA says Yes to Constitutional Recognition and a Voice! Ensuring First Nations wisdom, is not only part of our history but can secure a better future for all Australians.

During these dark times, we wanted to spread some positivity. GTPA recently completed the delivery of a series of training workshops in Solomon Islands. Implemented by Nathan Associates, the US-SEGA Program’s goal is to improve the policy environment for sustainable economic growth and prosperity, regional economic cooperation, sound management of institutions and good governance throughout Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Indo-Pacific region, while also expanding markets for U.S. goods and services. 

Is the high point in multilateral trade relations already 30 years in the past? Are notions of international cooperation and mutual benefit relics of an earlier time? Hopefully not, there is still much more to play for. Amidst the visible geopolitical tensions, and what often looks like a blurring of trade, economic, climate, and security interests, there are some encouraging signs recently.

In partnership with the City of Sydney, the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) presents a Transformative Event! 

In Partnership with the City of Sydney, the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) Presents an Informative Session!

In Partnership with the City of Sydney, the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) Presents a Game-Changing Session!

In Partnership with the City of Sydney, the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) Presents a Transformative Event!

In Partnership with the City of Sydney, the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) Presents an Exclusive Learning Session!

Export Capability Building - Opening Doors to New Markets: A Roadmap to Exporting Success - an introductory workshop - Nowra

This NSW Export Capability Building workshop is aimed at businesses seeking to initiate export activities, or export-ready businesses looking to consolidate their knowledge and maximise long-term export gains.

The Global Trade Professionals Alliance, on behalf of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is delighted to invite you to meet a visiting Solomon Islands business delegation.

The future of work is changing. Existing jobs are being modified and new ones are emerging at the frontiers of our economies, jobs that require knowledge and skills in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).  At the same time, girls, in particular, are missing out on the skills they will need throughout their lives and to become more effective citizens and changemakers. Quality STEM education can cultivate vital skills for the world in which we find ourselves, like thinking laterally, problem solving and innovating.

Gender equality in STEM will, by definition, lead to progress.

The GTPA and the British Consulate-General in Australia, as part of the recent signing of the UK-AU Free Trade agreement, are pleased to invite you to our upcoming event, "Technology – Agent for Change or Division”.

The world continues to be a place of uncertainty and exponential change. Artificial Intelligence is infused into our technology devices and throughout our daily lives.  Big technology companies promise us wonderous digital experiences and metaverses, but are we ready for this new world of technology, and will it be of benefit to the many, or the few?

Take our survey and receive an action-focused toolkit to diversify your supply chains!

At a time when supply chain disruptions can have a major impact on businesses, it is crucial to understand the challenges and opportunities for creating well-designed supply chain strategies. The COVID-19 pandemic has only emphasized the importance of having a resilient supply chain.

The GTPA and the British Consulate-General in Australia, as part of the recent signing of the UK-AU Free Trade agreement, are thrilled to invite you to our upcoming event, "Progress through Gender Equality in STEM". This event is aimed at bringing together Australian and UK businesses to discuss the importance as well as the progress and challenges in promoting gender equality in STEM and, ESTEAM.

The GTPA and the British Consulate-General in Australia, as part of the recent signing of the UK-AU Free Trade agreement, we are thrilled to invite you to our upcoming event are excited to invite you to our upcoming event, "Engaging Youth in International Trade” . This event is aimed at bringing together Australian and UK businesses to discuss the opportunities for engaging the next generation in international trade and the potential impact of the UK and Australia Free Trade Agreement.

The GTPA and the British Consulate-General in Australia, as part of the recent signing of the UK-AU Free Trade agreement, are pleased to invite you to our upcoming event, "Technology – Agent for Change or Division”.

According to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2022, and projecting current trends into the future, the overall global gender gap will close in 132 years, on average, across the countries covered. Yes, 132 years! The report also states that gender parity can have a large impact on whether an economy or society will thrive.

Our NSW eCommerce business training series is your one stop shop for all your business needs. Our series is designed to help you understand the complexities of running a successful eCommerce business, from developing a business plan to driving sales and marketing. Our comprehensive training program is tailored to your individual business needs and will provide you with the skills and knowledge to set yourself up for success.

Free trade agreements offers more than prosperity and growth in the European Union - it is also an important instrument to reduce dependencies on autocratic regimes such as Russia and China. In these times of war and political insecurity, it is even more vital.

The EU delegation and the RMIT organised a dairy roundtable on 9 September 2022 in Melbourne. The meeting brought together Economic and Commercial Counsellors of EU Diplomatic Missions in Australia and a broad range of dairy stakeholders, notably Dairy Australia, the Australian Dairy Federation, the Australian Dairy Products Federation, Food and Fibre Gippsland and some dairy farmers, as well as academics working in this area.

The Institute for International Trade (IIT), through it's Centre of Excellence in International Trade & Global Affairs, invite you to join us for a presentation on the case for Reforming EU Rules of Origin Applied to Trade Agreements with Africa.  African countries’ post-colonial trading relations with Europe have been regulated by a succession of trading arrangements over time.

Of 1,122 CEOs surveyed by the UN Global Compact in 2021, 79% said the pandemic has highlighted the need to transition to more sustainable business models.

In a 2020 study by Accenture, for example, 73% of executives said that becoming a “truly sustainable and responsible business” was a top priority for their organization over the next three years. Fulfilling these ambitions requires significant organizational transformation, including reimagining business models, operating models and talent strategies.

This event will raise awareness of climate change issues and how they are affecting global trade patterns, highlight the relationships between trade and climate, introduce the architecture of the global climate change regime and associated trading system responses.

This second event will focus on emerging architectures shaping the global climate change response regime and highlight some key multilateral, regional, international, and national responses.

The third event will focus how Australia’s policy makers and business can best foster a climate friendly trade environment and practices and identify the key enabling factors needed to support the formulation and implementation of effective climate-friendly trade strategy. This session will incorporate an Australian hydrogen business case study.

Exploring Africa’s opportunities through trade, finance and innovation

GTR Africa 2022 will return to London on November 2 to provide the latest developments on a range of topics including trade and commodities, ECA and infrastructure finance, sustainable development, fintech innovations and more.

Background

After recently holding hearings on the EU’s Indo-Pacific trade strategy, the EU Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA) is visiting Australia this week. The EU Parliament has equal decision-making status on trade issues with the Council and Commission, so the significance of the visit for EU-Australia trade relations should not be underestimated.

Australia and the European Union (EU) have come a long way in a very short timeframe since the Macron-Morrison ‘frisson’. This rapprochement is built on shared values, strengthened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, growing concerns over China’s bellicose international posture, and Australia’s embrace of sustainability policies under a new Labor government.

GTPA is a global organisation dedicated to the development of international solutions and standards to harmonise and facilitate inclusive and trusted trade for:

• Businesses all of shapes and sizes
• Governments including multilateral organisations
• Industry associations across multi-sectors
• Chambers of commerce
• Professionals across the global trade and supply chain industry
• Education providers from private to public providers

The NSW Going Global Export Program is now open. Investment NSW will provide tailored support to eligible businesses to find new customers in new international markets.

For over 12 years, Global Trade Review has offered critical market insights into and unparalleled expertise from the world of Asian trade.

Returning to Singapore on September 6-7 in-person for the first time in 3 years, GTR Asia provides the opportunity to hear the world’s leading trade, treasury and fintech experts reflect on the latest developments and rapidly changing dynamics in the context of both the Asian and wider global markets.

As Australia’s First Nations celebrate NAIDOC Week 2022, the GTPA is honoured to have shared stories of First Nations’ achievements, as well as highlighting some of the issues faced around inclusion, in our Festival of Inclusive Trade 2020 and 2021.

Prosperity powered by trust: technology, data and supply-chain resilience

GTPA launch free marketing masterclass 

A well-defined marketing strategy that has been tailored to specific business goals and market requirements is essential for international business success.

Course Type:

Having a properly considered marketing strategy is the key to international business success.  It guarantees efficiency, sound fiscal decision-making, and longevity in a new market.

Course Type:

No 2022 marketing strategy is complete without the inclusion of digital marketing channels.  Many businesses, however, are not confident in their ability to tackle digital marketing or to include it in their marketing mix, and many believe digital marketing is only applicable to companies that sell B2C.

Course Type:

Brand building is all about creating awareness of a business and/or its products/services, with the overarching goal of generating sales.

This Monday 27th June 2022 GTPA is celebrating is Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Day (MSME Day), to acknowledge the important contribution of small and family businesses in Australia.

Australian small and family businesses are responsible for hiring more of our private sector than any other employer category. Small business is Australia’s biggest sized employer providing employment for over 5 million people.

Join us on 27 June for a webinar with the World Trade Organisation and the International Trade Center on MSME Day 2022: Helping Small Businesses Transition to a Sustainable Economy. The virtual event will take place on Monday, 27 June 2022, 14:00-15:00 CEST to discuss the critical role of the global MSME community in driving the transition to a more sustainable economy and identify levers of action that can help MSMEs achieve this transition. The webinar will also launch the latest edition of the Small Business Champions Initiative, a global competition to identify pioneering organisations that are helping MSMEs transition to a sustainable economy.

If you are a NSW-based Food and Beverage (F&B) or FMCG producer, with 3 to 199 employees, and looking to export to India, apply for the NSW Going Global Export Program before 6 July.

Key timings:
6 July: applications close
21 July: selected participant invited
28 July: program starts
14 September: attend Annapoorna ANUFOOD India trade show
August to December: skill-building and introductions to potential new customers
December: program concludes

For over a decade, GTR East Africa has brought together leading commodity producers and traders, manufacturers, trade finance specialists, risk management experts, and trade tech innovators, providing unrivalled insight on this exciting region.

On June 9-10, market-leading experts from a range of key economic sectors will reflect on the latest developments impacting trade at GTR West Africa 2022 in Lagos, Nigeria.

The Australian APEC Study Centre at RMIT University is pleased to announce the opening of applications for the 2022 APEC – Australia Women in Research Fellowship.

This exciting opportunity supports women’s economic empowerment in the APEC region and human capital development in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-related fields in developing economies.

The Institute for International Trade (IIT) and the G20-related Trade and Investment Network (TIRN) invite you to join us from 2pm to 3pm (CEST)/ 9.30pm to 10.30pm (ACST) on Wednesday, 4^th May 2022 for an interactive webinar on:

The Russia-Ukraine War, Sanctions, and the G20’s Relations with Russia

In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it is clear that the threats to the international rules-based order presented by the rise of authoritarian powers are rapidly escalating.

As part of NSW Small Business month the GTPA is holding a series of three webinars that shine the spotlight on the complexities of supply chains in 2022.

Each webinar will focus on a particular sector with often complex supply chains. We have chosen to host these events online because COVID-19 security will still be an aspect to consider in 2022.

GTR India looks forward to returning to Mumbai on May 24, 2022 for an exclusive one-day gathering. Reflecting on the latest developments across the Indian market, from trade and export policy and new supply chain opportunities, to banking and structural reforms, fintech innovation, sustainability and the role of manufacturing as a key export driver.

GTR Africa is returning to Cape Town, South Africa on March 10-11, 2022 as we once again provide a one of a kind event for the trade and export finance community.

Long recognised as the leading industry event for Sub-Saharan Africa, we’re hugely excited to bring the region’s trade, commodity and export finance community together once again for a much-anticipated return to in-person discussion and networking.

GTR MENA 2022 will return to Dubai on February 15-16, 2022 for an exclusive two-day physical gathering. This will include an extensive programme, full exhibition and that much missed opportunity for participants to network and connect with key experts, industry peers and potential clients.

The last 12 months have seen Asian trade and economies rebound following the shock of covid-19. Despite continued tensions between China and America, and climate-led disruptions to supply chains, reasons for optimism about the future of Asian trade remain.

REGISTER HERE.

The University of Adelaide's Institute for International Trade (IIT) invites you to join us for the launch of our latest research report on Strengthening African Agricultural Trade: The Case For Domestic Support Entitlement Reforms.

At the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) twelfth Ministerial Conference at the end of 2021, WTO members are again considering how best to reform domestic support (subsidies) to agriculture.

The Institute for International Trade (IIT) invites you to join leading experts on Thursday, 25 November 2021 for an interactive discussion on Future Australia-Pacific Trade Relations.

In September 2021, following the Commonwealth Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Inquiry into activating greater trade and investment between Australia and Pacific island Countries, the Trade Sub-Committee released it's report "One Region, One Family, One Future: Deepening relations with Pacific nations through trade".  Please join the Chair of the Joint Standing Committee, Senator the Hon David Fawcett, heading a distinguished panel from Australia and the Pacific for this upcoming event.

GTR US is returning to Manhattan on December 8!

Long established as the United States’ leading trade and supply chain financing conference, GTR US 2021 will once again bring together a host of trade, treasury, tech and risk management experts to explore the pressing issues impacting on US commerce, from ongoing supply chain disruption and the latest developments around decarbonization, sustainability and ESG, to the regulatory challenges facing the US trade and supply chain financing sector and the continuing drive for trade digitization and automation.

Improving our world through mindful trade

The GTPA and IIT have today launched the Trade4Climate action group and invite all allied industry associations, policy makers, businesses engaged in global trade and supply chains, the private sector and government agencies to join the initiative.

International trade has the potential to increase the capacity of countries to effectively improve the management of their environmental impacts through access to technologies. Technologies can not only increase the efficiency of local production processes, but also reduce the use of virgin natural resources and improve other environmental impacts.

The success of the ports is undeniably tied to the success of the global economy.  The Los Angeles port has experienced 49% growth since 2020, the biggest increase in nine years based on data compiled by Bloomberg.  Long Beach shipping expanded 29% during the same period, such that the two ports now account for 37% of the US market since the pandemic, more than double the share of the Port of New York and New Jersey, the closest competitor.  This makes the LA Port a particularly vulnerable factor in global supply chains.  In addition, my discussions with individuals close to ports are stating that unions are also leveraging the pressure at the ports to request rate increases, and demanding overtime pay that is higher than in the past.  Truck drivers are also rejecting more loads, especially at night, and are picking those loads that are favorable to them.  

Trade across the G7 could increase by an eye-watering US$9tn in the next five years if the industry reaches full digitalisation, according to a new report by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

For 12 years, GTR Asia has offered critical market insight and unparalleled expertise from industry leaders whilst also providing unrivalled networking opportunities.

Increased globalisation, constant technological advances and other competitive pressures are accelerating the pace of change that both trade policy professionals and global trading businesses face. The resulting opportunities and threats to global trade impact those working in government, industry, business as well as companies that support and facilitate trade.

GTR Commodities, the premier gathering for the global commodity financing sector, will return to Geneva on October 26, 2021.

Welcoming a host of commodity traders, financiers, innovators and policymakers, GTR Commodities will once again provide an unrivalled forum for networking and discussion on the key issues emerging during a turbulent time for the commodities market, and commodity financing in particular. Experts will reflect on themes including evolving financing priorities and banking sector appetite, new approaches to financial crime risk management, sustainable trade and financing practices, evolving regulatory challenges and the role of technology.

GTPA is pleased to be a supporting partner of the FT Africa Summit. Africa’s commitment to a continental wide free trade agreement is one of the most exciting developments in decades. As demonstrated in the Covid crisis through the interventions of such organisations as Africa CDC and the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team, the continent has greatly improved its capacity for collective action. The free trade area is designed to boost intraregional trade, with the aim raising the value-added component of goods and services and breaking countries’ dependence on the export of raw commodities.

Global Trade Review (GTR) is delighted to announce the programme for GTR Africa 2021! Returning in an exciting hybrid format, this hugely anticipated in-person event taking place on November 3-4 will incorporate all the benefits of our unrivalled digital event platform.

Through a package of unique tailored services Investment NSW is supporting eligible businesses to export food & beverage and agri-food products to one of six new markets - China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Middle East, United Kingdom or Vietnam.

The Australian APEC Study Centre in collaboration with Australian Aid and Access Partnership, invites you to attend three online webinar sessions as part of the ASEAN-Australia Digital Trade Standards Initiative (DTS). The initiative is aimed at expanding political and economic linkages between ASEAN and Australia and strengthening ASEAN-Australia’s contribution to regional security and prosperity. It's goal is to contribute to greater awareness, understanding and implementation of priority DTS by ASEAN Member States (AMS), thereby promoting greater digital trade.

Participants may register for one session or all three via the Eventbrite registration system.

GTR UK plans to return as a physical event in 2021, offering unrivalled insights into the latest exciting developments impacting on the world of UK trade and exports, and taking place in London on October 19.

Register HERE to learn.

Wed, Sep 29, 2021 4:00 AM - 5:00 AM CEST

Following on from the virtual event held in February and as part of its combined hybrid offering for 2021, Global Trade Review is delighted to be returning to Dubai for GTR MENA 2021 on September 22 for a special in-person event, taking place at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers.

The Jean Monnet TIISA NETWORK invites submissions for the 2021 TIISA Conference & PhD Workshop

In line with the Network’s interdisciplinary character, this includes papers in the fields of law, political science, business & economics.

The Festival of Inclusive Trade is an initiative of the Global Trade Professionals Alliance and is being held online over two weeks, from 18 October 2021; all events are free to attend.

The Institute for International Trade (IIT) in partnership with the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA), Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and Ernst & Young LLP, invite you to join leading experts for an interactive discussion on emerging trade capacity gaps for businesses.

This guide is the fourth in a five-part series on using outside firms to reduce your cybersecurity risk.

At this point in the process, you have decided to use outside support to improve your cybersecurity. We’ve provided you with guidance on the various types of service vendors and some tips on how to evaluate them.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on the livelihood of each and everyone. Particularly, the MSMEs have been affected by the various measures and policies implemented by governments worldwide. Lockdowns, confinement, travel restrictions, vaccination requirements have all changed the daily routine of entrepreneurs. Being a category that remains highly vulnerable to shocks, MSMEs have been definitely, and sometimes irreversibly, affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The WTO Chairs programmes (WCP) at the University of Mauritius (UoM) is organising a Virtual International Conference on ‘MSMEs and COVID-19: Impacts, Challenges and Opportunities’, with a Special Theme: COVID-19 and the Sustainability of Blue Entrepreneurship.

In the first 100 days of the Biden Presidency, his administration has acted in ways that indicate a significant amount of continuity in trade policy with the previous administration.

Tariffs and technology restrictions initiated by the Trump administration remain in place, as does the block on the WTO Appellate Body, while the new United States Trade Representative has highlighted a need for trade to serve workers, rather than globalized firms seeking to arbitrage labor costs. On the other hand, Biden has expressed the importance of a rules-based order and multilateralism, marking a distinct break from the unilateralist world of Trump. What then, is the likely path to be charted by Biden’s trade policy?

The APEC Inventory of Mutual Recognition Agreements for Professional Qualifications, developed for APEC economies by the Australian APEC Study Centre has been published!

The key objective of the Inventory is to enhance transparency and improve access to information about mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) in APEC for individual service providers, firms, industry and governments.

The Common Reporting Standard (CRS) is an internationally agreed standard for the automatic exchange of information (AEOI) on financial accounts. Its goal is to increase the fiscal transparency of cross-border wealth management and combat offshore tax evasion. 109 jurisdictions have exchanged information under the CRS as of 2020.

Thinking of exporting into the United Kingdom or USA? Learn how to increase your sales using e-commerce tools & techniques.

If you are reading this guide, you have likely reviewed our first guide in this series, “Should I Get Outside Support for Managing my Cybersecurity Risk?” and determined that you should indeed seek some form of outside support. Your next question might have been: What are the various choices when it comes to outside support? To answer that, please refer to our second guide in this series, “An Introduction to Outside Firms that Offer IT and Cybersecurity Support.”

The NAIDOC 2021 theme – Heal Country! – calls for all of us to continue to seek greater protections for our lands, our waters, our sacred sites and our cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration, and destruction.

As part of #NAIDOC2021 GTPA invites you to visit our Festival of Inclusive Trade from 2020 online portal and check out some of the wonderful Indigenous and Torres Straight Islander business and creative artists that were featured.

The Institute for International Trade (IIT) in partnership with the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), National University of Singapore, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and The Australian Industry Group(Ai Group®), invite you to join leading experts for an interactive webinar on India’s economic reforms and implications for Australia. Narendra Modi’s federal government continues to drive a program of radical economic reforms during its current second term of government. From agriculture liberalization and labour market reforms to state-sector privatization, reforms underway have implications that extend outward to India’s trading partners.

The current situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly changed the reality of every person around the world. Globally, people and organizations have experienced the shock of lockdown and the fear of not knowing what will happen from one day to the next.

Customs administrations worldwide have not been spared by the COVID-19 crisis. In order to determine the priorities of Customs administrations in the World Customs Organization (WCO) West and Central Africa (WCA) region in terms of capacity building during the COVID-19 crisis, the Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB) for the WCA region, with the support of the Investment Climate Reform (ICR) Facility, conducted a study in the third quarter of 2020 Among other things, this study concluded that there was a need to hold a series of webinars on topics deemed a priority by Customs administrations in the WCA region, including human resource management (HRM) in times of crisis.

Australia and the United Kingdom launched negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) on 17 June 2020. Both sides committed to an ambitious and comprehensive agreement that covers services, investment and digital trade. With an agreement-in-principle now in place, the focus turns to how to maximise the benefits of the agreement and the future of Australia-UK services trade.

When Accenture surveyed more than 700 members of the United Nations Global Compact on sustainable business practices, 96% of CEOs agreed that sustainability should be integrated into all aspects of strategy and operations. And 88% of them singled out the value chain as an area of specific importance. Yet only 54% of those CEOs affirmed that they had actually achieved value chain sustainability, while other evidence strongly suggests that their suppliers are still serious sustainability laggards. (https://www.accenture.com/au-en/insight-outlook-why-sustainable-Value-chain-is-good-business)

It is apparent that part of the problem in building sustainable value chains lies in not having recognized standards covering all aspects of sustainability to which all organisations can adhere.

Accenture, Amazon, CompTIA, GTPA, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Inveniam, KYG.Trade, Origin Experts, Skuchain, Thomson Reuters, and Others Lead Open Source Movement for Exchanging Attestation Message Sets. OASIS Open announced the formation of OriginBX OASIS, an international movement to advance open source product and trade data standards for facilitating digital tax and trade attestations. The OriginBX OASIS message sets will be interoperable among legacy systems and blockchain platforms.

The Cyber Readiness Institute (CRI) is excited to introduce the first comprehensive professional credential program designed to train cyber leaders in small and medium-sized businesses to help secure supply chains and reduce the risk of a cyber attack. The free Cyber Leader Certification Program teaches practical cybersecurity skills and how to influence behavior in an organization.

The Cyber Readiness Institute has released a White Paper urging the Biden Administration to address specific cyber readiness challenges that small and medium-sized businesses face. The paper recommends the following:

• Create a national awareness campaign to promote cyber readiness for SMBs
• Create a cybersecurity resource center for SMBs within the federal government
• Offer tax credits to encourage SMBs to invest in cybersecurity
• Establish public/private collaboration to set minimum standards for cybersecurity
• Create government-funded Cyber Squads, in collaboration with community and 4-year colleges

In the first 100 days of the Biden Presidency, his administration has acted in ways that indicate a significant amount of continuity in trade policy with the previous administration. Tariffs and technology restrictions initiated by the Trump administration remain in place, as does the block on the WTO Appellate Body, while the new United States Trade Representative has highlighted a need for trade to serve workers, rather than globalized firms seeking to arbitrage labor costs. On the other hand, Biden has expressed the importance of a rules-based order and multilateralism, marking a distinct break from the unilateralist world of Trump. What then, is the likely path to be charted by Biden’s trade policy?

NSW businesses are invited to a unique program to support growth through e-commerce.

One of the unique aspects of the Adaptive Leadership in a Globalised World programme is that participants in the upcoming first course will drive their knowledge growth through a simulated business case study. The case study will use contemporary, real-life scenarios to apply practical skills and knowledge; business mentoring will be provided throughout the simulation. Our participants will be in teams of five and they will be partnered with people globally, with different levels of experience and from different roles. For example, we will pair a policy expert in government with people operating in global businesses. The teams will all resume different roles within the company and will be responsible for driving strategy and growth to report back to our board!

Join the Cyber Readiness Institute and Marsh McLennan on May 24 at 2-3 PM ET for a town hall that will explore an important issue for SMBs–cyber insurance. This is an opportunity to hear from SMB panelists about the key questions to ask your cyber insurance provider and the considerations you should take into account as you craft a cyber insurance policy. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions of the panelists.

NSW businesses are invited to a unique program to support growth through e-commerce.

Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) will facilitate a transformative capability development program for NSW businesses which is experiential and engaging, and includes:

• Business e-commerce readiness assessment: conduct a rapid self-assessment. The results will allow businesses to plot actions to improve their opportunities via e-commerce and online sales channels.
• Online webinar series: webinar-based training, providing capability and knowledge in sequential chunks.
• Mentoring: access to a mentor to help develop an e-commerce strategy, leveraging all components of the program.
• Incentive and credentialing: All participating businesses will get access to the trust mark, Safe.Shop. Safe.Shop is a global e-commerce trust mark aimed at facilitating global digital trade. The mark is the product of the 20-country defined global e-commerce Code, which is a universal set of rules for online selling to consumers.

“As the world becomes more immersed in and dependent on the information revolution, the pace of intrusions, disruptions, manipulations, and thefts also quickens. Technological advancement is outpacing security and will continue to do so unless we change how we approach and implement cybersecurity strategies and practices. Recent attacks in which everyday consumer devices were compromised for malicious use have made it abundantly clear that we now live in a much more interdependent world.”— Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity, Report on Securing and Growing the Digital Economy, December 1, 2016

Tourism, apparel and sustainable development strategies are covered in new series of policy briefs from the Enhanced Integrated Framework

International trade can be a powerful tool for least developed countries (LDCs) to reduce poverty and spur economic growth. But it is not a blanket solution.

Driven by disruptions such as COVID-19 and the resulting worldwide economic slowdown, GVCs – and broader supply chains – are facing pressures for rapid transformation.

In the face of this transformation, and as we look toward economic recovery from the current crisis, now is the ideal time to better pair the needs of businesses in value and supply chains with government policies and recovery programs.

Crises of this magnitude offer an opportunity for reflection as reconstruction and recovery begins: The APEC Global Supply Chains Industry and Government Survey report

The international trading system as it stood pre-Covid-19 pandemic was inherently imbalanced, unstable and did not provide opportunities for all strata of society to benefit from the gains from trade.

Following the success of the inaugural virtual event in October 2020, GTR East Africa will return once again in digital form for 2021, taking place on May 12-13, 2021.

Utilising GTR’s bespoke virtual event platform, this online gathering promises expansive networking and a comprehensive programme of live and on-demand content, welcoming the leading practitioners in trade, agribusiness, supply chain and commodity finance.

Join industry experts from across the region to explore the latest developments, strategies and solutions employed to drive East Africa’s covid response, trade growth, and economic recovery.

Singapore, 20 April: The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Academy has refreshed its flagship trade finance and international business certifications – the Global Trade Certificate (GTC), Export/Import Certificate (EIC), and Incoterms® 2020 Certificate (INCO) – with new features and functionalities to ensure improved learning experience. The curriculum promotes the most current research-based best practices and allows professionals, in more than 170 countries, to keep pace with the international trade landscape.

Singapore, 26 April: Building on the success of our women in trade finance series, we are now set to expand and highlight outstanding women in trade. The dynamic new series will provide insights into our alumnus’ professional journey and milestones; their role and responsibilities within their present-day positions; and how the ICC Academy’s industry-validated professional qualification in international business and regulation and compliance helped them take their careers to the next level.

Now more than ever we need to support our MSMEs to engage in global trade through global supply chain opportunities: The APEC Global Supply Chains SME Survey report

Micro to Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play a major role in the global economy.

As of 1 January 2021, the United Kingdom (UK) ceased to be a member of Europe’s Single Market and Customs Union. In addition, the UK announced that it is seeking to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (the CPTPP). There are virtually no businesses trading between the UK, Europe and Australasia which won’t need to make changes as a result of these seismic market shifts – the question for business and government policy-makers is, what do these changes mean at both a strategic level, and also at the day-to-day operational level?

With the UK leaving the EU and focusing further afield, to the Pacific and Australasia, there are many trading opportunities, but also new challenges: changing trade formalities and regulatory controls, shifts in legal frameworks, as well as revised trade and competition standards.

Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) is a set of legal provisions that exempts developing countries from some of the binding commitments that comes with World Trade Organization membership. SDT also allows developed countries to unilaterally ‘discriminate’ in favour of developing countries in bilateral trade agreements. As such, SDT acknowledges that countries at different stages of development need different rules to support economic growth. However, since it involves favourable treatment for ‘developing’ countries, and since countries self-designate their status as ‘developing’, SDT has often been a contested matter in the WTO.

Global value chains (GVCs) are a crucial component of international trade, with more than two-thirds of global trade passing through them: The APEC Global Supply Chains highlights report

Global value chains (GVCs) are a crucial component of international trade, with more than two-thirds of global trade passing through them.

Driven by disruptions such as COVID-19 and the resulting worldwide economic slowdown, GVCs – and broader supply chains – are facing pressures for rapid transformation.

KEY TRENDS REPORT

To celebrate International Women’s Day this year, the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA), the Institute for International Trade (IIT)/The University of Adelaide, and the University of Sussex made available four scholarships for women business leaders to complete the first ever Adaptive Trade Leadership in a Globalised World programme.

In Q1 2021, GTR hosted a roundtable discussion that brought together several industry players to examine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the incorporation of ESG in trade finance, and the role that the financing community must play in ensuring that progress continues to be made.

The Business Council of Canada and Canadian Federation of Independent Business, in partnership with the Government of Canada, are pleased to invite you to join business leaders and government officials from the Ottawa Group in a virtual roundtable, “Making the WTO More Small Business Friendly” on Tuesday April 27 from 8:00-9:30 am (ET).

Over the past 12 months businesses have faced remarkable challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the necessary steps to curb its spread. Many were forced – through legislation or circumstance – to close their doors, some bravely soldiered on while also doing their best to help support their communities. And still others managed to not just survive, but grow through agile thinking, innovative practices, and adapting to their changing circumstances.

These businesses need to be applauded. They should have their unconventional genius acknowledged! And that’s why the GTPA is launching the “GTPA Business Resilience Awards”!

This is the first guide in a five-part series on using outside firms to reduce your cybersecurity risk.

If you are like most small business owners or managers, you wear many hats. Your focus is usually on the fundamentals of managing and building your business. You know that cybersecurity is an area of growing risk because there’s been more news about it – especially more news about cyber threats and attacks. Cybersecurity is multifaceted. Yes, firewalls and spam filters help, but you also need a well-educated workforce that is aware of the basic elements of cybersecurity. The Cyber Readiness Institute focuses on human behavior and education to create a culture of security within every organization. After all, it just takes one misguided click on a phishing link to potentially bring down your business. If this sounds overwhelming, it is okay to seek out guidance. This five-part series from the Cyber Readiness Institute in consultation with its Small Business Advisory Council will help guide you through the process of determining if you need outside help and if so, how to get it.

Like many small businesses, you’ve come to the conclusion that you need outside information technology (IT) and cybersecurity support. Maybe you’ve been hearing about more cybersecurity breaches in the news. Maybe you know a company that had a ransomware attack. If you still are not sure whether you need help, take a look at the first guide in this series, “Should I Get Outside Support for Managing My Cybersecurity Risk?”

We acknowledge the unique contribution to society, culture, art and international trade made by the world’s First Nations, who were also its first traders.

The unique contributions and also challenges faced by our First Nations is highlighted in the GTPA’s Festival of Inclusive Trade.

AUSTRALIA'S SERVICES EXPORTS ACTION PLAN

Technological innovation influences mission-critical applications in business processes and the manufacturing and technology companies that take the risk and are early adopters of new technology will be rewarded for their progressive decision-making. Since, digitization helps to ensure product quality and safety, as well as faster service delivery, it ensures to go a long way with customers. This has made the IoT adaptation the need of hour!

Due to the pandemic most of the organizations are working remotely, IoT & cybersecurity has turned out to be an enabler to sustain and improve consistency. We at MarketsandMarkets are putting together a virtual platform, to deliver the key industry attributes in form user-based case studies for and from the tech world on 23rd & 24th September 2021.

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of the economy, representing 95 per cent of all companies worldwide and accounting for 60 per cent of employment. They are fundamental to the day-to-day provision of goods and services around the world. Yet, many struggle to grow and trade. Among the many challenges that MSMEs face, lack of access to finance, including trade finance, is frequently identified as a critical barrier to growth. The MSME financing gap is a reality that cannot be ignored and that should be tackled with determination if we wish to ensure that small players are given a chance to thrive.

Whilst it has been amusing to see the memes about the Ever Given container ship that until recently was blocking the Suez Canal, the impact on global trade and supply chains will have been significant.

Losses from the Ever Given blockage are estimated to reach more than $1 billion trade, at a time when it has been vital that we keep supply chains moving. This is yet another crisis impacting on global recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Suez blockage could be one of the biggest disruptions to global trade in recent years, not discounting that we have seen recent disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, trade wars, Brexit, and increasing risks from climate events.

Times are tough in this COVID-19 world. As more and more businesses are forced to shut down or suspend operations, more people are facing an uncertain future without regular work. But every dark cloud has a silver lining and many Governments, Federal, State and Local are stepping up. If you need work, or assistance of another kind, remember that you’re not alone.

Varun Anthony is a ISO/IEC 17024 Certified International Business professional who has spent 12 of his 15 year career in International Trade and Market Development by developing the Indian market for international stakeholders looking to do business with India.

To celebrate International Women’s Day on the 8th March, the GTPA and the Institute for International Trade/ University of Adelaide and the University of Sussex are pleased to announce that we are providing two scholarships for women business leaders to complete the first ever Adaptive Trade Leadership in a Globalised World programme.

To celebrate International Women’s Day on the 8th March, the GTPA and the Institute for International Trade/ University of Adelaide and the University of Sussex are pleased to announce that we are providing two scholarships for women business leaders to complete the first ever Adaptive Trade Leadership in a Globalised World programme.

#ChooseToChallenge. A catchy tagline, but what does it actually mean? Last weekend, I got first hand evidence. In yet another Zoom social with friends, I asked a toddler on the call “what do you want to be when you grow up?” and rather confidently, she answered with: “an astronaut”.

Lisa McAuley, CEO of GTPA will be speaking at the upcoming GTR India on the topic of Achieving sustainability – what role can Indian trade play? The event will take place at 15.30-16.15 IST, Thursday March 11.

Lisa McAuley, CEO of the GTPA is looking forward to participating in the upcoming Horasis Extraordinary Meeting on March 18^th. As part of the meeting she will be joining other leading experts to discuss the State of World Trade.

GTR West Africa will return in 2021 virtually, providing an extended digital offering as the region’s leading event for trade discussion and networking on March 24-25.

Utilising GTR’s market leading virtual event platform, this online gathering promises a comprehensive programme of live debate, discussion and engagement, welcoming the region’s leading practitioners in trade, export and commodity finance to explore the latest developments, strategies and solutions employed to drive growth.

Date:Fri, 12 Feb 2021, 8:30 am - 10:00 am

Australia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) launched negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) on 17 June 2020. An FTA with Australia is part of delivering the UK government’s top strategic trade priority of using their voice as a new independent trading nation to champion free trade, fight protectionism and remove barriers at every opportunity.

Covid-19 has hit trade hard. Trade was growing at roughly twice the rate of global GDP but the shock to supply and demand has massively disrupted global value chains and further exposed the vulnerabilities of the international trade system.

Throughout the week of February 22nd 2021, a global audience and world-class speakers will take stock of what happened in 2020, virtually and in-person. What is the outlook for Asian trade in the next 5-10 years - should companies rethink manufacturing bases, supply chains and customer focus? How do unforeseen events such as covid-19 affect global value chains? What will be the impact of economic, political and environmental issues?

GTR MENA will return in 2021 as a hybrid event, offering an extended offering as the region’s leading gathering for networking and knowledge sharing, with a virtual event on February 15-17 and a physical event on September 22.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced sweeping changes to the way we work, learn, and communicate. Accompanying those sweeping changes to our business and personal lives has been a dramatic rise in cyber risk, specifically malware and ransomware.

Cybersecurity Survey for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)

The Cyber Readiness Institute (CRI), in partnership with the International Chamber of Commerce, is conducting research on the cybersecurity preparedness and resilience of SMEs. We would appreciate hearing from you about the cyber readiness of your enterprise.

• Unique opportunity to lead a newly created entity
• Home location initially, thereafter based in Samoa
• Fixed term for up to five years

The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus is a landmark trade and development agreement that has been signed by 11 Forum Island Countries: Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu. The Agreement covers goods, services, and investment. It aims to lower barriers to trade, provide greater certainty for businesses, raise living standards, create jobs and increase exports across the Pacific.

The Parties to PACER Plus are looking to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced person to work as the Head of the Implementation Unit reporting to the PACER Plus Joint Committee. The key objectives of this senior level role are to provide critical leadership and technical expertise on trade and development for the new PACER Plus Implementation Unit.

GTR India will return this year as a hybrid, providing an extended offering as the country’s leading event for trade insights, networking and knowledge sharing, firstly with a virtual event taking place on March 10-11, and later with an in-person gathering in October 2021.

In November 2020 we launched a unique online educational experience designed to equip mid-senior business leaders with the technical trade knowledge and advance complex and adaptive thinking capabilities required to succeed in today’s global business environment.

Global trade and global value chains will continue to transform due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to understand that transformation better, in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia and APEC the GTPA ran a survey for multinational corporations, small and medium enterprises, and industry and government organizations on global value chains resilience.

The need for standards to facilitate trade has been repeatedly mentioned by policy reports at the domestic and international level.

GTPA is currently working on a solution to facilitate business opportunities between multinational corporations and micro, small and medium enterprises participating in global value chains. More importantly, the solution seeks to address some of the gaps that small businesses tend to have in their supply chains with regards to what we call integrity-related standards, that is, standards to mitigate security, sustainability, and ethical behaviour risks, while enhancing diversity and inclusion.

Let’s celebrate the start of a new year by focusing on some positives from 2020! In these very difficult times when so many businesses have been forced – through legislation or circumstance – to close their doors, there are some who have bravely soldiered on and who are also doing their best to help support their community.

Inclusive trade refers to the principle that all levels of society should gain from increased trade. It promotes the inclusion of groups that may currently be marginalised or challenged in their ability to engage with international trading opportunities.

To highlight both the challenges faced and the contribution made by marginalised groups to the rich tapestry that is international trade, this year GTPA Director, Collins Rex, organised over 60 online events as part of the “Festival of Inclusive Trade”.

On December 16, Major Dan Finkenstadt and I will be delivering a webinar on the upcoming roll-out of the vaccine.

BAFT and CGI recently conducted a survey of more than 200 BAFT members in an effort to better understand the current state of technological advancements in trade, and how the pandemic has accelerated their importance and need.

The GTPA is pleased to be part of the ICC work on the Saves our SMEs initiative. As part of the SMEs committee we provided input into the recently released recommendations. ICC has issued 10 recommendations for how governments can use trade to help micro-, small- and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs) weather the COVID-19 storm. Underscoring the vital role can trade play in helping small business stay afloat and driving a rapid economic recovery, the 10 ways for governments to use trade to Save our SMEs statement calls on governments to take urgent action to Save Our SMEs.

Tokyo, November 26, 2020 - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has agreed to make a capital investment in H2U Investments, the holding entity of the H2U Group. The H2U Group includes The Hydrogen Utility (H2U), the leading Australian developer of green hydrogen and green ammonia projects using power derived from renewable energy sources. The agreement also includes MHI's support for H2U's projects and business development initiatives, including supporting the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) study for H2U's Eyre Peninsula Gateway^TM project in South Australia.

The Directors of GTPA would like to congratulate Mr Simonet who was today appointed to the new role of CEO at Austrade. Mr Simonet is currently Group CEO and Managing Director of Kathmandu Holdings, which comprises the Kathmandu, Rip Curl and Oboz brands, and has previously held the roles of CEO of Radley London and International Director of Seafolly Group. He also worked for 11 years for LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) in Europe, Asia and Australia.

Just a brief reminder that we are still on the lookout for individuals to join us in forming a new Executive Board for 2020 and we are still gathering Expressions of Interest (EOI) for our coming Executive Board election for the new year. A meeting to elect PIT’s new Executive Board will take place ONLINE on Thursday 26th of November at 5.30pm (AEST).

On this occasion, we will also have our AGM for 2020 prior to the election, which will give you a clear overview of the association's achievements & initiatives but also our strategical plans for the year to come.

Originally published in International Banker Magazine, November 2020

The COVID-19 crisis is unprecedented in reach, speed of contagion and spread—and in the depth of economic impact that will result. COVID-19 is devastating human beings, families, communities and businesses across the globe. It is doing so within the context of a persistent focus on trade wars, troubling evidence of narrow self-interest in international activities, and increasing disrespect from various circles for multilateralism and the norms of international engagement.

There is a growing consensus that public finances won't be enough to help least developed countries (LDCs) recover from COVID-19.

Join investors, business and government leaders in this digital event to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted finance and investment for trade in LDCs and what strategies can help LDCs access new sources of finance and investment for trade.

The Informal Working Groups on MSMEs have acknowledged that promoting the participation of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in international trade is an important issue in the WTO agenda, all the more considering the significant negative impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had including on MSMEs, as well as the contribution that the WTO can make to support the global recovery; Reaffirming the pledge, as contained in the Joint Ministerial Statement at Buenos Aires, to address obstacles related to foreign trade operations that represent a significant burden for MSMEs interested in participating in international trade.

Lessons for global trade from the Australia-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement, a two-part series COVID-19 has precipitated huge increases in our participation in digital trade. It has also seen a rise in protectionism, a push for great economic sovereignty and a further fracturing of our online world along US-China fault lines. With all this in mind, how can we create robust global and bilateral framework for governing digital trade?

Lessons for global trade from the Australia-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement, a two-part series COVID-19 has precipitated huge increases in our participation in digital trade. It has also seen a rise in protectionism, a push for great economic sovereignty and a further fracturing of our online world along US-China fault lines. With all this in mind, how can we create robust global and bilateral frameworks for governing digital trade?

The GTPA is pleased to support and partner with TFG on the recent White Paper which was jointly produced by Deepesh Patel, Editorial Director, Trade Finance Global (TFG), and Emmanuelle Ganne, Senior Analyst at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Lisa McAuley, CEO GTPA and Robert Handfield, Executive Director, SCRC, NC State University recently presented the early insights into the recent APEC survey on the impact of COVID-19 on global supply chains and international business.

The Australian Government together with the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) recently held an interactive workshop to share the preliminary results of the APEC Supply Chains Resilience Survey.

The Australian Government together with the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) recently held an interactive workshop to share the preliminary results of the APEC Supply Chains Resilience Survey.

Trade is crucial to the recovery from COVID-19, but in a more complicated political, economic and security environment. It is critical to “build back better”, and to build a standardised, digitised and connected ecosystem that covers both trade and trade finance, that allows for the streamlined introduction of new participants (including new suppliers of capital in trade finance) and which reduces the time, risk and cost of trade. While there are a number of current initiatives to digitise trade, or trade finance, there is the need for an integrated solution that brings the best of business, knowledge and government together, and which further leverages the developments in technology, trade and new sources of capital and funding.

International payments experts WorldFirst have sat down with local businesses who are conquering global markets. Learn how Budgy Smuggler and Caden Carbon Wheels have expanded their businesses partnering with WorldFirst.

COVID-19 has exposed the vulnerabilities and strengths of the least developed country (LDC) businesses in supply chains. In the face of coronavirus, the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) is leading a social media campaign to share a message for building the resilience of LDCs in global value chains and to power up trade.

The Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) is proud to announce the launch of our inaugural Festival of Inclusive Trade! What started out as the drafting of a white paper focussed on the issues faced by marginalised groups when engaging in international trade, has evolved into an online celebration of all things inclusive trade. Featuring over 80 world-class business and art events, the Festival runs for two weeks from 19 October.

The table of COVID-19 support measures shown below has been compiled by the WTO Secretariat. It is an informal situation report and an attempt to provide transparency with respect to support measures taken in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. It does not pass judgment on or question the right of WTO members to take such actions. The measures in the table are not categorized and no assessment of their potential relation to trade is made.

In this session we covered the following topics:

• Establishing a robust supply chain
• The evolution of logistics
• In-house Vs Third Party logistics
• Third party logistics & fulfilment
• Warehousing in-market
• Localising your manufacturing

Change in business and government is no longer an identifiable event, but rather a constantly and rapidly evolving state.

Singapore. 22 September: The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Academy is delighted to announce its collaboration with Global Trade Programme Alliance (GTPA), to offer businesses and trade professionals with ISO/IEC 17024 certified training programmes. As per the alliance, anyone who takes the ICC Academy’s trade finance, international business and regulation & compliance certificate programmes, will attain the relevant competency standards for ISO/IEC 17024 certification, under GTPA’s Global Trade Professional (GTP) programme.

Speaking on the collaboration, ICC Academy General Manager Daniel Kok said, “In an ever-evolving global trade environment, business leaders and trade professionals need to have better access to cutting-edge training, so as they develop competencies to cope with the ‘new normal’. As the educational arm of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), we have been offering a wide range of specialized online training and blended learning to trade professionals worldwide.

Improving women’s and SMEs access to global markets will be critical to economic recovery and growth in the post-COVID-19 period and beyond.

This survey will help to build resilience through a better understanding of the current needs of business, ensuring that government pandemic support initiatives are appropriate and sufficient to meet these needs. The survey will further help to ensure alignment of future government policies and programs with business needs.

The survey will contribute to a larger goal of the GTPA, which is working with a global coalition of partners established by Bloomberg New Economy, to identify actionable solutions for “Building Business Resilience in Global Value Chains 2020-21”, covering MNCs and SMEs participating in GVCs.

You can download the latest eCommerce session video recording here. In this session you can join Ms Collins Rex who discussed:

• Knowing the law
• Getting your price right
• Getting paid
• Your returns policy
• Understanding the tax implications
• Cybersecurity and data protection
• Protecting your IP

Inclusive trade refers to the principle that all levels of society should gain from increased trade. It promotes the inclusion of groups that may currently be marginalised or challenged in their ability to engage with international trading opportunities.

The GTPA is planning to develop an Inclusive Trade White Paper that will produce practical recommendations on how capacity building and standard setting can facilitate a more inclusive international trading ecosystem. The paper will focus on four groups – gender, youth, diaspora and indigenous communities – and the importance of standards and capacity building to support their engagement in international trading opportunities. It will produce recommendations to benefit organisations, institutions and individual professionals engaged in international trade.

To facilitate the development of this white paper, the GTPA is seeking to engage with as many representatives of the highlighted groups as possible.

Today, more than two-thirds of world trade occurs through global value chains (GVCs).

With the world economy facing multiple disruptions, including slow economic growth, natural disasters, and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic, GVCs – and supply chains more broadly – are transforming more rapidly than ever.

According to a recent study, 94% of companies are seeing supply chain disruptions from COVID-19 and 75% have felt negative or strongly negative impacts on their business and 55% of companies plan to or have already downgraded their growth outlooks as a result.

Resilience and redundancy must be rebuilt into global supply chains.

The international trading system pre-Covid-19 pandemic did not provide full opportunities for all strata of society to benefit from international trade.

Beyond its human tragedy, the economic impacts of the pandemic, with national lockdowns shutting key elements of economic activity and global supply chains, have led to the most drastic slowdown in economic activity since the Great Depression.

Crises of this magnitude offer an opportunity for reflection as reconstruction and recovery begins.

As a Micro to Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) you play a major role in the economy, and you account for the majority of businesses worldwide.

In this session we discussed:

• Customer engagement strategies
• Localising your website
• Translating your assets
• Fit-for-purpose marketing
• Developing an effective digital media strategy

eCommerce has saved many a business in these COVID-restricted times, but selling online is far from risk free. Just as in any business, you need to understand the risks of selling online so that you can mitigate them.

Join our expert, Collins Rex, next week for “eCommerce Risk Management”, the next in the GTPA’s Business Health Check webinar series.

Evolutionary design requires individuals to constantly look for emerging patterns in how material moves through their supply chains. Force or action must be taken to change the path of supply chain flows, to compress the amount of time that inventory remains in the system or impacts how cash is consumed over time. Pioneers of lean supply chains sought to develop nearby suppliers, especially in automotive and electronics sectors. Over time, however, the appeal of low-cost production in Asia lured many Western manufacturers to seek production overseas. These extended supply chains are the equivalent of systems with low compression. In other words, they are extended, with long lead times, opaque visibility and tracking systems, and lots of inventory spread out through the transportation and logistics system.

Purpose - The present study examines the relationship between supply integration and relationship stability, and the relationship between relationship stability and performance, and analyzes the moderation effect of environmental uncertainty between supply chain integration and relationship stability.

Amid lockdowns and other containment measures, digital technologies have kept trade flowing. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption and use of these new technologies, but digital protectionism risks fragmenting markets and limited the benefits of electronic commerce. To promote greater trade cooperation in this area, Singapore has started leading the negotiation of digital trade agreements.

Global Trade Review (GTR) is delighted to confirm that in line with current restrictions and concerns over the holding of physical events, GTR Commodities 2020 will be taking place virtually on September 15-16.

This exciting new initiative will combine a mixture of live-streamed and pre-recorded content and unrivalled networking via GTR’s dedicated virtual event platform, providing a comprehensive overview of the global commodities sector – from oil and gas, to metals, mining and agribusiness – as well as key financing trends.

Please join us in transitioning to this exciting new model, offering participants to benefit from critical market insights and idea-sharing, along with plentiful opportunities to network and connect to the wider community at a time of great uncertainty.

In just two days, leading experts will discuss what the future holds for global trade in the third episode of the Asia Trade Insight Hours.

In this session we discussed the following topics:

• Selling directly (through your own website) vs indirectly
• Platforms vs marketplaces
• Marketplaces: the big three
• What it costs
• Selecting the right marketplace

WHAT IS THE EVENT ABOUT?

BUILDING ECONOMIC RESILIANCE WITH TRADE

Global Trade Review (GTR) is delighted to announce that in line with current restrictions and concerns over travel and the holding of physical gatherings, GTR East Africa 2020 will take place virtually on October 1-2.

Once again welcoming support from a host of leading trade finance players alongside key supranational and industry bodies, this exciting event will utilise GTR’s bespoke virtual platform to deliver a comprehensive range of live-streamed and pre-recorded content and unrivalled networking opportunities, focusing on key trade sectors from commodities and agribusiness, to the development of local value-add industry and achieving digital innovation.

As we continue over a decade of market-leading gatherings, don’t miss your chance to participate in this beginning of an exciting new era for GTR East Africa; promising the high quality content and networking you have come to expect, delivered via specialist virtual technology platform for an optimal attendee experience.

As part of this online event we covered the following topics:

• What constitutes a crisis?
• Managing your way out of a crisis or disaster
• Planning and managing supply chains in a crisis
• Seeking opportunities in crisis recovery
• Planning for a future crisis

Supply chains are seeing rapid transformation. Driven by disruptions such as COVID-19. In the face of this transformation, we need your help so that you can be supported in building resilient supply chains. Whether you work in a large corporation or a small to medium-sized business or are a sole trader. Your views are important to help us understand how your business has been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

This online training course provides an in-depth overview of logistics calculations commonly used in the Transport and Logistics supply chain.

Designed by My Freight Career (RTO 90489) this training course has been developed for anyone, including students and employees needing a practical understanding of common weights, measurements and calculations used in Transport, Logistics and freight.

This online training course provides an in-depth overview of logistics calculations commonly used in the Transport and Logistics supply chain.

Designed by My Freight Career (RTO 90489) this training course has been developed for anyone, including students and employees needing a practical understanding of common weights, measurements and calculations used in Transport, Logistics and freight.

Over the past four months COVID-19 has exacerbated existing trade and geopolitical tensions, fuelled scepticism about the benefits of globalisation and seen already high-levels of economic uncertainty rise.

Following on from the recently announced dumping duty investigation into Australian wine, the Chinese Government hit the industry with a countervailing duty investigation on 31 August. Below we briefly set out the claims that will be investigated by the Chinese government, the difference between a dumping and countervailing investigation and what further actions needs to be taken by Australian wine exporters.

To paraphrase that Illinois newspaper editor who way back in 1870 wrote something like: “Doing business without advertising is like winking in the dark.You know you’re doing it, but no one else does.”

To simplify global logistics, you need to have both a reliable supply-chain and, if you manufacture your own products, a sound manufacturing strategy.

In 2019, retail eCommerce sales worldwide amounted to US$3.53 trillion (Statista) and these revenues are projected to grow to US$6.54 trillion US dollars in 2022.

Selling online through eCommerce gives access to a world of new customers without many of the challenges, risks and expenses of establishing a physical presence in a new market.And for many businesses, eCommerce has presented a lifeline during the COVID-19 pandemic, with bricks and mortar operations facing enormous challenges.

Selling online – just as any business operation – comes with risks. The more you know, the more you can mitigate these risks.

eCommerce markets – making a calculated choice. In order to select the best markets for your products/services, you need to do your homework.

Successfully selling online is dependent on choosing the right channel to market.

Around the world, businesses are experiencing both distress and cautious optimism as they grapple with the effects of COVID-19. While thousands of them, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), have had to close, many others continue to engage in global value chains (GVCs), or supply chains more broadly. While some parts of the manufacturing and services sectors, like the automotive and hospitality industries, have been severely affected, other sectors such as medical devices and telecommunications have seen demand grow exponentially.

The way large businesses and MSMEs are experiencing disruptions also differs greatly, and within MSMEs themselves, the reality has been different for women-led businesses and MSMEs in small and developing economies. The current crisis, thus, offers opportunities to business and hopes for the future of global trade, but at the same time will require the largest business rescue and support programmes of the past century.

Today, more than two-thirds of world trade occurs through global value chains (GVCs). With the world economy facing multiple disruptions, including slow economic growth, natural disasters, and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic, GVCs, and supply chains more broadly, are transforming rapidly, even more now than at the beginning of 2020. While past decades fostered an expansion and enlargement of GVCs, more recently some have also shortened and become more localised, a trend which is likely to increase in the coming years as large and small businesses reconfigure their operations due to the pandemic and the eager adoption of digital technologies.

Please join the GTPA and our partners for the next business health check event on Crisis recovery strategies for small business. This session will explore, among a few topics, how to manage your way out of a crisis or disaster as well as planning and managing supply chain in a crisis.

Australia and Singapore have today signed a landmark Digital Economy Agreement (DEA) to further enhance digital trade opportunities for businesses and consumers in both our nations. Federal Trade Minister Simon Birmingham, who signed the Agreement with Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing in a virtual signing ceremony, said it would help to expand the scope of our economic engagement with our largest two-way trading partner in South-East Asia.

International supply chains have become a topic of fierce debate in Germany over the past weeks, and perhaps surprisingly not for pandemic-related issues. Proposed new laws requiring due diligence by firms to prevent human rights violations in their supply chains sparked controversy over the degree of responsibility firms can realistically be expected to bear, and how they may enforce this obligation. This “German” debate has relevance beyond the country’s borders, as developed country multinational corporations in particular are under increasing pressure to enhance their corporate social responsibility.

AAEI's Annual Conference and Expos provides a forum for trade service providers to reach decision making exporters and importers with new systems and products to facilitate supply chain logistics. AAEI is the leading trade association for technical expertise, and we have the latest information on a wide variety of topics, with some of the top experts in the industry. This year, AAEI will be conducting our conference in a "virtual" environment and expect to reach a broader audience of trade professionals in the United States and internationally.

With the world economy facing multiple disruptions, including slow economic growth, natural disasters, and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic, global value chains (GVCs), and supply chains more broadly, are transforming rapidly. While past decades fostered an expansion and enlargement of global supply chains more recently some have also shortened and become more localised, a trend which is likely to increase in the coming years as MNCs and SMEs reconfigure their operations due to the pandemic and the resulting escalated adoption of digital technologies.

With the world economy facing multiple disruptions, including slow economic growth, natural disasters, and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic, global value chains (GVCs), and supply chains more broadly, are transforming rapidly.

While past decades fostered an expansion and enlargement of global supply chains more recently some have also shortened and become more localised, a trend which is likely to increase in the coming years as Multinationals (MNCs) and Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) reconfigure their operations due to the pandemic and the resulting escalated adoption of digital technologies.

The Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA), supported by the Australian Government and on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, is pleased today to launch the APEC Global Supply Chains Resiliency Survey.

Today, more than two-thirds of world trade occurs through global value chains (GVCs). With the world economy facing multiple disruptions, including slow economic growth, natural disasters, and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic, GVCs, and supply chains more broadly, are transforming rapidly, even more now than at the beginning of 2020.

While past decades fostered an expansion and enlargement of GVCs, more recently some have also shortened and become more localised, a trend which is likely to increase in the coming years as large and small businesses reconfigure their operations due to the pandemic and the eager adoption of digital technologies.

En momentos en que la economía mundial enfrenta múltiples interrupciones, incluido el lento crecimiento económico, desastres naturales, y más recientemente la pandemia del COVID-19, las cadenas globales de valor (CGVs), y las cadenas de suministro en general, están experimentando una rápida transformación.

Durante las décadas pasadas, las cadenas globales de suministro se ampliaron y expandieron. Sin embargo, algunas de esas cadenas también empezaron a mostrar signos de acortamiento o localización. Esto último, es una tendencia que probablemente aumentará en los próximos años en la medida en que compañías multinacionales (CMNs) y pequeñas y medianas empresas (PYMEs) reconfiguran sus operaciones debido a la pandemia, así como a la extensa adopción de tecnologías digitales.

Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA), apoyada por el Gobierno de Australia y en nombre del Foro de Cooperación Económica Asia-Pacífico (APEC), se complace por el lanzamiento de la Encuesta Global de Resiliencia en Cadenas Globales de Suministro en APEC.

Following on from our popular “Digital Marketing: The Basics” session, GTPA brings you “Digital Marketing: The Next Level." You can watch the webinar with Daniel Visser, the Managing Director of Wicked Witch Software a leading figure in the digital games world.

As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, businesses will continue to need to meet compliance requirements imposed by government and industry to protect the health and safety of employees and customers. Join us for a conversation between the ICC Secretary General and the Co-founders of AOKpass about how it can support and complement your return to work strategies and standard operating procedures.

Following on from our popular “Digital Marketing: The Basics” session, GTPA brings you “Digital Marketing: The Next Level." For this session, we’re delighted to be joined by a leading figure in the digital games world.

Fifty years ago, few people even had an idea about what ethical and unethical practices were happening behind the scenes of their supply chain. However, in recent times, we’ve come to realize the human, animal, and environmental impact of the products we use every day. Because of this, businesses have had to react, and today’s consumers expect that their money does not support things like sweatshops and child labor. As a business owner, how do you find partners that utilize ethical practices throughout the entire supply chain?

The following snapshot information on the range of trade-related Federal Government support and advice available to help Australian business take advantage of free trade agreements that may be useful for your business. It is a helpful summary reference.

Craig Weeks, the newest of the Supply Chain Resource Cooperative’s (SCRC) eight executive advisors, is no stranger to helping students. Every year for the last 15 years, the business veteran has “adopted” a senior from his alma mater, Dickinson College, to help them get their resume in shape, network with alumni and ultimately land their first job.

The Victorian Government has announced a new $534 million Business Support Package which will provide more support to help businesses and workers through to the other side of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Inclusive trade refers to the principle that all levels of society should gain from increased trade. It promotes the inclusion of groups that may currently be marginalised or challenged in their ability to engage with international trading opportunities.

The GTPA is planning to develop an Inclusive Trade White Paper that will produce practical recommendations on how capacity building and standard setting can facilitate a more inclusive international trading ecosystem.

The Horasis Extraordinary Meeting is the world's foremost gathering of business leaders who interact with key government officials and eminent thought leaders. Under the theme Unite. Inspire. Create, 500 of the most senior members of the Horasis Visions Community will gather virtually to overcome the profound economic, political and social disruptions caused by Covid-19. The Horasis Extraordinary Meeting offers the conceptual backbone and action platform to advance the recovery - envisioning and implementing novel business models, new political cooperation and deep social cohesion.

In 2020, every business – however small – needs to be digitally enabled to some extent. Whether it’s having a virtual shopfront in the form of a website and a fully functioning eCommerce solution, an automated production line, or even just email and a mobile phone, technology is an intrinsic part of the way in which we do business.

How confident do you feel using the Incoterms® rules? Do you feel comfortable advising your clients or colleagues in other departments? Can you explain the rules to them in simple terms? Perhaps you have a solid understanding of the Incoterms® rules. You know the definitions and can recite the contractual obligations off by heart but still have some niggling questions or concerns. Or maybe you’re just not sure your understanding is 100% up to date since the launch of the Incoterms® 2020 at the start of this year.

We hope that you are keeping in good health and spirits in these challenging times. We are delighted to announce that ExCred New York, the No. 1 summit for insuring trade and investment in the Americas is taking place on 5th - 6th of October at Convene 605, New York. Join us in New York or virtually from anywhere in the world this October, as we explore the profound impacts that the global pandemic has had on the wider economy and international trade and the opportunities and challenges that have arisen.

GTPA is delighted to announce a collaboration with ManchesterCF a global financial intelligence training service. ManchesterCF training solutions are designed to train financial services and banks in core areas that can help them to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, proliferation financing, corruption & financial fraud.

The two organisations will collaborate with the purpose of strengthening the relations between the two organisations regarding the ISO/IEC 17024 certification of trade and compliance professionals with a focus on and the linkages to the ManchesterCF expertise as a leading educational provider in this field.

Following the unprecedented ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent uncertainty over both the safety and viability of holding physical events, Global Trade Review is delighted to announce that GTR Asia 2020, the world’s largest trade finance gathering, will this year be taking place virtually, on September 8-10.

This exciting new initiative, combining a mixture of live-streamed and pre-recorded content and unrivalled networking via GTR’s dedicated virtual event platform, will offer the chance to hear the latest developments from experts on the many challenges faced across the industry, as well as the chance to connect with speakers, sponsors and attendees alike across the 3 days.

In 2020, every business – however small – needs to be digitally enabled to some extent. Whether it’s having a virtual shopfront in the form of a website and a fully functioning eCommerce solution, an automated production line, or even just email and a mobile phone, technology is an intrinsic part of the way in which we do business. This week’s “Business Health Check” session is a small business technology primer.

As Australia celebrates National Reconciliation Week, the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) recognises the contribution Indigenous Australians have made to Australia’s culture, identity and achievements.

Reconciliation is about a mutual strengthening of relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to create a more just, equitable and reconciled Australia. Trade and commerce play an integral role in this.

The world of trade looks set to be another of the many casualties of the coronavirus pandemic, as international banks reassess the risks faced by exporters, warehouses fill up with delayed shipments of goods that retailers are no longer able to sell, and access to dollar liquidity dwindles. Lisa McAuley, CEO of GTPA will be joining an esteemed panel to discuss.

The creative industries contribute around $112 billion to the Australian economy, and employ over 640 000 people. The creative industries generate substantial Australian exports, and globally the sector accounts for 7% of the world’s GDP. COVID-19 and the measure implemented to curb its spread has had a devastating effect on the creative sector, with theatres, art galleries, music venues and museums all closed or attendance number drastically curtailed.

Inclusive trade refers to the principle that all levels of society should gain from increased trade. It promotes the inclusion of groups that may currently be marginalised or challenged in their ability to engage with international trading opportunities.

The GTPA is putting the finishing touches on an Inclusive Trade White Paper that will produce practical recommendations on how capacity building and standard setting can facilitate a more inclusive international trading ecosystem, with particular reference to four groups: gender, youth, diaspora and indigenous communities.

To coincide with the launch of the Inclusive Trade White Paper, the GTPA is excited to announce a “Festival of Inclusive Trade”.

We are pleased to share this first piece in a series exploring resilient supply chains for a post-Covid world, and welcome readers’ insights and perspective as they conduct business across regions and industries. Niels Strazdins is Head of Trade Policy at the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA). Professor Robert Handfield is Bank of America University Distinguished Professor of Supply Chain Management at North Carolina State University, and Director of the Supply Chain Resource Cooperative. Professor Ian George is the owner of ProPar Consulting Ltd.

How critical is cash? Some would argue Cash is King. That the Cashflow Statement says much more about the health of a business than it gets credit for. Accountants and investment analysts will look at this with a slightly different lens and priority, but most SMEs, anywhere in the world, live or die by cash.

The next session in the GTPA’s “Business Health Check” series is focused on exactly that – “Cash Management and Supply Chain Finance (SCF) during COVID-19”.

Following the unprecedented ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent uncertainty over both the safety and viability of holding physical events, Global Trade Review is delighted to announce that GTR Asia 2020, the world's largest trade finance gathering, will this year be taking place virtually, on September 8-10.

Collins is the owner of ideas generator and actuator, Rex Ideas. She is also the Asia & Africa Director for the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA).

The global COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people, business and societies in new and profound ways. Acknowledging the challenges ahead, the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and the Global Trade Professional Association (GTPA) joined forces to help business communities and governments alike navigate the future and improve trade and investment governance that help the world get back on its feet.

As economies slowly emerge from COVID-19 lockdowns, business is taking the first tentative steps towards normal operations. And now, more than ever, there is a need to take stock and revise business plans and strategies to ensure both recovery and future growth.

Toward a more just and inclusive trading future.

In July the GTPA will be launching a new white paper on Inclusive Trade which will recognise the important role that Inclusive Trade can play in economies around the world so that the gains from trade flow to all members of society equally.

The impact of servicification on global supply chains in the ASEAN region: dynamics, restrictions, and policy implications

International trade in services, especially via exports from emerging markets, is increasingly being channelled through the embedding of services in the export of goods. These goods include intermediate products, which are elements of Global Value Chains (GVCs).

Deadline for submissions: 31 August 2020

The Jean Monnet Network; Trade & Investment in Services Associates (TIISA) brings together leading academics across Europe, Asia and Australia and key institutions - Sussex University, University of Adelaide, Örebro University, National Tsing Hua University, Utrecht University, University of International Business and Economics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, World Trade Institute in research on domestic regulation and global governance of services trade and investment flows.

Collins Rex is the Asia/ Africa Director for the GTPA who has owned and operated her own very successful businesses on two continents. In her professional capacity she assists clients across a range of international marketing, product development and communications areas, helping them get maximum return on their marketing investment. Collins is passionate about seeing small business do better business, and do it on the global stage!

Join us for the next session in our Business Health Check series.

Join our resident marketing expert, Collins Rex, for a lively discussion of the basic elements of digital marketing.

If you’re mystified by terms like SEM, SEO, PPC and remarketing, this session will lift the veil and put you in a better position to make informed decisions regarding your digital marketing strategy.

These online webinars will allow you to meet other business operators ‘virtually’ for expert-moderated interactive online panel discussions. Here you can raise questions on issues you might be facing and as a global community we will mobilise our collective experience and expertise to listen and try to provide practical assistance.

The Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) and International Trade of the University of Adelaide (IIT) commends and shares the course of action delineated in the Statement on COVID-19 by APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade issued in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 05 May 2020.

The COVID-19 crisis has radically changed the way we interact, both for business and personally. With travel off the cards for the foreseeable future, we’re all having to make peace with finding virtual ways to run our businesses, interact with our clients and colleagues, and even keep in touch with those we hold dear. Unfortunately, many of us are not using the virtual mechanisms at our disposal effectively or efficiently.

Russell Wiese heads Hunt & Hunt Lawyers' Customs and Global Trade Team. For the past 15 years he has specialised in commercial and regulatory issues associated with international supply chains. His clients are importers, exporters, freight forwarders and customs brokers. In particular, Russell assists clients with commercial agreements, dispute resolution, customs compliance and transport contracts. He is the current chair of the Australian Law Counsel Customs and International Transactions Committee.

Opinion of:

Lisa McAuley, CEO of GTPA

Dr Tomás Quesada, VP for Research and Policy of GTPA

The benefits of integrated economies have been visible in the handling of the pandemic itself

The world’s economy is facing its hardest prospect since the Great Depression. The International Monetary Fund projects a sharp contraction of the global economy of -3 percent for 2020. Global trade has been particularly affected due to supply chains disruptions, a fall in domestic consumption and investment, a reduction in the number of working hours, and the imposition of non-tariff barriers by governments. Protectionist measures already evident before the virus outbreak have now exacerbated. According to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), global trade is expected to fall by between 13% and 32% in 2020, and it is likely to fall harder in sectors with complex value chains.

The Institute for International Trade (IIT) invites you to join them for an interactive webinar with the Trade and Investment Research Network (TIRN) on the G20's role in reforming industrial subsidies.

GTDW,now into its 19th edition, provides a connecting platform to global trade stakeholders to explore opportunities to facilitate and increase sustainable and seamless cross border trade and to detect and counter illicit trade by:

• Collaborating and linking existing initiatives

• Sharing resources and best practices

• Identifying commonalities and points of convergence

• Discovering emergent and interoperable technologies and innovation

• Initiating recommendations to overcome threats and challenges

• Facilitating closed door G2G, B2B, B2G meetings

As the impacts of COVID-19 continue to be felt throughout our industry and the world, our priority as always is the health and well-being of our trainees, staff and clients as well as our industry and the broader community we serve. We remain committed to supporting you during this difficult period and helping you transition back to more normal operations when the time is right.

Tuesday, May 5 | 10:00 am EDT

You’re invited to join us for the next event in our virtual conversation series: Supply Chain Revolution on Tuesday, May 5 at 10 am EDT.

GTPA is pleased to announce a slight change to our Business Health Check session for the 6th May. We will now be joined by Russell Wiese who heads Hunt & Hunt Lawyers' Customs and Global Trade.

The GTPA is pleased to announced an alliance with Raised Hand, a new initiative created by a previous work friend of the GTPA team.

No one business, and certainly no MSME, needs to navigate these rather stormy waters alone

As these lines are being written, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) around the world are closing their operations. No one business, and certainly no MSME, needs to navigate these rather stormy waters alone.While the global business landscape is changing quite rapidly, we are confident that the global business environment will eventually stabilise. In the meantime, businesses’ capacity to survive will depend on their ability to innovate the ways in which they communicate, manage their business, and engage customers.

As part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Initiative for Global Prosperity GTPA will be presenting an online Ted-Style talk in May to discuss this topic.

Ian George is the Owner of ProPar Consulting Ltd a procurement and supply management consultancy specialising in organisational transformation and leadership development. Owner of IP based on academic rigour grounded in consulting practice. Prior to this Ian was the Head of Strategy and Process Development, Philips Electronics Eindhoven, The Netherlands 2000-2002, a global organisation covering six divisions from medical devices, body care and entertainment to silicon chips. Responsible for €16bn spend administered by 2600 staff across 93 offices and Supplier Development Senior Manager, BMW Group Birmingham, UK and South Carolina, USA.

Rob Handfield is the Bank of America University Distinguished Professor of Supply Chain Management at North Carolina State University, and Director of the Supply Chain Resource Cooperative. He also serves as Faculty Lead for the Manufacturing Analytics group within the International Institute of Analytics, and is on the Faculty for Operations Research Curriculum at NC State University.

By Professor Peter Draper - Institute for International Trade

If ever the G20, the self-styled apex forum for international economic cooperation, needed to step up to the plate it is now. However, while it did so for the 2009 London Summit — in the eye of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) — it is highly unlikely to this time. It is also not clear what the definition of success is, unlike the GFC when the core objective was to save Western financial systems from collapse. Each G20 country is correctly focused on managing its own health trajectory, with little policy bandwidth left to devote to international economic cooperation.

This week we will be discussing Managing supply chain risks as part of our online business health check series. We are delighted to be joined this week by supply chain experts: Dr Robert Handfield from the United States of America and Dr Ian George from the United Kingdom.

In the past few months, we’ve all added a string of new acronyms and terms to our business vocabulary. WFH (work from home), BYOD (bring your own device), and FoW (future of work) have entered into everyday usage, while “asynchronous/synchronous communication”, “distributed team/work”, “cloud work”, and others, are gaining mainstream traction.

As part of the maintaining a healthy business in times of global crisis. Yesterday’s session covered slowed business and increased marketing. The forum covered how to see slowed business as an opportunity to spend more time communicating and building a future customer base. You need to do more now, not less! Whether it’s doing what you’ve always done, or something different, the market must know if your business is going to survive this crisis.

JOIN US FOR A LIVECAST

As the world grapples with COVID-19, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has issued two guidance publications to help governments and regulators deal with emerging trade finance disruptions.

Friday 24 April 2020

8:00 am EST | 2:00 pm CET | 5:30 pm IST | 8:00 pm SGT

REGISTER NOW

Join us for the free webinar on Thursday, April 16th at 2:30pm EDT.

Every sector of the economy is struggling to understand how to continue given the impact of the Coronavirus on their business enterprises. Workers are now communicating through remote conferencing services due to shelter-at-home orders, and anxiety levels are rising as the economic future remains uncertain.

As part of the maintaining a healthy business in times of global crisis, this session covered making the most of business down time.

Business disruptions caused by COVID-19 are affecting many people’s ability to fulfill their obligations under commercial contracts. In some cases, Force Majeure contract clauses may provide relief from the performance of impeded contractual obligations during the pandemic-related disruptions.

The once-in-a-century crisis we all find ourselves confronted with by COVID-19 will end up exacting both a horrific toll in terms of loss of life but also short and medium term economic damage.

In this rapidly changing jobs market the Australian Government is supporting businesses and those Australians looking for work.

While many businesses have been adversely affected by COVID-19 and are reducing their workforces, there are some areas of the economy which have an increased demand for workers.

The Cyber Readiness Institute (CRI) is organising two webinars which will take place at the end of this week.

The Morrison Government will inject an extra $49.8 million into the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program in the 2019-20 financial year, allowing exporters and tourism businesses to get additional reimbursements for costs incurred in marketing their products and services around the world.

The WTO has launched a new dedicated website to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic as this represents an unprecedented disruption to the global economy and world trade, as production and consumption are scaled back across the globe.

In the interest of keeping the arts (particularly music) alive and kicking in these tough times, our Director for Africa and Asia, Ms Collins Rex would like to share the details of an amazing artist who’s streaming three live concerts to three cities in one day this weekend. The concert isn’t free, but US$12 is a small price to pay for music of this calibre.

Maintaining a healthy business in times of global crisis: Business health check. This week we will be discussing Business Health Check as part of our online forum with our expert presenter, Ms Collins Rex. Collins Rex assists clients across a range of international marketing, product development and communications areas, helping them get maximum return on their marketing investment. Collins is passionate about seeing small business do better business, and do it on the global stage!

As the coronavirus epidemic shuts down the global economy, supply chain executives should be taking steps now to ensure that their supply base remains intact in the face of massive disruption. This was certainly the case in the 2008 Great Recession. We recently published a paper that demonstrates empirically that over the period of the major financial crisis, supply managers who regularly assess and develop an understanding of their key suppliers’ working capital conditions are more likely to re-negotiate contracts that revise payment terms, leading to improved supplier working capital and fewer supply chain disruptions. The data was collected smack dab in the middle of the crisis, so we were able to capture what was happening in supply managers’ minds during this period. Right now, shipments have stopped, payments have stopped, and people are being laid off. Taking steps now to avoid future pain when the supply chain starts up is critical to ensure that suppliers survive this massive disruption, and are able to start back up again.

Amidst the difficulties that airlines are experiencing with travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced today that it had granted an interim authorisation to Regional Express (Rex) “to coordinate flight schedules with Virgin Australia and Qantas Airways on ten important regional flight routes”.

In 2018 Collins Rex, Director of the GTPA had the great privilege of getting to know a group of exceptional women from South Asia who I trained in international business as part of the Australia Awards: Women Trading Globally programme. One of those women is Hanium Maria Chowdury from Bangladesh.

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) over recent days has been receiving calls from members as regards the health protocols many facilities had put in place to check not only their staff but also any visitors to their premises.

We had been advised that some businesses had experiences where some government agency officers had refused to comply with these protocols; being standard health questions and if required a contactless temperature check.

Wellcamp Airport (Toowoomba) is still operating during the crisis and strongly supports the Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) initiative to co-operate with industry through the COVID-19 Air Cargo Bulletin Board.

Russell Wiese and David Thompson of Hunt & Hunt Lawyers recently provided a webinar updating the trade and logistics community of the commercial law and employment issues associated with COVID-19. A summary of the Australian law issues are set out below. The issues will differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and it is importation to obtain local advice. If you need assistance with Australian trade law issues please contact Russell at rwiese@huntvic.com.au. If you need employment law assistance, please contact David at dthompson@huntvic.com.au.

GTPA would like to thank Paul Zalai and the team at Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) for working to ensure COVID-19 Air Freight Funding. This is great news.

Our GTPA management team is pulling together to help to personally subsidise small businesses through a new service.

Every week we will personally look to subside access to a business service or solution / support initiatives for people self-isolated at home.

We hope that by making a small contribution here we can help small businesses/ sole traders/ freelancers whilst also at the same time providing access to valuable support services to our global business network.

We are currently living in extraordinary circumstances, and first and foremost we must remain safe and keep ourselves, our community, and those closest to us healthy.

The Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) is joining forces to collaborate with the Institute of International Trade (IIT) at The University of Adelaide and the Supply Chain Resource Cooperative (SCRC), Poole College of Management at North Carolina State University.

As a group, we are aware that as businesses implement major changes to manage disruptions and continue operating, many could benefit from the insight and fellowship of peers in similar positions, and the assistance of experts who can offer advice and leadership.

These online forums will allow you to meet other business operators ‘virtually’ for expert-moderated interactive online discussions. Here you can raise questions on issues you might be facing and as a global community we will mobilise our collective experience and expertise to listen and try to provide practical assistance.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), as a part of the foreign policy white paper, is looking into ways to support to service sector in Australia and to better support and assist these firms in their international growth. We would like to invite you to participate in a study aiming to understand more about the experiences of service businesses who export their services fairly soon after their inception (also known as ‘born global’ businesses). The research will be used by DFAT to understand more about the challenges faced by these businesses, and will be used to inform improved support and assistance to help these businesses succeed and grow their international business activities.

Collins Rex is the Asia/ Africa Director for the GTPA who has owned and operated her own very successful businesses on two continents. In her professional capacity she assists clients across a range of international marketing, product development and communications areas, helping them get maximum return on their marketing investment. Collins is passionate about seeing small business do better business, and do it on the global stage!

Last Thursday the WTO held a workshop to celebrate the 25^th Anniversary of the WTO Agreement on Rules of Origin, CEO of the GTPA Lisa McAuley was asked to speak on a panel to discuss increasing demands on product certification and origin traceability. Below is a copy of the speech.

Despite an international context that has grown more hostile for global trade, flows of goods, services, and investment continue to develop, encouraged by the negotiation of free trade agreements and the emergence of global value chains. This entails constant changes to our work on rules of origin. By the time we think we have found a solution to a problem, new demands emerge that also require our creativity and commitment. Hence, the importance of this event so that we do not lose momentum in addressing old and new challenges.

In advance of International Women’s Day on the 8th March, the GTPA is today pleased to build on the campaign we launched last year to shine a light on the women who rock international trade. Last year we focused on women working within international trade from the perspective of working within global trade as a professional.In 2020, our campaign will focus on highlighting women rocking international business, from business owners to CEOs to those working within different business functions supporting business development and growth.

By Peter Langley, Vice President, FedEx Express Australasia

Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the Australian economy with its contribution to the nation’s GDP of 57 per cent and accounting for 67 per cent of total employment in Australia. We are increasingly seeing the business landscape changing for the benefit of SMEs, from policy recommendations that improve cashflow for SMEs, to free-trade agreements for the benefit of bilateral trade on all scales.

However, local businesses are also experiencing an increasing amount of pressure to go further afield. Even though cross-border trade has a positive impact to revenue, we are finding that only 75 per cent of Australian SMEs are currently exporting goods compared to 91 per cent importing.

Over 90,000 Chinese international students remain stuck outside Australia due to Coronavirus travel restrictions. China exposed export businesses will also be substantially impacted. Estimates of the potential direct adverse economic impact of the Coronavirus on Australia currently range from $3 - $8 billion and are increasing daily.

Edtech startup Practera platform is enabling one innovative response with its successful Global Trade Accelerator program and a range of Government, peak body, education provider and export partners.

Tickets are now on sale for the Margaret Thatcher Conference on Trade, in partnership with the City of London Corporation and HSBC.

The Margaret Thatcher Conference is the Centre for Policy Studies’ flagship annual event. It aims to provide a platform for senior politicians, business representatives and experts to discuss top line, international topics in front of a high level audience.

Opinion by Niels Strazdins, Head of Global Trade Policy & Europe Director at Global Trade Professionals

The 2020 coronavirus outbreak in China has been declared a global health emergency and concern is growing over its potential to become a pandemic. With over 600 fatalities to-date, the scale of the human tragedy cannot be ignored and is increasing by day.

Beyond its tragic human impact on the residents of Hubei province, China more broadly, and the rest of world, the outbreak’s economic consequences are also mounting.

Disruption is radiating from the world’s second-largest economy across international supply chains and commercial networks. It is testing their resiliency and the contingencies put in place to mitigate the impact of international crises such as viral outbreaks.

As the issue of sustainability continues to be at the forefront of global awareness, various initiatives and activities demonstrate the extent to which institutions are taking the matter more seriously. But is enough being done and is there sufficient understanding of the issues at play here?

Today’s business leaders confront a host of political, economic, policy, regulatory, environmental and institutional barriers.

On the international political front, the headlines are full of ‘trade wars’ news. The rise of populist sentiment in the developed world is challenging many of the post-cold war assumptions, wherein the march of trade liberalisation and liberal political systems were in lockstep.

Political debates increasingly reflect these international tensions, as well as the broader, deteriorating, regional security environment.

Security, trade and investment are now more, and increasingly, entwined, affecting trade policies and regulations across the globe.

Yet threats bring new opportunities including new trade routes opening and technological advancements that will simultaneously render cross-border trade easier to do, while multiplying the possibilities for dispersing production facilities internationally and bringing goods and services closer to consumers.

For many MSMEs, navigating the complexity of doing business globally whilemaintaining acompetitive edge requires the development of new skills and knowledge, as well as the ability todraw on a trusted network of skilled professionals and consulting services with the requiredcompetencies to support their business growth.Many of these businesses have significant international growth potential from day one of theiroperations and are essentially “born global”. Competing on a global scale from the outset means it isimperative that these businesses enjoy access to support networks and an ecosystem that allowsthem to take advantage of new opportunities.

By Karen Reddington, President, FedEx Asia Pacific

Innovation for all: the idea that innovation, in its fullest expression, serves everyone. Never before have small businesses and start-ups been so connected – in digital tools, technology, access and ideas.

Entrepreneurial innovators are leading with passion and counting on connectivity to expand their businesses across borders, seize niche opportunities and shape the global economic future.

So why then does evidence show that SMEs are failing to access trade deals – one of the most significant tools there is for multiplying business growth and opportunity? And what do agreements like the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) offer?

Whilst the world has started 2020 with political, economic, policy, regulatory, environmental and institutional challenges, the GTPA is committed to finding ways in which our services can help to unite and not divide.

As we look ahead to a new year and a new decade, we remain steadfast in our belief that trade can be a mechanism to support greater inclusion and global security. This includes new trade routes opening and technological advancements that will simultaneously render cross-border trade easier, while multiplying the possibilities for dispersing production facilities internationally, and bringing goods and services closer to consumers at a better price point.

On a personal note, the GTPA has several members of our team situated in Australia. I would like to take this opportunity to send our thoughts and prayers to our staff and their loved ones, as well as to commend the firefighters who have been working tirelessly on the front lines for months, with no respite in sight.

The GTPA is delighted to welcome Dr Tomás Quesada to the team. With his background as a Doctor in Politics from the University of Oxford, Master in Comparative Politics (Democracy) from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and a lawyer from the University of Costa Rica, we are delighted to bring his expertise to the team.

As the business world looks toward continuing uncertainty and trade turbulence in 2020, GTPA CEO Lisa McAuley recently discussed the implications of this for international supply chains.

We are just days away from Going Global Live and we hope you are as excited as we are about meeting each other at the London ExCeL on the 27th & 28th!

As part of the GTPA’s involvement in the Going Global Live, our CEO Lisa McAuley is pleased to be visiting the UK to unveil our new solutions for UK businesses to gain access to online tools and training solutions to help them grow globally from 2020 onward.

GTPA is pleased to announce that it has been selected as a lead collaborator on one of six solutions as part of the 2020 Bloomberg New Economy Solutions. GTPA will be working to support unlocking inclusive tarade. Find out more about the solutions launched on Friday at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Beijing.

Now in its 9th edition, the ICC Academy, the educational arm of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), is set to host the next chapter of its annual Supply Chain Finance Summit. Marked by its year-on-year success, the event returns to Singapore on 4-5 March 2020, highlighting the island city-state’s standing as a pivotal trade and financial hub that continues to shape the development of Asia’s supply chain.

It is only one week to go until Going Global Live and we hope you are as excited as we are about meeting each other at the London ExCeL on the 27th & 28th!

In line with the International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) vision to secure peace prosperity and opportunity for all, the ICC Academy, the educational arm of the world business organization, is pleased to announce a dedicated scholarship programme for students and trade professionals worldwide.

The initiative offer an 80% bursary on the cost of the ICC Academy’s flagship online certificates on trade finance, the Global Trade Certificate (GTC) and Certified Trade Finance Professional (CTFP), as well as international business with the Export/Import Certificate (EIC).

IE School of Global and Public Affairs and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) have established a partnership to collaborate in knowledge generation and dissemination in the field of international trade and public policy.

On 31 October IE School of Global and Public Affairs Dean Manuel Muñiz and ICC Secretary-General John W. H. Denton AO signed the agreement, according to which both institutions will cooperate in areas of mutual interest which may include education, applied research and training. The ICC Academy, the educational arm of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), will be part of the Academic Committee of the Executive Master in Internationalization and Trade (EMIT), supporting IE in designing and rolling out the degree.

We are now just 2 weeks away from Going Global Live, and we’re counting the days before we get the opportunity to meet at the London ExCeL on the 27th & 28th!

Our CEO, Lisa McAuley has put the finishing touches to her informative seminar on Powering UK business to grow internationally post-Brexit with new online international business tools that she will be presenting on the 28th November at 11am. Make sure you’re there to hear it!

“Tariffs and Trade Wars: The New Normal for Supply Chains”

The SCRC will be hosting it’s Semi-annual Conference (formerly Semi-annual Partners Meeting) on December 5th, 2019 at the Duke Energy Hall in the James B. Hunt Library on NC State’s Centennial Campus.

Join supply chain professionals from over 20 different companies for this day-long event as we discuss tariffs, trade wars, and navigating global trade. Please see below for a complete overview of the day’s events, including a list of guest speakers and presentation topics.

SESSION title: Powering UK business to grow internationally post-Brexit with new online international business tools

The GTPA will host a session as part of Going Global 2019 that will focus on powering UK businesses to grow internationally in a post-Brexit environment.

It will feature the launch of the Global Trade Capability Accelerator programme and eCommerce business tools as well as a demonstration of how these can be leveraged by UK businesses facing new international trading opportunities.

There’s only 4 weeks to go until we will be heading to the London ExCeL, to exhibit at Going Global Live 2019, and we couldn’t be more excited!

We’re going to be setting up base on stand 270, and we’d love to invite you to come and see us so that we can tell you all about our service in person!

The trade finance gap is not closing. Financing demands are becoming more specialized and difficult to meet, especially in the wake of regulatory stringency.

What working capital solutions are alternative lenders exploring to help businesses grow?
Can this help overcome entering frontier markets where risk is high but financing demand is strong? Will the credit insurance market begin to harden in 2020?

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is convening a global business delegation to participate in the 14th annual Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Berlin to discuss pressing digital policy issues and the future of Internet governance.

Launched in 2006 by United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan, the IGF is the prime venue for multistakeholder policy dialogues on key legal, political, social, and technical issues related to the Internet. Since the first forum held in Athens, ICC has been actively involved in the IGF to facilitate business participation and advocate for an open, inclusive and cooperative approach to Internet governance.

Global Trade Development Week (GTDW), now into its 19th edition, provides a connecting platform to global trade stakeholders to explore opportunities to facilitate and increase sustainable and seamless cross border trade and to detect and counter illicit trade by:

- Collaborating and linking existing initiatives
- Sharing resources and best practices
- Identifying commonalities and points of convergence
- Discovering emergent and interoperable technologies and innovation
- Initiating recommendations to overcome threats and challenges
- Facilitating closed door G2G, B2B, B2G meetings

Sponsored by American Express, Going Global is the leading exhibition dedicated to providing businesses with absolutely everything they need to expand internationally and trade overseas. Jam-packed with industry-leading experts, content-rich seminars, unlimited networking opportunities, interactive masterclasses & over 150 of the world’s most innovative exhibitors, Going Global Live 2019 is set to be the biggest and best edition so far.

The fact that ongoing global events continue to raise concerns across the business world was the lead topic at GTR’s Commodities 2019 conference in Geneva, where the GTPA argued the case for caution in the face of uncertainty and disruption.

Whether observing events from a macro perspective or more granularly from a country or industry-based perspective, the disruption and uncertainty we are experiencing in the global economic and political environment is making it increasingly difficult for businesses to plan and invest for the future.

The GTPA works with women entrepreneurs to build capacity and provide access to global networks. As part of our ongoing mentoring support we recently visited two of our women entrepreneurs in Nepal to understand their export development and gain greater understanding of the challenges for future growth. The GTPA was delighted to be joined by Annette Ssemuwemba, Deputy Executive Director from the EIF Programme.

On the occasion of the WTO Public Forum, please join us for a Business Community Reception in support of global trade.

ICC has launched Incoterms® 2020, the newest edition of the renowned trade terms for the sale of goods, providing certainty and clarity to business and traders everywhere.

The Incoterms® rules define important responsibilities of buyers and sellers for the delivery of goods under sales contracts. They are the authoritative rules for determining how costs and risks are allocated to the parties. Incoterms rules are regularly incorporated into contracts for the sale of goods worldwide and have become part of the daily language of trade.

The GTPA will be represented by CEO, Ms Lisa McAuley in Nepal as part of a multi-faceted trip focused on supporting women entrepreneurs to trade globally as well as a session by the WTO on Gender Responsive Trade Policies: The Time is Now.

As part of the first day of the mission the GTPA along with EIF and the WTO will spend the day meeting with women entrepreneurs in Nepal as well as industry bodies specifically working to support women entrepreneurs including the Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs' Association of Nepal (FWEAN) and the SAARC Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs council (SCWEC) Nepal Chapter.

Lisa McAuley, CEO of the GTPA will join the panel session on Doing well by ‘doing good’: Promoting sustainability and the circular economy. Sustainability and ongoing efforts to highlight the importance of the circular economy – an economic system engineered to minimise waste and maximise resources – continue to be some of the hottest topics in the current climate.

GTPA Director, Collins Rex, has been appointed Lead Facilitator at the Australian Government’s two-day workshop at APEC’s SME Week in Concepcion, Chile.

The GTPA is delighted to be presenting a side event at APEC’s SME Week in Concepcion, Chile, on 4 September. This event, entitled “Powering MSMEs and women entrepreneurs to grow internationally via online channels”, is focussed on eCommerce and digital technologies as tools to empower women entrepreneurs to take a leap into the world of international trade.

The GTPA is honoured to have been invited to participate in APEC’s “CTI Public – Private Dialogue (PPD) on Promoting Transparency through the Improvement of information submitted in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Notifications”, which is being held in Puerto Varas, Chile, on 22 and 23 August.

The informal café session was moderated by Dayna Simpson from Monash University and we were joined by Anne Quarshie from LUT University of Technology (Finland) and Zhaohui Wu from Oregon State University as part of the 79th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management to host a session on Emerging sustainability standards - How SCM scholars can get involved. As part of the informal discussion with Supply Chain Management professionals we discussed the development of ISO standards relevant to transparency and chain-of-custody, and how sustainable SCM can be incorporated in these standards.

The GTPA is delighted to announce that it will be hosting a formal session as part of the 79th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management to discuss the development of the Seven Summits Trade Challenge to be formally launched later this year.

To succeed in today’s competitive business environment, exceptional individuals must rise out above the crowd.

The Seven Summits Trade Challenge (SSTC) provides trade and supply chain professionals with formal recognition of their career achievements, as well as giving them a structured pathway to build on their trade skills and expertise to reach new heights in the dynamic and ever-changing world of global commerce.

GTR Asia 2019 (formerly known as Asia Trade & Treasury Week) will return to Singapore September 3-4, 2019. Recognised as the world’s largest international gathering for the trade, commodity, fintech and treasury community, GTR’s annual event in Singapore last year welcomed a record-breaking total of over 1,100 industry participants from local and international banks to multinational corporations and SMEs, independent financiers, commodity brokers and traders, insurers and risk managers, lawyers, consultants, ECAs and multilaterals and more!

2019’s event is set to be even bigger and better! Participants will have the chance to hear over 100 of the world’s leading trade, treasury and fintech experts reflecting on developments in the Asian market and more globally, whilst also having the chance to network and discuss trade priorities with over 500 different companies.

Australia and Peru signed the Peru-Australia Free Trade Agreement (PAFTA) in February 2018. A fellow signatory to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Agreement, Peru has been one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America over the last decade. PAFTA will build on the benefits of the CPTPP, enabling Australian exporters to diversify beyond traditional export markets and strengthening our economic relationship with Latin America.

Our recent session as part of the Aid for Trade Global Review emphasized the importance of women entrepreneurs in international trade. The title of the session "Women who rock the international trade" had its origins in a social media campaign that coincided with the international day of women to celebrate the contribution of women to the world of international trade. The campaign particularly focussed on the unsung heroes, the women who daily make a contribution, but out of the spotlight. The focus of the discussion was how women can capitalise on their huge potential to contribute to the world economy. Discussion centred around gender equality in trade, sustainable initiatives to encourage women to trade globally, and the constraints faced by women. The participants also discussed the need to integrate gender aspect into trade policy. The session was organised by GTPA and EIF.

Widely regarded as one of the premier gatherings for the global commodity financing sector, GTR Commodities 2019 will provide an unrivalled forum for networking and discussion on the key issues impacting on the global commodities market, from financing trends to geopolitical factors, sector profiles, risk management strategies, sustainability issues and the role of technology.

Attendees will benefit from critical market insight and idea sharing through a series of informative discussions, debates, case studies and breakouts, whilst the unchallenged networking opportunities available at every GTR event will provide access to over 100 companies engaged in commodity finance business, including trading companies, multinationals, financial institutions and service providers.

GTPA will be represented by Niels Strazdins, Head of Global Trade Policy and Europe Director, participating in a debate session: Is global turbulence here to stay?

As we prepare for World Trade Symposium 2019, taking place this year in New York City in November, it’s imperative to consider the existential threat to freer, open and rules-based trade that stems from short-sighted political exploitation. More importantly, what we can do to change the nature of the dialogue and to better tell the story of international trade.

There is no doubt that the recent rise of protectionism and economic nationalism is damaging global trade, and by extension, economic growth, development and inclusion. The current situation is being driven by a number of factors, including the fact that the benefits of international trade have not been distributed widely enough.

Talofa everyone!

Thank you for the Australian Government for the opportunity to share our story.

I’m Lisa Vaai, Creative Director of Eveni Carruthers in Samoa, a business started by my great grandfather in 1929. We are Samoan owned, with a fourth generation management team and just over 50 employees. This year we are celebrating 90 years of doing business in Samoa. We have evolved from copra and cocoa export trading to general merchandise to now an apparel business centered around brands reflecting cultural and traditional motifs from the Pacific.

GTPA announce the development of a new tool to empower MSMEs to engage in online ecommerce.

“Today’s MSME is tomorrow’s Microsoft or Alibaba! Every MSME, irrespective of their location or their industry sector needs to be recognised, valued and fostered so that their true potential to achieve greatness can be realised.”- Collins Rex, Asia/Africa Director- GTPA

Exporting online presents exciting opportunities for businesses thinking of expanding into new markets. Online sales are the world’s fasting growing retail channel, globally valued at USD 16.2 trillion.

Opinion of: Lisa McAuley, CEO of the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA)

Standards are the key to consistency in business. They set out the processes, procedures and frameworks to ensure that products, services, processes and people meet a qualified set of expectations. Standards streamline and systematise complexity to provide a level of trust in the best means to achieving an outcome, a capability, a competency or an output.

Standards do far more than just help you comply with the relevant rules and regulations. They play a crucial role in facilitating international trade, supporting businesses into export markets by lowering barriers to trade.

Trade has an essential role to play in creating a more resilient system – one that can resist or adapt to environmental and economic shocks. It can do so by facilitating the exchange of goods, services and technology—including environmentally sound technologies—required for adaptation, mitigation and disaster preparedness and response. In this way trade contributes to the achievement of the Paris Agreement, SDGs and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Developing countries face the challenge of “double exposure” to both economic shocks and environmental challenges such as climate change and natural hazards, which are becoming more frequent and severe. Investments in low emission, climate resilient agriculture, renewable energy generation, and climate smart infrastructure, for example, could help reduce vulnerability to extreme weather events and build economic resilience.

The Global Trade Professionals Alliance is developing an Inclusive Trade White Paper that will produce practical recommendations on how capacity building and standard setting can facilitate a more inclusive international trading ecosystem.

The GTPA is delighted to join Dayna Simpson from Monash University, Anne Quarshie from LUT University of Technology (Finland) and Zhaohui Wu from Oregon State University as part of the 79th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management to host a session on Emerging sustainability standards - How SCM scholars can get involved. This cafe session will be an informal discussion in relation to new ISO standards relevant to transparency and chain-of-custody, and how sustainable SCM can be incorporated in these standards.

We are in a trade war and it is here to stay

Opinion by: Niels Strazdins, Head of Global Trade Policy - Global Trade Professionals Alliance

The United States is the top destination market for Chinese merchandise exports. Soon virtually all Chinese goods imported into the US will be subject to tariffs, with profound knock-on effects for both businesses and consumers.

Escalating trade friction between the US and China is impacting farmers, consumers and businesses large and small. Billions of dollars of Chinese goods now face 25 per cent tariffs when entering the United States.

Opinion by: Niels Strazdins, Head of Global Trade Policy - Global Trade Professionals Alliance Australia delivered a fresh mandate to incumbent Prime Minster Scott Morrison in the country’s recent federal election. Turned off by the opposition’s high-tax high-spend agenda, voters elected for the Prime Minister’s more practical approach to economic management. Moderate economic reform should be enough to keep Australia’s economy humming along, though from a trade point of view it is an economy that is still heavily reliant on the export of a few commodities to a few markets.

Sabrina Varma has over twenty years of experience working in international trade and development, with a view to maximising trade as a tool to support inclusive and sustainable development.

Based on her work experience at national, regional, global levels, across government, private sector and NGOs, and from developed country and developing country perspectives, her approach is based on bringing together shared priorities, requirements and solutions to support trade capacity building in developing countries.

GTDW China is the 18th International Edition of The Global Trade Development Week programmes. Join over 500 International, Regional & Domestic trade leaders, 80 Speakers and leading exhibitors across our summit programmes, workshops, exhibition, G2G, G2B & B2B networking and site visits to leading trade locations in Shanghai. The theme of GTDW for 2019 in China is around The Future of Global Trade combining an exhibition of leading trade technologies enabling efficient and secure trade facilitation between countries and regions. GTDW China is partnered with Shanghai Asia-Pacific Model E-Port Network Operational Center (SAOC) which was set up in Shanghai in 2016, with the view of promoting trade facilitation and supply chain connectivity. SAOC and GTDW have shared focus on the enhancement of capacity building and public-private partnership to improve the connectivity of the international supply chain and the facilitation of cross-border trade.

The GTPA is pleased to welcome Daniel Spencer as the latest Global Trade Professional, certified under ISO/IEC 17024 as a Trade Management specialist. As a certified Global Trade Professional, Daniel is one of the very first to be part of a global ecosystem of trade professionals.

Coriolis Technologies, the world’s leading source of data and analytics as a service for trade professionals, has today announced a partnership with the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA), to develop the world’s first digital trade database.

The database will provide more timely and relevant information on global trade flows, allowing users to better understand how global trade is changing as digital technologies and services become more important aspects of supply chains.

The database will be used by banks, governments and the investment community, allowing them to make robust and more informed business decisions with unparalleled insight into the global flows of goods, services and strategic trade.

The GTPA would like to congratulate ITAC member Sir Al-Nashir Jamal who has recently been appointed to the join the Canadian Enterprise as Member of Advisory Board.

Jamal joins Chair David de Launay and founding member Lloyd Girman on the Enterprise Advisory Board, with a focus on infrastructure, resource development and other community-led and owned projects.

Earlier this year GTPA spent two weeks in Southern Africa, visiting South Africa and Botswana, and participating in eCommerce Africa.

Our Africa/Asia Director, Collins Rex, met with the University of Cape Town and the University of the Witwatersrand on the SSC, as well as the potential to collaborate on training programmes, particularly for African women entrepreneurs and MSME eCommerce entrepreneurs.

The GTPA would like to congratulate Trade Finance and Supply Chain finance working committee members Alisa DiCaprio, Head, Trade and Supply Chain, R3, New York, NY and Craig Weeks, Independent Consultant, Weaverville, NC. Alisa and Craig were recently appointed to the Trade Finance Advisory Council (TFAC) in the United States.

The GTPA is delighted to welcome a new member to our team. Niels Strazdins is Head of Global Trade Policy and Europe Director at the GTPA, leading our policy and research as well as European stakeholder engagement. He sits on several international committees, including the GTPA’s International and Technical Advisory Committee as well as committees convened by the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business and the International Organization for Standardization.

Last year the GTPA commenced an Australian aid initiative implemented on behalf of the Australian Government to establish support services for small businesses in developing countries. This initiative aligns perfectly with our commitment to trade-based international development and economic inclusion.

Over the course of this three-year project, the GTPA will help improve the services provided by industry bodies and Chambers of Commerce to small businesses in developing countries, to assist them with their international trade activities. We will also be looking to enhance the ecosystems in which small businesses operate and strengthening their capacity to advocate domestically for trade reform.

Earlier this month, the GTPA, represented by Lisa McAuley (CEO), Collins Rex (Asia and Africa Director) and Niels Strazdins (Europe Director), participated in the UNCTAD (the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) eCommerce Week, the leading forum for Ministers, senior government officials, CEOs and other business representatives, international organizations, development banks, academics and civil society to discuss the development opportunities and challenges associated with the evolving digital economy. This year’s theme was “From Digitalization to Development”.

Having participated in previous eCommerce weeks and having presented a session at eCommerce Week Africa in November 2018, the GTPA was delighted to have the opportunity to once again present a session at eCommerce Week 2019. This session, entitled, “Making the most of the value producing opportunities inherent in becoming a digital business”, was presented in partnership with Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF).

Ms. Emmanuelle Ganne is Senior Analyst at the World Trade Organization (WTO) where she leads WTO work on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and blockchain. She is the author of a recently published book entitled "Can Blockchain Revolutionize International Trade?" and is a regular speaker at blockchain events. From 2015 to 2017, she held the position of Vice-President for Europe at the Allam Advisory Group (AAG), a team of former C-level executives and senior diplomats that specializes in helping businesses expand their operations globally. Before joining AAG, Ms. Ganne held various positions at the WTO, as Counselor to Director-General Pascal Lamy, in the Information and External Relations Division, and in the Accessions Division. Before joining the WTO in 2002, Ms. Ganne worked for the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, putting in place the Stability Pact Anti-Corruption Initiative, which assisted South Eastern European states curb corruption. Ms. Ganne is a 2009 Yale World Fellow.

The GTPA would like to welcome two new members to the ITAC committee, Jim Redden and Mona Shrestha Adhikari.

Ms. Mona Shrestha Adhikari, PhD is the Executive Director of Enterprise for Management, Economic Reform & Gender Equality (EMERGE) and also works as an independent development consultant. She believes in equitable, inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development and is passionate about women’s empowerment. She has more than 25 years of experience working in the private sector, national and international non-governmental organizations and international organizations.

As part of the 2019 WTO Aid for Trade Global Review in Geneva from the 3-5 July the GTPA and the EIF are delighted to host a session on building gender based policy to drive and facilitate global trade in LDCs.

SMEs are the backbone of most economies and women business owners are also crucial to economic graowth. According to research by consultancy, McKinsey, advancing women’s equality could add $28 trillion to global GDP by 2025 – equivalent to adding a new United States and China.

Standards Australia is Australia's national standards body. We represent Australia to the ISO & IEC and to this effect remain committed to developing and maintaining standards that meet current dynamics & ensure net benefit to the Australian community.

The Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) intends to submit a project proposal to Standards Australia for an International Participation case for Australian participation on an ISO Project Committee: PC 308 – Chain of Custody and is seeking relevant industry and stakeholder support for the proposal.

The GTPA and EIF are pleased to invite you to join us for an upcoming session as part of eCommerce Week in Geneva.

Digital transformation is about how a business embraces digital tools to streamline and improve its functionality, and how that business then more efficiently, potently and profitably interacts with its customers.

Shared Services Centres (SSC) is the entity responsible for the execution and the handling of specific operational tasks in an organization, such as accounting, HR, payroll, IT, legal, compliance, purchasing, security, and more. The SSC is often a spin-off of the corporate services to separate all operational types of tasks from the corporate headquarters. As SSCs are often cost centres, they are quite cost-sensitive also in terms of their headcount, labour costs and location criteria.

15 April– 2 June 2019

In an effort to enhance knowledge about the links between trade and gender, the UNCTAD Trade, Gender and Development Programme has developed an Online Course on Trade and Gender.

The course targets academics (from universities and research centres), policymakers and representatives of civil society in developing and transition countries involved in research, teaching, policy formulation and implementation, advocacy or field work in the area of trade and gender.

With a network of 24 bilateral and regional FTAs/Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with 36 trading partners, companies that operate in Singapore are strategically positioned to benefit from easier entry and greater access to global markets for their products and services. More importantly, companies can ride on these FTAs/EPAs to trade with and invest in other countries predictably. This is essential in today’s unpredictable environment of increasing trade tensions.

Event Details
Date : 2-3 April 2019 Time: 08.30am — 05.30pm
Venue : SBF Center Seminar Rooms (Level 6)
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Fee per pax Member: $120 (inclusive of 7% GST) / Non-Member: $250 (inclusive of GST)

Specific training and education for women business owners can increase the ability of individuals and businesses to respond to changing global market conditions and to remain competitive.

GTPA is on a mission to collaborate with existing organisations globally to support and advance the engagement of women entrepreneurs in global trade.

GTPA is delighted that today we welcome the following companies as new Foundational members to the GTPA ecosystem.

GTPA will now provide each of these new members with a pathway to certification as a Global Trade Professional (GTP), as well as giving them access to a network into the GTPA ecosystem for ongoing trade support, mentoring, and resources and tools through our alliance partners.

In advance of International Women’s Day the GTPA launched a campaign to shine a light on the women who rock international trade and over the last couple of weeks I have been privileged to receive the profiles of some truly incredible women working in trade. It was amazing to see the diversity of the different roles women play in international trade.

I havae long commented on how SMEs are the backbone of most economies and women business owners are also crucial to economic growth. According to research by consultancy, McKinsey, advancing women’s equality could add $28 trillion to global GDP by 2025 – equivalent to adding a new United States and China.

As I am currently in Santiago, Chile to attend APEC related meetings on empowering Women in Trade, I congratulate the Chilean government for prioritising this issue as part of APEC 2019 and I was privileged to attend a fantastic Capacity Building Workshop on Women and Trade coordinated by Canada, Chile and New Zealand, which discussed some of the policy priorities in this area.

Over the past few weeks I’ve undertaken a whistle-stop tour of Asia-Pacific, working on the GTPA’s three-year Australian Aid-funded programme to establish support services for small businesses in developing countries. I have visited Samoa, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh (the countries where the programme will be implemented).

While undertaking a range of meetings with both the public and private sectors, I was also fortunate to catch up with some of the women who were part of the Australia Awards: Women Trading Globally programme. Our CEO, Lisa McAuley, and I initiated this programme back in 2017, and I had the rare privilege of training and guiding the women through three separate courses in 2017 and 2018.

Ms. Anoush der Boghossian was appointed the WTO's first focal point on trade and gender by Director-General Roberto Azevêdo in 2017. Anoush works as part of the Aid for Trade Unit of the WTO's Development Division and is a senior member of the team.

Prior to joining the Development Division in 2016, Ms. der Boghossian worked in the Information and External Relations Division (IERD) of the WTO. She worked as the French Language Spokesperson of the WTO and she was appointed as the press officer to the former Director-General Pascal Lamy. She also served the WTO as the WTO NGO Liaison Officer and Social Media Manager. Anoush managed the WTO Public Forum and the Organization's social media operations between 2013-16.

Anoush began her career at the WTO in 2006 after acquiring 10 years of professional experience in the private sector, in Brussels, working on EU policies, as a public relations specialist.

Among her educational achievements, she holds a Masters in European and International Law and a Masters in communications.

Mrs. Damchae Dem ventured into the world of business in the early sixties making homemade potato chips, which she sold in her neighborhood. Later in the nineties, she founded her company Pelden Enterprise Limited in 2006 and became a pioneer in steel manufacturing in the country.

She also pioneered Bhutan Business Solution (BBS) in Bhutan, a unique project where more than 100 youth were trained and employed under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of Pelden Enterprise Limited. The project beneficiaries are currently self-employed and successfully managing the company.

In advance of International Women’s Day on the 8th March, the GTPA is pleased to promote our campaign to shine a light on the women who rock international trade. Today we will support four ladies from the UK Trade Policy Observatory.

Mrs. Nasreen Fatema Awal is the Vice Chairperson of Multimode Group and she is a noted businesswoman, entrepreneur and philanthropist from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Her business interests include agriculture, insurance, banks, hospitality, telecommunications, IT, plastic manufacturing, recycling and consumer goods distribution.

Jenny recently joined Hort Innovation as the Trade Manager and works across a range of export-focused industries, including fruits, vegetables and nuts. Jenny also plays an active role in the development of concepts for the Asian Markets Fund in Hort Frontiers. Prior to this, Jenny was a Senior Trade Advisor at the Australian Trade & Investment Commission (Austrade) and was based in Cairns, Perth and Canberra throughout her time in this role.

Dr. Rebecca Harding is an independent economist specialising in trade and trade finance and is CEO of Coriolis Technologies, providing data as a service to the trade finance and banking sectors. She frequently appears on The Ian King Show, Sky News, BBC World and BBC Radio 5 live, Newsnight and Radio 4. She is frequently cited in the Broadsheet press, including recent articles in the Financial Times, Telegraph and CityAM. She advises the Council of the Society of Professional Economists and until February 2017 was the Chief Economist of the British Bankers’ Association.

The GTPA is delighted to announce on behalf of the GTPA the following new members to the global International and Technical Advisory Committee (ITAC) in 2019: Richard Burge from the United Kingdom, Sir Al-Nashir Jamal from Canada and Francis Wong OAM from Australia and Brunei.

The Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) and our affiliate professional services arm, GTPServices, have had an outstanding first year since our launch at the periphery of the WTO Ministerial in Buenos Aires last December. We have been privileged to attract world-class contributors and community members from around the globe, and to be invited to contribute on a variety of fronts – training and certification, program development, policy, advisory and research among others – across four continents.

The Global Trade Accelerator Program (GTA) is a virtual program enabling Victoria-based exporters and trade professionals to gain market research advice from teams of international university students. The GTPA is pleased to support Practera in the delivery of this brand new initiative for Victorian exporters in 2019.

This unique program is designed to help domestic and international students build real work skills as they help local Victorian exporters research foreign markets and even better there is absolutely no cost to participate as a business!

Join MarketsandMarkets Industry 4.0 Conference: Cybersecurity & Industrial Internet of Things at Chicago, USA to address the recent case studies, roundtable discussions and much more about the need, integration, challenges in space of cybersecurity and industrial automation.

Come & network with your peers to learn from leading experts about cybersecurity and IIOT solutions to make manufacturing smarter. Gain support & access to business, hear about large- & small-scale 4.0 case studies!

Philippa is an innovative and commercially savvy senior executive with demonstrated high-level leadership in Australia and overseas in public policy and governance, international trade, diplomatic relations and business strategy. She has significant experience in developing trade promotion strategies to assist businesses, including start-ups, as they develop international markets across multiple industries as well as extensive experience in working across cultures, leading and developing diverse teams both onshore and offshore. As a specialist in communications and client engagement, economic development and international trade, she is passionate about bringing prosperity to business via deep insight into emerging issues in the global economy.

In advance of International Women’s Day on the 8th March, the GTPA is pleased to launch today a new campaign to shine a light on the women who rock international trade.

SMEs are the backbone of most economies and women business owners are also crucial to economic growth.

Lynn Rua is a skilled operational and commercial professional, currently working with a leading trade, logistics and distribution organisation. With 16 years’ experience developing constructive and cost-effective logistics solutions to meet the challenges and obstacles across global import and export activities.

Lynn develops and presents workshops to teach best practice’ processes to maximise efficiency, quality, cost effectiveness and customer service throughout the supply chain. With her Diploma in English-Spanish Interpreting, she has a special interest in building relations and facilitating trade between Australia and Latin America.

Ms. Mona Shrestha Adhikari, PhD is the Executive Director of Enterprise for Management, Economic Reform & Gender Equality (EMERGE) and also works as an independent development consultant. She believes in equitable, inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development and is passionate about women’s empowerment. She has more than 25 years of experience working in the private sector, national and international non-governmental organizations and international organizations.

In advance of International Women’s Day on the 8th March, the GTPA is pleased to launch today a new campaign to shine a light on the women who rock international trade. Our first leader is our very own Collins Rex.

Collins is passionate about seeing small business do better business and do it on the global stage!
To this end, she’s been responsible for the development and delivery of training courses across a range of topics, including export readiness, pitching/presentation & Free Trade Agreements workshops. Her international trade knowledge and skills have been honed over many years, as evidenced by her managing and delivering a number of major trade-related projects.

The rapid pace and scale of technological change and global flows of information, among other forces, are disrupting labour markets and fundamentally altering the future of work.

While these shifts may create economic growth, new jobs and flexible work, they may also lead to the automation and consequent disappearance of routine, manual roles.

“The GTPA congratulations the 76 WTO members committed to establishing eCommerce rules. The rapid pace and scale of technological change and global flows of information, among other forces, are disrupting labour markets and fundamentally altering the future of work. While these shifts may create economic growth, new jobs and flexible work, they may also lead to the automation and consequent disappearance of routine, manual roles,” said Lisa McAuley, CEO of the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA).

Technological advancements, despite the disruption, also create opportunities for expansion into global markets for sectors of the population excluded from more traditional trade mechanisms. The ability to seize these opportunities and manage potential obstacles, however, is not evenly distributed.

Trade is at the heart of the geopolitical tensions between America and China, an issue that is dominating international headlines. In the meantime, technology is disrupting trade like never before, making processes more efficient and inclusive. And many regional and bilateral trade agreements are advancing.

The Asia Trade Summit will address these topics, and more, and give the audience a complete assessment of trade-related developments in the region.

The Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) and our affiliate professional services arm, GTPServices, have had an outstanding first year since our launch at the periphery of the WTO Ministerial in Buenos Aires last December. We have been privileged to attract world-class contributors and community members from around the globe, and to be invited to contribute on a variety of fronts – training and certification, program development, policy, advisory and research among others – across four continents.

“Mwana, it is just too much! My small team of textile and clothing workers can’t keep up with all the standards the EU and other countries are demanding – how can a small business like ours, export and be profitable?” exclaims a frustrated Flora Banda who heads up a small cotton textile exporting business in Lusaka, Zambia, employing sixteen women workers.

This week the GTPA was delighted to partner with the EIF Initiative and DHL on a session focussed on building skills for the digital economy through education, interaction & advocacy as part of Africa Ecommerce Week in Nairobi, Kenya.

This interactive session with representatives from across Africa, with voices from the private sector, government and industry, produced a lively discussion on key issues, from addressing trade opportunities to the concerns around Africa engaging in the digital economy.

I am excited to join the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) as Board Director. The vision behind the GTPA could not be presented to the international community at a more perfect, even critically important, moment in time when significant global drivers are shaping international trade, including shifting demographics, technological innovation, and the growth of new trade routes.

If you’d like the answer to these questions and inside tips on how to do business globally tune in to The Airport Economist TV series on Your Money 95 Free to Air Foxtel Channel 601 and Qantas and LATAM Airlines or at:

www.theairporteconomist.com

or tune into the brand new Airport Economist podcast at Podcast One:

https://www.podcastone.com.au/pd/The-Airport-Economist

The GTPA is delighted to partner with the EIF Programme on a session focussed on building skills for the digital economy through education, interaction & advocacy as part of Africa eCommerce Week.

The Africa eCommerce Week will be jointly organized with the African Union and the European Union. The event is hosted by the Government of Kenya and implemented in collaboration with partners of the ‘eTrade for All’ initiative.

The rapid pace and scale of technological change and global flows of information, among other forces, are disrupting labour markets and fundamentally altering the future of work. While these shifts may create economic growth, new jobs and flexible work, they may also lead to the automation and consequent disappearance of routine, manual roles.

Technological advancements, despite the disruption, also create opportunities for expansion into global markets for sectors of the population excluded from more traditional trade mechanisms.

Trade has always been shaped by technological innovation. In recent times, a new technology, Blockchain, has been greeted by many as the next big game-changer. Can Blockchain revolutionize international trade?

The publication introduces the technology with a basic explanation of how, as a tamper-proof, decentralized record of transactions, it allows participants to collaborate and build trust with each other. It describes different classifications of Blockchains and their current and possible applications in the various areas covered by WTO rules. In doing so, it provides an insight into the extent to which this technology could help with trade facilitation, including how it can hasten the transition to paperless trade transactions. It considers Blockchain's potential and limits in transforming services by looking at payment systems, insurance and the automation of contracts. The publication also discusses how Blockchain could help ease the administration of intellectual property rights and enhance government procurement processes.

Craig Weeks is an independent consultant for organizations needing Trade Finance and other Transaction Banking expertise. Craig is currently contracted to work for IFC/World Bank as a Trade Finance SME for FIG Advisory assignments in Latin America.

Roberto Azevedo, Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and John W.H. Denton AO, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce launched the Global Dialogue on Trade at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings in Bali, Indonesia on 10 October 2018.

Thoughtful, fact-based and informed dialogue on trade is fundamental to assuring a robust and more inclusive model for trade around the world, as well as to demonstrably contributing to peace and security through engagement and mutual prosperity. Leadership today requires vision and courage, and the integrity to do more than pander to narrow interests and narrow views of the world.

The Economist recently ran a gratifying headline for any Australian – Aussie Rules! What the rest of the world can learn from Australia. We’ve been growing or 27 years without a recession. While commodities exports and decent long term economic policy matters, the report also highlighted Australia’s internationalised human capital system at the forefront of this performance.

The GTPA has been on the road the last couple of weeks. Our first stop was in Argentina for meetings with local associations representing the needs of importers and exporters as well as catching up with potential university partners. We were delighted to be able to catch up again with the Australian Ambassador, the Hon Noel Campbell and others at the Australian embassy.

GTPA is delighted to support the Global Trade Accelerator (GTA) Program for NSW exporters this November (program dates Monday, 26 November 2018 to Friday, 7 December 2018).

The Global Trade Accelerator Program (GTA) is a virtual program enabling NSW based exporters and trade professionals to gain market research advice from teams of international university students and supported by the ECA and City of Sydney as well as the NSW Government.

La Oficina Comercial de Perú en Australia, la Cámara de Comercio de Lima y el Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) le invita al almuerzo para celebrar el lanzamiento del primer taller de GTPA, “Creando Oportunidades en Australia para Empresas Peruanas de Industrias Creativas”.

El almuerzo será una oportunidad única de conocer Profesionales en comercio exterior de Australia y aprender más sobre el mercado australiano y como crecer su negocio internacionalmente.

Trabajando en conjunto con socios peruanos, GTPA desea presentarles el modelo GTPA y los nuevos estándares para Profesionales en comercio exterior.

The Trade Commission of Peru in Australia, the Lima Chamber of Commerce and the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) invite you to join us for a luncheon in celebration of the launch of the first GTPA workshop,Creating Opportunities for Peruvian Companies in the Creative Services in Australia.

The luncheon will be an exclusive opportunity to meet with Australian trade professionals in order to learn more about the Australian market and how to advance your opportunities to grow internationally.

Working with local partners in Peru, the GTPA wishes to introduce you to the GTPA ecosystem as well as the brand new ISO standards for Global Trade Professionals.

Ms Lisa McAuley was recently invited to join the Group of Producing Countries from the Southern Cone (GPS) as part of the WTO Public Forum 2018 to discuss linking food production systems, environment, food security and international trade.

The focus of our panel discussion was to incorporate the considerations of the interrelationships between food production systems, food security, climate change and trade to progress in building shared visions and in guiding the actions of global governance bodies towards the implementation of actions needed to achieve more ambitious targets for food security and climate change mitigation.

Exporting online presents exciting opportunities for Australian & New Zealand businesses thinking of expanding to new markets and the value of online sales is expected to grow to $16.2 trillion.

For small businesses and particularly for companies located in regional areas this presents a unique opportunity to enter new global markets that might never have been possible in the past.

What is RISCON?

Riscon Solutions Limited is a UK global consulting company specialising in information and knowledge management.

The intersection between trade systems and the digital economy may not be obvious but it is vitally important.

As a significant financier of trade flows in the Asia-Pacific region, efficiency in the ‘wiring’ of trade is essential to ANZ’s presence in over 20 countries in the region.

"Improvement is about eliminating the use and delivery of paper-based documentation which in turn creates greater efficiency and ensures greater security through the supply chain”

FRMSTAFF is an Australian owned company, specialising in recruitment services for the International Freight Forwarding, Customs Broking, Logistics, Shipping and Aviation industries.

Supply chains around the world are the arteries of global commerce, enabling trade flows worth tens of trillions of dollars annually in merchandise and services trade alone.

The GTPA is pleased to partner with Opus Learning Institute, the International Trade Council, InterAnalysis and the University of Sussex to introduce a brand-new Executive Bootcamp for trade and supply chain professionals.

This exclusive programme provides the gold standard in skill and competency development for individuals and institutions in the professional practice of trade-related disciplines.

Given the current uncertainty around traditional trading partnerships for Canadian business, this programme will assist companies to look towards alternative market options and new trade corridors. It will also prepare your business to manage trade uncertainty.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD COURSE PROGRAMME

CEO of the GTPA and former CEO of the Export Council of Australia, Lisa McAuley says, “Increasing trade and investment is absolutely crucial to unlocking the opportunities for the 11 countries involved in the agreement. The TPP-11 is an important step forward at a time when the benefits of international trade are currently the subject of debate in various contexts.”

New modelling undertaken by economists from Brandeis International Business School and Johns Hopkins University highlighted that Australia is forecast to see $15.6 billion in net annual benefits to national income by 2030 and increases in exports of $29.9 billion as a result of the TPP-11. Consequently, the GTPA supports the bipartisan support for the ratification of the agreement.

GTPA was pleased to participate in the GTR Asia Trade & Treasury Conference in Singapore at Marina Bay Sands from the 4-7 September 2018. Over 1,000 delegates attended the conference, which is now firmly established as the largest international event in the trade, treasury and commodity finance market.

Joining the GTPA for the panel discussion to launch the upcoming new specialisation for Trade Finance and Supply Chain Finance Professionals were Mr Alexander R, Malaket, Chair, International and Technical Advisory Committee, GTPA, Mr Tristram Travers, technical Director of the GTPA and Anushka Wijesinha, Advisor to the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade (MODSIT) in Sri Lanka.

GTPA is a new global trade ecosystem to advance and support businesses, trade organisations and professionals engaged in global trade. GTPA is the only organisation globally to develop the international standard for certifying trade professionals. The Global Trade Professional (GTP) Programme, has been developed under ISO/IEC 17024, for the certification of professional competence in the field of global trade. Our goal is to bring people together to build professional capabilities in trade, elevate the profile of trade, advocate the benefits and opportunities of trade, facilitate networking at a global level as well as to improve the performance and success of companies in global trade which will in turn boost the efficiency of trade processes.

My Freight Career is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 90489) and Quality Group Training Organisation (GTO) specialising in providing quality training and trainees to the International Freight Forwarding, Customs Broking, Logistics and Aviation industries.

The Chain of Responsibility legislation is designed to make sure all people are held responsible if their actions, inactions or demands contribute to a breach of road safety.

My Freight Career is a national company providing industry focused training for the Logistics and Freight Forwarding industry. Training can be provided as a subject overview or provide in depth and detailed information. They offer a wide range of courses that are ready to deliver or they can tailor a bespoke course to fit your specific needs.

I am delighted to announce on behalf of the GTPA, that Professor Andreas Klasen based Germany has joined the Trade Finance and Supply Chain Finance Working Committee.

Dr Andreas Klasen is full Professor of International Business at Offenburg University and Head of the Institute for Trade and Innovation (IfTI) teaching courses on international financial management, international trade law and qualitative methods. His research focuses on trade policy and export finance, innovation and economic development. He is also Visiting Professor at Northumbria University, Senior Honorary Fellow in the Global Policy Institute at Durham University, and an ICC Germany National Committee Member.

The GTPA announces the upcoming launch of the global ISO 17024 specialisation for Trade Finance and Supply Chain Finance Specialists.

The business of trade financing has earned unprecedented profile and visibility over the last several years in particular, yet this fundamentally important enabler of international commerce has an urgent need to attract the next generation of energetic and committed practitioners. In this context, an ISO-aligned specialisation in trade finance and supply chain finance is an important evolution in the practice of trade financing.

3pm to 4pm AEST - Monday, 27 August 2018

To register for this free event, please click HERE.

The Department of Home Affairs have introduced Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) for Trusted Traders with foreign border administrations.

MRA benefits are extended to exporters who have obtained the Australian Trusted Trader (ATT) status who experience a "lighter touch" and faster processing times at destination ports.

The idea of facilitating secure and compliant trade underpins many international agreements such as the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and WCO Safe Framework of Standards (SAFE) and is reflected in many “Authorised Economic Operator” programmes such as our own Australian Trusted Trader Programme (ATTP).

Government and its agencies also provide further assistance to those in the supply chain to take advantage of trade opportunities whether through Export Market Development Grants, other export and trade finance and education on benefits available through Free Trade Agreements (FTA).

GTPA hit the road in June for a whirlwind tour around Europe to meet with key stakeholders in Germany, Belgium, Amsterdam, Geneva and the UK. Whilst I had the great pleasure to attend the IfTI Global Symposium: “Financing. Impact. Together”, my long-time colleague, Collins Rex, participated in the WCO eCommerce Working group face-to-face meeting in Brussels as part of a 4-day gathering to determine the essential data elements for eCommerce customs clearance and agree on key eCommerce definitions.

Doing business globally and maintaining a competitive edge requires the development of new skills and knowledge.

Exporters must have access to a trusted network of skilled professionals to help their business to grow.

Surprisingly, international trade is perhaps the only recognised profession that hasn’t developed a global standard for certifying trade professionals – until now.

As Chair of the ITAC, I am delighted to announce that Dr. Alisa DiCaprio based in New York has joined the Trade Policy Working Committee.

As Chair of the ITAC, I am delighted to announce that Mr. Maninder Bhandari, based in Dubai, UAE, has joined the committee. As a former senior international banker with over 29 years' experience with HSBC, ABN Amro Bank, Emirates NBD and The Bank of New York Mellon in Asia/Pacific (Hong Kong, Singapore & India), Latin America & Caribbean/North America (Sao Paulo & Miami), Middle East & Africa (Dubai) Maninder brings in-depth domain expertise and a global perspective to the GTPA that will ensure the development of a world-class specialisation in Trade Finance & Supply Chain Finance.

Prominent African and international business executives and investors to explore business opportunities at the Africa Trade and Investment Global Summit (ATIGS); a prestigious biennial conference and exhibition to be held on June 24-26, 2018 in Washington, DC, USA at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center.

Organized by GAA Exhibitions & Conferences, the 2018 ATIGS edition will gather key economic players from more than 70 countries including government delegations, high-profile African leaders, project developers and international investors on June 24, 25 and 26, 2018 in Washington, DC. Designed to promote and facilitate international trade between Americas, Asia, Europe, United Arab Emirates and Africa, the 3-days event will provide a unique platform to gain strategic knowledge about local investment opportunities and business networking.

Sangeeta Khorana is Professor of Economics at Bournemouth University in the United Kingdom. She has a Ph.D. from the University of St. Gallen and a summa cum laude Masters’ degree from the Berne University in Switzerland.

Xtend2 Limited is an independent multi-sector trade promotion company committed to helping organisations around the world market goods and services beyond their national boundaries.

Established in 2001 by Gerald Lawson-Tancred, Xtend2 Limited prides itself on extensive networks of contacts in a vast range of industry sectors across Europe. Their expert market knowledge combined with their links to international organisations enables them to put their clients in touch with the right people and forge long lasting key business relationships. Their clients include Government Export Agencies, Chambers of Commerce, generic Trade Associations as well as regional government trade agencies from around the world.

U.S. trade policy is roiling markets. At the end of March, the U.S. stock market tumbled 700 points in a single day on news that President Trump would impose tariffs on Chinese exports. A degree of volatility and uncertainty has continued since then as the tariffs continue to make news. Canada, China, Europe, India, and Mexico are all preparing to retaliate.

The committee will provide advice to the ITAC on the development of competency standards, quality control, ongoing professional development and the global issues for the committee’s domain specialisation. This working committee is to provide advice to GTPA on its competency standards related to Risk Analysis and Mitigation.

The news that Australians will be blocked from shopping on Amazon's international websites and restricted to using its smaller local platform, so the e-commerce giant complies with new GST rules on online purchases, although not welcome, has not come as a surprise.

The news that Australians will be blocked from shopping on Amazon's international websites and restricted to using its smaller local platform, so the e-commerce giant complies with new GST rules on online purchases, although not welcome, has not come as a surprise.

The International Chamber of Commerce Banking Commission recently published its authoritative flagship report on trade and trade financing. This year, the report, titled “Global Trade – Securing Future Growth” is in its tenth edition, and includes contributions from WTO Director General Roberto Azevedo, ITC Executive Director Arancha Gonzalez and numerous other influencers and luminaries in the world of trade. John Denton, Secretary General of the ICC and Honorary GTP introduces the report with a Foreword, highlighting the central role of financing in enabling trade. As Denton observes, “ Reliable and cost-effective financing is integral to the global trading system, helping companies to mitigate the risks and costs involved in the international flow of goods. This role makes the trade finance industry particularly sensitive to the politics of world trade…”

With APEC being held in Papua New Guinea in November 2018, the spotlight is on the many commercial opportunities available in PNG.

For the first time ever, AmCham is partnering with the U.S. Commercial Service in Australia and the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby to assemble a business delegation to Papua New Guinea. Join us this August as we explore major projects spanning infrastructure, tourism, agribusiness, defence, and more. Tahe delegation will be led by Ambassador Catherine Ebert-Gray, U.S. Ambassador to PNG, April Palmerlee, CEO of AmCham Australia, and Doug Wallace, Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Sydney.

2M Language Services (2M) is one of Australia's leading language service providers. Our experienced team works with large international corporations, exporting SMEs to assist them to increase their national and global reach, increase market share, reduce health & security risks, comply with safety obligations and help them meet their KPIs and grow.

Australian exporters must embrace new digital technology or risk being left behind, a world trade expert has warned.

Ms Lisa McAuley, Executive Director of Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) said exporters – particularly SMEs – are being “bogged down” by paperwork, bureaucratic red tape and arcane trade restrictions.

This can result in frustrating delays, which can be very costly.

There was a time when customs tariffs accounted for 80% of the Commonwealth Government's revenue. While customs duty revenue may not make the headlines in 2018, there are still a number of interesting customs and trade takeaways from the 2018/19 budget.

Single window

The Government will spend provide $10.5 million to transform and modernise Australia's international trade supply chain to deliver more efficient and secure trade processing – unfortunately this money will not go towards upgrading the ICS, but will be another study on the viability of a single window for international trade documents.

GTPA has developed the only international standard for certifying trade professionals. The Global Trade Professional (GTP) Programme, has been developed under ISO/IEC 17024, for the certification of professional competence in the various global trade disciplines.

GTP certification is based on the candidate demonstrating the fulfilment of a minimum number competence standards.

Dr Michael Gasiorek is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at the University of Sussex as well as the Co-founder and Managing Director of InterAnalysis Ltd since 2009. InterAnalysis is a University spin-out company focussing on development of the TradeSift software, training and consultancy on trade in goods, services and investment with a particular focus on working with and in developing countries.

Are you ready for when Australia's new Country of Origin labelling laws take effect on 1 July 2018? Need to know if your food is a priority food or not? Whether it has been substantially transformed?

Or are you concerned about the impact the ACCC case against Heinz will have on your marketing? The ACCC is currently targeting the health angle when marketing food products... even when such claims are 100% compliant with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

As an island nation, Australia's past and future prosperity is closely linked to successes in international trade and investment. In the face of increasing protectionist rhetoric worldwide, the role of trade and investment professionals is now crucial more than ever.

If you are an international trade or investment professional, please join us at Austrade on Thursday 3rd May for a dedicated PIT Speed Networking Session.

This will be an opportunity to meet like-minded peers and to share experiences of facilitating trade and investment between Australia and the rest of the world.

Click here to register

“Trade has been a major contributor to economic growth and poverty reduction, but more can be done to make it even more inclusive.” Ms Lisa McAuley CEO of the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (“GTPA”).

“I was delighted to participate on the recent All Party Parliamentary Group for Trade Out of Poverty with ODI (APPG-TOP with ODI), led by Lord Purvis of the UK and Minister Enelamah of Nigeria and supported by the APPG-TOP Secretariat as well as the group of experts representing various Commonwealth countries.”

Long Finance's Distributed Futures research programme is pleased to announce the publication of the report, "The Economic Impact Of Smart Ledgers On World Trade", the latest in a series of exciting projects in the programme. The report, sponsored by the Cardano Foundation, came as a result of the the Worshipful Company of World Traders and the Distributed Futures' interest in quantifying the potential impact of Smart Ledger technology on international trade. Written by Douglas McWilliams, Cristian Niculescu-Marcu, and Beatriz Cruz from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), it includes a Foreword by Michael Parsons FCA, Chairman of Cardano Foundation, and a Preface by Professor Michael Mainelli, Executive Chairman of Z/Yen Group.

Roger Singleton brings a very unique set of skills to this committee in terms of where the GTPA wishes to explore the importance of Industrie 4.0 skills development and competencies.

Roger  is the founder of Riscon Solutions Ltd, an engineering consultancy that specialises in capacity building of staff and organisations to improve performance.

Francis Wong OAM is a leading South Australian entrepreneur who migrated from Brunei in 1988 to establish one of the more awarded national tourism companies in Australia. Since his arrival he has been actively developing positive relationships between Australia and global economies, especially Asia. His global tourism connections have enable him to open many doors for Australian and Asian businesses and establish successful relationships.

I am delighted to announce on behalf of the GTPA, that David Winterton based in Australia has joined the Trade Finance and Supply Chain Finance Working Committee.

David leads a team of Trade and Supply Chain specialists who provide ANZ clients structuring advice for their short-term liquidity requirements and risk mitigation solutions to assist in their effective management of both domestic and cross-border trade flows and is particularly passionate in providing SME support on the direction of Trade Finance in a digital world.

Welcome to the second International Freight Forwarding & Customs Broking industry snapshot released by HLB Mann Judd in conjunction with The Australian Federation of International Forwarders and The Front-Line Group.

GTPA is delighted to welcome Marc L Busch as the new Chair of the International Affairs and Trade Policy working committee. Marc will also be involved in providing oversight into the Trade Regulation and Compliance and Trade Law ISO/IEC 17024 competency developments.

Marc L Busch (Ph.D., Columbia University) is the Karl F. Landegger Professor of International Business Diplomacy at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Professor of Government and Professor of Business Administration at Georgetown University. He is an expert on international trade policy and law.

Lisa McAuley, the CEO of the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) was delighted to be part of an Inquiry Committee of distinguished experts that has today published its Final Report examining the potential of the Commonwealth family of 53 nations to help its poorest countries and citizens to trade out of poverty, in line with the values of the Commonwealth Charter and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Inquiry Committee –– co-chaired by Lord Jeremy Purvis of the UK and Hon. Okechukwu Enelamah, Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment of Nigeria –– was established by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Trade Out of Poverty and the UK Overseas Development Institute in September last year.

Miss Radika Kumar previously was the Deputy Permanent Head of the Fiji Mission in Geneva and a Commonwealth Trade Adviser under the EU funded Hub and Spoke II programme. She holds a PhD in Economics and International Trade and a Master’s Degree in Economics.

GTPA is pleased to welcome Marco Amprimo to the Young Trade Professionals Working committee.

SynergetiX Management Consulting specializes in assisting companies to shape their China Strategy.

A strong relationship with China is very important to your export prosperity. SynergetiX Management Consulting aims to enhance your Short, Mid & Long-term strategies, set-up business procedures, improve performance, retain and build on the successful links we have developed with Australiasia countries in recent decades.

SynergetiX Management Consulting services clients all over the world with open opportunities to China.

The news that the Department of Home Affairs is planning to introduce a new tax on parcels posted from overseas, under a federal government plan to cover security screening costs, might be seen as a NTM.

One has to ask whether the time is right for Australia to be looking to introduce measures domestically that could be perceived as new taxes on imports. And should this levy be seen as a tax, it could well result in retaliatory measures that would impact on e-commerce opportunities for Australian companies overseas. We acknowledge the importance of increased security and screening and the importance of robust security, but we would like to see whether there is a different way that this could be funded so it does not hurt consumers and business, who will ultimately bear the cost.

GTPA is pleased to announce that Ziyaad Ebrahim has been certified under ISO/IEC 17024 as a Global Trade Professional in the field of Trade Management.

Ziyaad has close to fifteen years of experience in international trade and development.He joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) after serving 12 years in various positions within the Government of Seychelles.

Mr Denton is a legal expert and adviser on global policy, international trade and investment and infrastructure. His advice is sought by Australia’s most prominent corporations and by governments and international bodies alike. Mr Denton is also an Honourary Member of the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) and on behalf of the GTPA Board we congratulate him on the new appointment and wish him all the very best in continuing to drive the important work of the ICC on behalf of the business community.

( This article is kindly republished with the permission of FoodLegal and first appeared in the March 2018 edition of its monthly online FoodLegal Bulletin. FoodLegal is an Australian regulatory consultancy specialising in compliance risk assessment, product development compliance strategies, compliance project management for International clients, and product certification assessment for food retailers, exporters, importers, manufacturers, distributors or others: ( https://www.foodlegal.com.au/) ).

The new Country of Origin (Food Labelling) Information Standard 2016 is mandatory from 1 July 2018. The effect of this Information Standard in combination with the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement could enhance a competitive trade advantage for New Zealand food companies over Australian companies globally.

( This article is kindly republished with the permission of FoodLegal and first appeared in the March 2018 edition of its monthly online FoodLegal Bulletin. FoodLegal is an Australian regulatory consultancy specialising in compliance risk assessment, product development compliance strategies, compliance project management for International clients, and product certification assessment for food retailers, exporters, importers, manufacturers, distributors or others: ( https://www.foodlegal.com.au/) ).

FSANZ invites written submissions on draft variations to the Food Standards Code arising from Application A1151 (Beta - Galactosidase)

On 1 March 2018, FSANZ called for written submissions on the draft variation to the Food Standards Code Schedule 18 arising from Application A1151 – Beta – Galactosidase from Papiliotrema terrestris as a Processing Aid (Enzyme).

Written submissions are due by 12 April 2018.

This FoodLegal Symposium focuses on the importance of new traceability protection technologies, databases and regulatory frameworks to protect brand and product integrity and the need to implement countermeasures for food fraud; as well as the opportunities to use similar technologies to create an exciting brand story and enhanced brand reputation.

GTPA welcomes FoodLegal specialises in providing solutions and advice in relation to regulatory issues surrounding the Food Standards Code, Australian Competition and Consumer Act as well as advice in relation to product development and food marketing compliance.

From 1 July this year, low value goods[1] imported from overseas by consumers in Australia will attract Goods and Services Tax (GST).

This means that vendors—including merchants, electronic distribution platform operators and re-deliverers—with sales subject to GST of AUD75,000 or more each year will need to register with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), collect GST at the point of sale and remit that GST to the ATO.

As this is a tax measure and not a border measure, the ATO is responsible for implementation and all compliance activity.

As trade remains crucial to economic growth globalisation, it is imperative that groups, such as small businesses and women entrepreneurs have access to opportunities from trade.

SMEs are the backbone of most economies and so too are women business owners crucial to economic growth. According to research by McKinsey, the consultancy, advancing women's equality could add $28 trillion to global GDP by 2025 – equivalent to adding a new United States and China.

“We need to collectively do more to support and drive greater engagement by women as business leaders and encourage their participation in global markets and we also need to do more to promote the opportunities for young women to develop career paths in global trade. Certain areas of trade support services, such as trade finance, logistics, supply chain management, customs and freight forwarding, have traditionally seen low levels of participation by women; this needs to change.” Ms Lisa McAuley, CEO of the GTPA said.

As trade remains crucial to economic growth globalisation, it is imperative that groups, such as small businesses and women entrepreneurs have access to opportunities from trade.

SMEs are the backbone of most economies and so too are women business owners crucial to economic growth. According to research by McKinsey, the consultancy, advancing women's equality could add $28 trillion to global GDP by 2025 – equivalent to adding a new United States and China.

“We need to collectively do more to support and drive greater engagement by women as business leaders and encourage their participation in global markets and we also need to do more to promote the opportunities for young women to develop career paths in global trade. Certain areas of trade support services, such as trade finance, logistics, supply chain management, customs and freight forwarding, have traditionally seen low levels of participation by women; this needs to change.” Ms Lisa McAuley, CEO of the GTPA said.

The Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) is pleased to announce a new alliance with the Professionals in International Trade (PIT), which was relaunched under a new name and branding at a special networking event hosted by KPMG in Sydney, Australia this morning.

PIT is a professional networking group based in Sydney, Australia with a mission to connect and support like-minded individuals who work and share a common interest in international trade & investment, business and foreign affairs.

“Our aim is to help professionals to foster long term relationships, trust and opportunities for business, discussion and collaboration. PIT achieves the mission through a range of activities designed to connect, promote and develop international trade professionals.” said Daniel Spencer, Executive Chairman of PIT.

Susan Danks is the Director of Tariff Consulting Pty Ltd and Vice Chair, Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia. Susan has in excess of thirty years’ experience in Customs and indirect taxation, including as a Customs Officer with more than 9 years’ experience in imports, cargo & investigations. She has worked for a Royal Commission and the Industries Commission in addition to other roles as consultant, customs broker and customs manager within industry.

Developments in international trade over the last year and beyond, including those related to NAFTA and the TPP, implications of Brexit on trade, and more recently, the risk of triggering trade wars through unjustified tariffs, combine to drive a call for informed, fact-based and thoughtful dialogue. Trumped-up justifications based on alleged national security concerns set a dangerous precedent, putting at risk the progress achieved over decades in advancing rules-based trade to which most of the globe adheres today.

The benefits of international trade are currently the subject of debate in various contexts, however, it has long been demonstrated that, even with its systemic imperfections which must be acknowledged, trade has been a powerful driver for economic value creation, inclusion and poverty reduction, as well as peace and security.

Trade has, until the peak of the global crisis, grown at rates that exceed the pace of global GDP growth, and thus has also been referenced as a driver of growth of the global economy.

Are you exploring opportunities to expand your business into global markets? If the answer is yes, this could be your chance!

OFX (previously OzForex), in partnership with 2GB are offering one lucky business a money-can’t- buy opportunity to use some of Australia’s most prestigious global business leaders as their personal business coach at an intimate 2-hour workshop held in Sydney CBD at OFX HQ.

As the Executive Director of the GTPA I have worked in international trade for over a decade, focused on supporting SMEs to build their capacity and capability to engage in global trade. During my time as the CEO of the ECA it was our goal to support SME’s to successfully compete on the global stage. This was achieved through the support of the Government and the private sector. At the ECA we engaged in activities such as skills development, research, the development of online tools as well as trade policy and advocacy.

On the occasion of PIT's relaunch under new branding, GTPA is pleased to partner with Polyglot and KPMG to invite you to hear from an experienced panel on The Future of Skills and Trade in the Digital Economy.

A recurring challenge in deliberations related to MSME engagement in international markets, including in the context of global supply chain ecosystems and in deliberations related to policy solutions aimed at enabling such engagement is, in the first instance, to understand what qualifies as an MSME.

BANGKOK--Digital technologies have the potential to transform business in ASEAN. McKinsey Global Institute has estimated the total impact of technologies such as mobile internet, big data, cloud technology, and the Internet of Things, could unleash up to US$625 billion in annual economic impact in ASEAN by 2030.

Southeast Asia is one of the world’s fastest growing regions, and Australian businesses are perfectly placed to make the most of the tremendous opportunities the ASEAN market offers.

Crafting appropriate rules and regulations to account for the growing importance of information and data is more challenging than it first appears. In Asia, governments are struggling to manage conflicting demands without having an overarching institutional framework.