Archive

EUROPEAN oil and fats industry representatives are concerned and green groups angry that the European Commission is proposing to delay (1) implementation of the May 2023 European Union (EU) deforestation regulation (EUDR) (2) by a year. However, industry groups in Malaysia and Indonesia are hailing the delay as a sensible move, helping them prepare for the new regime.…

Nigeria’s paint and coating industry and its key construction sector partner are at a crossroads, balancing economic pressures with regulatory demands, in a simultaneous push for growth and sustainability. Recent developments highlight the complex landscape facing manufacturers, regulators and consumers alike in Africa’s most populous country (with 230 million people). …

Compliance costs are an increasing burden on international trade, including shipping, aviation and road transport, with expanding requirements on anti-money laundering, sanctions, dual-use goods and environmental controls augmenting customs, know-your-customer, shipping identification documentation and more.

These requirements, while often based on international standards drafted by bodies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) (for money-laundering and terror/proliferation finance), the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), are usually imposed by sovereign states or autonomous customs administrations, such as Hong Kong.…

Ukraine has rewarded its first two whistleblowers taking part in a long-standing tip-off system designed to crack down on corruption. The historic court-ordered awards last month (October 2024) come five years after Ukraine introduced provisions allowing rewards for whistleblowers whose information proves critical in securing a conviction for corruption.…

While the reluctance of many companies to report fraud to law enforcement is well documented, it would be a useful deterrence if those cases that made it to court generated tough enough penalties to scare some scammers from scamming.

Alas, this is not often or even usually the case.…

A new European Union (EU) Commissioner for agriculture and food has been told to draft an EU Vision for Agriculture and Food within 100 days of taking office, expected on December 1. Luxembourger Christophe Hansen takes on this key role in the second European Commission of president Ursula von der Leyen, which will work until 2029.…

PAYMENT SCENARIOS

Looking beyond their core function of managed file transfers (MFT), the potential for eBLs in trade finance is profound. eBLs can simplify payment processes for shippers, consignees and banks. Through third party validation and integration with digital tools such as smart contracts, transactions can be executed simultaneously, upon fulfilment of stipulated conditions, bypassing escrow services.…

Whether the billions of taxpayer dollars pledged for Canada EV supply chain by the Canadian, Ontario and Québec governments were value for money and should be maintained will be a key question in the country’ upcoming election cycle.

The federal Liberal government is teetering, with minority support within the Canadian parliament no longer buttressed by an agreement with the left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP).…

Brazil, the world’s fifth largest country by size, with 60% of the planet’s rainforest, is investing in research to become an important bioplastics player, using its abundant natural resources. However, legislative obstacles are hindering its progress.

And there is plenty of room for improvement.…

Greece’s higher education sector is on the brink of a major transformation, with Cyprus’ University of Nicosia (UNIC) pushing to establish the country’s first private university – a UNIC Medical School in Athens, and at least other 25 globally-recognised universities prepare to offer graduate and postgraduate degrees in Greece.…