As the global trade space begins to rev up for 2014, many industry leaders are looking ahead to the trends, challenges and strategies they see playing the biggest role in the year to come. In our Executive Outlook series, we asked some of Amber Road's top thought leaders about their perspective of the supply chain, compliance, and beyond, and we will post their answers every week. Our first interview is with Anthony Hardenburgh, Vice President of Global Trade Content at Amber Road.

The US and Canada exchange a lot more than just a neighborly cup of sugar. The US Department of Commerce has released a new infographic detailing the key elements of one of the world’s biggest trading relationships.

Trade in goods between the neighbors has increased threefold since 1990, likely owing much of that growth to NAFTA’s implementation in 1994 and the Canada-US FTA that preceded it. The trading relationship has also bounced back soundly from the Great Recession, actually exceeding its pre-recession peak to reach $617 billion dollars in 2012.

Looking to enter a new export market? Now has never been a better time to look south! The U.S. Commerce Department announced a new “Look South” initiative last Thursday to encourage an increase in American exports to Latin America. The initiative will help businesses explore Latin American markets, learn about emerging opportunities, and tap into federal programs that can help companies finalize deals.

The initiative is focused on increasing trade with the 11 Latin American countries with which the U.S. has free trade agreements (FTAs) with – Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and Peru. These countries not only offer FTA benefits, but also boast a rapidly growing base of middle-class consumers and diversifying industries.

Join KPMG, Amber Road and Tyler Search in New York City this Thursday, January 16, for a Trade & Customs Update and Networking Reception! Trade experts will discuss hot topics in international trade, including Mutual Recognition, the C-TPAT Portal, the First Sale rule, and other relevant issues.

Company executives may often perceive the compliance team as a cost center, but as you know the opposite is actually true – compliance can yield a significant return on investment (ROI) and a competitive advantage.

Join Amber Road, Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services, Inc., and SupplyChainBrain for a FREE webinar on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at 2PM ET, addressing Financial Returns in Global Trade: ROI of Compliance. We will discuss the duty refund mechanism of duty drawback, as well as identify the ROI drivers for a trade compliance solution. Learn how to qualify and quantify projected business savings to create a compelling business case that will drive real value within your organization.