Global trade has never been as ubiquitous as it is today. Technology of all kinds – from transportation tech like containerization, cargo aircraft, and supermax vessels all the way to the digital global e-commerce marketplace – facilitates an unprecedented flow of products around the world. At the same time, tariff and sanction shifts have become the main enemy of the supply chain manager, who relies on consistency and certainty to plan and execute global trade.

Next week's webinar on February 14 seeks to answer the question: How can we leverage technology to overcome emerging and enduring global supply chain management risks? Amber Road and AAEI conducted a survey of supply chain professionals involved with global trade in order to gain a clearer picture of the primary challenges facing the community, and how their companies are using technology to address these challenges.

Cintas Corporation, a leader in their industry, has launched Amber Road’s GTM solution suite. Once fully implemented, the solution will streamline Cintas’ import and export operations, by creating  real-time, collaborative and fully standardized digital trade activities. 

Supply chains are running at full steam in 2019 as some economies boom, while others take hits from obstacles to open commerce and trade. From protectionist trade policies to ever-increasing costs to product recall challenges, Amber Road’s subject-matter experts provide some revolutionary best practices in a range of industry publications to help companies keep the wheels of trade moving.

There has been a lot of recent buzz about companies relocating sourcing or manufacturing out of China. It’s easy to understand why. Supply chains are running at full steam as the economy is booming in many parts of the world, while in other parts economies are taking a hit from obstacles to open commerce and trade. Protectionist trade policies have led to new tariffs – actual and potential – and the accompanying cost increases have led to a general attitude of trade uncertainty, specifically between the US and China.  According to an Amber Road and AAEI 2018 report on Trade Trends, 77% of US importers surveyed consider shifting trade policies as their top challenge in the road ahead.  More than half of these companies also rank the cost of goods sold as their top concern. These higher tariffs add to the total landed cost, eventually affecting the price on the shelf.

Claiming preferential treatment under any free trade agreement is fairly easy. Statements on the commercial invoice or accompanying certificates at the time of import are enough for your customs broker to claim the lower duty rate on your behalf. Proving eligibility of a reduced duty claim is quite the opposite, whether you are an importer, exporter, or the producer of the good.

One indicator of the impact climate change is making on Vietnam is the migratory shift of inhabitants from the agriculturally-rich Mekong Delta to urban areas. According to government statistics, more than 1.7 million residents have relocated out of the vast expanse of fields, rivers and canals over the last ten years. Natural disasters have vexed the regional farmers trying to make a living of rice, shrimp, and fruit production and harvesting for export. One in-depth study on migration in deltas revealed that climate factors such as extreme floods, cyclones, erosion, and land degradation play a role in making natural resource-based livelihoods more difficult, further encouraging inhabitants to migrate.

After months of discussion and to-and-fro activity, the US and Canada reached a late hour agreement on a framework for a renewed trilateral trade agreement that will replace NAFTA. The “US-Mexico-Canada Agreement” or USMCA is a “new, modernized trade agreement”, according to the joint statement released on Sunday evening by US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland — the two top negotiators on USMCA.

Summer is ending, and it’s time to study up! Between CBP’s ACE updates, NAFTA re-negotiations, and anti-dumping and countervailing duties investigations – a lot of updates are expected in August.

So sharpen your pencils, organize a new binder, and tune in to Global Trade Academy’s webinar next week with international trade lawyer Robin Grover.

Trade Updates for NAFTA, ACE, and Anti-Dumping Investigations

Tuesday, August 21, at 2PM EST

Como está?

Zěnmeliǎo?

Translated: what's happening?

It may seem like you need a translator to understand the scope of rapid policy shifts in international trade, especially as countries like Canada, Brazil, and China respond to increased US tariffs and restrictions. 

Instead of turning to Google Translate, tune in to our upcoming webinar, where Suzanne Richer, Director of Trade Advisory Practices at Amber Road, will expand on how US trade changes have impacted legislation in other countries. 

The votes are in and the United Kingdom has chosen to leave the European Union. Brexit arose on June 23, 2016, when British citizens decided to cut ties with over 40 years of treaties and agreements that covered thousands of different subjects. Now, Brexit is scheduled to fully officiate by Friday 29 March, 2019, which means the countdown has already begun.

Amber Road’s new eBook, Getting Brexit-Ready in 2018, is your go-to guide for preparing for the major changes that Brexit will bring. In this case, 'major' means that all aspects of cross-border movement in Great Britain will be impacted.