International Trade Blog

Supply chain managers working for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) must take their alignment and collaboration with partners seriously. Technology is going to play a critical role in future logistics, and organizations without visibility (being able to see what is happening at all stages in the supply chain) are not going to be positioned for success.

Visibility in supply chain management is critical because the process is often complex, involving multiple tiers and materials coming from multiple origins. Shipping needs to be tracked to manufacturing sites and then ultimately to the consumer. Visibility also provides insight for many areas of your company: sales, marketing, distribution and contracting. When disruptions occur and quick decisions must be made, knowing what is available and where can seriously impact your bottom line.

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In my last article, I discussed President Biden’s January 2021 Executive Order on Ensuring the Future Is Made in All of America by All of America's Workers. Since then, his Buy American vision has grown to be a major part of his administration’s economic program.

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Incoterms 2020 rules are the latest revision of international trade terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). They are recognized as the authoritative text for determining how costs and risks are allocated to the parties conducting international transactions.

Incoterms 2020 rules outline whether the seller or the buyer is responsible for, and must assume the cost of, specific standard tasks that are part of the international transport of goods. In addition, they identify when the risk or liability of the goods transfer from the seller to the buyer.

In this article, we’re discussing the Incoterm EXW, also known as Ex Works.

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The unfathomable amount of information available online about anything and everything can overwhelm us. International market research is no exception; most of the vast amount of information we collect to guide our international business decisions is obtained from online sources. Knowledge of where to find reliable, accurate, current data and statistics, and how best to use the websites, is crucial to making good decisions.  

So, how do you begin?

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Exporting software is an area of increasing inquiry and concern. A growing number of companies doing business online or adding “Internet of Things” functionality to their products are using software that is subject to U.S. export control and sanctions laws—whether or not they acknowledge it.

Often, companies fall into a pattern of developing and exporting their own software without thoroughly (or intentionally) thinking through how they’re doing it, which puts them at risk for compliance issues.

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One of the most common questions I hear almost daily is, “How do I find distributors abroad?” When the pandemic started and travel restrictions were imposed, the question became, “What do I do now? How do I find distributors abroad without traveling?” 

I wrestled with this question while working in the private sector, and I have helped clients answer it countless times using the lessons I learned. The answer, whether pre-pandemic or today, is a two-part answer.

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What a year and a half we’ve had. 2020 kicked off with the coronavirus spreading around the world, and concluded with a peak season that put all other peak seasons to shame. Global GDP slowed down by 4-5%, depending on who you ask. Supply chains had just enough time to fall apart before having to ramp up to meet e-commerce and vaccine distribution demands (at the same time, of course).

Not that 2021 hasn’t come with its share of excitement. Nearly halfway into the year, shippers are still dealing with the fallout from a week-long obstruction in the Suez Canal while imports continue to pile up on both coasts. 

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Denied party lists (often referred to restricted party lists) are the lists of organizations, companies or individuals that various U.S. agencies—and other foreign governments—have identified as parties that one shouldn’t do business with. Whether it’s because they may be a terrorist organization, may be affiliated with terrorist organizations, have a history of corrupt business practices or may otherwise pose a threat to national security, it’s every exporter’s duty to ensure they check denied party lists for every single export transaction. This duty is accomplished through denied party screenings. In this article, we’ll explain how a denied party screening works and how to make the screening process easier for your organization.

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To say that 2020 didn’t turn out as expected would be an exercise in understatement. A combination of global economic disaster and trade-hampering policies marked the year. The coronavirus ripped through supply chains, disrupting economies worldwide. Trade wars raged. Policy changes kept importers and exporters in the United States on their toes. As the U.S. (and indeed, the world) struggles to overcome last year’s challenges, exporters have their own set of obstacles to grapple with.

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May is World Trade Month, and with it comes many events designed to celebrate the importance of international trade to the U.S. economy and to teach new and experienced exporters and importers about various aspects of international trade in this changing global economy.

This year's theme is "Growing exports in uncertain times."

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