All Trade & Sourcing articles
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India, UK free trade agreement comes into effect
On July 15, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between India and the UK came into effect. According to the Indian government, 99 percent of Indian exports to the UK will benefit from zero duty thanks to the free trade agreement. “We expect to double India-UK trade in ...
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ArticleUS imposes 25% tariff on Brazilian goods
The US will impose a 25 percent tariff on most imports from Brazil starting July 22, after a yearlong investigation into what the US administration calls unfair trade practices, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The decison, taken under Section 301 of the Trade ...
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Vasky loses 70,000 pairs of shoes in a fire
The Czech footwear company Vasky has lost about 70,000 pairs of shoes in a fire that broke out on July 9 in its warehouse in Zlín. ”We lost almost everything and are facing the hardest test in the history of Vasek.The worst case scenario has come true,” the company’s ...
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Fire in Chinese footwear factory kills 28 people
Twenty-eigh people died in a fire that broke out on July 9 in the Fujian Huiteng factory, which produces footwear for Chinese and foreign brands in Jinjiang, according to the news agency Xinhua. Xinhua reported than an investigation was underway into the cause of the fire. The news agency added ...
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Deltaport Footwear to build a new production site in Bangladesh
Deltaport Footwear, a company backed by Italian and Irish investors, will invest $21.6 million to launch a factory in the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) economic zone in Mirsharai, in the Chattogram region. ”This investment is expected to contribute significantly to the diversification of Bangladesh’s export-oriented footwear industry while ...
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Twisted X launches a collection made in the US
Twisted X, a brand of the Texas-based Twisted X Global Brands company, is bringing footwear manufacturing to the United States with the launch of the Built in the USA Collection. ”Assembled in the United States with globally sourced materials, the Built in the USA Collection exemplifies Twisted X’s diversification plan,” ...
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ArticleHow the Italian Trade Agency boost support to Expo Riva Schuh and the footwear industry
The Italian Trade Agency has significantly boosted its financial support for Italy’s footwear industry, with evidence of the increased funding seen in the sharp rise in the number of incoming buyers at the Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags trade fair held in Riva del Garda from June 13 to 16. ...
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DSC to expand manufacturing capacity in Indonesia
The Taiwanese performance foam manufacturer Dahsheng Chemical (DSC) plans to expand advanced foam chemistry and fabrication capabilities at its P.T. Dah Ju facility in Jawa Barat, Indonesia. The site was opened in 2023. ”The investment deepens DSC’s Global Ready strategy, bringing localized innovation and technical expertise closer to Tier 1 ...
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Shipments of humanoid robots may be higher than previously expected
Shipments of humanoid robots are likely to be higher than previously expected, according to Morgan Stanley. The US bank now projects shipments of 50,000 units for the year, up from 28,000 units estimated previously. With more companies in China, such as XPeng, announcing mass production from late 2026, that figure ...
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ArticleBally ends shoe production in Switzerland
The Swiss luxury brand Bally is ending shoe production in Switzerland after 175 years and cutting 27 jobs at its original manufacturing site in the canton of Ticino, according to Swiss media reports. The last production workers at the company’s original site in Caslano, near Lugano, have received termination ...
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TKG Taekwang to build a footwear plant in Tamil Nadu
TKG Taekwang, a South Korean footwear manufacturer, has received approval to establish a 514 crore rupee (€47m) non-leather footwear manufacturing facility on 69 acres of land at the ELCOT Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Navalpattu, Tiruchy, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. In the Indian numeral system, a crore ...
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ArticleSemler completes its restructuring
The German shoe manufacturer Carl Semler GmbH has completed its self-administered restructuring, with creditors unanimously approving the insolvency plan. Under the supervision of a restructuring expert, Lukas Eisenhuth, and a court-appointed administrator, Dennis Blank, the 162-year-old company continued operations throughout the insolvency proceedings. Semler filed for bankruptcy at the Pirmasens ...
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ArticleBrazil footwear output declines by 1.9% in 2025
In 2025, Brazilian footwear production fell by 1.9 percent to 847.5 million pairs due to a slowdown in the domestic market and instability in exports, according to Abicalçados, the Brazilian footwear association. The decline in output “stemmed from a combination of shocks in the international environment, growth in footwear imports ...
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ArticleBrazil renews footwear export program for 2 years
Abicalçados, the Brazilian footwear association, and ApexBrasil, the Brazilian agency for the promotion of exports and investments, signed the renewal of a two-year agreement to promote Brazilian footwear. Under the agreement, the parties will invest a combined 45.63 million reais (€7.7m) in commercial and promotional initiatives abroad over 2026 ...
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EU and Australia conclude talks for a free trade agreement
On March 24, the European Union and Australia announced the adoption of a security and defence partnership. The parties have also concluded negotiations for an “ambitious and balanced” free trade agreement (FTA) and agreed to launch formal negotiations for the association of Australia to Horizon Europe, the world’s largest funding ...
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ArticleEU-Mercosur trade deal applied provisionally from May 1
The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union (EU), said that it will start on May 1 with the provisional application of the EU-Mercosur interim Trade Agreement (iTA) despite the opposition of some leading European countries and a demand of clarification by the European Parliament. ”By sending its ...
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European shoemakers call for rapid introduction of 'deemed importer' designation
Alongside 15 other trade associations of the European Union, the European Footwear Confederation (CEC) has signed an industry statement calling for the rapid introduction of the EU’s “deemed importer” designation. “European traders are facing a growing influx of small consignments from third-country e-commerce platforms, including many ultra-fast fashion products that ...
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ArticleC-Suite interview: How Spanish producers of espadrilles are moving to guarantee their future
Calzia, a consortium comprising over 40 Spanish producers of espadrilles based in Caravaca de la Cruz in eastern Spain, is facing a weaker market after a recent boom in sales. Salvador Gómez, who is the president of Calzia and since the end of 2024 Secretary General of Fice, the Spanish ...
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Maersk temporarily halts Middle East services, Gulf region shuttles
Maersk has temporarily suspended its services connecting the Far East to the Middle East and the Middle East to Europe in light of the escalating conflict affecting navigation in the Gulf region. “This decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of our personnel and vessels ...
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ArticleEU to proceed with provisional application of the trade agreement with Mercosur
The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union (EU), is proceeding with the provisional application of the controversial free trade agreement with Mercosur after the accord was cleared by Argentina and Uruguay. Brazil and Paraguay are expected to follow soon, according to Ursula von der Leyen, the ...
