All Trade & Sourcing articles
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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 ...
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New US 10% tariff comes into effect
A new 10 percent global tariff announced by the White House on goods imported into the US came into effect on Feb. 24. The US President, Donald Trump, announced that the rate would be increased to 15 percent, but the move still has to be made official. On Feb. ...
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ArticleTrump announces a 15% worldwide tariff after US Supreme Court ruling
US President, Donald Trump, announced a 15 percent worldwide tariffs on goods imported into the US after the US Supreme Court said that the President had exceed his authority by imposing tariffs under the the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977. The ruling, issued on Feb. 20, was ...
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US Supreme Court rules against trade tariffs
The US Supreme Court struck a blow to the tariff policy of President Donald Trump, ruling six to three that the executive may not set tariffs by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977. According to Reuters, the majority opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, quotes ...
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ArticleItalian shoemakers see delay in EU-Mercosur trade deal as severely damaging
The European Parliament’s decision to delay the ratification of the European Union-Mercosur trade agreement by requesting a legal opinion from the Court of Justice of the European Union is viewed as severely damaging by the Italian footwear industry. “The postponement of the EU-Mercosur agreement represents serious damage for our ...
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ArticleBrazilian shoemakers express concern about growing imports
After a record year in 2024, Brazil’s footwear imports continued to rise sharply in January, setting a new record for the month, according to data released by Abicalçados, the Brazilian association of footwear manufacturers. In January, imports totaled 4.46 million pairs, up by 34.3 percent year-over-year and $62.9 million, up ...
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ArticlePortugual’s 2025 footwear exports rise 0.8% in value
The Portuguese footwear industry exported 68 million pairs of shoes in 2025, up by 1.8 percent in volume compared with 2024, for a total value of €1.718 billion, up by 0.8 percent, according to data compiled by the statistics office Ine and released by Apiccaps, the Portuguese footwear association. Exports ...
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US to cut trade tariffs on Indian imports
The US President, Donald Trump, said that the US will cut to 18 percent from 25 percent the so-called reciprocal tariff imposed on Indian imports after the two countries reached a trade agreement. According to Trump, the tariff cut comes after the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, agreed to stop ...
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ArticleHow the war in Ukraine has affected a local footwear company
Belsta, Ukraine’s largest footwear company founded in 2006 and based in Bilhorod-Dnestrovskyi in the Odessa region, has suffered extensively from the war with Russia, which used to be its biggest market. The company, which specializes in slippers, is seeking to bolster sales in the European Union. Before 2014, when Russia ...
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Indian shoemakers see new opportunities with EU trade deal
The trade agreement reached by the European Union and India will create “new opportunities” for the Indian footwear and leather industry, according to R Selvam, the Executive Director of Council for Leather Exports (CLE), which is sponsored by India’s Ministry of Commerce & Industry. “The India–EU free trade agreement, which ...
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EU and India conclude negotiations for free trade agreement
The European Union and India have concluded negotiations for a free trade agreement, marking the largest such deal ever concluded by either side. “The EU and India make history today, deepening the partnership between the world’s biggest democracies,” commented Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission. “We ...
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Trump threatens trade tariffs against Canada
The US President, Donald Trump, has threaten to impose a 100 percent tariff on Canadian imports it its northern neighbor signs a trade agreement with China. “If Governor Carney thinks he is going to make Canada a “Drop Off Port” for China to send goods and products into the United ...
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Pakistani’s SGFL forms joint venture with China’s Golden Star Footwear Group
Service Global Footwear Limited (SGFL), Pakistan’s largest footwear exporter, has entered into a joint venture agreement with Golden Star Footwear Group Limited, a Chinese company, to establish a manufacturing and export project for non-leather footwear in Pakistan. SGFL will hold a 51 percent stake in the joint venture and Golden ...
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ArticleUS pauses Greenland tariff threat
The US has paused threatened tariff increases against several European allies following talks between US President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, easing tensions that had escalated over Greenland and transatlantic trade. Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said tariff measures previously ...
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French footwear exports down 3% in the first 11 months of 2025
French exports of footwear totaled €4.859 billion in the first 11 months of 2025, down by 3 percent year-over-year, while imports were up by 2 percent at €7.609 billion, according to data released by Alliance France Cuir, the trade association representing the country’s leather and leather goods industry. It added ...
