Currency is part and parcel of monetary policy, and a public mandate of the European Central Bank (ECB). TFG’s Editor, Deepesh Patel, spoke to ECB’s Yves Mersch about the possibilities of central bank digital currencies in relation to payment systems, faster transaction times and settlements. Separating the hype from reality; Mersch spoke to TFG about the regulatory consequences of central bank digital currencies. “We are tech neutral. We want to stay ahead of tech. Tech has to serve our purpose, not the other way around.”

The biggest global reduction in sulphur content for marine fuels has now come into force (from the 1st January 2020). Shipping companies will need to axe sulphur emissions by around 85%m and with this in mind, what could these new limits mean for trade, freight forwarding prices and the global economy? TFG investigates.

Trade Finance Global sat down with several top experts in the trade, supply chain, and receivables industry to discuss their predictions for 2020.

Trade Finance Global, in partnership with Finastra, sat down with 6 global experts in trade to get a low down of 2019, the key themes and trends, as well as what’s been at the front of mind for practitioners in trade, receivables and supply chain finance.

TFG spoke to Charlotte Prior at Gulf International Bank about the implementation of Environmental Social and Governance (ESG), following on from the launch of GIB’s white paper: The incorporation of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) in the Trade Finance asset class.

TFG spoke to Stephen Renna, Chief Banking Officer at US Exim Bank at TXF CPRI in London, about the core priorities and focus for the bank in order to facilitate US exports, now that is has a wider remit to promote US SMEs.

Master Risk Participation Agreements Explained – An ITFA View. Unfunded versus funded MRPA and BAFT vs ITFA MPA

Geneva, 2nd December 2019. Today, at the WTO’s ‘Global Trade and Blockchain Forum’, ICC, TFG and WTO released a white paper combining over 200 responses from banks, corporates, fintechs and associations in the trade sector, as well as over 20 consortia, on the broader impact that distributed ledger technology (DLT) is having on the trade industry.

The loose notion of a supply chain is as old as trade itself. To help modernize the concept and provide firms with greater transparency, efficiency, and traceability, several innovative projects… read more →

While discussing the many opportunities that DLT has may inspire dreams of an Arcadian future, it is crucial to take a step away from utopia and understand the real problems… read more →

HaloTrade Halotrade is a blockchain-enabled fintech startup focused on the delivery of sustainable supply chain financing. Founded to help curb the issue of disengagement in supply chains, Halotrade creates a… read more →

The UK government’s Export Credit Agency (ECA), UKEF, has a mandate to ensure that no viable UK export fails for lack of finance or insurance.

Trade Finance Global spoke to Chris Southworth, Secretary General of the ICC United Kingdom, and Lesley Batchelor OBE, Director General at the Institute of Export and International Trade about Incoterms® 2020 and what this means for businesses in the United Kingdom

Northern Ireland and the U.K. Have a long and complicated relationship. The latter half of the 20th century was one of its most turbulent periods, as clashes between nationalist and unionist groups killed nearly 4000 people between 1968 and 1998. The violence ended courtesy of the Good Friday Agreement, signed in April of 1998…

TFG caught up with Iain MacLennan, Head of Trade & Supply Chain Finance at Finastra, on the key trends in trade and supply chain finance in an era of uncertainty and geopolitics, in preparation for the World Trade Symposium which will be held in New York on the 6th and 7th November.