With trade and economic sanctions becoming an ever more popular tool of foreign policy in today’s uncertain geopolitical climate, AML, screening and anti-fraud obligations are increasing in scope and complexity. At the same time, the growth in international cross-border trade to around $16 trillion per annum creates an environment that’s ripe for abuse for those wanting to launder money or finance terrorism or criminal activities through the guise of legitimate trade.

It seems nowadays unicorn businesses are emerging in the venture capital scene with accelerating frequency. With an increasingly mobile and technologically capable world, fin-tech companies and eCommerce startups are dominating most of the visible market now. Is startup growth really as proliferate and fast-paced as it may seem? The answer is an unsurprising, billion-dollar “yes”.

On a rainy morning back in September we hosted a roundtable on collateral management at gunnercooke llp offices. We were joined by our co-host Elena Egorova, Head of Projects, DRUM Risk, an inspection and stock management company. Elena helped us work through an interactive case study based on real events (the infamous worst-case scenario) to track legal issues and practical considerations arising from the storage of commodities.

Brexit’s greatest roadblock currently takes the form of a 310-mile border spanning the Irish countryside. How come?

The European Commission faces a tough challenge when considering its policies regarding competition in the market: It is a fine line between protecting domestic companies that struggle in light of giant companies from abroad and softening antitrust rules that Ms Vestager has to walk as EU competition chief.

Your Monday morning coffee briefing from TFG. Here are some of the last week’s updates from the trade sector. 28th October 2019.

Over the past few years, Italy’s economy has gone through a recessionary period. A recession is defined as two negative quarters of contraction and is a sharp slow-down in the rate of economic growth. In the final quarter of 2018, Italy’s economy shrank by 0.2% and is the third time the country’s growth has fallen into recession over the last decade.

Internationally renowned as the ‘start-up’ nation, Israel presents a plethora of exciting trading opportunities for the UK and will be an important partner as it prepares for its formal exit from the European Union (EU), finds Leumi UK’s whitepaper

Banks are often slow to adopt the latest technology, and in many cases that is warranted. As highly regulated institutions tasked with protecting valuable data, banks understandably want to avoid “running with scissors.” By starting slow with simply implementing APIs in a few areas, they can begin to modernize and ultimately provide streamlined payments solutions, like RTPs, to their largest pool of customers.

Your Monday morning coffee briefing from TFG. Here are some of the last week’s updates from the trade sector. 21st October 2019.