Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
Your Monday morning coffee briefing from TFG:
- When would you issue a letter of credit available by acceptance?
- Closer cooperation with Asian EXIM Banks is opportune for ADB
- VIDEO | Eleanor Hill answering FAQs on Women in Trade, Treasury, and Payments 2025
- Empowering Vietnamese SMEs: Navigating trade and supply chain finance challenges
- Government announces rollback of Single Trade Window, sparking doubts about future of post-Brexit trade
- VOXPOP | André Casterman on bridging the trade finance gap
- What the NDC 3.0 guidelines mean for small businesses
When would you issue a letter of credit available by acceptance?
Given that even in an acceptance credit, the issuing bank’s undertaking to honour a complying presentation stands regardless of whether drafts have been accepted, the question is: Why call for drafts at all? Read more →
Closer cooperation with Asian EXIM Banks is opportune for ADB
The Asian EXIM Banks Forum Annual Meeting is being held in China for the first time in 11 years. Over a dozen export credit agencies and three multilateral financial institutions are attending the forum in Shanghai. Read more →
VIDEO | Eleanor Hill answering FAQs on Women in Trade, Treasury, and Payments 2025
Trade Finance Global’s (TFG) Mahika Ravi Shankar (MRS) spoke with Eleanor Hill (EH), TFG’s treasury expert and a member of our gender-equal editorial board, about their upcoming Women in Trade, Treasury, and Payments event. Read more →
Empowering Vietnamese SMEs: Navigating trade and supply chain finance challenges
In Vietnam, a more inclusive financial ecosystem is possible through collaboration with large enterprises to approach, market, and sell products and services to SMEs. Read more →
Government announces rollback of Single Trade Window, sparking doubts about future of post-Brexit trade
The UK government has announced its plans to halt the development of the Single Trade Window (STW), a digital service that would have streamlined data exchange for cross-border trade. Read more →
VOXPOP | André Casterman on bridging the trade finance gap
Trade Finance Global (TFG) spoke to André Casterman, CEO of TFD Initiative and Chairperson of the ITFA Fintech Committee, at the 2024 Trade Finance Investor Day conference in London. Read more →
What the NDC 3.0 guidelines mean for small businesses
The International Trade Centre (ITC), the UN agency for small businesses, has just released their NDC 3.0 guidelines to practically support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in achieving national climate goals. Read more →
PODCAST | ADB works with UNODC and Financial Intelligence Units to shine light in the shadows of TBML
TBML is conducted by criminals to conceal illegal income by moving it through legitimate trade transactions by undervaluing or overvaluing goods and services, thus laundering large sums of money. Read more →
How President Trump might affect trade, treasury, and payments
Trump’s proposed ‘Maganomics’ agenda threatens to reshape the global economic landscape in ways not seen since the 1930s, with potentially seismic implications for international trade, treasury operations, and cross-border payments. Read more →
PODCAST | Digital lifelines: How AI is strengthening global supply chains
TFG spoke to Surecomp’s Head of Global Solution Consulting Suchi Guharoy, to discuss digitisation in supply chains and how AI can be implemented to resolve bottlenecks and improve resilience. Read more →
Banks and corporations respond to ICC Principles for Sustainable Trade
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has introduced the third wave of its Principles for Sustainable Trade. This latest update incorporates feedback from over 30 leading banks and corporations. Read more →
VIDEO | A delicate balance between human oversight and automation
The need for a concerted approach to talent recruitment, mentoring, and development in the insurance and reinsurance industries must be met. Read more →
Standard Chartered and BII sign $350m trade finance facility for emerging markets
On 4 November, Standard Chartered and British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution, announced the signing of a $350 million risk participation agreement to support emerging markets in Africa and South Asia. Read more →
J.P. Morgan digitalises bills of exchange
J.P. Morgan is nearing completion of its first live digital trade finance transaction, following the bank’s collaboration with technology provider Enigio. Read more →
- Bank of China on the renminbi’s internationalisation
- Correspondent banking relationships dwindle in the Pacific Islands
- 2024 ICC Trade Register report positively upbeat despite global trade goods slowdown
- The legacy of Bidenomics on global trade
- The crux of the trade finance interoperability challenge
- 2024 budget: A mixed blessing for the trade finance sector
- International financial institutions unite to facilitate SCF provision in emerging markets
- Citi announces end-to-end digital bill discounting solution
Bank of China on the renminbi’s internationalisation
China’s currency – the renminbi (RMB) – is finding new appeal among emerging market traders and global investors seeking alternative settlement options. TFG spoke to BOC’s Xiong Yuanmeng to learn more about the renminbi’s burgeoning internationalisation. Read more →
Correspondent banking relationships dwindle in the Pacific Islands
TFG spoke to the Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP) at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), on how declining CBRs jeopardise these countries’ ability to conduct international trade and receive vital remittances. Read more →
2024 ICC Trade Register report positively upbeat despite global trade goods slowdown
The 2024 ICC Trade Register report reaffirms the low-risk nature of trade finance assets, despite a slowdown of global trade volumes in 2023. Read more →
The legacy of Bidenomics on global trade
During his term in office, Biden’s inward-looking investment policies have resulted in public rifts from European and Asian allies. In this, the Inflationary Reduction Act (IRA) particularly beset the US’s standing in global trade. Read more →
The crux of the trade finance interoperability challenge
The rationale of the trade digitalisation business case has been finally approved, which has likewise improved the willingness to participate in the next steps. Read more →
2024 budget: A mixed blessing for the trade finance sector
On 30 October, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves announced the UK’s Autumn 2024 budget.This is the first budget by a female chancellor in history and the first by a Labour government in 14 years. Read more →
International financial institutions unite to facilitate SCF provision in emerging markets
The participating institutions have pledged to create a joint working group focused on leveraging resources for SME support in supply chains, to bridge substantial gaps in market access. Read more →
Citi announces end-to-end digital bill discounting solution
Citi has announced the launch of the Citi Digital Bill (CDB), a new integrated digital bill discounting solution to speed up the monetisation of receivables. Read more →
- VIDEO | Lloyds and Cleareye on digitalisation and partnerships in trade finance
- Striking gold with the middle market: How banks can customise working capital solutions
- FCI picks MonetaGo to combat invoice receivables fraud globally
- The Sibos 2024 roundup: Where do we go from here?
- VIDEO | Can reverse mentorship help to bridge the gender gap in transaction banking?
- “A welcome respite”: Absa African Financial Markets Index 2024
- VIDEO | AI for Open Finance?
- Sibos 2024: Erste Group partners with Traydstream
- Sibos 2024: How to write an emerging market success story
VIDEO | Lloyds and Cleareye on digitalisation and partnerships in trade finance
To learn about how partnerships are reshaping the digital transition in trade finance, TFG spoke with Rogier Van Lammeren of Lloyds Bank, and Mariya George, CEO of Cleareye. Read more →
Striking gold with the middle market: How banks can customise working capital solutions
According to Visa’s 2024-2025 Middle-Market Growth Corporates Working Capital Index, growth corporations have become adept at using working capital solutions. Read more →
FCI picks MonetaGo to combat invoice receivables fraud globally
The collaboration, announced at FCI’s 15th CEE & SEE Regional Conference on Factoring & Supply Chain Finance in Prague, aims to standardise fraud prevention measures in factoring and receivables finance. Read more →
The Sibos 2024 roundup: Where do we go from here?
Keynote speeches by SWIFT executives and banking leaders promised discussions on the conference’s theme, ‘Connecting the future of finance’. What were the main takeaways from the conference, and did it deliver on its promises? Read more →
VIDEO | Can reverse mentorship help to bridge the gender gap in transaction banking?
Reverse mentorship – where subordinates feed back to their superiors – has great potential in bridging knowledge gaps. To learn more, TFG spoke with Rita King of Lloyds Bank. Read more →
“A welcome respite”: Absa African Financial Markets Index 2024
Per the results of the index, rather than one of respite, Africa seems to be in a period of opportunity and growth. Read more →
VIDEO | AI for Open Finance?
In conversation, Finastra’s Anastasia McAlpine explored how AI can address innovation deficits for smaller players as well as the challenges for the big banks. Read more →
Sibos 2024: Erste Group partners with Traydstream
The Vienna-based financial service provider will implement Traydstream’s platform to process export letters of credit, amendments, and document scrutiny: areas which have traditionally required manual processing. Read more →
Sibos 2024: How to write an emerging market success story
For emerging capital markets, the journey from local origins to global success doesn’t usually follow a one-size-fits-all script. But there are lessons that can be learned and actions the global financial community can take to smooth the path. Read more →
- New edition launched! A balancing act: Juggling conflicting priorities in trade and payments
- What is an MGA and how does it fit into international trade?
- ICC DSI launches Digital Trade Assessment Tool for electronic records
- New digital trade “China corridor” brings transaction time from Europe down to hours
- Amazon turns to nuclear to power AI data centres
- MANSA reports $3m transaction volume in first month
- UK trade looking up as Starmer holds summit, inflation falls
- Lloyds and Mercore complete transactions with digital bills of exchange
New edition launched! A balancing act: Juggling conflicting priorities in trade and payments
We’re excited to have launched the 23rd issue of Trade Finance Talks magazine, coinciding with the 2024 Sibos conference in Beijing! Issue 23 bundles seemingly disparate topics, united, we think, by a fundamental question that everyone asks themselves all the time: What should I prioritise? Read more →
What is an MGA and how does it fit into international trade?
Managing General Agents (MGAs) have emerged as an important component in business, offering specialised expertise and flexibility. This new model of insurance providers helps to bridge the gap between insurers and the businesses they protect. Read more →
ICC DSI launches Digital Trade Assessment Tool for electronic records
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has launched a new technical framework to evaluate the reliability of digital trade services. Read more →
New digital trade “China corridor” brings transaction time from Europe down to hours
A new digital channel for electronic trade documents launched by Enigio and TradeGo will make payments between Europe and China much safer and faster for exporters, importers, and banks. Read more →
Amazon turns to nuclear to power AI data centres
Amazon announced on Wednesday, 16 October it had signed three new agreements to support the development of nuclear energy projects to power its data centres in the US. Read more →
MANSA reports $3m transaction volume in first month
MANSA, a global decentralised finance (DeFi) platform providing liquidity to cross-border payment companies, has reported transaction volumes exceeding $3 million in its first month of operations. Read more →
UK trade looking up as Starmer holds summit, inflation falls
The International Investment Summit, held in London on Monday 14 October, saw Starmer pledge to industry leaders to remove regulation and red tape, to improve trade. Read more →
Lloyds and Mercore complete transactions with dBE
Lloyds Bank and Mercore, the fintech, have successfully executed a series of digital trade transactions, under the International Trade and Forfaiting Association’s (ITFA) Digital Negotiable Instrument (DNI) Initiative. Read more →
- Digitalisation from end to end: Lloyds Bank trade insights
- The role of credit insurance in a just energy transition
- Ratan Tata: India’s global business ‘titan’
- Know Your Transaction: Is there such a thing as too much information?
- E-invoicing: Automation, global tax compliance, digital transformation
- The game is afoot: tackling APP fraud
- Supply chains minimally affected as US dock workers call off strike after 3 days
- Banco Safra joins IFC’s program to expand trade finance in Brazil
Digitalisation from end to end: Lloyds Bank trade insights
A new Lloyds Bank Trade Insights report, published on 8 October 2024, has offered a glimpse into the benefits available to trading businesses as a result of this process of digitalisation and modernisation. Read more →
The role of credit insurance in a just energy transition
Credit insurers play a crucial role in attracting investment and ensuring the successful implementation of risky projects by providing the necessary tools and security. Read more →
Ratan Tata: India’s global business ‘titan’
Ratan Tata died last Wednesday, 9 October 2024. During his chairmanship of the Tata Group, Ratan Tata championed India’s global role in trade and supply chains, using acquisitions and reach to connect Indian industry to international markets. Read more →
Know Your Transaction: Is there such a thing as too much information?
Financiers would prefer a world where compliance checks result in a binary decision: a clear ‘HIT’ or ‘PASS’. But the reality is far murkier. Read more →
E-invoicing: Automation, global tax compliance, digital transformation
In the last decade, e-invoicing has evolved into a legally recognised form of invoicing in most jurisdictions, standing on equal footing with paper invoices. Read more →
The game is afoot: Tackling APP fraud
By introducing new rules to the cat-and-mouse game of tackling financial fraud, policymakers today have the upper hand. Read more →
Supply chains minimally affected as US dock workers call off strike after 3 days
The three-day strike, initially forecasted to cost up to $5 billion a day, ended up resulting in no more than $9 billion losses in total, with no reported shortages or delays in retail goods as a result of it. Read more →
Banco Safra joins IFC’s program to expand trade finance in Brazil
Banco Safra joins over 250 banks in the IFC’s Global Trade Finance Program (GTFP), an initiative by the IFC to extend risk mitigation to banks providing trade finance in new or challenging markets. Read more →
