Your Monday morning coffee briefing from TFG: The UK agrees to a historic trade deal with New Zealand – among the first of such deals in the post-Brexit era. A new ICC report estimates that full digitalisation could add $9 trillion to G7 trade by 2026. The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) offers more details on its synthetic LIBOR plans. Macquarie strengthens its position as a global shipping lender, with a total market value of over $3 billion. And we hear from ITFA’s Andre Casterman and Johanna Wissing on fintech and ESG for trade finance respectively.
UK agrees historic trade deal with New Zealand
A comprehensive trade agreement with New Zealand will cut red tape for businesses, end tariffs on UK exports, and create new opportunities for tech and services companies, while making it easier for UK professionals to live and work in New Zealand. Read more →
Digitalisation could add $9tn to G7 trade by 2026, says new ICC report
A new ICC report, released yesterday, estimates that if G7 countries can deliver on legal reform, standardisation, and adoption of digital records, then trade between them could rise by about 43% above its 2019 value by 2026. Read more →
Macquarie strengthens position as a global shipping lender with total market value surpassing $US3bn
Macquarie Shipping Finance, a specialist in providing finance to SME shipowners has now financed over 190 vessels, with a total market value of more than $US3 billion. Read more →
FCA turns on synthetic LIBOR light after year-end cessation
To avoid disruption to legacy contracts that reference the one-, three- and six-month sterling and Japanese yen LIBOR settings, the FCA said it will require the LIBOR benchmark administrator to publish these settings under a ‘synthetic’ methodology. Read more →
VIDEO: The F Word – ITFA’s Andre Casterman on helping banks and fintechs work together
Banks and fintechs have not always been the closest playmates, but ITFA’s Andre Casterman is on a mission to help them work together. As a 30-year veteran of the tradetech industry – he joined SWIFT in 1991 – Casterman is a fintech leader with a vision for change. Read more →
ITFC lights up Senegal energy sector with €100m SENELEC financing deal
The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) has signed a €100-million Murabaha financing deal with the Senegal National Power Company (SENELEC). Read more →
Capco partners with Coherent to deliver new digital solutions in banking, insuretech
Global technology and management consultancy Capco has signed a new digital solutions partnership with Asia- and US-based insuretech Coherent. Read more →
VIDEO: 50 Shades of Green – ITFA’s Johanna Wissing on ESG for trade finance
While some in trade finance struggle with green fatigue, ITFA’s Johanna Wissing isn’t one of them. Having joined the International Trade and Forfaiting Association (ITFA) as a board member this year, Wissing has since become the front-woman for the association’s work on environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) issues. Read more →
