Lisa McAuley

The U.S. may be retreating from global talent, but the opportunity for businesses worldwide is enormous. Startups, multinational corporations, and investors who move decisively can gain a first-mover advantage in innovation, markets, and trade.

How Businesses Can Capitalise on the Global Talent Shift: shorturl.at/Ka8u7

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are reshaping global trade in 2025 with creativity, resilience, and innovation. From Finland’s €3.6 billion gaming exports to Vietnamese coffee cooperatives brewing global success, SMEs are proving that local ideas can capture international markets. This month’s trade highlights showcase how businesses across every continent—whether producing wine in South Africa, maple syrup in Canada, or sustainable cosmetics in New Zealand—are leveraging heritage, sustainability, and technology to scale globally. Together, these stories illustrate how SMEs are not just competing in global trade—they’re leading it.

Global Trade Highlights: From Finnish Games to Vietnamese Coffee, Global SMEs Shine: shorturl.at/qcVLw

DG Okonjo-Iweala welcomes calls of support for WTO, urges meaningful MC14 outcomes Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed recent calls of support for the WTO and the multilateral trading system from world leaders and urged members to show the political will and flexibility to...

Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed recent calls of support for the WTO and the multilateral trading system from world leaders and urged members to show the political will and flexibility to achieve meaningful outcomes at the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference: shorturl.at/0rcIl

Committee reviews work on transparency, discusses AI, semiconductors, metrology in trade: shorturl.at/wma0Q

WTO members share tools and insights to advance fossil fuel subsidy reform WTO members participating in the Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform (FFSR) initiative met on 2 October to share experiences on fiscal tools and programmes for subsidy reform, as well as on fossil fuel subsidi...

WTO members share tools and insights to advance fossil fuel subsidy reform: shorturl.at/Hx0Xz

Brilliant….

Illegal…

Next step: UK business withdraws from the International Chamber of Commerce- then forms the Sovereign Chamber of Very British Commerce (SCVBC)

Vast majority of Canadians want deeper economic ties with the EU, reduced dependence on the U.S. According to a new study by Nanos, the vast majority of Canadians support deeper economic ties with the European Union (EU) and reduced dependence on the United States.

“85% of Canadians want Canada to remove trade barriers with the European Union to reduce our dependance on the United States.”

US FREIGHT RECESSION DEEPENS: The Cass Freight Index, a key gauge of shipping and logistics activity, plunged in August to its lowest level since the 2008 Financial Crisis, signaling severe weakness in freight volumes and ongoing strain across the U.S. transportation and

Ports slow down. Trucks disappear. Rail gets cut. SMEs lose cash — big. Get the SME Logistics Survival Kit 2025 and stay one step ahead. #SMELogistics #SupplyChain
https://ow.ly/Yf0850X6Smr

Ford CEO says $2 billion in tariff costs prevents more US investments Ford CEO Jim Farley says tariffs on imported parts are driving up costs on the company's cars.

Ford CEO on tariffs: “I mean, it's frustrating 'cause we're the most American auto company, and we export the most, and yet, we have this $2 billion headwind, which prevents me from investing even more in the US.”

finance.yahoo.com/news/ford-ce...

The reality….

One of those classic tales of the modern economy, a huge company nobody really knows is the middle of a supply chain. At this stage it seems such companies will be surviving Trump's efforts relatively unscathed. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

Great news…

Global Trade Highlights: From Finnish Games to Vietnamese Coffee, Global SMEs Shine: shorturl.at/r9E5X

With an expected attendance of over 500 industry professionals, the conference offers an ideal platform to forge meaningful connections, exchange insights, and explore new opportunities in African trade.

GTR Africa 2025 London: A Premier Forum for African Trade & Export Finance: shorturl.at/JNPYF

WTO Fish Fund fully operational, first Call for Proposals closes next week: shorturl.at/1xMl0

WTO panel issues report regarding EU duties on Indonesian steel products On 2 October, the WTO circulated the panel report in the case brought by Indonesia in

WTO panel issues report regarding EU duties on Indonesian steel products: shorturl.at/nCdFa

Jane Goodall with monarch butterfly scarf

“It actually doesn’t take much to be considered a difficult woman. That’s why there are so many of us.”
― Jane Goodall

💙 RIP to a real one. My childhood hero

We mourn Dr. Jane Goodall, a pioneer who taught us that every creature has a story, that science and compassion go hand in hand, and that we are custodians of this Earth. Her legacy inspires curiosity, care, and courage in us all.

Talent as the New Trade Corridor. Global trade has always followed resources — from oil and steel to semiconductors and data. But in today’s economy, the most valuable resource is talent. Where skilled people go, capital, supply chains, and investment follow: shorturl.at/GgzBm

From Sand Tracks to Superhighways: an ambitious plan to modernise transport infrastructure, aiming to enhance connectivity and efficiency across the nation. The strategy includes upgrading railways, expanding road networks & developing ports to facilitate smoother trade routes: shorturl.at/ZhnqH

On October 1, 2025, India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)—comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein—officially launched their Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA): shorturl.at/5Cc7v

When we calculated the cost of implementing controls on low value shipments in the EU it was barely worth it. In the US the threshold was higher but average value still way belofw 150.

The Dominican Republic launches safeguard investigation on sweet and savoury biscuits of all kinds, industrially or mass-produced, and made primarily from wheat On 25 September 2025, the Dominican Republic notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 19 September 2025 a safeguard investigation on sweet and savoury biscuits of all kinds, ind...

The Dominican Republic launches safeguard investigation on sweet and savoury biscuits: shorturl.at/jxkTM

DDG Zhang highlights continued relevance of WTO, importance of business input in its work In remarks delivered to a visiting group of Chinese business entrepreneurs on 26 September, Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang underlined the continued importance of the WTO and the rules-based t...

DDG Zhang highlights continued relevance of WTO, importance of business input in its work: shorturl.at/x1xVJ

Bahrain contributes USD 200,000 to WTO-ITC Fund to support women exporters More women entrepreneurs will be able to expand their digital and export skills following a new contribution from the Kingdom of Bahrain to a global fund set up to help expand opportunities for women-...

Bahrain contributes USD 200,000 to WTO-ITC Fund to support women exporters: shorturl.at/jPfDb

Ethiopia’s WTO accession process enters decisive phase Speaking at the sixth meeting of the Working Party on Ethiopia’s accession to the WTO on 26 September, Ethiopia’s Minister of Trade and Regional Integration and Chief Trade Negotiator, Kassahun Gofe B...

Ethiopia’s WTO accession process enters decisive phase: shorturl.at/6iUuN

DG Okonjo-Iweala welcomes calls of support for WTO, urges meaningful MC14 outcomes Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed recent calls of support for the WTO and the multilateral trading system from world leaders and urged members to show the political will and flexibility to...

If global trade was a TV series, this week felt like a crossover episode: WTO forecasting an AI-powered future, China making dramatic trade policy moves, the U.S. dropping tariffs like Oprah handing out cars… and some surprisingly good news for shippers: shorturl.at/ZvmXO