How can you stay ahead of the trends in international trade?

In my experience, prioritizing producers in the craft sector and the environment are especially important. Buyers are interested in the well-being of the producers in terms of fair payment, health and safety, non-discrimination and overall good working conditions. It goes without saying that the protecting the planet is at the core of every ethical consumer. In the craft sector, proper waste disposal and cautiously harvesting materials for production is on top of the list. When buyers can ascertain that your practices meet this criteria, they are open to collaboration.

I have seen this particularly exemplified in the gig economy where for example one may have a Ugandan social media influencer contracted by a travel agency in South Africa to market tour packages to Ugandans through their social media handles. Indeed digitisation has/is facilitating regional, continental and global trade.

It is also very important for companies to take the welfare of their workers seriously by innovating around incentives that go beyond regulatory requirements. A happy work force is critical for business success; and not to forget to strictly observe the health and safety measures that are applicable in that working environment. It saves the company from risks of litigation and heavy penalties, not to mention bad publicity.

Focus on a single offshore market has helped many companies to coordinate resources and investment of time and capital. Often this market was China, but over the last few years, the strategy for many has shifted to diversification. This shift may discard years of relationship-building and business development in the China market when China too is diversifying from its reliance on trade with the United States, into Europe and other nations around the world. By maintaining relationships in China, with a 'China-plus-one' strategy, many will be able to benefit from the increased collaboration with companies as the Chinese economy recovers, and also by partnering to explore new markets. It has more than 500 years of trading experience to offer.

From my experience as a crafts person, being flexible in product offerings and adapting to the changing market demands as well as experiment with new designs, materials, and production techniques helps to stay relevant

The US-China trade dispute spotlights the critical role of innovation and differentiation in global trade. Huawei, facing US trade policy challenges in 2019, responded with the Mate 60 Pro Smartphone, featuring advanced Kirin 9000s chip, showcasing China's resilience in chip technology. This reflects growing techno-nationalism and raises questions about technology origins and China's drive for self-sufficiency. Stringent trade policies have slowed tech adoption, impacting consumers and chipmakers. Despite hurdles, China remains committed to tech independence. Import data reveals access to semiconductor equipment, albeit at higher costs, highlighting China's determination.

On Learning & Networking - my strategy is a 3-legged stool: 1. LinkedIn Learning 2. Traveling to Trade Conferences 3. Building learning communities on & offline With professionals in all industries - not just in International Trade but SupplyChain, Finance & Technical Disciplines. Social Media & the internet has allowed us the ability to do this so take advantage of that fact. Your network & who you learn from can be global and be across time zones.

I have found that also signing up for industry/sector related newsletters helps as it provides regular and timely updates right into your inbox