Newsletters


CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE – Sean Edwards, ITFA Chairman / Head of Legal and Special Adviser to The Global Trade Finance Department At SMBC, Jun 2021

Thursday, June 17th, 2021

Despite the current situation, here at ITFA we had another month of intense planning towards our upcoming physical events, namely, the NERC Summer Event and the much-awaited Annual Conference.

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LIBOR NEARS ITS END: ITFA’S ONGOING STRATEGY TO GUIDE MEMBERS, June 2021

Wednesday, June 16th, 2021

The transition from Libor to risk-free rates is a topic of top priority for ITFA, given the impact on its members involved in trade risk and asset origination and distribution, the ongoing uncertainty around forward-looking term rates, and a general lag in regulatory guidance on the matter.

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FIRST LETTER (OF MANY MORE TO COME) FROM THE ESG FUNCTION, June 2021

Monday, May 17th, 2021

ESG, in other words Environmental, Social and Governance, needs no further introduction nowadays which is a remarkable development considering how the importance of this topic on the agenda has risen over the past decades from often fairly broad and vague CSR statements on companies’ websites and in the footnotes of annual reports to now a front of mind matter of great significance.

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WHERE TRADE MEETS MULTILATERALISM, June 2021

Tuesday, June 15th, 2021

For all the G7 bluster on reducing CO2 emissions and creating a green Belt and Road Initiative to rival China’s programme, there is little policy interest in how trade can, and should, be used as a policy lever to promote sustainabiity.

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MAPPING TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS TO TRADE ORIGINATORS’ PRIORITIES, Jun 2021

Wednesday, June 16th, 2021

A high degree of specialisation is now proven to be the key ingredient of success for fintechs. Those who claim to have a grand vision and who expand too thinly engage on a slippery track. Focus is key in order to become the best at something really differentiating for incumbent banks, preferably at the right time so as to ensure a perfect-match with banks’ evolving priorities.

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ITFA NEW MEMBERS, Jun 2021

Thursday, June 17th, 2021

ITFA is pleased to welcome the following institutions to its growing family:

– African Development Bank
– Campion Willcocks Compliance LLP
– MonetaGo, Inc.
– Nimai Trade Fintech Pte.
– WAVE BL

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CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE – Sean Edwards, ITFA Chairman / Head of Legal and Special Adviser to The Global Trade Finance Department At SMBC, May 2021

Monday, May 10th, 2021

As I am sure you are aware we have recently announced that we are planning ITFA’s first physical event for 2021! The plan is to hold this event in London on the 12th August. Needless to say, we are still at the mercy of our dear friend Mr Covid.

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DOCUMENTARY CREDIT IS STILL ONE OF THE KEY TRADE FINANCE INSTRUMENTS, May 2021

Monday, May 10th, 2021

My first job in international banking was in a foreign exchange bureau. Soon I was appointed head of a unit working with various forms of cheques, including bank cheques, travel cheques (which were bought by international travellers in their banks in a currency of destinations), money orders, etc.

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ITFA STRUCTURED LETTERS OF CREDIT GUIDE, May 2021

Wednesday, May 5th, 2021

ITFA is delighted to announce that it has released an in-depth guide to Structured Letters of Credit. The guide can be found in the member area of the ITFA website.

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LATIN AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS MUST CREATE A CULTURE OF REPORTING ESG IMPACT TO ACCESS GLOBAL GREEN BONDS AND FINANCE MARKETS – THE CASE OF BRAZIL, May 2021

Monday, May 10th, 2021

The movement of major investors and lenders to push companies, financial institutions and funds to measure and report in financial statements the risks and opportunities related to environment, social and governance (ESG) is arriving in Latin America as a condition to access the global green bonds and finance markets.

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INSIDER THOUGHTS: THE GREENSILL STORY AND ITS IMPACT ON SUPPLY CHAIN FINANCE, May 2021

Monday, May 10th, 2021

Singapore, 5 April: The most severe stress case you can impose on any counterparty is their insolvency. So imagine your client has folded, there is no buyer for its business and all its staff has been dismissed. Apocalyptic?

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IT’S TIME TO TALK ABOUT TRADE FINANCE, May 2021

Monday, May 10th, 2021

A couple of years ago, I made a pitch to a group of investors. During the pitch I mentioned the problem I was trying to solve in trade finance was ultimately quite dull. The investors were not sold on the idea. To them, Fintech should be exciting, dynamic and fast moving.

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