Welcome to this edition of the Trade Finance Insight. In this edition, we lead with an in-depth interview with Dr George Elombi, Executive Vice President and Member of the Board at African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). The interview will discuss the challenges of implementing the AfCFTA, the successes it has experienced so far, the anticipated opportunities it will bring to the region in mid to long term and the role Afreximbank is playing to contribute to its success.

Baker McKenzie’s newest sustainability briefing focuses on the hot topic of transition finance, which is relevant to lenders and borrowers in commercial and syndicated lending. In the context of publications by industry and standard setting bodies such as the Glasgow Financial Alliance for net zero and experience in the market, the briefing discusses: transition finance, credible transition plans, risks and challenges and market progress.

Our latest sustainability guide, ESG Policy Guide – The Future of Sustainability Legislation for Luxury, has been developed in collaboration with Positive Luxury, the company behind the Butterfly Mark, a unique mark awarded to luxury lifestyle brands, retailers and suppliers in recognition of their commitment and verified actions to creating a positive impact on our world. It features recent and upcoming developments in ESG legislation and policies in the US, UK and the EU and explains how these impact the luxury, fashion, and cosmetics industries.

Welcome to the June edition of this publication that includes a variety of legal and market focused articles on current topics of interest in the world of trade finance.
In this issue, we feature:
• Trade finance and the efforts to boost intra-African trade
• Developments in the digitization of trade in Singapore
• Lombard North Central Plc v European Skyjets Ltd
• Baker McKenzie partners with the LMA
• Sanctions & Export Control Update

Our December issue of Trade Finance Quarterly leads with commentary on two long awaited documents in the trade finance market – the LMA borrowing base facility and the Uniform Rules for Digital Trade Transaction.

In our previous article, ‘Commodity Finance: the complete security package’ (2021) 5 JIBFL 351, we touched upon how disruption to commodity transactions, as a consequence of lockdowns, has led to the uncovering of fraudulent activities due to enhanced oversight of borrowers’ businesses and how a well-constructed security package can mitigate this risk to a degree. In this follow-up article we examine in detail the different ways in which fraud can manifest itself in commodity finance transactions, the actions lenders can take to try and mitigate against such frauds occurring in the first place and the possible resolutions avail

Welcome to the June edition of this quarterly publication that includes a variety of legal and market focused articles on current topics of interest in the world of trade finance.

Welcome to the March edition of this quarterly publication that includes a variety of legal and market focused articles on current topics of interest in the world of trade finance. In this issue, we feature: Brexit Revisited: The New World For Trade Compliance COVID-19 Debt Service Suspension Initiative: A Guide…

Welcome to the March edition of this quarterly publication that includes a variety of legal and market focused articles on current topics of interest in the world of trade finance.

As always we hope that you enjoy this edition of Baker McKenzie’s Trade Finance Quarterly Insight and invite you to reach out to any of the contributors or indeed anyone else in the team should you wish to discuss any of the issues covered in this edition or have any other trade finance related queries.

Welcome to the December edition of this quarterly publication that includes a variety of legal and market focused articles on current topics of interest in the world of trade finance. 

In our last edition, COVID-19 was the inevitable link between the articles we featured. In this edition, we bring into focus three major topics that are set to play their part in the global economic recovery process – technology, the transition to risk free rates and the role of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria in the financial markets.