Real-world insights on international trade, border processes, and regulatory change.
From supply chain efficiency to the latest policy moves, we translate complexity into clarity for operators, advisors and decision-makers..
Defence
Trade shocks, explained. The disruptions impacting firms, and how to build early warning systems
TLDR Trade shocks are a constant in global trade, driven by policy, price, and geopolitics. They directly affect margins, supply chains, and market access. Leading cross-border firms respond by building early warning systems, combining policy tracking, data analysis, and horizon scanning, to anticipate disruption and act before it materialises. Key…
Defence
What is foreign trade policy? How governments shape global trade, and how to forecast geopolitical shifts
In this article Hide 01 Key insights 02 What is foreign trade policy? 03 Lessons from recent events 04 Trade policy is foreign policy 05 How foreign trade policy regulates international markets – Trade agreements and market access – Trade remedies and defensive measures – Export controls, licensing, and restrictions…
Thought Leadership
Capability is not sovereignty: a conversation on control, cost, and credibility in defence
TLDR In trade, politics, and defence, sovereign capability is a practical constraint on how organisations operate. As Christopher Salmon explains, capability without control is conditional. In an environment defined by export controls, supply chains, and geopolitical friction, sovereignty must be actively managed. Not assumed. Key insights Defence leaders should prioritise…
Defence
Is AUKUS becoming an “America First” franchise?
Brief Overview AUKUS is entering a more complex phase of its life, where the sovereign capability of Australia and the UK is increasingly determined by the U.S., via ITAR, policy alignment, and regulatory control. For defence leaders, sovereignty may no longer be an absolute idea, but something that is…
Thought Leadership
What is sovereign capability? A strategic guide for defence leaders and procurement teams
TLDR No longer just a policy concept, sovereign capability has become a central issue in defence strategy and procurement. In practice, sovereignty is shaped by supply chains, alliances, and regulatory control; and, for defence leaders, it must be actively managed, not assumed. Key insights Sovereign capability is increasingly shaped by…
Thought Leadership
Building commercial resilience with geopolitical risk forecasting
TLDR As we move towards 2030, and cross-border boardrooms face increasing turbulence, geopolitical risk forecasting has become a key capital allocation tool. Tariff volatility, sanctions layering, export control expansion, ESG enforcement, and maritime instability are all reshaping commercial decision-making. Firms that translate geopolitical signals into pricing, sourcing, contracting, and governance…
Thought Leadership
Implementing trade ethics in a fragmented global economy
TLDR Trade ethics is no longer a reputational accessory; it is structural governance. In a world of sanctions expansion, forced labour enforcement, and geopolitical fragmentation, implementing trade ethics policies requires embedded oversight into procurement, classification, export controls, and supply chain design. Firms that treat ethics as infrastructure (not aspiration) protect…
Thought Leadership
The “NLR” Mirage: What the £39M AOG Technics Fraud Reveals About Embedded Compliance
TLDR The £39M AOG Technics fraud shows how easily global supply chains can be exploited when exporters rely on “No Licence Required” assumptions. Vincent Gary Taylor argues that compliance cannot be inspected at the border – it must be embedded at procurement, with part-level classification, supplier verification, and robust digital…
Thought Leadership
SCOTUS blocks the IEEPA tariff regime. Trump invokes Section 122 to apply new 10% global duties. What next for trade?
A clearBorder watching brief TLDRThe U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that President Trump exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in imposing sweeping global tariffs. The decision nullifies the broad, country-specific tariffs targeting China, Canada, Mexico, and other trade partners; potentially opening the door to refunds of…
Thought Leadership
How close are we to a CANZUK geopolitical bloc? And what would it mean for trade?
TLDR For now, CANZUK remains aspirational. But its potential trade architecture may already overlap through CPTPP and bilateral FTAs. For boardrooms, the value lies in monitoring potential incremental gains in: Regulatory alignment Supply chain diversification Talent mobility Early positioning could reduce friction and enhance market resilience. Global trade in 2026…
